John W. Hall, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, was the second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Munro Hall, Cumin Place, Edinburgh. Born on 25th May 1913, he attended Watson's from 1919 to 1932, and gained his 1st XV Colours for two seasons. On leaving school he took up the study of agriculture at Edinburgh University, and was a stalwart member of the Watsonian XV. On going North he was for some seasons captain of the Highland Rugby Club. He joined the R.A.F. in 1941, trained in this country and America, and was killed in an air accident when returning from an operational flight in July 1944.
William A. M. Halley, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Halley, 15 Hartington Place, Edinburgh, was born on 2nd January 1923 and came from Aberdeen Grammar School to Watson's in 1935. He intended to take up Banking as a career, but joined the R.A.F. as an aircraftman and rapidly gained his commission. A flying accident in May 1941 caused his death at the early age of eighteen.
Donald A. Halsall, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Halsall, 17 Sandringham Road, Ainsdale, near Southport, and was a pupil at Watson's from 1933 to 1937, when he gained his 1st XV Colours. After leaving school he played regularly for the Southport Rugby Club. Prior to the outbreak of war Donald volunteered for flying duties, but did not commence training as an Observer until April 1940. He was commissioned in March 1941, and saw much service with Coastal Command. He was reported " missing " on 27th December 1941 and later " believed killed in action."
The younger son of the late J. Hamilton, butcher, was born at Dalkeith in 1891. He entered G.W.C. in 1900, proved himself an apt pupil, and gained distinctions in his various classes. He elected to study medicine, but had to relinquish his career in order to assist his father, who had fallen into ill-health. He joined the A. and S. H. in May 1915, served with them in France for fifteen months, when he got his commission and was attached to the 3rd Rifle Bde. He was killed on Mar. 21, 1918.
Was born at Melrose in 1879, and attended G.W.C. 1891-97. He then commenced the study of medicine at Edin. Univ. A brilliant student, he graduated M.B. Ch.B. in 1902 with 1st Class Hons., and gained the Stark Scholarship in Clinical Medicine. After holding an appointment as resident in the Sick Children's Hospital, and studying at Breslau and Berlin, he was appointed Medical-Legal Expert to the Egyptian Ministry of Justice and Native Tribunal in 1906. Four years later he became Professor of Forensic Medicine at Cairo. Having received a commission in the R.A.M.C. at the outbreak of war, he died while in charge of the Military Hospital at Cairo. He was President of the Royal Medical Society in 1904, and received, a few months prior to his death, the ' Order of the Nile ' from H.S.H. the Sultan of Egypt.
William Hamilton
R.A.F.
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
William Hamilton, Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force, son of the late Dr. Hamilton, Loanhead, and Mrs. Hamilton, Stanley Lodge, Roslin, was born on 3rd March 1920 and attended Watson's from 1928 to 1938 before proceeding to Edinburgh University to study Medicine. Joining the R.A.F. in 1940, he was commissioned and rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. On 16th May 1943 when engaged on night fighting off Sunderland he shot down an enemy bomber and lost his life in engaging a second.
John Hardie, Captain, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hardie, 1 Corstorphine Hill Avenue, Edinburgh, was born at Bo'ness on 12th December 1917 and attended Watson's from 1929 to 1934. He played regularly for Barnton Park R.F.C., and was an assistant-scoutmaster. In civil life Captain Hardie was connected with the firm of Messrs. Hardie & Co., Builders, Bo'ness and Edinburgh. Joining the Royal Scots in 1940, he was sent to Sandhurst from which he obtained a commission in the Indian Army. He was killed in action in Burma on 17th March 1944.
A son of Mr. E. Hare, Leith, was one of the members of the College Staff who fell in the war. He had a brilliant career at Edin. Univ., graduating with 1st Class Hons. in History. A man of keen and critical mind, he was a student of social affairs, and President of the Edin. Univ. Fabian Society. He was for a short period a master in the Junior School, but was speedily promoted to the History Dept. As a member of the E.U.O.T.C., he was well fitted to instruct in matters military, and took a commission in the College O.T.C., where he did splendid work. In his desire to serve his country he underwent a serious surgical operation, and, having been pronounced fit, was gazetted to the R.F.A. (S.R.). He went through the Somme battle, and on Oct. 31, 1916, was killed instantaneously in his dug-out by a high explosive shell.
Born at Kirkcaldy in 1889, was the youngest son of Mr. J. Harley, Kirkcaldy. He was educated at Dollar Academy and G.W.C. 1904-6, and at the outbreak of war was studying engineering and steel manufacture. He joined the 1/7th R.H., as Lt. in Aug. 1914, went to France early in 1915, and was wounded at Festubert in June of that year. He joined up again in Nov., and was transferred to the R.F.C., in which he held the rank of Capt. He was killed on June 3, 1916, while flying over the German lines.
Colin J. Hart, Lieutenant, The Royal Scots, was the only son of the late Mr. Daniel Hart and Mrs. Hart, Ar Den, London Road, Stranraer. Born on 27th February 1916, he attended Watson's from 1921 to 1932, when he joined the staff of The National Bank of Scotland, Ltd. Being a territorial, he was called up at the commencement of hostilities for service in The Royal Scots, and was later transferred to The Royal Army Pay Corps. Recommended for a commission he was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots, and proceeded to Hong-Kong in June 1941. Wounded during the fall of that city, having served throughout the siege, he rejoined his unit after two months' hospital treatment. One of the few survivors of the Lisbon Maru, torpedoed on 1st October 1942, having contracted diphtheria and dysentery, in spite of his condition, he was taken to Japan, and left at Hiroshima, being too ill to proceed, and died there on 18th October 1942 and is interred at Yokohama.
