During the conflicts of the 20th Century former pupils of the George Watson's Boys' College answered their country's call in their hundreds and many made the ultimate sacrifice.
In World War I 605 died, 19.5% of those who served in the armed forces.
In World War II 202 died, 11.2% of those who served in the armed forces.
In addition, one former pupil of George Watson's Ladies' College was killed in World War I, another was killed during World War II and a pupil died in the Korean War. This Roll of Honour provides some of the facts and the faces behind the stark statistics. It also includes the six members of staff who died in World War I and another, who had taught at George Watson's Ladies' College, who died in World War II.
These biographies are not complete and there are also a number of photographs missing, together with a few records that have not yet been traced. If you have any further information we would welcome it, please contact us.
We continue to work hard to find out more about these Watsonians. Some of the photographs you will see here have been taken from newspapers and from the school magazine, The Watsonian, when they were still at school. Most of the information you will find here has been taken from A Memorial Record of Watsonians who served in the Great War (1920) and The Watsonian War Record 1939-1945 (1951). These two volumes were published to record and honour Watsonians who had served and who had died. Additionally, John Hamblin researched the Watsonians during the Second World War (1939-46) in more detail and we are pleased to share his research here too.
You can view the War Records by selecting one of the following links. Alternatively, you can search the Records using the form below, completing as much information as possible.
Your search for former pupils returned 804 record(s).
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| Name | Regiment | Buried | Biography |
|---|---|---|---|
William Murray Masterton |
Royal Scots | DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN | A son of Mr. J. Masterton, B.A., Edin., was born in 1898, and, having attended G.W.C. 1910-12, was entered as an actuarial apprentice in the Century Assurance Office. He enlisted in the 4th R.S. in 1914, and served through the Gallipoli campaign. After training at Gailes, he was gazetted to the 6th R.S., then attached to the 16th Bn., and fell on June 10, 1917, aged 19. |
James Johnstone Maybin |
Royal Scots | QUARRY CEMETERY, MONTAUBAN | A son of a famous rector of Ayr Academy, received his early education at his father's school, and studied afterwards at Edin. Univ., where he made his mark as a scholar and athlete. He graduated with high Hons. in Classics, and also gained his Rugby Blue in the 'Varsity XV. He played cricket for Ayr county, and when in 1912 he came as a master to G.W.C., he played for the Watsonian 1st XV. He enlisted in 1914 in the 9th R.S., took his commission, was in the fighting at Loos, and was instantaneously killed on the Somme in July 1916. |
Clement Hugh H. McArthur |
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders att Gordon Highlanders | LOOS MEMORIAL | The eldest son of the late W. H. McArthur, V.S., Penang, Straits Settlements, was born in 1894, and educated at Viewpark and later at G.W.C. He played for the XV. 1910-12, was a keen cricketer, and a member of the Cadet Corps. He left to study for the Indian Police, but broke off to join the 9th R.S. in Aug. 1914. Owing to an accident he was discharged, but rejoined, this time with the A. and S. H., in which he became a L./Cpl. While temporarily attached to the Gordon Hrs. in the Somme battle, he was killed instantaneously by a sniper before Bazentin-le-Petit, July 27, 1916. |
Archibald McCall |
K.O.S.B. | ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY | The elder son of Mr. M. McCall, British Linen Bank, Hawick, was born in 1897, and educated at Christ's College, London, and G.W.C. 1912-15. He took a prominent place in the life of the School, being in the XI. for two seasons 1914 and 1915, and playing in the XV. for 1915. He was also a Prefect and a member of the O.T.C. On leaving, he joined the Artists' Rifles, and was gazetted to the 4th K.O.S.B. in June 1916. On July 31, the following year, when all the other officers of his company had become casualties, he took command, and displayed the greatest gallantry. For this he was awarded the M.C., but having been wounded in the fight, he died at Carriers Hospital on Aug. 23, 1917, and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery. |
James Girvan McCall |
R.A.F. | KRAKOW RAKOWICKI CEMETERY | J. Girvan McCall, Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart McCall, 11 Willowbrae Avenue, Edinburgh. Born on 17th February 1921, he attended Watson's from 1926 to 1936 and gained a general excellence prize every year. On leaving school he took up an appointment with a printing-ink manufacturing firm and gained the medal for chemistry at Heriot-Watt College evening classes. Volunteering for the R.A.F. in 1941, he was sent to the U.S.A. for training and there gained his wings and commission. He was retained for six months as an instructor, but he refused a further term and asked for operational duties. From this country he took part in raids over Germany, and from Bari, Italy, operated over South Germany, Rumania and Poland. When on an arms-dropping mission for the Poles in Warsaw he was shot down on the night of 5th August 1944. |
Donald McCallum |
S.R. | LOOS MEMORIAL | The third son of Lt.-Col. D. McCallum, R.A.S.C., was born at Chester in 1896. He attended G.W.C. 1903-6, and Pretoria High School 1906-11, distinguishing himself as a scholar, an athlete, and a cadet. In 1913 he entered the Royal Dick Vet. Coll., and proved himself a student of great promise. After serving in the A. and S. H. from the outbreak of war, and attaining the rank of Sgt., he was commissioned in the 10th S.R. in Jan. 1915, and crossed to France six months later. He was reported missing at Loos, Sept. 25, 1915, being last seen on Hill 70 'going forward.' |
Duncan Colvin McColl |
Cameron Highlanders | THIEPVAL MEMORIAL | The son of the Rev. J. McColl, minister emeritus, U.F. Church, Glenlyon, was born in 1894, and attended G.W.C. 1907-15. He proved himself a competent scholar and a good athlete, being Captain of the 2nd XV. and a member of the XI. in 1914. He intended studying medicine, but, applying for a commission, he was gazetted to the 3rd Cameron Hrs. He saw service in France, and on Oct. 18, 1916, was killed while encouraging and cheering on his men against a fierce counter-attack of the enemy. He was interred on the battle-field. |
George McCrae |
Royal Scots | HELLES MEMORIAL | The eldest son of Sir George McCrae, ( Colonel - McCrae's Battalion) Vice-President, Scottish Local Govt. Board, was born in 1883, and entered G.W.C. in 1894. On leaving he entered his father's firm in Princes St., and in time became managing director. In 1898 he joined the Q.E.R.V.B. as a bugler, and by 1909 was a Capt. in the 6th R.S. Volunteering for Imperial Service on the outbreak of war, he was transferred to the 4th Bn., and went with it to the Dardanelles. There he fell on June 28, 1915, while charging at the head of his men against the Turkish trenches. |
Charles Hutchison McCrostie |
Highland Light Infantry | VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY | The eldest son of Mr. H. McCrostie, Leith, was born in 1885, and attended G.W.C. 1892-1901. He attained considerable reputation as a student of foreign languages, and had a record of five years' unbroken attendance. Entering the grain trade in Leith, his fine business instinct and his command of foreign tongues speedily brought promotion for him. He was a keen motorist and a member of the Edinburgh Motor Club. Joining the L. and B. H. on the outbreak of war, he was in Apr. 1915 gazetted to the 1/15th H.L.I. He became trench mortar officer in the Bn., and fell on July 1, 1916, in the Somme battle. |
Edward Greaves McDougall |
Cameron Highlanders | LOOS MEMORIAL | A son of the late Provost McDougall, Jedburgh, was born in 1877, and attended G.W.C. 1892-94. He thereafter joined the Glasgow office of the Scottish Provident Institution, and became an inspector of agencies. At the outbreak of hostilities he enlisted in the Glasgow Hrs., and soon obtained a captaincy in the 8th Cameron Hrs. He fell in the deadly struggle round Loos, Sept. 25, 1915. |