Lachlan McLachlan, Surgeon-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was the only son of Captain and Mrs. A. McLachlan, 40 Drylaw Crescent, Blackball, Edinburgh, and formerly of Glenmore, Oban. Born on 6th August 1919, he was a pupil at Watson's from 1932 to 1937. Graduating M.B., Ch.B. at Edinburgh University, he joined the R.N.V.R. in 1943 and served on H.M.S. Drake, Sphinx, and Aldenham. He was killed in action on 14th December 1944.
Allan L. McLaine, Captain, Royal Army Pay Corps, son of the Rev. Frank McLaine, Missionary, S. India, was born on 27th August 1904. Receiving his early education in India, he came to Watson's from James Gillespie's School in 1918 and left in 1921 to train as a Chartered Accountant. After qualifying he entered the firm of Messrs. Mann, Judd, Gordon & Co., Chartered Accountants, Glasgow. In 1928 he proceeded to Sarawak, Borneo, to take up a Government appointment, which he held until 1940 when he left for Hobart, Tasmania, where he did notable work in organising industry and A.R.P. Receiving a commision, he proceeded to Ambala, Punjab, where he turned ill and was invalided out of the services. Returning to Hobart in 1945, he died there on 22nd December 1946.
John McLeish, Private, General Service Corps, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. McLeish, 225 Wigston Road, Oadby, Leicester, and formerly of 72 Falcon Avenue, Edinburgh. Entering Watson's from Jedburgh Grammar School in 1938, he left in 1943 to study Arts at Edinburgh University. Joining the General Service Corps in August 1944, he was still undergoing preliminary training when he died in a military hospital on 8th December 1944 at the age of eighteen.
The elder son of Mr. D. C. McLeod, Okara, Punjab, was born in India in 1898, and educated at St. Paul's, Darjeeling. He attended G.W.C. 1913-15, and on leaving trained in the E.U.O.T.C. (Arty.). Commissioned to the R.F.A. in Nov. 1917, he crossed to France in Jan. 1918. Wounded at Bohain, Oct. 18, he died in No. 8 Gen. Hospital, Rouen, Oct. 21, 1918
The son of Mr. D. McLeod, Edin., was born in 1885 and attended G.W.C. 1895-1900. After a business training, he emigrated to Canada in 1905, and by 1914 he was Secy. to the Canadian Explorers Ltd., on James Island. He was a member of the Vancouver Watsonian Club. Enlisting in the 50th Gordon Hrs., he crossed with the 1st Canadian Contingent, and was reported missing at Festubert, May 20, 1915, and has since been presumed killed.
William A. McMichael, Private, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, was the son of the late Bailie Hugh McMichael and Mrs. McMichael, 30 Inverleith Gardens, Edinburgh. Entering Watson's in 1901, he left in 1910 to take up Dentistry as a career, but enlisted as a private in The Royal Scots in 1914 and served throughout the Great War in France and Egypt. Twice wounded, and mentioned in dispatches, he attained the rank of captain in the Royal Flying Corps. Between the two wars he was engaged in rubber planting in Malaya, and, being rejected by the R.A.F. for medical reasons, he joined the F.M.S.V.F. as an ambulance driver, and died as a prisoner of war at Changi on 21st January 1943.
Alastair S. B. McNeil, Surgeon-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. David B. McNeil, 7 Marchmont Street, Edinburgh. Born on 28th June 1915, he captained both the rugby and the cricket team in 1933, his final year at school, and played in the Public Schools Rugby International. Joining the Watsonian XV, he became a prominent forward and received his Scottish cap in 1935 in the game against Ireland at Dublin. He also played for his country three times at cricket in 1937. Graduating M.B., Ch.B. at Edinburgh University in 1938, he was appointed a house-surgeon at Worthing Hospital, and later medical officer at the Royal National Hospital, Ventnor. He joined the R.N.V.R. in April 1940 and took part in landings at Madagascar, in North Africa and Sicily and at Salerno and Anzio. H e was reported missing at Anzio on 26th January 1944. His Commander wrote that he was last seen "ignoring his own safety in an attempt to save the lives of other people."
The son of Mr. A. McRae, Milton Bridge, was born in 1894, and after being educated at Glencorse and Penicuik Higher Grade Schools (of which latter he was dux in 1909), he attended G.W.C. 1909-12. He was an apprentice C.A. Enlisting in the 14th A. and S. H. in July 1915, he was attached to the M.G. Section of the Bn. After a period of service in France he was gazetted to the M.G.C. in Oct. 1917. Returning to France in March 1918, he had only been a few weeks out, when he was killed near Bucquoy, N.W. of Bapaume, Apr. 1918.
The youngest son of Mr. A. B. McRither, Edin., was born in 1898, and attended G.W.C. 1908-16. He was one of the most public-spirited boys of his year, being Secy. of the Literary Club, a prominent member of the O.T.C., and a College Bursar. He was in the XI. of 1916, and intended qualifying for work in the Foreign Mission field. Enlisting in the 5th R.S. on leaving School, he was transferred to the M.G.C., in which he rose to be L/Cpl. He crossed to Flanders in March 1917. His papers for a commission having come through, he had been brought out of the firing line. A big attack was impending, and at his own request he was allowed to go back to his gun team. He was mortally wounded, and died in Ambulance Ocean Hospital, La Panne, Belgium, and was buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, north of Furness.
David W. McRuer, Flying Officer, Royal Air Force, only son of Mr. and Mrs. D. S. McRuer, 86 Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh, was born on 2nd April 1922. Coming to Watson's from Humberstone School, Grimsby, he left in 1939 to enter Edinburgh University with the intention of competing in the Civil Service Administrative Grade examination. He was Senior President of the Historical Society, member of the S.R.C., and Convener of Debates in the Parliamentary Debating Society. He had graduated M.A. with honours in History before joining & R.A.F., for which he had his initial training in the University Air Squadron and afterwards in Canada. He was killed on active service in an air accident on 14th April 1944.
