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).
Was the only son of the late Rev. A. Milne, Gourock, where he was born in 1895. He attended G.W.C. 1907-12, where he distinguished himself as an athlete and a scout, and was Scout Master in the 23rd Edin. troop. He entered the service of Messrs. Redpath, Brown and Coy., and in Aug. 1914 enlisted in the 5th Cameron Hrs. (Lochiel's). He had specialised in machine gunnery, and fell in action whilst acting as a machine gunner at Loos, Sept. 25, 1915.
Eric Milroy
R.H.
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
A son of Mr. A. M. Milroy, bank agent, Edin., was born in 1887 and entered G.W.C. in 1895. He was distinguished at School alike by his ability as a scholar, his prowess at Myreside in the 1st XV. of 1905-6, and his readiness as a debater in the Literary Society. He also held the rank of Sgt. in the Cadet Corps. The winner of an open bursary at Edin. Univ. in 1906, he graduated M.A. with Hons. in Mathematics in 1910, thereafter commencing his apprenticeship as a C.A. A brilliant member of the Watsonian XV. from 1906-14, he played for Scotland in almost every International Match from 1910-14, and toured with the British Team in S. Africa in 1910. Joining the 9th R.S. from the Watsonian Military Training Corps in Sept. 1914, he won speedy promotion, and in Jan. 1915 was gazetted 2/Lt. in the 11th R.H. In July 1916 he gained his Lieutenancy and was attached to the 8th R.H. as Lewis Gun Offr. Crossing to France in 1915, he was engaged in the severe fighting in the Ypres salient. During the battle of the Somme he was posted missing at Delville Wood in July 1916, and was later presumed killed in action.
A son of Mr. H. Minto, London, entered G.W.C. in 1912. He enlisted in the London Scottish in May 1915, and was training in England till he went to the front in July 1917. He was killed whilst bombing the enemy out of his position, Nov. 23, 1917. He was only nineteen at the time of his death.
ST. VAAST POST MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
A son of Mr. J. R. Mitchell, was born in 1889, and entered G.W.C. in 1898. He enlisted as a Pte. in the 9th R.S. in 1914, and is reported to have been killed in action.
The elder son of Mr. J. Campbell Mitchell, R.S.A., Corstorphine, was born in 1898, and attended G.W.C. 1907-15, where he joined the O.T.C. Gazetted in May 1915 to the H.L.I., he was transferred to the R.F.C., and went to the front in Sept. 1916, as a pilot. He was killed on Apr. 21, 1917, while over the German lines.
A son of Mrs. Mitchell, Edin., was born in Edinburgh in 1893, entered G.W.C. in 1900, and went up the Classical side. He excelled in mathematics, and was a prominent member of the School Golf Club. He served his apprenticeship in the office of Messrs. Howden and Mollison, C.A. Enlisting in the spring of 1915, he received a commission in the R.S. through the E.U.O.T.C. He went to France, was dangerously wounded at Loos, and after a time at home he voluntered for the R.F.C., in which he held the rank of Lt. He was killed in an aeroplane collision on June 6, 1918.
The second son of Mr. A. Mitchell, Penicuik, was educated locally, and finished at G.W.C. 1898-1900. From the head office of Messrs. Alex. Cowan and Sons, he enlisted under the Derby Scheme, and joined the Cameron Hrs. in June 1916. He crossed to France in 1917, and on Apr. 23 was posted as missing, and later presumed killed.
A son of Mrs. Mitchell, Edin., born 1898, came to G.W.C. in 1902, where he distinguished himself as a mathematician and golfer. From the office of Messrs. Whitson and Methuen, C.A., he joined the 5th R.S. as a Pte. in 1916, and was soon promoted, gaining a commission in the M.G.C. He went immediately to France, where he was severely wounded and died on Apr. 16, 1918, aged 20.
The only son of the late J. Molyneaux, manager Tract and Book Socy., Edin., was born in 1896, and attended G.W.C. 1902-10. From the staff of Messrs. T. Nelson and Sons, publishers, he joined the 9th R.S. in 1915, and obtained his commission in the 7th R.S. Engaged in the Egyptian and Palestine campaigns from 1916 till the capture of Jerusalem, he was transferred to France, where he died of wounds July 10, 1918, aged 22.
Alexander Moncrieff, Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force, elder son of the Rev. Hope Moncrieff, was born on 3rd December 1908 and was a pupil at Watson's from 1914 to 1926, when he emigrated to Australia and spent a year on a cattle ranch. After a short sojourn in the Fiji Islands, he landed in New Zealand and, farming prospects being then poor, decided to take up flying as a career. After training at Christchurch, New Zealand, and Uxbridge, England, he was commissioned on 9th October 1931, when he proceeded to Egypt and thence to India. He was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer in 1933 and to that of Flight Lieutenant in 1936. At the outbreak of war he was required to instruct young pilots, and later volunteered to join Bomber Command. He was killed in action on 10th November 1940.
