Was born at Stornoway in 1882, and attended G.W.C. 1893-99. A keen cricketer and footballer, he played for Watsonians 'A' after leaving School. He served his law apprenticeship in Edin., and attended classes in law at Edin. Univ. Before graduating, he emigrated to Canada, and was employed with a firm of biscuit manufacturers in Toronto, where he also became a Sgt. in the Toronto Vol. Force. After three years he accepted an appointment with an American firm, in which he had rapid promotion. Returning to Edin. in 1913, he was assumed a partner in Messrs. Henderson and Sons. He enlisted in the R.G.A. as a Gnr., and fell in action on May 30, 1918, near Amiens, and is buried at La Neuville Corbie.
Alan K. Mothersill, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, elder son of the Rev. J. E. Mothersill and Mrs. Mothersill, St. Cuthbert's Manse, Kirkcudbright, was born on 27th August 1921 and came to Watson's from Kirkcudbright Academy in 1936. Leaving in 1939, he entered Edinburgh University to study Arts, and later transferred to the Engineering Department from which he enlisted in the R.E. in 1941. Rising to the rank of Lieutenant in the Parachute Section of that regiment, he was killed near Mersa Matruh on 10th March 1943.
Gerald P. Mountford, Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Mountford, 53 Saughton Road, Edinburgh, attended Watson's from 1927 to 1937. Prior to the outbreak of war he was an apprentice with the firm of Messrs. Binns, Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, of which his father is a Director. He died in May 1944 from injuries received in an air accident at Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia, where he had served for nearly three years. He was twenty years of age.
The third son of the late Rev. J. Muir, British Guiana, early distinguished himself in athletics at G.W.C., winning, when only 17, the Half-mile Championship of the E. of Scotland. He was associated with the W.C.C.C. and the Edin. Harriers. He went to the West Indies, and also travelled extensively in West Africa and Canada, where for some time he was Secy. of the Toronto Watsonian Club. He was in England when war was declared, joined the R.G.A., and served for 17 months in France without a break. He was awarded the M.M. He trained for the R.F.A., and was again recommended for an act of bravery. He was gassed in a telephone dug-out, and died of gas poisoning.
A son of the late J. Muir, Edin., was born in 1900, and attended G.W.C. 1906-17, where he played rugby and cricket. After training in the E.U.O.T.C., in 1918 he joined the R.A.F. While a Cdt., he was killed at Upavon, Wiltshire, in an aeroplane collision. A particularly bright and cheerful boy, he was a leading member of St. Matthew's (Edin.) Literary Society.
A son of Mr. Robt. Muir, Edin., was born in 1886 and entered G.W.C. in 1892. He was a conscientious and diligent student. On leaving he entered the office of the Caledonian Insce. Coy., Edin., and joined the 16th R.S. in response to the call for men. He was struck down with illness on his first day in the trenches, but remained three days longer. He was removed to Aire Hospital, where he died Feb. 8, 1916.
John R. Muir, Surgeon Rear Admiral, Royal Navy, Temporary Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was the son of the Rev. J. Muir, Grenada. Born in 1873, he came to Watson's in 1886 and left in 1890 to enter Edinburgh University, where he graduated M.B., C.M. in 1894. Indulging in his great love of the sea, he joined the Royal Navy. In the first world war as Fleet Surgeon he served in the famous battle cruiser H.M.S. Tiger and did heroic work at the battle of Jutland. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1917 and was twice mentioned in dispatches. He took the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in 1924 and retired from the Navy in that year with the rank of Surgeon Rear Admiral. On the outbreak of the second world war Muir along with four other enthusiastic yachtsmen, whose united ages were said to amount to 280 years, applied to be allowed to serve in the R.N.V.R. with the auxiliary patrol and Mr. Churchill granted them commissions. So the herioc epic depicted in Cecil Hunt's " The Gallant Little Campeador " came to be written. This remarkable story of devotion to duty culminated in the tragedy of 22nd June 1940, when the Campeador was blown up with all hands by a mine. So perished a very gallant gentleman.
Born at Allahabad, India, in 1894. He entered G.W.C. in 1903, and left in 1911 to engage in stockbroking. In his last session at School he was Capt. of the Swimming Club. Joining the 9th R.S. as a Pte. in 1914, he was early selected for promotion and granted a commission in the 1st R.S. He was sent to France in 1915, and was present at the 2nd battle of Ypres. During the battle of the Somme, he fell at Bernafay Wood, July 10, 1916. For gallantry in the field, he was awarded the M.C.
Ian E. A. Mundie, Captain, Royal Artillery, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Mundie, Balvenie, Falkirk. Born on 22nd June 1910, he entered Watson's from Falkirk High School. On leaving in 1928 he took up Accountancy as his profession, and after serving his apprenticeship became a member of the staff of Messrs. Mann, Judd, Gordon & Co., Chartered Accountants, Glasgow. At the outbreak of war he volunteered for service and was duly commissioned in the R.A. He was severely injured in 1941 when a bomber crashed into his billet in S.E. England. Crossing over to Normandy with his unit, he was instantaneously killed in action on 30th June 1944.
Ian M. Munro, Flight Lieutenant, Rhodesian Squadron, Royal Air Force, second son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Munro, 17 Montague Avenue, Salisbury, S. Rhodesia, was born on 9th September 1918. After attendance at Watson's from 1933 to 1937, during which he was awarded his 1st XV Colours, 1st XI Colours, and Shooting Colours, he returned to S. Rhodesia to enter the tobacco industry. Volunteering for the R.A.F. in 1939, he was called up in September 1940 and was trained in S. Rhodesia and in Great Britain. He was killed in an air crash over Exeter on 3rd May 1943.
