The only son of the late Dr. T. Ridgley, was born at Townsville, Queensland, in 1884, and attended G.W.C. 1891-1900, where he showed a taste for natural history. He entered the service of the National Bank of Scot., but left for the Argentine, where he became manager of an estancia. When war broke out he joined the Field Engineers, and went in Nov. to Egypt with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He fell at the Dardanelles on May 26, 1915, and was buried on the Peninsula.
James M. Ritchie, Captain, Indian Army, was the son of the late Mr. John S. Ritchie, Bruntsfield Place, and Mrs. Ritchie, 12 Bruntsfield Gardens, Edinburgh. Born on loth July 1907, Jim attended Watson's from 1912 to 1923, when he was awarded his 1st XI Colours. A man of powerful physique and dynamic energy, he represented his country at rugby and water polo, gaining six successive caps during the rugby seasons of 1933 and 1934, and captaining the famous Warrender Baths team when they were undisputed champions of Scotland. Adding cricket to his all-round accomplishment in sport, he played for the 1st Watsonian XI for several seasons. On leaving school he joined The Century Insurance Co. Ltd., Edinburgh, and in 1934, shortly after being elected captain of the Watsonian XV, he received an appointment with Messrs. Bird & Co., Calcutta. When serving as a Captain in the Indian Army, he contracted enteric fever and died at Rawalpindi, India, on 6th July 1942.
A son of Mr. F. Ritchie, Edin., was born in 1893, and attended G.W.C. 1899-1910. After leaving School he entered the British Linen Bank. Enlisting in 1916, he was promoted Cpl., and was subsequently gazetted to the 3rd Gordon Hrs. and attached to the 7th Bn. He was killed in action in Apr. 1917 near Arras.
A son of Mr. R. L. Ritchie, Joppa, was born in 1893, and attended G.W.C. 1899-1911. He was commissioned as 2/Lt. to the 4th R.S., and, transferring to the K.A.R. with the rank of Lt., was killed on May 22, 1918.
Born in 1896, was a son of Mr. J. W. Ritchie and attended G.W.C. 1904-13. Thereafter he entered Edin. Univ., and had studied medicine for one year, when he enlisted in the R.A.M.C. as a Pte. After a period of service in the ranks, he obtained a commission in the H.L.I. in 1916, and was later promoted Lt. He fell in action May 20, 1918.
Born in 1891, was a son of Mr. R. L. Ritchie, Joppa, and attended G.W.C. 1898-1907. He enlisted as a Pte. in the 4th R.S., and later received a commission in the S.R., rising to the rank of Capt. Posted as wounded and missing on May 16, 1917, he was reported killed five days later.
George Roberts, Lieutenant, The Gordon Highlanders, third son of Mr. and Mrs. George Roberts, 9 Ladysmith Road, Edinburgh, was born on 13th February 1914. Coming to Watson's from Mayfield Private School, Edinburgh, in 1920, he left in 1932 to enter the National Bank of Scotland Ltd. His early promise as a footballer at school was established when he joined the Watsonian XV and it was no surprise that his outstanding ability as a full back was recognised by the Scottish rugby selectors and that he gained five international "caps" for his country. For five years he was captain of the Watsonian Rugby Club, the youngest player ever to hold that office. He was equally distinguished as a golfer. A member of Craigmillar Park Club, he was well known in Lothians and Scottish competitions. He was runner-up in the Eden Tournament at St. Andrews in 1936 ; in 1937 he won the Wemyss Cup and was in the Scottish team against Wales ; while in 1938 he was selected to play against all the other home countries, his partner being Robert A. McKinna. Joining up at the outbreak of war, he gained his commission and died in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in June 1943.
Kenneth Roberts, Corporal, Lothians and Border Yeomanry (Royal Armoured Corps), youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Roberts, 9 Ladysmith Road, Edinburgh, was born on 21St May 1916 and attended Watson's from 1922 to 1935. During his school days he won early distinction as a footballer and golfer, reaching the final of the Spiers Cup Tournament and gaining his 1st XV Colours in 1933. Taking up Insurance as a career, he played frequently for the Watsonian XV as scrum-half and centre three-quarter in the side captained by his brother George. He joined the Territorial Force early in 1939, went to France in the first week of 1940 and was killed in action on 5th June of that year.
A son of the late R. Robertson, Edin., was born in 1882, and entered G.W.C. in 1890, from which he went to Edin. Univ., where he graduated with First Class Honours in History. After serving for three years on the teaching staff of G.W.C., he went to Oxford, graduated B.Litt. in 1913, and when the war broke out was Lecturer in History at Sheffield Univ. In Sept. 1914 he joined the York and Lancaster Regt., saw service on two battle fronts, and was killed on July 1, 1916. He had before him a career of extraordinary promise. A profound student, he had also a rich vein of poetry, as two of his published books of verse attest.
A son of the Rev. J. A. Robertson, M.A., Corstorphine, was born at Tenandry Manse, Perthshire, in 1897, and was educated at Corstorphine and G.W.C. 1907-1915, where he proved a diligent and capable scholar. For over four years in the O.T.C., he was S.M. in his last year. At the age of 18 he received a commission, and was gazetted to the 3rd A. and S. H., sent to France in Dec. 1915 and attached to the 2nd Bn. On Mar. 26, 1916, while on observation duty, he fell by a sniper's bullet.
