Archibald J. Somerville, Lieutenant, The Royal Scots, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Somerville, Coquimbo, Chile, was born on 7th October 1919, and was educated at Watson's from 1925 to 1932, when he went out to Chile with his parents. Returning to this country at the outbreak of war, he joined The Royal Scots and later received a commission in the same regiment. He was killed in action in Burma on 9th June 1944.
George J. Somerville, Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. James Somerville, 13 Glengyle Terrace, Edinburgh. Born on 9th January 1918, he was a pupil at Watson's from 1923 to 1935, when he became apprenticed to the West End Engineering Company, Edinburgh. In 1939 he joined the Merchant Navy as an Engineer Officer, plying between Holland and this country until the fall of Dunkirk. He subsequently served on a tanker in the Atlantic, and was killed on 5th August 1942, when his ship, the s.s. Arletta, was sunk by enemy action in mid-Atlantic.
R. Dennis Somerville, Captain, Royal Engineers, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Somerville, Eskbank, Midlothian. Born on 14th March 1911, he entered Watson's from the Royal High School, Edinburgh, in 1922 and left in 1929. Graduating B.Sc. in Engineering at Edinburgh University, he was for a time employed with Messrs. Bruce Peebles & Co. Ltd., Edinburgh, and later joined the electrical contracting firm of Messrs. James Scott & Co. Ltd., Perth. He enlisted in the T.A. in the spring of 1939 and rose to the rank of Captain in 1940. Going overseas with his unit as part of the First Army, he was engaged in the N. Africa landing of November 1942, and lost his life when his transport was torpedoed off Algiers.
The only son of Mr. J. Southern, of the Army Audit Dept., Edin., was born in 1890, and was educated at St. Albans and G.W.C. 1905-8 on the Classical side. He studied for the Civil Service, passed through the Sasines Office, and became attached to the Income Tax Dept., London. He joined the 23rd London Regt. (T.), and in Feb. 1915 went to France, where he was killed in action between La Bassee and Ypres on May 26.
A son of Rev. Dr. Speir, Edin., was born in 1890, and entered G.W.C. in 1899. Joining the London Mounted Bde. as a Pte., he was severely wounded and received his discharge. He succumbed to the effects of his injuries in Nov. 1918.
The eldest son of the late F. H. Squair, J.P., Rothesay, was born in 1896, and attended G.W.C. 1911-13. He was a member of the Cadet Corps, a good shot, .a keen athlete and fearless rider. After leaving School he studied practical farming at Nairn. When war broke out he was gazetted to the Seaforth Hrs., and was sent to the front, where he was gassed. On recovery he returned to France, and was mortally wounded while leading his men on the enemy's lines, on Oct. 13, 1917.
The only son of the Rev. J. Steele, missionary, was born at Anand, India, in 1886, and attended G.W.C. 1892-1904. He was a member of the XV. 1903-4, and he left in 1904 as Dux of the School. He attended Edin. Univ., graduating M.A. with 1st Class Hons. and in 1909 gained a high place in the entrance examination for the Indian Civil Service. After attending King's College, Cambridge, 1910, he went to India, where he was a Magistrate in Bengal and latterly Educational Administrator. Enlisting in the Calcutta Light Horse in 1914, he was gazetted to the 11th Lancers in 1916. He joined the R.F.C. in 1917, and was sent to France. He was wounded and his machine was brought down in a gallant fight against overwhelming odds. He died from the result of his injuries Oct. 22, 1917.
Was born at Warwick in 1873, and joined the 1st R.S. in 1891. He saw service in the S. African War, gaining several decorations. In 1906 he was appointed to the permanent staff of the Q.E.R., and on the formation of the Territorial Force became S.M. of the 5th R.S. For a time before the outbreak of war he drilled the College Contingent. After twenty-four years' service he obtained his discharge in Nov. 1914, and was thereafter gazetted Lt. and Q.M. to the 5th R.S. With his Bn. he went to the Dardanelles, and in his keenness to share in the actual fighting, he persuaded a sick officer to take over his duties as Q.M. On June 28, 1915, he was fatally wounded while making an assault on the Turkish trenches.
A son of Mr. W. Stenhouse, Edin., was born in 1885, and entered G.W.C. in 1899. In pre-war days he was actively associated with the Q.E.R., in which he held the rank of 2/Lt. When war broke out he joined the H.L.I., and attained his Captaincy. Retiring in Aug. 1915, he joined the Anti-Aircraft service in London, and while on duty received fatal injuries in a motor cycle accident. At the time of his death he ranked as Capt. in the R.A.S.C.
William A. Stenhouse, Flying Officer, Royal Air Force, younger son of the late Mr. A. J. Stenhouse, C.A., and Mrs. Stenhouse, 13 Glengyle Terrace, Edinburgh, was born on 7th June 1913, and attended Watson's from 1919 to 1930, when he was indentured as an apprentice in his father's office. Joining the R.A.F., he was soon promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer and subsequently to Flying Officer. He met his death in a flying accident in the South of England in August 1940 after returning from a successful bombing raid.
