The eldest son of Mr. R. Blair, Fouriesburg, was born at Bethlehem, O.F.S., 1894. Proceeding to Scotland, he entered G.W.C. 1906. He won the Shooting Championship 1912, and returned to South Africa that year, and entered the School of Mines and Technology, Johannesburg, intending to qualify as a mining engineer. In 1914 he was mobilised with the Rand Rifles. He was released and returned to the School of Mines. In Jan. 1916 he enlisted for foreign service with the S.A. Infy., and rose to the rank of L/Cpl. After much hard fighting in France, he met his death Apr. 13, 1917.
Colin C. Blair, Flying Officer, Royal Air Force, was the elder son of the Rev. Duncan Blair, Newlands (South) Church of Scotland, Glasgow, and formerly minister of Braid Church, Edinburgh. Born on 19th April 1915, he attended Watson's from 1922 to 1926. He had taken a Double Honours degree in History and Economics at Glasgow University, and had all but completed his courses at Gray's Inn, London, when he volunteered for the R.A.F. in 1939. He was lost over Norway in 1941
He was born in 1891 and attended G.W.C. 1906-8. Emigrating to Canada in 1910, he took up farming. Enlisting in the 12th Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1915, he was sent to France, and in the fighting at Maple Copse, June 2-4, 1916, was repeatedly wounded, and died at Boulogne on June 16.
The eldest son of Mr. J. Blyth, Leith, was born in 1896, and entered G.W.C. from Leith Academy in 1911, leaving in 1912 to become a dental apprentice. He enlisted in the 2/9th R.S. in Jan. 1915, and obtained a commission in the 13th A. and S. H. While temporarily attached to the Camerons he fell in action in France, July 10, 1917.
C. Ripley Bogle, A.F.C., Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force, was the youngest son of the Very Rev. A. N. Bogle, D.D., and Mrs. Bogle, 4 Cluny Avenue, Edinburgh. Born on 18th May 1912 he spent practically all his school days at Watson's, entering in 19 18 and leaving in 1931. During these thirteen years he proved himself an excellent all-rounder, being a grand rugby player, athlete, scholar and musician. After graduating at Edinburgh University, he entered Balliol College, Oxford, where he had an equally distinguished record. Taking up teaching as a career he was appointed senior classical master at King's School, Macclesfield. In 1941 he volunteered for the R.A.F. and in June 1942 saw active service in Madagascar. Later he went to East Africa, where he was in charge of the meteorological department of the Command, and was awarded the A.F. C. for his work there. He returned home at the end of 1945 to be demobilised, and lost his life as the result of a skating accident at Portmore Loch, near Eddleston, Peebles-shire, on 1st March 1946.
The son of Mr. J. Bone, Edin., was born in 1888, and attended G.W.C. 1899-1904. He went to Edinburgh College of Art, where he won a travelling scholarship, and on completing his course received the full Architectural Diploma. On the outbreak of war, he joined the 9th R.S., and took part in severe fighting for sixteen months from Feb. 1915. His impressions and memories of these days were fixed in a series of water-colours which were exhibited in Edinburgh, and attracted much public attention. Commissioned 2/Lt. in Oct. 1916, he returned to France in Jan. 1917, and fell in action on Apr. 28, 1917.
The son of Mr. W. Bonnar, Edin., was born in 1890. He attended G.W.C. 1898-1908, and then took up stock-farming in Australia. He joined the 6th Australian Light Horse in 1914, and served in Egypt. Proceeding to Gallipoli in May 1915, he died shortly afterwards from wounds received while acting as a bomber.
James Borland, D.F.C., Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, elder son of Mr. T. W. Borland, J.P. and Mrs. Borland, Irvine, Ayrshire, was born on 14th March 1923. Coming to Watson's from Irvine Royal Academy in 1937, he left in 1941 to enter the first University Training Course for Air Pilots, and after further training in England and the United States was commissioned Pilot Officer in 1943. In November 1943 he gained the D.F.C. " in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of many operations over the Reich." As a Pathfinder Pilot he was killed in action in a raid over Berlin in January 1944.
Born in 1888, entd. G.W.C. in 1899. He qualified as a C.A. in 1913, after taking the usual law classes at Edin. Univ. Joining the 9th R.S. as a Pte. in May 1916, he served with his regiment in France. On June 1, 1917, he died of wounds received in action.
