A son of Mr. J. Waldie, Edin., was born in 1885, and attended G.W.C. 1896-1901. He served his apprenticeship as an engineer, and went to America in 1909 but returned in 1910. On the outbreak of war he offered his services, but was rejected owing to heart trouble. He was accepted in Nov. 1916, and sent to France in the R.A.S.C. in Jan. 1917. He was killed in action May 20, 1918.
A son of Mr. A. A. Walker, Leith, was born in 1892, and entered G.W.C. in 1906. Prior to the war he served for four years as a Territorial with the 9th R.S. On the outbreak of the war he joined the Cameron Hrs., and crossed to France, where in 1915 he was wounded. Soon afterwards he received a commission in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and was posted missing and presumed killed in Apr. 1917.
ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
The son of Mr. J. Walker, was born in 1888, and educated at G.W.C. 1895-1902. On leaving he qualified as a marine engineer, obtained his certificate as Second Engineer in 1910, and proceeded to Australia where he became Chief Engineer. While in this country he was for several years a member of the Q.E.R. He enlisted in 1915 in the H.L.I., was promoted Cpl. and went to Gallipoli. Six weeks later he was wounded, and died in hospital at Alexandria, Sept. 6, 1915.
Was born in 1882 and educated at G.W.C., which he entered in 1896. Proceeding to Edin. Univ., he graduated M.A. He was on the staff of North Merchiston. Commission in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and was posted missing and presumed killed in Apr. 1917.
The son of Mr. James Walter, Edinburgh, was educated at James Gillespie’s School and G.W.C. 1897-1903. He entered journalism serving successively on The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening Dispatch, and Glasgow Herald. While employed on the Dumfriesshire Courier he enlisted Jan. 1915 in the K.O.S.B.. Going to France as a Cpl. early in 1917 he took part in the Battle of Arras and was posted wounded and missing April 9-11, later officially presumed killed about those dates.
The elder son of the Rev. A. C. Watson, St. Boswells, was born at Renton in 1892, and educated at Kelso Grammar School and G.W.C. 1906-10. He was interested in cricket and swimming, and was a member of the O.T.C., in which he held the rank of Cpl. He studied at the East of Scotland Agricultural College. A Pte. in the L. and B. H. when war broke out, he went to France with his unit in 1915. Gazetted to the R.H. in June 1916, he served in the Somme battle, was wounded, and invalided home. Returning to France, he fell at Arras, Apr. 23, 1918.
Herbert R. Watson, Sapper, Royal Engineers, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Watson, 6 Woodburn Terrace, Edinburgh. He attended Watson's from 1922 to 1934 and played for the Under 15 XV in 1932-33 and in the 2nd XV a year later. He held the bronze medal of the Royal Life Saving Society, and was prizeman in Engineering Drawing in 1931. Choosing Engineering as his profession, he entered Edinburgh University in 1934. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for the R.E. and went overseas early in 1943. He went through the North Africa campaign and was killed in Italy on 10th February 1944.
Ian W. Watson, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Watson, 45 Grange Road, Edinburgh, was born on 15th April 1916. A pupil at Watson's from 1922 to 1935 he gained his 2nd XV Colours and took a prominent part in golf and athletics, being runner-up in the final of the Torrance Cup Competition in 1935. Entering the Scottish Union & National Insurance Co., Edinburgh, he was training to be an insurance surveyor when war broke out. On joining the R.A.F. he soon gained his wings, but was reported missing after an attack on shipping off the west coast of France on I 6th June 1941 and later presumed killed in action.
John B. Watson, O.B.E., Captain, Merchant Navy, son of the late Chief Engineer Daniel M. Watson, Merchant Navy, and Mrs. Watson, 16 Stanley Road, Leith, was born on 28th April 1903. Entering Watson's in 1913 from Bennington Academy, Leith, he left in 1919 to become an apprentice on board the s.s. Port Bowen, owned by the Commonwealth & Dominion Line, London. After completing his apprenticeship and gaining his master's certificate, he entered the service of the Currie Line Ltd., Leith, and thereafter of the London & Edinburgh Shipping Co., being given command of the s.s. Royal Scot in January 1940. He was awarded the O.B.E. in the New Year Honours' list of 1941, and with ten others went down with his ship, when it was torpedoed in June of the same year.
John R. Watson, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force, the son of the Rev. James Watson, Missionary, and the late Mrs. Watson, 93 Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh, was born at Sian, Shensi, N. China, on 9th May 1909. His early education was received in Chefoo, China, and he attended Watson's from 1923 to 1927, when he was articled to a firm of architects in Edinburgh. Joining the R.A.F. in 1930, he proceeded shortly afterwards to India with the rank of Pilot Officer. Returning to this country in 1935 as a Flying Officer, he was put on the reserve and on the outbreak of war rejoined as a Flight Lieutenant in Training Command. He served through the North Africa campaign as a Squadron Leader in Fighter Command and thereafter transferred to Bomber Command. After taking part in many raids over Germany and Italy he was killed in action with all his crew, when returning from a raid on Turin on 17th August 1943.
