THE
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHGDL MAGAZINE
ABERDEEN
printed for The Former Pupils' Club at-The University Press • PRICE ONE SHILLING.
Volume XLIX, No. 2.
July 194E.
EDUCATIONAL BOOKS LEGAL • THEOLOGICAL MEDICAL • CLASSICAL New and Second-hand
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45►0-456 Union Street, Aberdeen. . . Cooked
We Specialise in . .
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CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS Presentation to Lieut.-Colonel Duncan MacGregor . . F.P. Rugby Football Section 1st XV Licut.-Colonel G. W. Rose . . . . . . Lieutenant A. D. Macdonald . . . 3rd Radio Officer F. S. T. Dewar . . . Flight Sergeant H. I. Sandison . . . Flight Sergeant E. W. Trail . . . Lieutenant D. Dunningham, R.N.R. . . . Sergeant G. E. Anderson . . . School Rugby Football ist XV . . School Cricket 1st XI . . . . . . School Prefccts—June 1946 .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . • . .
Facing page 9o 1406 ,: 130 Centre . . . . . . Facing page x31 131 ., 1S4 55 x70 ,,
Resignation of the F.P. Club Secretary . . . . . A Message to Former Pupils. By J. J. R. . . . . • • • . • • • • " Duncan Mac. " . A Successor to Byron. University Arts Bursary Competition . . . . . . . . The Toll of the War . . . . . . . War Honours 1940L1946 . . . . . . . Notes about Old Boys . Marriages . . . • . • . . • . . . . . . . . Obituary . . . . . . . . . Pro Patria Mortui . . From a Malayan Diary : Fragment. By \V. Ferrier Mayor . . . . F.P.s visit the Cocos and Christmas Islands Indonesia. By Douglas S. Cruickshank . . . . . . . . Internment in Sumatra. By A. V. W. Cantlay . " Nor Iron Bars a Cage. " By A. H. K. S. A Grammar School Rector and his Family. By Fenton Wyness . . . . . . . . Record Ascent in Persia School Section— School and Random Notes . . . Heart-ache. French Fever. (Verses) . . . . . . Who's Who in the Prefects. The Athletic Sports House Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rugby Football . Hockey . . . . . . . . • . . • Cricket . . . . . . Tennis. Swimming. Rambling and Mountaineering The School Company A.C.F. Scout Notes . . . . . . . The Literary and Debating Society . . . • • • • • • . S.S.C. . . . School Office-Bearers for Session 1945-1946 The Former Pupils' Club— . . . . . . Club Executive Notes . . General Meeting of the Club (with Report and Accounts) Club Consuls. The Club Boarding Houses . . . F.P. Rugby Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Cricket Section . . . . Club Office-Bearers, 1946-1947 .
PP
Pt
PP
PP
PP
PP
1
. Page 89 „ 90 91 . ,, 92 . 93 . ,, 98 . „ 103 „ 120 • . „ • 123 . „ 130 . ,, 133 . 135 . 11375 . ,, 139 . ,, 144 . „ 148 . „ 150 Pl
PP
. . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . .
7, '
5 :513 4
' ':' ' ' 111111:166 6665555: 64 92351 „ 165 „ ,,,,, , ' ,,
166 67 :1;; 173 146
SCHOOL OUTFITS ARE A PROBLEM Owing to manufacturers being wholly
employed on
Govern-
ment contracts we are at the moment unable to supply many of
the Grammar
Garments.
We
School
will do our
utmost to fit your boy with a serviceable school outfit.
ESSLEMONT & MACINTOSH (RETAILERS) LTD.
UNION STREET, ABERDEEN
" I need good food" —and this is where you can get it ! We always have a fresh stock of all well-known dog foods including Spratt's, Spillers, etc.
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Pot and Pearl Barley Barley Meal Hay and Straw Coal and Firewood Poultry and Bird Food Moss Litter Manures
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IIIT V -
. - 41
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Al j
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4 F1*,_ • _ 1 _ ' ,' ' • • A`.0P1 i ,77 :1/
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TRUSTING TO
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 6and year : No. z58 (New Series, S3rd year, No. 149)
Vol. XLIX
JULY 2946
No. a
The " Grammar School Magazine " is issued under the auspices of The Former Pupils' Club, twice a year at present—in January and July. All communications with regard to the " Magazine" should be addressed to the Editor. THEODORE WATT, M.A., LL.D., The University Press, 6 Upper Kirkgate, Aberdeen. -
Resignation of the F.P. Club Secretary. At the first General Meeting of the Club held since the outbreak of war, Dr. Theodore Watt intimated his resignation from the posts of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer of our Club, which he has held since 1919. Twenty-seven years is a long and notable period of service, but it is surpassed by the period of thirty-nine years during which Dr. Watt has acted as Editor of the Magazine. In his capable hands the " Grammar Mag." has become admittedly the best school magazine in the country : and it was with profound relief and thankfulness that the General Meeting, in accepting Dr. Watt's resignation as Secretary and Treasurer, were informed that it is his intention to continue his editorship until such time as an " assistant and successor " can be found. Few schools can have boasted a more loyal son than Dr. Watt, and few F.P. Clubs a more devoted servant. With Grammarians at home and overseas he has kept in constant touch, despite all the distractions and difficulties of the times ; and there is no department of our Club's activities which does not owe much to his enthusiasm, business ability, driving power, and common sense. At the General Meeting the Chairman of Executive, Mr. Lennox Riddell, voiced the feelings not only of those present but of all our far-flung members, when he expressed the Club's gratitude to Dr. Watt for his magnificent services alike to Club and School. It was only fitting—and surely there is no honour which Dr. Watt will value more—that the Club should mark its appreciation by appointing him its President. In his place the Club are fortunate ill having secured the services of Mr. J. Scott MacLachlan, LL.B., advocate in Aberdeen. A keen and able business man, a lover of sport and, as such, in touch with our younger members, and (like his predecessor) an F.P. of devoted loyalty, Mr. MacLachlan is well qualified to carry on the affairs of our Club upon the high standard which Dr. Watt has set. In his new labours he is assured of the wholehearted support of Grammarians W. D. S. in this country and abroad.
9o
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
A Message to Former Pupils. January's letter recorded the return of most of the Staff from the Services ; and when at Easter we welcomed back Mr. Hemingway and Mr. McCrea, the restoration was complete. Both these Masters rounded off their wartime service with an experience of great interest ; Mr. Hemingway with a year's sojourn in the East, from which the Art work of the School should gain in colour and richness of fancy ; Mr. McCrea by a spell as Army tutor at Newbattle Abbey, which may well have yielded fresh insight into the perennial problems of the classroom. On Mr. Hemingway's return the Central School promptly claimed Miss E. C. Horne, who had been on loan to us for four years. We were sweir to part with Miss Home, for her conquest of the Grammar School had been decisive. To the direction of the Art Department she brought a most infectious keenness and a compelling efficiency ; the whole life of the School was the better for a personality so lively, generous, and sane. Not content with retrieving an indispensable Miss Horne, the Central School then proceeded to spirit away our newly-restored Mr. Niven Mackenzie and to set him over its Modern Languages Department. We could not but applaud their judgment, however much we might deplore its exercise, and no churlish lamentations come between us and our pleasure in this important promotion of one whose worth as teacher and man has long been patent to us all. It will be a sadly changed Grammar School when the coming of a new Games Master is no longer a major event, and I know how keen will be your interest in the appointment of Captain James M. Hunter. If you are in contact with a Grammar boy, you will need no assurance of mine that we have got the right man, but I add my confirmation that Mr. Hunter's outstanding record as a student and an athlete, his six years' service in the Army, and the very promising start he made in Allan Glen's School, Glasgow, all warrant the confident hope that in him we have a first-rate successor to Mr. MacGregor. The appointment of a fully qualified teacher to this important post reflects a changed outlook which sees the physical education of boys as indivisibly one, and regards games not as desirable extras but as an integral part of something which needs both the gymnasium and the playing-field for its balanced completeness. It is with gratitude that I record a number of recent gifts to the School. A prize for Commercial Subjects has been established by Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Cheyne, in memory of their son, William D. Cheyne ; a very fine turning-lathe has been gifted to the School workshop by Mr. and Mrs. C. L. England, in memory of Denys and John ; a Former Pupil has presented a beautiful trophy for Athletics, in memory of Eric W. Trail ; and Mr. W. S. Bell has instituted " The Russell-Bell Memorial Library ", in memory of his son. This last benefaction, which is amply endowed to provide for expansion and for the replacement of books, will enrich the Library by some i5oo to zoo° volumes suitable for the boys of the Middle School.
By courtesy of " The Press and fournal". •
PRESENTATION TO LIEUT.-COLONEL DUNCAN MACGREGOR 8 March 1946.
Left to right—Lieut.-Colonel MacGregor, Mrs. MacGregor, Mrs. Robertson, Mr. J. J. Robertson (Rector).
Aberdeen Grammar Sebool Magazine
91 If the session just ending has been made bright by the passing of war and the restoration of many whom war had taken from us, it has none the less been a period of unusual difficulty and unsettlement ; for repeated changes of staff and time-table have their inevitable effects, and we have suffered, too, from long delays we could not prevent in the filling of very responsible posts. Moreover, we still await the decisions of the authorities on two matters that must vitally affect our future : the status of the School under the new salary scales and the continuance or abolition of fees. Though comment is denied me, I may without impropriety suggest that our reactions to these imminent decisions are likely to be wise and, on a long view, helpful in proportion as we hold fast to two things —a simple loyalty to the School that is ours, and a sense of scale. The former may well dispose different persons to act differently; the latter should enable us all alike to see what is happening against the background of seven hundred years of history and of a contemporary world in the grip of convulsive change. J. J. R. Church Service. It is hoped to hold a Special Grammar School Service in Rubislaw Church on Sunday, 15 September, at 3 p.m. A first intimation is given now, in order that pupils, staff, parents, and F.P.s may keep the date free.
" Duncan Mac." With the resignation of Mr. Duncan MacGregor, M.B.E., another stalwart leaves the ranks of the School staff. For the period between the two wars " Duncan Mac " controlled the athletic side of the boys' instruction—and right well did he do it. His post was, I think, unique in Scottish schools, as he taught games only. But how well did he justify himself I There can never be another quite the same and there must be hundreds—yes, thousands—of Former Pupils scattered around the globe who have happy memories of times spent at Rubislaw Field under Mac's watchful eye. I count myself one of the lucky ones to have spent all my time at the School when Duncan Mac was there. But of the earliest days perhaps my memories are not so pleasant. How many of us can remember in our early years being sent to Rubislaw on a wintry afternoon by a fond and careful mother with " something warm " beneath our jerseys and, be it whispered, perhaps even beneath our shorts 1 Flow scathing could be the comments from the Master of the Field, delivered to our youthful ears in ringing tones and in that delightful accent which Mac never lost, despite his years in the North. What a wealth of meaning he conveyed in those two words " silly boy". And, too, the awful threats delivered to us before we started on those early summer cross-country runs—those miserable twilight days between the dusk of Rugby and the dawn of Cricket. After
92
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
hearing those words of warning, he was indeed a brave youth who dared to take the short cut I But as we grew older, we also grew to realize that everything was being done for our own good and to appreciate how much work Mac put in on our behalf. Year after year he produced School teams of a standard to hold their own with any in Scotland. His keenness was infectious and one could not help putting in a little extra effort after hearing his encouraging and inspiring talks. He never allowed keenness to develop beyond reason and was a martinet for discipline. He instilled a sense of fair-play into us all and stamped out immediately any sign of pettiness or doubtful tactics. Play to win, by all means, but play the game fair was the essence of his advice. Cricket, Athletics, Tennis, and Swimming were by no means neglected in our instruction, but one always felt that Duncan rather regretted and begrudged the months of April to August, as if he considered Rubislaw rather incomplete without Rugby posts. His interest did not cease when a boy left School, and he was an invaluable friend and adviser to the F.P. Athletic Sections in Aberdeen. I feel it is no exaggeration to say that no one man has done more to further the claims to recognition of North Rugby than the exuberant and indefatigable Mac. And would it be too much to suggest that in his own sphere "Athleta" was, pre-I939, as widely read as " Scrutator " ? Yes, with his departure the School loses a character—I use that term in no disparaging sense—and a loyal friend, who worked tirelessly in his chosen sphere with a devotion to be envied in these days of divided loyalties. We can but wish him well in the future, and that, at least, we can do most sincerely and gratefully. J. S. M.
A Successor to Byron. In a Reuter telegram from Athens in February of this year it was announced that the Town Council of Missolonghi, where Byron died in 1824 while taking part in the Greek War of Independence, had decided to confer the freedom of the City on Mr. Ernest Bevin, who was officially described as "continuer of Byron's struggle for the independence of Greece". Speaking at the Security Council in February Mr. Bevin said that it was a great " Englishman " who had helped to win the freedom of Greece, Lord Byron. [Byron himself boasted that he was " half a Scot by birth, and bred a whole one ".] Mr. Bevin's motive, since he had been Foreign Secretary, was, in honour of the memory of Byron, to help Greece to win her survival and her vital struggle.
University Arts Bursary Competition. As this number of the Magazine goes to press, it has been announced that three out of four of the bursaries in the first group (£7o) have been won by Grammar School pupils—Bernard Anton, Alexander M. Cain, and John B. McLeod.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
93
The Toll of the War. As a Memorial of F.P.s who have fallen in the War will almost certainly be erected in the School and their record included in a published Roll of Service, the subjoined briefly annotated list has been prepared. This list contains i 84 names, but probably it is not complete, owing to the deaths of some F.P.s not having been announced locally or for some other reason not having yet been noted. The Editor of the Magazine will be grateful to anyone who draws attention to any omission or supplies place and exact date of death. The following table shows the distribution in the Services of the fallen :— Royal Navy, R.N.R., R.N.V.R. Army . . . R. A .F. • Fleet Air Arm • Merchant Navy Civilians . •
9
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• • . . .
Commissioned Non-commissioned Officers. Officers and Men. 10 4
48 42 7 3 o
19 4z
IIO
72
z
5 z
Total.
14 67 84 9 8 2 — 184
The first F.P. death was that of Alexander Moir Walker, Kenya Defence Force, who died on zo October 1939; and the most recently recorded is that of Lieut.-Colonel Gilbert W. Rose, who died on zi April 1946. The oldest F.P. in the list is Colonel William B. Rennie, R.A.M.C., who had reached the age of 58, and the youngest is Cadet William F. Jenkins, who was only 17 years and 5 months. No fewer than 3z had not attained the age of 21. Anderson, George Edmond (1934-37), Sergeant, R.A.F., Burma, 25 May 1943, aged 21. Anderson, Harry Bews (1921-27), M.A., Leading Naval Airman, Fleet Air Arm, Autumn 1441, aged 25. Anderson, John (1921-34), Sergeant Pilot, R.A.F., Schleswig, it May 1941, aged 26. Bain, John Eric (1908-13), Colonel, Indian Army Reserve, Bombay, 14 April 1 944, aged 45. Ball, Peter Coryndon Luxmoore- (192429), Lieutenant, The Welsh Guards, Normandy, August 1944, aged 28. Ballantyne, James Shearer Wood (192738), Aircraftman (znd Class), R.A.F., IIull, 8 )fay 1941, aged 19. Baxter, Robert George Leslie (1930-33), Wing Commander, R.A.F., July 1943, aged 27. Begg, Alexander Thomson (19oo-io), Captain, Singapore Defence Force, Prisoners-of-war Camp, Malaya. Born 1894.
Bell, David Mathieson (I93o-35), Warrant Officer, R.A.F., Italy, November 1944, aged 21. Bell, John Russell Stewart (1928-41), Acting Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.V.R., March 1 944, aged 20. Benzie, Walter George Swan (1917-19), B.Sc., Major, Royal Tank Regiment, Middle East, June 1942, aged 3i. Bisset, George Davidson (1918-31), Captain, No. 9 Commando, Italy, 16 April 1945, aged 32. Black, Ian Campbell Bennett (193o-39), Pilot Officer, R.A.F., Germany, December 1943, aged 21. Blackball,Harold Anderson (1922-29), Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.V.R., H.M.S. Vortigern,-North Sea, 15 March 1942, aged z6. Blackball, Leonard John (1929-39), Leading Aircraftman, R.A.F., Iraq, 13 May 1941, aged 19. Brown, John (1924-26), and Lieutenant, North Staffordshire Regiment, 1940, aged 21.
94
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Bruce, Andrew H. (1922-37), Lieutenant, The Gordon Highlanders, El Alamein, 3 November 1942, aged 25. Burnett, George Allan (1926-37), Major, Royal Artillery, Burma, May 1944, aged 22. Burr, John Lundie Michie (1922-32), Prisoner-of-war, Thai Camp, Malaya, 1 August 1943, aged z6. Cheer, Leonard Massie (1921-30), Lieutenant (A), R.N.V.R., Madagascar, 25 September 1942, aged 28. Cheyne, William David (1929-40), Flying Officer, R.A.F., March 1945, aged 21. Chuter, Ernest Rex (1930-31), Sergeant, R.A.F., 1941, aged 22. Cookie, .Alastair Mackenzie (1923-36), Sergeant Observer, R.A.F., off Jutland, September 1942, aged 24. Connon, James Whyte (1928-39), Cadet Officer, Merchant Navy, Liverpool, 17 November 1942, aged 19. Cormack, Ian Maxwell (1936-39), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F., Malta, March 1942, aged 21. Cormack, William Scott (1928-33), Lieutenant, The Queen's Royal Regiment, North Africa, February 1943, aged 27. Coulter, James Ronald (1923-32), Corporal, The Hussars, Ranchi, Bihar, India, 5 June 1942, aged 23. Craig, George (1920-27), Skipper, R.N.V.R., off Normandy, 29 July . 1944, aged 33 Craigmile, Harry George (1923-26), Pilot Officer, R.A.F., February 1941, aged z6. Cruickshank, John Milne Rigg (192336), Sergeant Pilot, R.A.F., Berlin, July 1941, aged 23. Davidson, James Mcarns (1927-37), 13.Sc. (Eng.), Flying Officer, R.A.F., Middle East, June 1943, aged 24. Davidson, William (1932-42), Flying Officer, R.A.F., Italy, December 1944, aged 20. Dawson, Alexander George (1921-26), M.A., Squadron Leader, R.A.F., June 1944, aged z8. Dewar, Frederick Scott Thomson (192;29), 3rd Radio Officer, Merchant Navy, December 1942, aged 30. Dingwall, Ronald Grant (1912-21), O.13.E., M.B., Ch.B., Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander, R.N., H.M.S. Gloucester, off Crete, May 1941, aged 37. Donaldson, John (1922-27), Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, Tunisia, May 1943, aged 30.
Drennan, Robert Norman (1926-39), Temporary (Acting) Sub-Lieutenant (A), R.N.V.R., at sea, 3 April 1944. aged 23. Duffus, Sydney (1911-17), B.A. (Cantab.), LL.B. (Aberd.), Major, Royal Artillery (T.A.), Aberdeen, 4 August 1941, aged 37. Dunningham, Douglas (1912-23), Lieutenant, R.N.R., to April 1946, aged 38. England, Denys William (1927-35), M.C., B.Sc.(Eng.), Captain, Royal Engineers, Italy, August 1944, aged z6. England, John Martin Harry (1930-35), Lance-Corporal, The Scots Guards, Italy, 28 May 1944, aged 19. Eason, Stephen George (192 9-34), Pilot Officer, R.A.P., June 1940, aged 21. Fiddes, John (1928-33), M.B., Ch.B., Flying Officer, R.A.F.V.R., December 1941, aged 26. Firth, John Alexander George (1931;4), Sergeant, R.A.F., Germany, 6 May 1942, aged 23. Firth, Thorold Anderton (1931-32 and 1934-35), Sergeant, R.A.F., England, 3 July 1944, aged 22. Fleming, Robert David Spittal (192537), Pilot Officer, K.A.F., Battle of Britain, September 1940, aged zo. Forbes, Hugh Thomas Christopher (1933-38), Gunner Signaller, Royal Artillery, North Africa, March 1943, aged 2 t. Forbes, James Francis (1921-27), C.A., Warrant Officer, R.A.F., France, Autumn 1944, aged 34. Forbes, Thomas Joseph Macrae (193;41), Trooper, t 3 it 8th llussars, R.A.C., East Holland, z8 March 1945, aged 20. Fraser, Henry Alexander Shaw (19,827), Sergeant Air-Gunner, R.A.P., January 1943, aged 33. Fraser, William George (1927-33), Lieutenant, The Gordon Highlanders, N.W. Europe, 9 February 1 945, aged 28. Frost, John Davidson (1927-39), Sergeant Air-Gunner, R.A.F.V.R., September 1942, aged 20. Fyfe, Ian Ross (1926-33), Pilot Officer, R.A.F., Great Britain, October 1941, aged 19. Galloway, Angus Frederic (1921-22), B.A.(Cantab.), Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, Dunkirk, June 1940, aged 25. Gauld, Edgar Alexander (1925-39), Sergeant Wireless-Operator and AirGunner, R.A.F., March 1944, aged 23.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Geddes, Alexander McPherson (192639), Sergeant, R.A.F., Kid Bay, 18 April 1944, aged 22. Gibb, George Leask (1928-41), Sergeant Air-Bomber, R.A.F., Germany, July 1943, aged zo. Gilchrist, Harry Bethune (1926-33), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F., Great Britain, September 1941, aged 24. Galan, James (1920-32), Flying Officer, R.A.F., Battle of Britain, August 1940, aged z6. Glennie, Harry William (1934-39), Lieutenant, The Gordon Highlanders, Normandy, July 1944, aged 21. Goodbrand, Edward IIutcheon (192834), Lieutenant (A), R.N.V.R., at sea, June 1945, aged 22. Gordon, Douglas William (1908-09), Major, The Gordon Highlanders, France, June 1940, aged 4o. Grant, Angus William (1926-30), B.Sc. (Agr.), Captain, Royal Artillery, Italy, November 1944, aged 31. Grant, John (1921-33), M.C. and Bar, Major, The Gordon Highlanders, France, August 1944, aged 29. Grant, William Mitchell (1923-34), Lieutenant, The Gordon Highlanders, North Africa, February 1943, aged 24. Gruer, Lawrence Ilarold (1927-3z), Sergeant Pilot, R.A.F., 3o July 1941, zo.
Haine, Kenneth John (1926-37), Sergeant Pilot, R.A.F., zo September 1941, aged zz. Hall, Lawrence Graham Murray (191732), Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.V.R., Walcheren, i November 1944, aged 22. Halley, William Alexander Munro (1929-i5), Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R., 4 May 1941, aged 18. Hay, James Vincent (1926-35), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F., at sea off Isle of Wight, 31 December 1944, aged 28. Hendrick, Charles Albert (1906-15), Lieutenant-Colonel, Indian Army, Malaya, December 1941, aged 43. Hendry, Allan Cruickshank (1936-37), Sergeant Pilot, R.A.F., Ferry Command, 1941, aged 22. Hoops, Douglas Harry Mostyn- (1928;3), A.R.C.M., Trooper, Lothians and Border Yeomanry, Tunisia, February 1943, aged zo. Hutcheson, John Peter (1934-40), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F., Italy, March 1944, aged 22. Hutchison, Alexander Burnett (192329), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R., May 1942, aged z3. Ingram, William John Sivewright (1905-06), M.C., M.B., Ch.B., Colonel,
95
Indian Medical Service, Cairo, June 1944, aged 54. Innes, Douglas Alexander Watt (192739), Sergeant Observer, R.A.F., September 1942, aged zo. Irvine, James Graham ( t 927-38), Lieutenant (A), R.N.V.R., 7 September 1944, aged 25. Jamieson, John Alexander Barrie (1928;5), Sergeant Pilot, R.A.F.V.R., Germany, August 1941, aged 19. Jamieson, Ronald David Whamond (1928-4O, Bomber Pilot, R.A.F., Germany, 24 March 1944, aged 20. Jenkins, Alexander James (1934-40), D.F.C., Flying Officer, R.A.F., Italy, 12 September 1944, aged 22. Jenkins, William Fraser (1931-32 and 1936-38), Cadet, Merchant Navy, March 1942, aged 17. Johnstone, Ian Alexander Bruce (192327), M.A., LL.B., Pilot Officer, R.A.F., 12 March 1942, aged 26. Kavanagh, Desmond T. (1924-29), Captain, Airborne Division, October 1 944, aged 25. Kemp, Alexander Smith Black (1907t6), 3rd Engineer, s.s. Stancliffe, April 1940, aged 38. Lennie, David Strang (1937-42), Sergeant Rear-Gunner, R.A.F., Holland, 8 February 1945, aged 19. Lister, Rev. Hugh Evelyn (1910-16), Major, The Welsh Guards, N.W. Europe, September 1944, aged 43. Low, Ritchie Allan (1915-27), Lieutenant, The Gurkha Rifles, Burma, April 1945, aged 34. Ludwig, Charles (1916-26), M.B., Ch.B., Pilot Officer, R.A.F., January 1942, aged ;o. Macdonald, Alastai r David (1922-25), M.A., Lieutenant, The Royal Norfolk Regiment, at sea off Sumatra, 28 February 1942, aged 29. Macdonald, John Macpherson (1 9z426), Lieutenant (A), Royal Navy, October 1942, aged 24. MacGregor, lain Charles Fordyce (1919-20), Leading Aircraftman, R.A.F., Prisoner-of-war in Japanese hands, aged 34. McIntyre, Edward Mackie (1922-33), M.M., Lance-Sergeant, Royal Engineers, North Africa, April 1943, aged 27. Maclver, Norman Crichton (1928-34), M.A., Pilot Officer, R.A.F., Belgian Coast, 22 March 1941, aged 23. Mackay, Dennis Lorraine (192 4-29), Leading Stoker, H.M.S. Fiji, off Crete, May 1941, aged 24.
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Mackenzie, Alistair Campbell (1928;6), Lieutenant, The Argyll and Sutherland IIighlanders, 20 August 1941, aged 23. McKenzie, John Woffenden (1927-37), Pilot Officer, R.A.F., Battle of Britain, 11 August 1940, aged zo. Mackenzie, Roy Alexander Grant (1939-41), Sub-Lieut. (A), R.N.V.R., Wincanton, Somerset, zo June 1945, aged at. Mackintosh, Malcolm Hugh Alexander (1936-37), Private, 5th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, France, tz June 194o, aged 2 I . McLean, Alexander George (1929-39), Flying Officer, R.A.F.V.R., October 1944, aged zz. MacLeod, John Bruce (1936-39), Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R., Bomber Cornmand, December 1941, aged 21. MacMillan, John MacKenzie (192229), M.13., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C., Middle East, 28 July 1942, aged 3o. Macpherson, George John (1933-40), Sergeant, R.A.F., February 1944, aged 23. McPherson, James (5934-37), engineer, Aberdeen (through enemy action), tz July 1940, aged 19. Maitland, Robert Rcid (1932-35), M.13., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C., Normandy, 7 June 1444, aged 27. Massie, James (Hamish) MacPhail (1918-31), and Radio Officer, Merchant Navy, at sea, September 1941, aged 28. Meikle, John Cunningham (1931-33), and Lieutenant, Durham Light Infantry, Libya, 15 May 1941, aged 24. Meikle, Robert Coulson (1931-33), znd Lieutenant, Durham Light Infantry, Libya, 15 May 1941, aged 24. Melvin, Louis Kay (1917-zo), Second Officer, Merchant Navy, at sea, 26 August 1944, aged 41. Menzies, William McDonald (1933-36), Pilot Officer, R.A.F., Middle East, September 1942, aged 24. Mercer, Norman Alexander (1925-29), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F., Milan, Italy, 25 October 1942, aged 22. Michie, James Barnett (1924-27), Flight Lieutenant, No. 467 Squadron, .A.A.F., Germany, 19 February 1943, aged . Middleton, Stuart Auldjo (1918-29) (C.A.), D.F.C., Squadron Leader, R.A.F., France, December 1941, aged 29. Milne, Andrew Gordon (1926-35), M.A., Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R., Germany, September 1941, aged 23.
Milne, Douglas Wilson (1921-23), C.A., Captain, The Cameron Highlanders, France, October 1944, aged 3z. Milne, Kenneth David (1925-3z), and Lieutenant, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, Middle East, 15 March 1941, aged 22. Milne, William Francis (19:5-29), Private, Australian Infantry, New Guinea, December 194z, aged 3o. Moir, Alastair Ian Taylor (1928-33), D.F.C., Pilot Officer, R.A.F., May 1 943, aged 23. Moir, John Manwaring Steward (193740), Sergeant Air-Gunner, R.A.F., Middle East, 27 September 1942, aged 19. Mollison, George Pirie (1929-40), Sub-Lieutenant (A), Fleet Air Arm, R.N.V.R., April 1942, aged zo. Morrison, James Maconachie (1928-33), Captain, Indian Army, Middle East, June 1942, aged 24. Munro, Robert Philp (1929-36), Licutenant, Royal Corps of Signals, France, June 1940, aged zi. Murray, Arthur Nfeldni ITI ( I 935-37), Leading Aireraftman, Fleet Air Arm, 17 January 1941, aged zo. Ogilvie, James Henderson (191I-15), Major, Royal Artillery, India, 25 April 1944, aged 38. Ogston, Alexander William (1922-35), Pilot Officer, R.A.F., August 1945, aged z5. Orr, Donald Noel Boyd (1927-36), Sergeant, R.A.F., November 1941, aged zo. Paterson, George Murray (1934-37), Private, R.A.M.C., in military hospital, z9 January 1942, aged 20. Paul, John William (1929-36), Sergeant Pilot,R.A.F., September 1941, aged 23. Peasland, Charles Willox (1936-37), Flying Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, Holland—death officially presumed March 1944, aged 22. Petrie, Kenneth Dunbar (1 92 5-37). Leading Asdic Rating, R.N. Patrol Service, at sea, 3 March 5 945, aged 24. Porteous, William Ford Watson (193034). D.S.O., D.F.M. and Bar, Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R., France, zo May 1944, aged 23. RairMie, Robert Albert (1914-18), Malayan Volunteer Force, Singapore, February 1942, aged 4o. Rebecca, Edward Sutherland Pryor (1923-35), Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, Germany, 3 March 1945, aged z6. Reid, Douglas Finnic (1934-41), FlightSergeant Air-Bomber, R.A.F., Germany, 24 March 1 945, aged as.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Reid, Thomas Campbell (1933-39), Lance-Corporal, The Gordon Highlanders, Middle East, 23 October 1942, aged 22. Rennie, Basil John Allan (1926-27), M.C., Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R., 19 October 1942, aged 26. Rennie, Tom Gordon (1908-1o), C.B., D.S.O., M.B.E., Major-General, The Black Watch (R.H.R.), Germany, March 1945, aged 45. Rennie, William Benton (1898-1902), M.C., M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.M.C. Wellington, South India, 4 July 2 943, aged 58. Riddel, Alexander Arbuthnot Rodger (1926-34), Lieutenant (A), R.N.V.R., March 1943, aged z6. Robertson, John Moir (1923-29), Private, The Gordon Highlanders, Middle East, October 1942, aged 31. Robertson, Kenneth Hood (1935-41), Sergeant Pilot, R.A.F., Muchalls, Kincardineshire, 23 September 1943, aged zo. Rose, Gilbert Wol ridge (1900-09), M.B., Ch.B., Lieut.-Colonel, R.A.M.C., Ahmadnagar, India, 21 April 1946, aged 53. Rose, John Alexander (x921-26), Signalman, Royal Corps of Signals, Middle East, April 1944, aged 28. Ross, Charles Hugh Eddie (5920-31), M.A., Sergeant Observer, R.A.F., February 1943, aged 28. Ross, Harry (1935-41 ), Flying Officer, R.A.F., January 1945, aged 22. Ross, James Matthew (1923-35), Leading Aircraftman, R.A.F., N.W. Frontier Province, India, zz July 1940, aged az. Rowton, Geoffrey Allen (192o-31), B.A., LL.B., Major, Royal Artillery, Burma, February 1945, aged 32. Sandison, Hamish Ian (1933-40), FlightSergeant, R.A.F., Lee-on-Solent, 13 February 1946, aged 21. Sang, John ( i 931-35), Corporal, The Welch Regiment, Buena, 5 April 1945, aged 25. Scorgie, William Robert (1933-41), Private, The London Scottish, N.W. Europe, September 1944, aged 19. Scott, Alan Milne (1919-24), B.A. (Cantab.), Squadron Leader, R.A.F., Scotland, 5 November 194o, aged z6. Scott, John Michael (1941-4z), Ordinary Seaman, R.D.F., in aircraft carrier Avenger, North Africa, November 1942, aged 19. Scott, Wynne Jarvie (1924-36), Lieutenant, The Border Regiment, India, July 1942, aged 23.
97 Seggie, Ian Alexander (1923-34), Hying Officer, R.A.F., November 1941, aged 23. Sharp, John Hall Davidson (1925-27), M.A., B.L., Captain, The Gordon Highlanders, Egypt, 26 October 1942, aged 32. Shepherd, James Gordon (192o-29), Lieutenant, R.N.R., of£ Normandy, June 1944, aged 3o. Skene, Charles Pearson (1918-25), Private First Class, American Army, Saipan Island, South Pacific, rr July 1944, aged 35. Awarded Purple Heart. Smith, Sydney Robertson (1928-37), Lieutenant, The Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C., Arnhem, zo September 1944, aged at. Sorley, Ernest Robert (1906-18), M.D., Ch.B., D.P.H., Surgeon Commander, R.N., H.M.S. Barham, 25 November 1941, aged 38. Stanion, Vernon William Lamond (192o-23), D.F.C., Squadron Leader, R.A.F.V.R., England, December 1942, aged 35. Stewart, Allan James (1901-07), Corporal, R.A.F., August 1940, aged 48. Stewart, John Maxwell (1925-35), A.F.M., Flying Officer, R.A.F.V.R., Germany, April 1943, aged 24. Stewart, Robert Andrew (1932-34), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F., Italy, February 1944, aged 27. Sutherland, Brian Alexander (193o-33), Engine-room Artificer, Royal Navy, June 1940, aged 22. Tait, Alastair (1907-17), M.B., Ch.B., Lieutenant-Colonel, Indian Medical Service, India, r t April 1942, aged 42. Thom, James Cowie (1914-26), M.C., M.A., Ch.B., Captain, R.A.M.C., Normandy, August 1944, aged 36. Thompson, Edward Mackson (1926-28), D.F.C., Acting Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R., November 1943, aged 29. Thomson, Alastair Drummond (192729), M.A., Lieutenant, Mahratta Light Infantry, August 1944, aged 2 i . Thomson, Alexander (1918-22), Chief Engineer, Merchant Navy, off North Coast of Africa, at January 1945, aged 38. Tocher, Ian Fowler (1926-34), Lieutenant, The Black Watch, N.W. Europe, March 1945, aged 23. Trail, Eric William (1929-41), FlightSergeant, R.A.F., S.E.A.C., September 1945, aged as. Walker, Alexander Moir (1913-18), Kenya Defence Force, Nairobi, zo October 1939, aged 38.
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Watt, Charles Chamberlin MacCulloch (1922-27), Flying Officer, Auxiliary Air Force, April 1941, aged 24. Watt, George Theodore Robertson (1918-31), M.B., Ch.B., Surgeon Lieutenant, R.N.V.R., H.M.S. Wryneck, off Greece, 27 April 1941, aged 28. Watt, Robert Allan Stewart (1924-36), M.B., Ch.B., Lieutenant, R.A.M.C., at sea, July 1943, aged 24. Weighill, Reginald George (1915-18), Squadron Leader, R.A.F., August 1941, aged 35. Will, Gordon Bowman (1929-31), M.S., Ch.B., Flying Officer, R.A.F., April 1942, aged 26. Wilson, Raymond Graham (1 906-12 and 191 5 - I 7), A.M.I.C.E., Prisonerof-war, Malai Camp, Malaya, 28 April 1944, aged 43.
Worling, John Paterson Smith (192635), Sergeant Observer, R.A.F.V.R., April 1942, aged as. Wright, John Thomson (1924-25), Sergeant W/T Gunner, R.A.F., Germany, April 1942, aged 22. Wyness, James 1 lark ins Mackenzie (1933-39), M.C., Captain, Royal Artillery, military hospital in Birmingham, February 1945, aged z3. Wyness, William Harkins (1938-39), Cadet, Merchant Navy, at sea off Canary Islands, 14 July 1942, aged 20. Young, Donald James (1925-36), Pilot Officer, R.A.F., England, 6 August 1940, aged 19. Yule, Charles Dunbar (1936-39), Private, The Gordon Highlanders, Normandy, August 1944, aged zo.
War Honours 1940-1946. The following is a complete list of the War Honours conferred on F.P.s that have been recorded in the Magazine since 1939. Probably some awards have not been noted and the Editor will be glad to be informed of these. Honours conferred on civilians for services not explicitly connected with the War have been omitted. JOHN ALEXANDER R.A.F.V.R.
Victoria Cross (V.C.). CRUICKSHANK ( I 9z6-29),
Flight
Lieutenant,
Knight Grand Cross of the British Empire Order (G.B.E.). The Right Hon. ROBERT, BARON ALNESS (1884-85), P.C., M.A., LL.D., President and Chairman, Scottish Savings Committee. Knight Commander of the Bath (K.C.B.). Sir WILLIAM WILSON JAMESON ( I 892- I 902), M.A., M.D., LL.D., Chief Medical Officer to the Ministry of Health. Knights Bachelor. PATRICK ASHLEY COOPER (1896-1901), B.A., LL.B., Director-General of Finance and Contracts, Ministry of Supply. HUBERT DOUGLAS HENDERSON (190 I -04), M. B.E., M.A., LL.D., Member of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Consultative Council. Companions of the Bath (C.B.). ROBERT BRUCE (1886-89), D.S.O., T.D., M.A., M.D., Honorary Colonel, The Gordon Highlanders. RUDOLF WILLIAM GALLOWAY (1902-06), C.B.E., D.S.O., M.B., Ch.B., Major-General, late R.A.M.C.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 99 CLARENCE EDWARD GREESON (1902-05), M.D., Surgeon Rear-Admiral, R.N. THOMAS GORDON RENNIE (1908-I0), D.S.O., M.B.E., Major-General, The Black Watch. DONALD FASKEN STEVENSON (1902-03), C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., Air Vice-Marshal, R.A.F. JAMES NOEL THOMSON (1896-1900), D.S.O., M.C., Major-General, late R.A. Companion of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.). PATRICK ALEXANDER BRUCE MCKERRON (1904-10), Colonel, Deputy
Head, Malayan Planning Unit.
Commanders of the British Empire Order (C.B.E.). DOUGLAS GORDON CHEYNE (1901-05), M.C., M.D., Colonel, R.A.M.C. RUDOLF WILLIAM GALLOWAY (1902-06), D.S.O., M.B., Ch.B., Brigadier,
late R.A.M.C.
DAVID PROUDFOOT LEVACK (1906-09), M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.M.C. JOHN MOIR MACKENZIE (1903-08), M.C.; T.D., M.A., M.B., Ch.B.,
Brigadier, R.A.M.C. JAMES MELVIN (1904-I0), M.C., M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.M.C. DONALD FASKEN STEVENSON (1902-03), D.S.O., M.C., Air Vice-
Marshal, R.A.F.
WILLIAM LAW WATSON (1894-96), A.M.Inst.C.E., Head of the Engineering Contracts Branch, Crown Agents for the Colonies. Companions of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.). GEORGE ALEXANDER LEDINGHAM (1894- I 905), M.C., T.D., Lieut.-
Colonel, R.A. (T.A.).
GEORGE YULE MACKIE (1933-35), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R. WILLIAM FORD WATSON PORTEOUS (1930-34), Flight Lieutenant,
R. A. F.V.R.
ROBERT BERTRAM WILLIAMSON (1906-I8), T.D., LL.B., Major, R.C.S. Officers of the British Empire Order (O.B.E.). ALEXANDER SMITH ANDERSON (1903-09), Lieut.-Colonel, 4th Aberdeen
Battalion Home Guard. NIGEL SMART COWAN (1924-28), B.Sc.(Eng.), Lieut.-Colonel, R.E. ALEXANDER CRUICKSHANK (191I-17), M.D., Senior Medical Inspector,
Equatorial Province, Sudan.
RONALD GRANT DINGWALL (1912-2I), M.B., Ch.B., Surgeon Lieut.-
Commander, R.N. JAMES CArrO DUFFUS (1897-1904), M.C., LL.B.,
Controller, Civil
Defence Services, Aberdeen. GODFREY POWER GEDDES (1903- it),
D.S.O., T.D., Colonel, The Gordon 1 lighlanders. DOUGLAS WILLIAM GORDON (1908-09), Majnr, The Gordon Highlanders.
I oo
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ALFRED WILLIAM GRAFTON (1912-22), C.A., General Secretary, Motor Agents' Association, Ltd. RONALD JOHN KEIR (1924-32), Squadron Leader, R.A.F. ROBERT MACKAY LEDINGHAM (1897-1909), T.D., M.A., LL.B., Lieut.Colonel, 7th Aberdeen Battalion Home Guard. GEORGE HORATIUS MACKENZIE (1907-13), M.A., B.Sc., Assistant Production Manager, Imperial Chemical Industries (Explosives), Ltd. ALASTAIR MACLENNAN (1923-29), M.B., Ch.B., Lieut.-Colonel, R.A.M.C. ROBERT JAMES MAITLAND (1912-18), Major, R.E. JAMES MELVIN (1904-I0), M.C., M.B., Ch.B., Lieut.-Colonel, R.A.M.C. THOMAS MENZIES (I9o5- to), M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.M.C. PHILIP RENA MITCHELL (1916-22), M.B., Ch.B., Lieut.-Colonel, R.A.M.C. THOMAS PATRICK EDWARD MURRAY (1907-IS), M.A., LL.B., Lieut.Colonel, R.C.S. , RONALD MACLURE SAVEGE (1913-14), M.C., M.B., Ch.B., Lieut.Colonel, R.A.M.C. ROBERT SCARTH (1910-12), Major, Orkney Home Guard. Members of the British Empire Order (M.B.E.). IAN ALFRED ANDERSON (1912-24), B.Sc., M.B., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C. JOSEPH ROBERT CARRY (1918-30), Lieutenant, R.C.S. HENRY IRONSIDE DAVIDSON (1910-17), Colonel, R.E. GEORGE MCNAUGHTON RAE DUFFUS (1920-27), M.B., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C. HAROLD ESSLEMONT (I 91 5-19), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F. ROBERT JOHN ESSLEMONT (1920-23), Chief Officer, Merchant Navy. SIDNEY FREDERICK HARDIE (1905-15), Column Officer, North-Eastern Area of Scotland, N.F.S. JAMES HAY (1893-95), advocate, Member of Aberdeen Harbour Emergency Committee. DUNCAN MACGREGOR, Major, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. JOHN MACDONALD MCKIDDIE (1929-3z), M.B., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C. JOHN DUNCAN MACLENNAN (1923-29), M.D., Major, R.A.M.C. ERIC MCDONALD MUNRO (1912-23), Major, R.E. CECIL ARTHUR GRANT SAVIDGE (1913-24), M.A., Indian Political Service. ALASTAIR GEORGE SHARP (1918-24), M.A., LL.B., Major, The Gordon Highlanders. CHARLES EDWARD SMITH (192I-32), Major, NINIAN BLUNDELL WRIGHT (1910-23), M.A., B.D., Chaplain to the Forces.
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Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.). AVON ALEXANDER BARNET (191I-19), R.D., Commander, R.N.R. IAN HORACE LAING (1925-30), Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.R. GEORGE BROWN CAMERON SANGSTER (1928-37), Lieutenant (A), R.N.V.R. ALEXANDER GORDON SCOTT (1925-29), Lieutenant, R.N.R. Military Cross (M.C.). t Indicates Bar. JOHN GORDON MICHTE BIRSS (1926-38), Captain, The Gordon Highlanders. JAMES SAMUEL DOBSON (1925-39), Captain, R.A. ARTHUR HUTCHISON GILCHRIST (1924-30), Captain, The Gordon Highlanders. DENYS WILLIAM ENGLAND (1927-35), B.Sc. (Eng.), Captain, R.E. WILLIAM FRASER (1922-29), Lieutenant, The Gordon Highlanders. t JOHN GRANT (1921-33), Captain, The Gordon Highlanders. KENNETH TERENCE GRUER (1927-32), Captain, R.H.A. DEREK MARIO MITCHELL KELLAS (1924-35), B.Sc. (For.), Lieutenant, Royal West African Frontier Force. ROBERT NORMAN LEES (1920-33), M.B., Ch.B., Captain, R.A.M.C. RICHARD LEWIS LEITH (1915-19), Major, R.A.C. JOHN KINNEAR MACKAY (1919-33), M.B., Ch.B., Captain, R.A.M.C. JAMES FRASER MCLUSKEY (1920-31), B.D., Chaplain to the Forces. THOMAS JAMES TRAIL NICOL (1930-35), M.A., Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class. WILLIAM MITCHELL PARK (1931-3z), Captain, R.C.S. SAMUEL BOYD RUSSELL (1919-28), Major, R.E. OSWALD GEORGE PROSSER (1907-18), M.B., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C. RODERICK FERGUSON SEMPLE (1927-38), B.Sc. (Eng.), Captain, R.E. JAMFS CAMPBELL WILLIAMSON (1924-34), Major, The Gordon Highlanders. . JAMES HARKINS MACKENZIE WYNESS (1933-39), Captain, R.A. ROBERT PARK YUNNIE (1921-26), Lieutenant, The Black Watch. Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.). f Indicates Bar. DOUGLAS GORDON EMSLIE BENZIE ( I 921-24), Flight Lieutenant, A.A.F. GEORGE MUNRO BOWMAN (1928-37), Flying Officer, R.A.F.V.R. CHARLES MORTIMER MALL (1929-40), Pilot Officer, R.A.F. ALEXANDER JAMES JENKINS (1934-40), Flying Officer, R.A.F.
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GEORGE YULE MACKIE (1933-35), D.S.O., Squadron Leader, R.A.F.V.R. STUART AULDJO MIDDLETON (1918-29), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F. ALASTAIR IAN TAYLOR MOIR (1928-3;), Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R. f DAVID BURGESS Ross (1928-36), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F. f JOHN ALEXANDER TRAGER SIMPSON (1919-28), Flight Lieutenant, R.C.A.F. ROWAND GORDON CHALMERS SKINNER (1935-39), Flying Officer, R.A.F. t FERGUSON GEORGE DONALDSON SMITH (1922-33), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R. VERNON WILLIAM LAMOND STANION (1920-23), Pilot Officer, R.A.F. EDWARD MACKSON THOMPSON (1926-28), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R. NORMAN ROBERTSON WISHART (1927-40), Flying Officer, R.A.F. Air Force Cross (A.F.C.). EDGAR BULMER BRIGHT (1921-31), M.B., Ch.B., Wing Commander, R.A.F. LESLIE DF.ANE MAVOR (1923-33), Squadron Leader, R.A.F. JOHN CHARLES NICOL REID (1925-37), Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F.V.R. ALAN MILNE Scorr (1919-24), Squadron Leader, R.A.F. Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.). HUGH DOUGLAS MACK IN1 OSII (1922-30), Chief Engineroom Artificer, R.N. Distinguished Flying Medal (D.F.M.). t Indicates Bar. DUNCAN MACCALLUM (1929-37), Sergeant, A.A.F. $ WILLIAM FORD WATSON PORTEOUS (1930-34), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F. Military Medal (M.M.). GEORGE FF.TTES FALCONER (1918-24), Sergeant, R.A.• EDWARD MACKIE MCINTYRE (1922-33), Lance-Sergeant, R.E. JOHN WOLKOFF (1921-25), Gunner, R.A. Air Force Medal (A.F.M.). JOHN MAXWELL STEWART (1925-36), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F.
Aberdeen Grammar ,Vrboal Magazine
*,,* The Editor is glad at all times to receive from any quarter items of information for this section of the " Magazine."
The dates given in parentheses after names indicate the sessions of attendance at the School. KING'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS. of the following F.P.s appeared in the list of honours The names issued on 13 June 1946, the day of official celebration of the King's birthday :— KNIGHT GRAND CROSS, ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (G.B.E.).
The Right Hon. Robert, Baron Alness* (1884-85), P.C., M.A., LL.D., lately President and Chairman, Scottish Savings Committee, which during the war raised L715,ooo,ooo. Robert Munro, formerly Lord Justice-Clerk (Lord Alness), was created a Baron in 1934. He is the President of the London Centre of the F.P. Club, in which he has taken a very warm interest. COMPANIONS OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH (C.B.).
Donald Fasken Stevenson, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., Air ViceMarshal, R.A.F., was a pupil at the School in 1902-03. James Noel Thomson (1896-1900), D.S.O., M.C., A.D.C. to the King since 1939, Major-General, late Royal Regiment of Artillery. lie was commissioned in the Royal Artillery in 1909. COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF THE STAR OF INDIA (C.S.I.).
Herbert Tower Sorley* (1899-1909), M.A., D.Litt., l.C.S., Chief Secretary to the Government, Political and Services Department, Bombay. He entered the Indian Civil Service in 1914. OFFICERS OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (O.B.E.).
Nigel Smart Cowan* (1924-28), B.Sc. (Eng.), Lieut.-Colonel, R.E. He has latterly been on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, S.E. Asia Command. Godfrey Power Geddes* (19°3-11), D.S.O., T.D., M.A., Colonel, The Gordon Highlanders, Chairman of the Aberdeen Committee, Empire Societies War I lospitality Committee. * Member of the Former Pupils' Club.
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MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (M.B.E.).
Ian Alfred Anderson* (1912-24), B.Sc., M.B., Ch.B., Major, R.A.M.C. He is now Lecturer in Clinical Chemistry in Aberdeen University. Charles Edward Smith* (1921-3z), Major, Royal Corps of Signals, was gazetted M.B.E. in February. He took part in the Dunkirk evacuation and on D-day returned to France with assault troops. MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES.
The following are some of the F.P.s who have recently been " mentioned " :— George Davidson Bisset (1918-3O, Captain, No. 9 Commando, whose death in Italy in April 1945 was recorded in the last Magazine. James Samuel Dobson* (1925-39), M.C., Captain, R.A. John Andrew Melvin Doig* (1930-36), B.S.M., Scottish Horse, was mentioned in dispatches in August 1945 for services in Italy. Ronald Spalding France* (1926-38), Major, 11th Armoured Division. Alexander Clarke Irvine (1932-35), Sergeant, 6 5th Medium Regiment, R.A.—for gallantry on D-day. Robert Arthur Smart* (1919-31), M.B., Ch.B., Lieut.-Colonel, R.A.M.C. (for the third time). Robert Erskine Wetherley Stroud (1914-19), B.Com., Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F. James Ross Sinclair Third* (1916-28), M.B., Ch.B., Captain, R.A.M.C.—" for gallant and distinguished services while a prisoner of war." TWO RUGBY INTERNATIONALISTS.
John R. S. Innes* was capped against England at Twickenham and against \Vales at Murrayfield, and although chosen to play against England at Murrayfield was compelled to withdraw owing to injury. In the Twickenham match he had the distinction of scoring one of the Scottish tries, and despite the fact that Scotland were defeated, he earned praise from many critics for his play. Again, a fortnight later against Wales, when the Scottish team had an off day, the wing threequarters, Innes and Drummond, alone of the back division enhanced their reputation. Innes has earned the distinction among Scottish rugby players of having been capped both before and after the war, a distinction which he shares with only one other player, J. M. Henderson of Edinburgh Academicals. Innes also had the honour of being chosen for the annual tour' in South Wales of the famous Barbarians. Douglas W. C. Smith* (1929-41) is the second F.P. to have been capped for Scotland in recent years, when he was chosen to play on the left wing against the New Zealand Army touring team at Murrayfield on 19 January. This was followed by his being
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chosen to play against Wales at Swansea and against Ireland at Murrayfield. The match against the New Zealand team has now become rugby history, when the Scottish team, completely untried, outplayed the Kiwis, who had already beaten all the other home countries. Smith played his part nobly in this magnificent triumph and at a very critical phase in the game converted a try right from the touch line, giving Scotland a five-point lead. James Smart Abernethy* (1926-26), LL.B., W.S., some of whose war experiences in Borneo were recorded in the last Magazine, returned there by air from this country at the end of April. He was formerly in the service of the British North Borneo Chartered Company as Legal Adviser and Commissioner of Lands, but has now been taken over by the British Crown and is to resume legal and judicial duties. He hopes to return to this country in August 1947. John Abel Aitken* (1918-22) is now back in this country, after being a prisoner of the Japanese, and at the end of January resumed work in the Edinburgh branch of the H. J. Heinz Co. He believes that the division with which he sailed from the Clyde for Malaya in October 1941 had a unique journey. " In mid North Atlantic ", he writes, " our small British escort left us and we were taken over by an American escort. It had an aircraft carrier with her planes roaring overhead, accompanied by cruisers and destroyers. We arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where we transferred to American transports. Our next stop was at Trinidad, and then across the Equator to Cape Town. During the five days we spent there the South African people showed such exceptional kindness and generosity that they will always be remembered for their unbounded hospitality. We went on to Mombasa, where we spent a very hot Christmas Day, then to the Maldive Islands, and on to Singapore by Sunda and Banka Straits. I had only 33 days in Singapore before it fell, but I managed to have a most enjoyable dinner with Raymond Wilson, and it was with much regret that I read of his death in the last issue of the Magazine. The next four months were spent in Changi Camp, followed by just over three years in Thailand, where we moved from camp to camp on the railway. In Kanburi Camp J. M. Fraser did good work in bringing 15 F.P.s together fortnightly, when we yarned about bygone days and about ' Pat ' Edward and his bag of ' extra strongs '. That sort of thing seemed to bring a breath of ' Aiberdeen awa" into the company and helped us to stand up to our more trying experiences. Unfortunately I was unable to complete my round-the-world trip by the Pacific and America, but returned by Suez." Andrew Duncan Anderson (1916-27) has been for years engaged in the growing of tobacco and Indian corn at Mondyncs, near Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. William Cranna Bain* (193o-39), M.A., Lieutenant, R.E.M.E., served as a Radio Maintenance Officer, A.A. Command, from January
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 1943. In February of this year he was posted to India and flew out via Cairo, Aden, Karachi, and New Delhi, to Agra for re-posting. Edward George Baird (1919-21), M.A., M.B., Ch.B., has recently issued in a limited edition a book of prose and poetry entitled " Brigid and the Dun Cow ". The title tale is full of Celtic mysticism, and other prose pieces include a tale of medieval England and a fragment of the Arthurian Saga. Ian Francis George Baxter* (1921-33), M.A., LL.B., about whom a note appeared in the last issue of the Magazine, was in May admitted a member of the Aberdeen Society of Advocates. Norman Robert Beattie* (1921-3i), C.A., was in April appointed Assistant Harbour Manager and Treasurer, Aberdeen. He served his apprenticeship as a chartered accountant with Messrs. Bower and Smith, C.A., Aberdeen, and for the past eight years has been on the staff of Messrs. Gray & Kellas, solicitors, Aberdeen. Norman Darroch Begg* (1915-24), M.D., Medical Superintendent, Eastern Hospital, Homerton, London, has been lent to Unrra by the London County Council. He was recently in Warsaw as an epidemologist and helping in the organization of the public health service there. William Stephen Benton* (1904-11), who has been in the service of the Indian State Railways since 1919, is coming home on leave, preparatory to retirement. In June 5941 he was appointed Officer on Special Duty with the Railway Board, in charge of A.R.P. and war planning on all Indian railways. This job entailed preparation of schemes, arrangements for training, giving advice, etc., in regard to the protection and running of railways during wartime. After about two years of this work he took over the post of Director of Civil Engineering, Railway Board. In this post he has been dealing with all important civil engineering works on Indian Government Railways. Thomas Stewart Boyd* (1930-38), Petty Officer Radio Mechanic, Royal Navy, was from October last back in Rosyth and engaged in radar maintenance and fitting in the Eastern ports of Scotland. He has now been released from the Navy and has resumed work with the Ministry of Labour in Edinburgh. Derek Alexander George Brander* (1928-31) has resumed work with Messrs. Parsons, Maclachlan & Miller, Bath Street, Glasgow. Ile held a commission in the Highland Light Infantry. Edgar Bulmer Bright* (1921-35), A.F.C., M.B., Ch.B., now holds the rank of Wing Commander, R.A.F., and has been stationed at Headquarters of Fighter Command, Bentley Priory, Stanmore. Roy Brown* (1932-43), Sub-Lieutenant (A), R.N.V.R., served with the 1836 Squadron on H.M.S. Victorious with the U.S. and British Pacific Fleets in bombing raids on Japan. George Rettie Burns* (1925-31), who went out to a rubber estate in Malaya in 1935 and whose escape from Singapore two days before it fell was recorded in the Magazine of December 5942, has now returned to Malaya, where he is busy getting rubber estates going again,
F.P. Club Rugby Football Section ist XV-Season 1945-46.
Back Row—J. A. G. Elmslie, R. J. Bain, 1. M. Duguid, A. D. Lyall, J. A. McGregor, J. S. G. Munro, J. H. Warrack, J. R. S. lanes, N. 1. W. Meldrum (Hon. Sec. and Treat.). Front Row—F. R. Paterson, K, G. Buthlay, I, G. K. Phillips (I 'ire-Captain), L. Middleton (Captain), N. S. Mercer, J. D. Chalmers, C. R. Cruickshank. Absent—L. Milne, 1. McLean, E. A. Alexander.
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Gordon Burns* (19:6-33), who went out to Rangoon in the autumn of 1935, now holds the rank of Major, and after a spell of home leave is back in Rangoon at 12th Army H.Q. David Cairns (1912-16), M.A., who was a Chaplain to the Forces (15th Division), is at present at Oriel College, Oxford, and Secretary of the Student Christian Movement. Alistair Davidson Calder* (1926-40) joined the Scots Guards on leaving the School and has been for a considerable time with the Inspectorate of Army Equipment, Italy, and latterly at the Formation College, Perugia. John Sinclair Calder* (1926-40) is a Captain in the Gordon Highlanders and Morality and Investigation Officer for Rangoon, and also Deputy Assistant Provost-Marshal for that port. Percy R. J. M. Callan* (1915-z5), who was licensed in April 1941 by the Aberdeen Presbytery as a minister of the Church of Scotland, has recently been inducted at Corgarff, Strathdon. A notice of his marriage appears on another page. Douglas Knox Cameron* (1932-35), L.D.S., R.C.S. (Edin.), Captain, Army Dental Corps, is at present Dental Officer at the Combined Military Hospital, Agra, India Command. The Staff Surgeon at this Hospital is another F.P., Major Ian Durance Pennie* (1926-33), R.A.M.C. Alexander Vernon White Cantlay* (1903-1o), who first went out to Malaya in 1913 and latterly was in charge of Glen Bervie Estate, Tandjong Poera, East Coast, Sumatra, N.E.I., was taken by the Japs in March 1942 and after internment in various prisons and camps in North-East Sumatra was released in October 1945 and taken to Medan. After a couple of days there he was flown to Singapore, where he caught a boat bound for Townsville in North Queensland. Four days and nights in very uncomfortable trains brought him to Sydney, where his wife had spent over three and a half years waiting for his release. He spent four months in Sydney and then sailed for home, arriving at Southampton in April of this year. He is at present at his old address at Ellon, Aberdeenshire. Harry Spark Cardno* (1925-39), B.Sc., Flying Officer, joined the R.A.F. in August 1942, after graduating in Science at Aberdeen University, and has been engaged in radar work in Burma and India. Latterly he was Instructor in a radar school in Bangalore and has now gone to China. Austen Ogston Carnegie* (1932-45) is in his first year as a student in Agriculture at Aberdeen University and has become a Life Member of the F.P. Club. His brother, Leslie Thompson Carnegie* (192538), B.L., is also a Life Member. He has recently returned from Cairo, where he was working in the Legal Aid (Welfare) Section. In civilian life he is a junior legal assistant in the Town House, Aberdeen. Angus Webster Christie* (1931-37) enlisted in the R.A.S.C. in 1939 and served with the B.E.F. In December 1942 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and in the following August was posted
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine to Gibraltar, where he joined the Port Operating Company. After two years on the " Rock ", he returned to this country in September of last year and was then employed as a Unit Educational Instructor, with the rank of Sergeant. In December he was attending a short course of instruction at Glasgow and was very pleasantly surprised when the opening address was given by his former Games Master, Lieut.-Colonel Duncan MacGregor. He has now returned to his pre-war work with the City and Water Engineer, Aberdeen. James Michael Vernon Collie* (1918-29), who before the war was ranching in Argentina in the employment of Bovril Ltd., came home after the outbreak of war and received a commission in the Intelligence Corps in February 1941. He was drafted to Trinidad, where he remained two and a half years, and was later assigned to the Supreme Allied Headquarters of the South-East Asia Command for Special Duty. He was in Ceylon for some time and afterwards went to Singapore. He came home in the spring of this year and was demobilized. Charles Cooper* (1875-80), Editor of the Chester Courant and the Cheshire Observer from 1895, retired early this year. He was the guest of honour at a dinner in Chester, when tributes were paid to his " twinkling eyes, imperturbable cheerfulness, irresistible good humour, and his gift of converting a simple phrase into a witticism ". In the course of his reply Mr. Cooper related some of his journalistic experiences, and said that in his time he had seen three murderers hanged at Knutsford. The most thrilling sight he ever witnessed was the rescue by lifeboat of the entire crew of a Norwegian barque. He was the first journalist to hear of the mystery of the disappearance in 1881 of the body of the Earl of Crawford from the family mausoleum at Dunecht House, Aberdeenshire. This mystery was never solved, despite the activities of the police, the use of bloodhounds, clairvoyants, and spiritualists, though one man, said to be an accessory, was sent to prison for five years. Sir Patrick Ashley Cooper* (1896-1901), B.A., LL.B., was in February appointed by the King, under the Bank of England Act 1946, a member of the Court of the Bank as from i March. He was first appointed a Director of the Bank under the old regime in April 1932. Ian Campbell Cowan* (1924-33), B.Sc., M.B., Ch.B., is Orthopaedic Registrar at Stracathro Hospital, Angus. Nigel Smart Cowan* (1924-28), B.Sc. (Eng.), Temporary Lieut.Colonel, Royal Engineers, has been promoted Acting Colonel. He has been serving on the staff of Supreme Allied Command, S.E. Asia. He previously saw service in North Africa, and was also in the SouthWest Pacific, taking part in the American landing in Dutch New Guinea in 1944. Charles Greig Cruickshank (1925-32), M.A. (Aberd.), D.Phil. (Oxon.), has written for the Oxford Historical Series a volume, " Elizabeth's Army ", recently published by the Oxford University Press. The book describes the circumstances of a soldier's life in the 1°8
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 109 days of Elizabeth and how it was regulated ; how the forces were levied, and how they were paid, fed, clothed, and disciplined. Douglas Scott Cruickshank* (1918-23), B.Com., C.A., who was a civilian internee of the Japanese in Java, was recently home for some months. He has been appointed Acting General Manager in the East of Messrs. Francis Peek & Co. Ltd., London, and has gone to Singapore, whence he will proceed later to Indonesia. He entered the service of his company in 1930 and was appointed F.P. Club Consul for Java in 1939. John Alexander Cruickshank (1926-29), V.C., Flight Lieutenant, R.A.F., was one of the Aides-de-camp to the Lord High Commissioner at this year's General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Most Rev. Ernest Denny Logie Danson* (1892-94), M.A., D.D., Bishop of Edinburgh, has resigned, on account of the state of his health, the office of Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland, which he has held since 1943. The Scotsman in a note said that the Primus must be one of the few bishops who are authorities on the home life of the head-hunters of Borneo. For fourteen years he was Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak. For the Dyaks among whom he lived the Bishop had a great respect. He has declared that they were one of the most honest races he had come across. Douglas J. Davidson* (1891-19oz), who has been for some years the F.P. Club Consul for Ceylon, has now retired and come home. He first went to Ceylon in 1906 to learn tea-planting. Five years later he entered the service of the Rosehaugh Tea and Rubber Company as manager of Eduragalla Estate, Horana, and was for many years manager at Culloden Estate, Neboda. He is now resident in Edinburgh. Alan King Dewar* (1932-45), on leaving the School in June of last year, immediately entered the Signal Section of the R.A.F. and is now A.C.i, serving in Singapore. Donald James Dewar* (1924-30), a brother of the foregoing, was also A.C.1 in the R.A.F., which he joined at the end of 1940. He served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, India, and Burma. He has now resumed work with the North British and Mercantile Insurance Co., Ltd., Aberdeen. David M. C. Donald* (1926-32), Major, R.A., was from October 1945 D.A.A.G. at Headquarters, B.A.O.R. Having enlisted in Edinburgh in 1939, he was called up in September 1940 and was " demobbed " in May of this year. He was " mentioned " in May 1945. Eric Francis Ducat* (1929-40), M.B., Ch.B., who graduated in Medicine at Aberdeen University in September of last year, is now a Flying Officer in the R.A.F. Alexander Miller Durward* (1930-42) has recently been serving as a Warrant Officer in the R.A.F. at Fayid, M.E.F. He is Pilot Flight-Engineer in a Lancaster bomber.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine James Mortimer Durward* (193o-37), B.Sc. (Eng.), is a SubLieutenant, R.N.V.R., and after being in Australia, was transferred to Hong Kong. Joseph Farquharson* (1929-43) is now a Flying Officer (pilot) in the R.A.F. and left recently for the Pacific. Adam Fyfe Findlay* (1879-85), M.A., D.D., Professor of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology in the University of Aberdeen, received in June the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Edinburgh, on the occasion of the celebration of the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of New College, Edinburgh. Louis Findlay* (1924-30), M.B., Ch.B., who has been on the staff of Unrra from February 1942, has since June of last year been Director of the Health Division, Middle East, with headquarters at Cairo. In May of this year he was released from the R.A.M.C., in which he held the temporary rank of Major, and is now carrying on with his work in a civilian capacity. Frank Northman Forster* (1921-25), M.B., Ch.B., Captain, R.A.M.C., has been serving in India since March 1945. George Sutherland Fraser (1924-33), M.A. (St. And.), was in May awarded a literary fellowship worth £20O for three years under an arrangement between the publishing firm of Hodder & Stoughton and the Society of Authors. Before the outbreak of war he was on the editorial staff of the Aberdeen Press and Journal. He next served with the Black Watch and the R.A.S.C. Most of his Army service was abroad, and latterly he was with the Ministry of Information in Cairo. He is regarded as one of the most brilliant of the younger school of literary men. Rudolf William Galloway* (1902-06), C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.B., Ch.B., Brigadier, late R.A.M.C., was in May appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services, Western Command. The appointment carries with it the rank of Major-General. Edgar Reuben Gauld* (1917-23), M.B., Ch.B., who has been for many years in the West African Medical Service, is now Medical Officer at the European Hospital, Kumasi, Gold Coast. In the war he served with the Royal West African Frontier Force. James Hall McIntosh Gordon* (1901-02), M.C., Lieut.-Colonel, having attained the age limit, retired from the Gordon Highlanders (T.A.) as from 31 October 1945 and was restored to the rank of Brevet Colonel. John Grant* (1906-12.), M.A., C.A., of Messrs. Flockhart and Grant, chartered accountants, Aberdeen, was in May appointed Lecturer in Accounting in the University of Aberdeen. John Hector Gray* (1917-29), M.A., LL.B., C.A., was in May admitted a member of the Aberdeen Society of Advocates. Robert Imray Alexander Gray* (1932-35), who was in the R.A.F., has now been " demobbed ", and is going to India to take up an xi°
Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine appointment in the Bombay branch of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China. Ranald Forbes Greig* (1921-30), L.D.S., is now a Major in the Army Dental Corps and in charge of a field dental laboratory in Germany. Bernard G. Grierson (1888 -89) is one of several F.P.s who are resident in Winnipeg. He entered the service of the Canadian Pacific Railway there in 1906. David Sinclair Hay (1907-1I), Squadron Leader, R.A.F., who stood as the Socialist candidate for Central Aberdeenshire at the last General Election but was unsuccessful, has been selected by the Socialists in Caithness and Sutherland as their candidate when there is a by-election. John M. Hay* (1913-19), who on leaving the School entered the service of Messrs. Williamson, Balfour & Co., merchants and bankers, Valparaiso, Chile, in a recent letter reports that he is now engaged in coffee-growing in the north of the State of Parana, on a small plantation of his own. The life, he says, is hard but healthy, and not altogether without proportionate compensation. It would interest him very much to exchange correspondence with any F.P. who is engaged in coffee-growing in Kenya, as the systems adopted in the two regions may be different and of mutual concern. Correspondence could be conducted through the Secretary of the F.P. Club. Charles Lamond Henderson (1909-13), M.A., K.C., who was called to the English Bar at the Middle Temple in June 1920, has recently been appointed Chairman of the Bedfordshire Quarter Sessions. Arthur Robert Horne* (1903-03), for many years associated with Messrs. Homes Ltd., wholesale produce merchants, Aberdeen, has recently left and gone into business in Jersey. Ian Dunbar Innes * (1933-38), M.B., Ch.B., Surgeon Lieutenant, R.N.V.R., has been stationed at Faringdon, Berks, with H.Q., Royal Marine Engineers. Lawrence Jaffray* (1909-14) is in charge of the Rungli Ting Tea Estate, Lahoal, Upper Assam. He says that there are very few F.P.s in his part of the world, but the nearest is J. Stewart Macgregor Mitchell (1911-15), whom he often sees in Dibrugarh Club. During his spell on the making of the Manipur Road from Dimapor to Imphal, at Mile 92 Camp, he met many Aberdonians, " all tea-planters, of course, and we had grand talks together ". He expects to be home on leave next year. Robert Leslie King* (1912-24) joined the Sarawak Oilfields, Ltd., in Sarawak in 1926, and ten years later was transferred to the Caribbean Petroleum Company at Maracaibo, Venezuela. He has now gone to Egypt, to the Anglo-Egyptian Oil Co. Ltd. at Cairo. James Gray Kyd* (1891-98), C.B.E., Registrar-General for Scotland, is, according to The Scotsman, " a man of many interests, but it is with some surprise that one finds him in the role of author of a current
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best-seller. Yet, a work of his, to wit, ' The Annual Report of the Registrar-General for Scotland', has been selling like hot cakes. The first edition has already been sold out and a second one is printing. Mr. Kyd rightly regards his work, which some may consider to be coldly statistical, as full of human interest, and those who have met him have found that he has a remarkable talent for revealing a fascinating subaquatic scene beneath the glassy surface of a sea of figures." The Registrar-General is the first chairman of the Central Committee through which functions the Scottish Statistical Research Bureau. This Committee has recently been set up on the initiative of the four Scottish Universities and the Faculty of Actuaries. Edmund George Herbert Lightfoot* (1921-24), L.D.S. (St. And.), is a Captain in the Army Dental Corps and has been serving at the 53 Field Dental Centre, Paiforce. Eric R. R. Linklater* (1913-16), Rector of the University of Aberdeen, has recently added to his lengthening list of novels one entitled " Private Angelo ", in which, " in nicely rounded and urbane phrase he anatomizes a part, possibly a large part, though certainly not the whole, of the Italian temperament—the exuberance, the engaging ease, the shrewd and unheroic good sense ". The Rector was the author of this year's Aberdeen University Charities' Campaign Show, " To Meet the Macgregors ", which was produced by another F.P., Thomas Forbes (1918-28), and in which several F.P.s took prominent parts. The show was the most successful financially of the many that have now been put on. Donald Maitland McFarlan (1921-23), who has been since 1940 a missionary of. the Church of Scotland in Calabar, recently made his first visit home. He has written a history of the Calabar Mission, which was published in April to mark its centenary. His district at Apiapum in Calabar covers 3,000 square miles. He says that he has been serving in a country which is one of the most loyal in the Commonwealth, Nigeria having had over roo,ooo men in service. Patrick A. B. McKerron* (1904-10), C.M.G., Brigadier, of the Malayan Civil Service, was at the beginning of April installed as officer administering the Government and Colonial Secretary until the arrival of the Governor-designate. He passed into the Colonial Civil Service in 1919. Milian Mackie* (1927-37), who was one of the F.P. prisoners of the Japanese, has been working as a Temporary Assistant Principal in the Establishments Branch of the War Office. John MacMurray (1902-04), M.C., M.A., was in March appointed a member of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education in the Colonies. He is the representative of Edinburgh University, in which he is Professor of Moral Philosophy. Ian A. S. MacPhail* (1933-40), after being invalided out of the R.A.F., joined E.N.S.A. as assistant to the Musical Adviser at Headquarters and before long succeeded to that post. As such he arranged over roo symphony concerts for war workers all over the country, organized a gramophone-record library of over 8,ooo "classical"
113 Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine discs, organized hundreds of " good music " concerts for the troops at home and abroad, evolved and organized a scheme for taking the best artists and orchestras in the world to the front line by means of a mobile gramophone unit, consisting of a powerful army vehicle generating its own power and equipped with fixed horn speakers, twin turn-tables and ',coo records. Later he organized music in B.L.A., arranging for a visit to France, Belgium, and Holland by the full Halle Orchestra and Barbirolli, who gave a series of concerts in Eindhoven, from which the Germans were then only a few miles away. Recently he was invited to join the staff of the Arts Council of Great Britain (under the chairmanship of the late Lord Keynes), and has become Assistant Music Director. He says that he owes a great deal of his love for and knowledge of music to Mr. Gavin Falconer, and in particular to the recorded-music meetings in the Music Room after school. Douglas Keith MacTaggart* (1927-39), M.A., who is now studying Medicine at Aberdeen University, was in May elected President of the Aberdeen University Students' Union for 1946-47. It is rather remarkable that all his male predecessors in this office since the opening of the new Union have been F.P.s. It will be of interest to recall their names : THOMAS J. T. Nicol,* (193o-35), M.A. ; NEIL C. SHARP (1923-30) ; A. FRASER Ross* (1923-27), B.Sc.(For.), M.B., Ch.B. ; FRANK N. FORSTF.R* (1921-25), M.B., Ch.B. ; JAMES W. MCALLAN (1925-32), M.B., Ch.B. ; STEPHEN GOODBRAND* (1927A. MICHAEL 40) ; HAROLD S. BENNETT* (1928-40), M.B., Ch.B. ; and C. DUPFUS* (1932-38). Donald Middleton Marc* (1919-26), who held a commission in a Punjabi regiment and served in the Middle East, has returned to India after treatment in this country of his war wounds, and resumed his post with Messrs. Malayalam Plantations Ltd., Quilon, Travancore, whose service he first entered in 1926. James W. S. Marr* (1913-19), M.A., B.Sc., Commander, R.N.V.R., was in May awarded by the Royal Geographical Society the Back Grant, 1946 (two years' income), for his work in connection with the Discovery investigations and his memoir on the South Orkney Islands. From special work in the Navy he was seconded at the end of 1943 to lead a party of scientists probing the secrets of the Antarctic, but he had to relinquish his command for health reasons. James Moir Mathieson* (189o-91 and 1894-97), M.B., Ch.B., was for a long period on the medical staff of the South Yorkshire Mental Hospital, Wadsley, near Sheffield. He retired five years ago and is now living at Heysham, Lancs. John Middleton Melvin* (1935-42) is a Captain in the Gordon Highlanders and, after serving with the ist Battalion on the Continent, is now Station Staff Officer, S.E.A.C., at Toungoo, half way between Rangoon and Mandalay. The Right Hon. Lord Meston* (1901-02) has accepted office as one of the Honorary Vice-Presidents of the F.P. Club and is thus continuing the family's long association with the Club. A memorial
I14 Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine portrait of the first Lord Meston (i876-8o) was in May unveiled in the smoking room of the National Liberal Club, London, by Lord Samuel. Among those present at the ceremony was Sir Alexander Mackintosh, the former Parliamentary Correspondent of the Aberdeen Free Press, now in his 89th year, who arranged a lodging for Lord Meston when he came to London in 7882 to sit for the Indian Civil Service examinations. The first Lord Meston was chairman for some years of the General Committee of the National Liberal Club and former President of the Liberal Party Organization. The committee room of the Club, where Lord Meston so often presided, is in future to be known as " The Meston Room ". Robert C. C. Miles* (1923-3o) is now back with the Aberdeen and District Milk Marketing Board, having been demobilized from the R.A.F. in November last. Out in the East he made landings from Akyab all down the coast to Singapore, Sumatra, and Java with the Assault Troops that released many Aberdonians who were prisoners of war. He made many trips, dropping food supplies, and also dropping leaflets over enemy territory. Alexander Milne* (1911-13), B.L., Major, The Gordon Highlanders, has since demobilization been assumed a partner with CHARLES D. PETERKIN* (1893-1905), C.B.E., LL.B., in the firm of Messrs. Peterkin & Duncans, advocates, Aberdeen. Alfred Herbert Milne* (1926-35) served in the 5th Seaforths from 1939 and in the Royal Engineers from 1942, being transferred to the latter on account of his experience as a railway clerk. For nearly three years he was at No. 2 Military Port, Cairnryan, as chief clerk to the C.R.E. There he met Major F. MILLAR Essox* (191825), who was Wharfmaster. On the completion of construction work Milne was transferred to No. i Military Port, Foslane, Shandon, near Helensburgh, where he became C.S.M. of the Port Engineering Coy. On returning to civil life, he went back to the L.N.E.R. and is working in Aberdeen. Arnold S. Milne* (1883-9o), who was for many years engaged in gold-mining in Transvaal, is now living in retirement at White River, Eastern Transvaal. Malcolm Ross Milne* (1926-38), M.B., Ch.B., has just been appointed to the new post of Surgical Registrar at the Royal Aberdeen Hospital for Sick Children, where he takes up duty in October. At present he is a House Surgeon in the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. James Scott Gray Munro* (1922-28), B.L., was in May admitted a member of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. Andrew Nicol* (1903-15), the F.P. Club Consul at Hong Kong, was a prisoner in Stanley Camp from January 1942 until August 1945. He flew home in October of last year and has just returned to Hong Kong, where he has been Port Engineer since 1937. He will be taking up duty under the new Port Trust that has been formed. Thomas J. T. Nicol* (193o-35), M.C., M.A., who had a very eventful career, first as a combatant and later as a chaplain, in the 5 1st
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Division, was recently elected minister of St. Luke's Church, Broughty Ferry. He was ordained by the Aberdeen Presbytery during the war. lain H. Pattison* (1921-30), B.Sc.(Agr.), M.R.C.V.S., has for the past three years been a veterinary research officer in Palestine. He has now left the Colonial Veterinary Service and joined, as a research pathologist, the staff of the Agricultural Research Council Field Station at Compton, near Newbury, Berkshire. John Penny* (1923-36) has joined the electrical engineering department of Messrs. Dorman, Long & Co. Ltd., Cleveland Works, Middlesbrough. Ellis Murray Philip* (1937-43) is now with the R.A.F. in Japan. William Brewster Rae* (1920-24), who became an engineer assistant on a tea estate in Bengal in 1930, is now on Lepetkatta Tea Estate, Barbaruah, Dibrugarh, Assam. Charles Reid* (1895-19o6), D.S.O., M.A., C.A., has recently been admitted a member of the King's Bodyguard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers. In the late war he commanded a London battalion of the Home Guard. Robert Lawrence Richards* (1922-34), M.D., was in February awarded a medical travelling scholarship under the Rockefeller Foundation, New York. During the war he carried out research work with the neurovascular unit at the E.M.S. Hospital, Gogarburn, Edinburgh. William Brian Richardson* (1919-28), who was an internee • of the Japs in the Philippines and reached this country last September, has resumed work with the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China at Alor Star, Kedah, which is about 6o miles north of Penang. He says that his movements cover these 6o miles and that if there are any F.P.s going that way, he will be glad to lend them any assistance he can. Marshall Jeffreys Robb (1897-1906), B.Sc., F.R.I.C., has been appointed Joint Public Analyst and Official Agricultural Analyst for the County of Aberdeen and other North of Scotland local authorities. He was associated with the late Dr. J. F. Tocher, Public Analyst, in his laboratory for over thirty years. Norman G. Robb* (1913-22), after serving for 4 years in the R.A.F., mostly in Northern Ireland, was " demobbed " in November, but has been unable to return to his mineral-water business in Edinburgh, as this was closed down during the war and his factory is engaged in the manufacture of aluminium pots and pans. He hopes, however, to get a start again soon. has been serving as Adrian A. G. Robertson* (1927-34), Unit at Bad Survey Bombing British R.A.F. an Interpreter with the Nenndorf, Germany. For eighteen months Sergeant Robertson, who speaks German fluently, worked on " Radio Countermeasures " —the operation which reduced to chaos the German system of wireless and radar control of aircraft. His duties included the jamming of enemy radio transmitters which were relaying instructions from
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine the Luftwaffe ground controllers to fighters, and part of his job was to give to German pilots radio-telephone orders which conflicted with those they had received from their own controllers. George Alistair Robertson* (1922-34), B.Com., Major, R.A., has recently returned to this country and been demobilized. After being evacuated from France in 1940, he went to India in the following year and served in the N.W. Frontier Province and Waziristan in a mountain battery, before securing a posting to North Burma in October 1942. Thereafter he saw continuous service in Burma with Indian Mountain Artillery and latterly in the late General Wingate's forces, until they were disbanded in 1945. After a period of sick leave in Sikkim and Tibet, he completed a parachute training course and went to Malaya with Special Service Troops before the Japanese surrender. After the entry of regular Allied troops, he proceeded to Java, from which he was evacuated last November. During his service he was wounded, and was also mentioned in dispatches. He now intends to complete his training as a chartered accountant. James Ross* (1910-15), B.Com., who entered the Inland Revenue Service in 1915, is now Senior Inspector of Taxes at Cupar. John Hugh Gunn Ross* (1924-3i), M.A., B.D. (Aberd.), B.A. (Oxon.), has been elected deputy minister of St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. His work with mobile canteens in North Africa, Palestine, Persia, and Italy has been recorded in previous issues of the Magazine. For his services he was mentioned in dispatches. William Kerr Ross* (1931-41) joined the Navy in December 1941 and after a year on the " lower deck " was commissioned SubLieutenant, R.N.V.R. He was then " shore-based " in Isle of Wight, at Scapa, and in Ceylon, and he was " demobbed " in April of this year. Eric Garden Sangster* (1927-39), B.L., is a Major serving at H.Q., East Africa Command, Nairobi, Kenya. George B. C. Sangster* (1928-37), D.S.C., who was LieutenantCommander (A), R.N.V.R., has returned to his studies in Divinity at Aberdeen University, where he was awarded the Primrose Prize in Church History, and in February he was appointed Secretary of the newly instituted Scottish Students' Representative Council. Charles Edward Saunders* (1902-14), M.B., Ch.B., has for some years been in medical practice at Over Hulton, near Bolton, Lanes. He was previously at Atherton, near Manchester. John Ferguson Semple* (1929-41), B.Sc. (Eng.), is a Lieutenant in the 6 Infantry Brigade Workshop, R.E.M.E., S.E. Asia Command, and has been stationed at Seremban, 160 miles north of Singapore, in the midst of rubber plantations. Richard Lyall Sharp (1920-37), M.A., who held a commission in the Northumberland Fusiliers and was a prisoner-of-war in the Far East, is now on the permanent staff (Establishment side) of the Treasury. He was one of the successful candidates at a recent competition for recruitment to the post of Established Principal in the 116
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Home Civil Service. This competition was for older candidates, specifically those born between August i goo and August 19i 5. R.A.F., is at present stationed Ian Kirk Shaw* (1941-44), at a small camp in the desert, about 9o miles from Cairo and 4o miles from Port Said. There he has been trying to get together a hockey team. For one match that he arranged the pitch was one of the old runways, of tarmac, and what with the heat and the speed of the ball the game was " rather exhausting ". Simpson Shepherd* (193 i -41), son Of SIMPSON SHEPHERD* (189o-97), joined the Army in 1944 and is now a Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, The Baluch Regiment, stationed at Wana, Waziristan. Charles William Sleigh* (1874-79), C.B.E., M.A., LL.D., was recently presented with his portrait, the work of Mr. T. C. Dugdale, by members of the Aberdeen County Council and other friends, in recognition of his long public service. As previously recorded, he retired last year from the post of Convener of Aberdeenshire. The portrait has been hung in the County Hall, Aberdeen. Alan Smith* (1923-28), B.L., of Messrs. William Mollison and Smith, solicitors, Aberdeen, received in 1945 a commission in the R.A.S.C., which he joined in 1941 as a driver. He now holds the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and has been presiding over one of several military courts in Singapore, trying Japanese war criminals. For some years before the war he was Deputy Procurator-Fiscal at Fort William. Charles Edward Smith* (1923-24), who (as reported in the last Magaine) is in the service of Messrs. James Miller (Food Products) Ltd., of Manchester, is now their area supervisor for Glasgow and district. George Thow Smith* (1881-91), after being engaged for many years in the Architects' Department of the London County Council, has now retired and is resident in Birmingham. William Garnett Smith* (1922-30), after serving his apprenticeship in the North of Scotland Bank, entered the service of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China in London. In 1939 he was posted to Kuala Lumpur, F.M.S., where he joined the Volunteer Force. He was a prisoner of war at Changi, Singapore. George Smith Sommerville* (1923-29), M.A., has been serving as a Chaplain in the Royal Navy and been stationed at Gibraltar. Arthur Percy Spark* (19o5-1I), M.B., Ch.B., has been for many years in medical practice at Stoke-on-Trent. As medical officer to the Stoke City Football Club, he was present in March at the cup-tie match between that club and Bolton Wanderers, when 33 spectators were killed and many others were injured. He was one of the first to help the injured and said later that the scene at the spot where the break-through that caused the disaster occurred was " a horrible sight". Oswald H. R. Still* (1922-33), who served for six years in the Royal Navy and was " demobbed " at the end of last year, has now settled in East London, South Africa, in the service of Messrs. Dyer and Dyer, Ltd., merchants. He hopes that sooner or later he will have the pleasure of meeting some F.P.s there.
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Frank Salmond Taylor* (1923-18) received a commission in the Royal Artillery in June 1941 and was posted to the 125 Light A.A. Regiment (Cameronians). Having crossed the Channel just after D-day, he went through France, Belgium, and Holland to the Scheldt Defences. He was transferred to H.Q., 76 A.A. Brigade, in January 1945, and finished up as Major, D.A.A. & Q.M.G. He was mentioned in dispatches in May 1945. John William Taylor* (1906-ii), M.B.E., M.A., entered the British Consular Service in 1919 and after being H.M. Consul at Vienna from 1933 to 1938 and then in U.S.A. and in Guatemala, is now Counsellor (Commercial), British Embassy, Prague, where he was Vice-Consul about a quarter of a century ago. Robert Jamieson Thom* (1913-19), M.A., principal teacher of English and History in Macduff High School, was in April appointed Lecturer in Education at the University of Manchester. A note on his service in the R.A.F. appeared in the last MagaVne. He has been prominently associated with the development of educational films in Scotland. James Booth Thomson* (1918-31) served in the R.A.F. from November 1940 to February 1946. He has now resumed work in the Lands Valuation and Registration of Voters Department of the Aberdeen Town Council, and continues as Leader of Rosemount Youth Service—Senior Club (Aberdeen Education Committee)—on a part-time basis. Albert A. Turreff (1883-94), Vicar and Surrogate of Wrockwardine, Wellington, Shropshire, since 1906, has recently retired and is living in Hampshire. James Strachan Walker* (191 3-17), M.D., D.P.H., Assistant Medical Officer of Health for Aberdeenshire, has been appointed Regional School Medical Officer for the County. Norman H. F. Wekihen* (1934-39) is a Midshipman (E), Royal Navy, and recently reported that he was off to join H.M.S. King George V, which was to engage in the victory celebrations in the Channel Islands. A. Douglas J. Westland* (1926-36), Sergeant, R.A.F., has been at Singapore at H.Q., Air Command, South-East Asia. He has been for nearly six years in the R.A.F. Laurence Pierre de Loriol Williamson* (1906-14), M.M., B.Com., is in the Overseas Sales Department of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., Blackley, Manchester. Robert Bertram Williamson* (1906-18), D.S.O., M.A., LL.B., Major, Royal Corps of Signals, is the new chairman of the Aberdeen Returned Prisoners of War Association, in succession to GEORGE F. COLLIE* (1916-z6). He has recently been awarded the Territorial Decoration. Norman Forsyth Wisely* (1920-32), of Messrs. William Wisely and Sons, Ltd., contractors, Aberdeen, is chairman of the Aberdeen sub-area of the Road Haulage Association.
119 Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine John Christie Wishart* (1919-24), M.B., Ch.B., has now been " demobbed " from the R.A.M.C. He went out to North Africa with what afterwards became H.Q. Algiers, and after doing a year of administrative work, got on to a hospital ship in the Mediterranean. He was later in medical command of another ship, in which he made his one and only trip to the United Kingdom. In December last he was gazetted M.B.E. Daniel Overbeck Wright* (1914-16) should have been included in the list of members of the " Kanburi Branch" of the F.P. Club (see last Magazine, p. 56). He has recently been home but returned in April to Malaya, where he is in the service of Messrs. Guthrie & Co., Kuala Lumpur. George Tod Wright* (1901-06), M.A., B.D., minister of St. Serf's Parish Church, Edinburgh, has been translated to Carnock Parish Church, Fife. Robert Park Yunnie (1921-26), M.C., A.C.I.I., who entered the service of the Manufacturers' Life Insurance Co. of Canada, is now its district manager in Southampton. He lives at Alderney, Parkstone, Dorset. HONORARY SHERIFFS-SUBSTITUTE.
Three out of six Aberdeen advocates recently appointed Honorary Sheriffs-Substitute for the County of Aberdeen are F.P.s. They are Robert Pearson Masson* (1903-04), M.A., LL.B., a partner in the firm of Messrs. C. & P. H. Chalmers ; Eric William Harcourt Brander* (1894-1901), M.A., LL.B., a partner in the firm of Messrs. Brander & Cruickshank; and Lieut.-Colonel Henry Jackson Butchart* (189o-99), B.L., Secretary of the University of Aberdeen since 1919. ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY HONORARY DEGREES.
Three of the five recipients of the honorary degree of LL.D. to be conferred by the University early in July are F.P.s. The first is James Hay* (1883-87), M.A., B.L., advocate in Aberdeen, who has been the Aberdeen Town Council assessor in the University Court for many years. The second is Eric Linklater* (1913-16), M.A., who was elected Rector of the University in November last. The third is William Proctor Milne* (1897-99), M.A. and D.Sc. (Aberd.), M.A. (Cantab.), who has been Professor of Mathematics in the University of Leeds since 1919, and in addition to being an outstanding mathematician is well known as an authority on the Aberdeenshire doric. ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY DEGREES.
At the Spring Graduation at Aberdeen University on a April 1946 degrees were conferred on the following :— Degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.Sc. Eng.) :— David Ronald Griffiths* (1931-43). Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B., Ch.B.) :— Eric John Dickson Craig* (1937-4o). Kenneth Gordon Pimley* (1924-3 7).
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Marriages. Allan (1919-3o).—At Aberdeen, on 23 March, 1946, GEORGE DOUGLAS ALLAN, younger son of G. Douglas Allan (1896-98), Viewmount, Pitfodels, to Blanche May (" Binkic ") Barnett, elder daughter of Dr. R. W. Eddie* (1902-04), Monecht House. Echt. Birss (x931-34).—At Beechgrove Church, Aberdeen, on 4 May 1946, RONALD Brass, R.N., elder son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Birss, Clovencraigs, Culter, to Mary Livingstone Ewen Main, ex-W.R.N.S., only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. G. E. Main, t8 Hosefield Avenue, Aberdeen. Boyd (193o-38).—At East and Belmont Church, Aberdeen, on 17 November 1 945, THOMAS STEWART Born,* Petty Officer Radio Mechanic, R.N., to Margaret K., youngest daughter of Mrs. C. G. White, 14 Watson Street, Aberdeen, and of the late Mr. II. P. White. Callan (1915-25).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 17 April 1946, the Rev. PERCY R. J. CALI.AN,* only son of Mr. and Mrs. James Callan, 28 Desswood Place, Aberdeen, to Elma, only daughter of the late John Ross, of Easter Bettie, and Mrs. Ross, 119 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen. Chope (1917-23).—At Friends' Meeting House, Darlington, on 31 January 1946, WILLIAM PEARSE CHOPE, M.A., younger son of the late John Abbott Chope, Hartland, Devon, and Rothes, Morayshire, and Mrs. Chope, 84 Lytteltun Road, Birmingham, 9, to Kathleen Mary Calvert, S.R.N., daughter of the late Norman Calvert, Gainford, Co. Durham, and Mrs. Calvert, 1 Woodside Drive, Darlington. Farquharson (1929-41).—At Our Lady of Victories Church, Kensington, on 26 April 1946, Sub.-Lieut. (A) DONALD FRANK FARQUHARSON,* R.N., only son of Mrs. Farquharson, of Coulsdon, Surrey, and Aberdeen, to Elizabeth Howard Rendall, W.R.N.S., only daughter of Mrs. Rendall, of Smethwick, Staffs., and Shanghai. Gill (1923-26).—At St. Andrew's Church, Turriff, on to April 1946, Captain WILLIAM ALEXANDER MORRISON GILL, R.A.S.C., elder son of Mr. and Mrs. William Gill, 5 Belvidere Street, Aberdeen, to Eveline Elizabeth, M.A., younger daughter of the late Mr. William Duthie and of Mrs. Duthie, i f i Main Street, Turriff. Greig (t924-28).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on t4 February 1946, GEORGE MORRISON GREIG,* only son of G. W. Greig (1882-96) and Mrs. Greig, i St. Swithin Street, Aberdeen, to Margaret Isobel Smith, M.A., only daughter of the late Henry Yool Smith, Demerara, and Mrs. Smith, Tarrnore, Keith. Griffiths (,9z5-36).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 2 February 1946, Rev. GEORGE IAN GRIFFITHS,* B.D., minister of South Church, Bonhill, Dumbartonshire, elder son of the late Mr. J. L. Griffiths and of Mrs. Griffiths, 86 King's Gate, Aberdeen, to Dorothy Mary, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Geddes, 69 Holbum Street, Aberdeen. Halliday (1923-32).—At Schoolhouse, Inverurie, on 8 February 1946, ALISTAIR G. HALLIDAY,* son of Mrs. Halliday, Oxford, to Elms Rae, second daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lawson. Harper (1918-30).—At Westminster Cathedral, on z7 April 1946, ERIC IMLAY HARPER, M.A., M.B., Ch.B., younger son of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Harper, of 29 Ashley Gardens, Aberdeen, to Marita Shattock, B.A., B.M., B.Ch., only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clement Shattuck, of 3 St. James's Terrace, Regent's Park, London. Hay (191o-r3).—At Baghdad, on 27 December 1945, in the Chapel of Friendship House, Captain J. R. HAY, The Gordon Highlanders, to Catherine Margaret, daughter of the late Joseph Weninger and Mrs. Weninger, Buda Pesth, Hungary. Henderson (I933-38).—At Beechgrove Church, Aberdeen, on 28 December 1945, LEONARD WARNOCK HENDERSON* (R.A.F.V.R.), eldest son of the late Alexander S. and Mrs. Henderson, 25 Murray Terrace, Aberdeen, to Jane Fyvie, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, 35 Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen. Hewet (1926-32).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 22 December 1 945. ALEXANDER Ross Hewer,* M.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Hewer, 188 Holburn Street, Aberdeen, to Ann Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hall, 115 Oscar Road, Aberdeen.
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Hogg (1925-34).—At Holbum Central Church, Aberdeen, on to May 1946, Major THOMAS WALKER HOGG, The Gordon Highlanders, only son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Hogg, zo Great Western Place, to Berber Christina, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Smit, 23 Wetherby Gardens, London. Kemp (1924-26).—At Mannofield Church, Aberdeen, on 29 January 1946, WILLIAM CRUICKSHANK ICEmp,* son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Kemp, Ha do, Methlick, to Gladys Beryl Rouse or Grant, daughtcr of the late Mr. W. Grant and Mrs. Grant, 43 Gray Street, Aberdeen. King (1916-26).—M Holy Trinity, Brompton Road, London, on 16 February 1946, FRANCIS HENRY KING,* youngest son of the late William King, Singapore, and Mrs. King, Streatham, to Margaret Hilda, second daughter of the late Henry Greenhill and Mrs. Greenhill, South Woodford, Essex. Lamb (1915-22).—At Christ Church, Edinburgh, on 22 April 1946, CECIL JoHN LAMB,* B.Sc., son of the late Mr. and Mrs. D. K. Lamb, Aberdeen, to Norah, daughter of the late Mr. Richard Newton and of Mrs. Newton, 173 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh. Ledingham (r912-19).—At St. Columba's Church-House Chapel, London, on 17 April 1946, ROBERT GIBS LEDINGHAM,* son of the late John Ledingham (1884-88), Mil timber, Aberdeenshire, to Christina, daughter of the late Donald MacMillan, East Derehasn, Norfolk, and Mrs. W. M. Grant, Balloter, Aberdeenshire. Lindsay (1931-39).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 8 January 1946, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Lindsay, GORDON FORBES LINDSAY,* Lieut., Schoolhouse, Bucksbum, to Mary Wilson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Gordon Bruce, 5 Rubislaw Place, Aberdeen. Mart (1919-26).—At Northern Hotel, Aberdeen, on 16 January 1946, Lieut. DONALD MIDDLETON MARR,* 4/16 Punjab Regiment, Indian Army, son of the late John Marr, Coynachie, Gartly, and Mrs. Marr, Spring Garden, Longside, to Kathleen M., daughter of David S. Rattray (1881-85), 24 Whitehall Road, Aberdeen. Matthew (1928-36).—At Mortlach Church, Dufftown, on 3o March 5946, Argyll JAMES DONALD MATTHEW,* only son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Matthew, 83 Place, Aberdeen, to Allie, daughter of Mrs. Clark, Glack of Mid-Third, Dufftown. Matthews (I927-35).—At New Kinnord, on z6 April 1946, Sub-Lieut. CHARLES W. MArr1IEWS (R.N.V.R.), younger son of W. D. W. Matthews, H.M. Foreign Service (retired) and of Mrs. Matthews, 44 Belgrave Terrace, Aberdeen, to Aihe, eldest daughter of Emeritus Professor J. A. Robertson and Mrs. Robertson, New Kinnord, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire. MEARNS,* Meatus (I916-20).—At Aberdeen, on 19 April 1946, WILLIAM JOHN younger son of the late James G. Mearns and Mrs. Mcarns, of 186 Mid Stocket Road, Aberdeen, to Kathleen Margaret, younger daughter of Mr. Edwin J. Lee and the late Mrs. Lee, of Bicknoller, Somerset. on Milne (1926-35).—At St. John's Westboume Church, Bournemouth, Andrew is May 1946, MALCOLM Ross MILNE,* M.B., Ch.B., younger son of Mr. Bowden, Milne* (19o3-o9), 18 Scofield Drive East, Aberdeen, to Patricia Elizabeth BourneR.S.C.N., S.R.N., third daughter of Mrs. Minnie Bowden, 8 Clive Road, mouth, and the late Thomas Perrier Bowden of Southbourne, Bournemouth. 1946, Milner (r925-37).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 3o MayMilner, D. THOMAS GORDON MILNER* (Lieut., R.E.), only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. 76 Carden Place, Aberdeen, to Edith Margaret, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Templeton, The Lodge, Castle Grant, Grantown-on-Spey. Mitchell (1934-4o).—At Holbum Central Church, Aberdeen, on 27 April 41 1946, JOHN GEORGE MITCHELL,* younger son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Mitchell, Angusfield Avenue, Aberdeen, to Rhoda Nivea, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas M'Combie, 26 Broomhill Avenue, Aberdeen. Moir (I924-32).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 26 December 1945, Rev. IAN A. Mont,* B.D., Ph.D., The Tower Manse, Stanley, Perthshire, to ICirsteen Tait, M.A., B.A., 5 Rubislaw Den North, Aberdeen. 27 Morgan (1927-33).—At the West Church of St. Andrew, Aberdeen, on December, 1945, FREDERICK DAVID MORGAN,* son of the late David Morgan and of
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Mrs. Morgan, z68 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen, to Betty Suzanne, stepdaughter and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Easton, Feudal, Ashfield Road, Cults. Nicol (1921-30).—At fIolbum Central Church, Aberdeen, on 25 March 1946, EDWARD JAMES Nicor., elder son of the late Alexander Nicol and of Mrs. Nicol, 273 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen, to Jean, daughter of Alexander D. Nicolson and the late Mrs. Nicolson, The Garage, Dalhebity, Bieldside, Aberdeen. Park (1931-32).—At Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen, on 8 April 1946, WILLIAM MITCHELL PARK, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Park, 25 Forest Road, Aberdeen, to Sylvia Joan, youngest daughter of Major and Mrs. R. M. Wyatt, Durban, South Africa. Robertson (t 9zz-34).—At Dundee, Natal, on 25 December 1945, Major GEORGE ALISTAIR ROBERTSON,* R.A., 6 King's Gate, Aberdeen, to Marjorie Brook, elder daughter of Robert B. Robertson, M.P., and Mrs. Robertson, Dundee, Natal. Ross (1928-36).—At Woodside Congregational Church, Aberdeen, on 13 November 1945, F./Lieut. DAVID BURGESS Ross,* D.F.C., only son of the late David Burgess Ross and of Mrs. Ross, 64 Anderson Avenue, Aberdeen, to Dorothy, only child of John and the late Mrs. Bradley, " Ormonde ", Sketton Road, Brotton, Yorks. Russell (i917-28).—At Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen, on 23 March 1946, JAMES KNOX RUSSELL,* eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Russell, West Park, Cults, Aberdeenshire, to Ivy Joan, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert S. Hill, To Forest Road, Aberdeen. Scorgie (1928-41).--On 15 December 1945, JAMES TAYLOR SCORGIE,* second son of the late Mr. J. T. Scorgie and Mrs. Scorgie, zo Duthie Terrace, Aberdeen, to Agnes Adam, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Diarmid MacDiarmid, Roslyn, Newarthill, Motherwell. Simpson (1916-25).--At Christchurch, Colombo, on 19 January 1946, ALEXANDER LANCELOT SIMPSON,* Of Calcutta, only son of Mr. A. B. Simpson, of Aberdeen, and the late Mrs. Simpson, to Norah St. Clair, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. G. Redshaw, of Weybridge. Thomson (1910-12).—Privately, GEORGE GRANT THOMSON,* The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and The Neuk, Kinellar, second son of the late Mr. Thomson, Cromarty, and Mrs. Thomson, The Neuk, Kinellar, to Miss Alice Gordon, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Gordon and of Mrs. Gordon, Dunalisdair, Queen's Road, Aberdeen. Tulloch (192t-33).—At King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, on 4 December 1 945, LAURANCE GARDINER TULLOCH, M.B., Ch.B., only son of Mr. and Mrs. Tulloch, 84 Whitehall Place, to Enid Matilda Murray, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clow, 32 Argyll Place, Aberdeen. Walker (1924-30).—At Craigiebuckler Parish Church, Aberdeen, on zo March 1946, GEORGE STEWART GARDEN WALKER,* elder SOD of the late Mr. George Walker and of Mrs. M. Walker, Tillygreig, Udny Station, to Emma Betty Moncrieff, elder daughter of Lieut. (R.N.V.R.) and Mrs. Neil Gullies, 54 Springfield Road, Aberdeen. Walker (1926-39).—At West Cults House, Aberdeenshire, on 8 February 1946, Captain WILLIAM HENRY PIBEL WALKER,* R.A., younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Walker, Windermere, Milltimber, to Margaret Elizabeth, elder daughter of the late John M'Kenzie Davidson, M.I.M.E., Karachi, India, and of Mrs. M'Kenzie Davidson, West Cults House, West Cults, Aberdeenshire. Wilson (i931-34).—At Guildford, Surrey, on z6 February 1946, Flight-Lieut. FERGUS CONNON WILSON, younger son of the late Mr. J. G. Wilson and of Mrs. Wilson, East Lea, West Cults, to Clair Vivia, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Ilallum, Guildford, Surrey. Wilson (1925-26).—At Christ Church, Cheltenham, on 9 March 5946, LAN THURBURN WILSON, only son of the late Hector Wilson, of Vancouver, and formerly of Castle Park, Huntly, and Mrs. Wilson, 59 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen, to Cynthia, daughter of Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs. L. R. Schuster, Bleasby, Cheltenham.
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Obituary. Edward Percy Barnett* (1895-1903), one of four F.P. sons of the late Mr. P. M. Barnett, Engineer-in-Chief, Great North of Scotland Railway Company, died in Sumatra in March 1942, just after the Japanese invasion. Born in August 1889, he attended the School for eight years, and entered the service of the Clydesdale Bank, Aberdeen, in 1903. Six years later he went to Colombo, Ceylon, having received an appointment with Messrs. Harrisons & Crosfield, Ltd. From x9i z to 1917 he was assistant on a tea estate in Sumatra belonging to the Rubber Plantations Investment Trust Ltd., and thereafter manager of Pamoedian Estate, the property of the Eastern Sumatra Rubber Estates Ltd. In 1923 he became manager of the Bandarpinang Estate, East Coast, Sumatra, and in January 1934 was appointed manager of Boekitmaradja Estate, E.C., Sumatra, continuing there until his death. He had been for many years the F.P. Club Consul for Sumatra. He married at Penang in April 1937 Miss Blanche Eddie, eldest daughter of Dr. R. W. EDDIE (1902-04), Monecht House, Echt, Aberdeenshire. She, as will be seen on another page of this issue, has recently married another F.P., GEORGE DOUGLAS ALLAN (19 I 9-3o), C.A., who has returned to Singapore. James Anderson Bower* (1882-95), retired tea planter, Craig Chattan, Banchory, died in London on 5 February 1946, aged 67 years. A son of the late Mr. James Haddon Bower of Pitmurchie, Torphins, andL one of five brothers who attended the School, he served in the Bank of Scotland, Aberdeen, from 1896 to 190o, when he joined the Lukwah Tea Co. Ltd., Assam. Eventually he became manager of the Maijan Tea Estate,bibrugarh, and latterly lived in retirement in this country. In his earlier days he was a member of the Assam Valley Light Horse and a noted polo player. Edmund Blaikie Boyd* (19oo-1 z), C.M.G., C.V.O., DMA., formerly an Assistant Secretary in the Colonial Office, died at a sanatorium in Scotland, after a long illness, on zo April 1946, aged 52 years. A son of the late Mr. David J. Boyd, who lived at 43 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen, he left the School as Classical Dux in 1912 and graduated M.A. at Aberdeen University in 1916, with First Class Honours in Classics and Distinction in Greek History. A few months later he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner, and in October 1917 was commissioned in the Royal Garrison Artillery (S.R.), thereafter serving in France and Belgium with the both Siege Battery from November 1917 to June 1919, when he was demobilized. In the following January he was appointed to the Higher Division, Home Civil Service, and posted to the Colonial Office, where he was Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, 1922 to 1924. He became a Principal in 1925 and was Principal Private Secretary to successive Secretaries of State from 1930 to 1937. In the latter year he became a member of the East African Currency Board and from 1941 was a member of the Palestine Currency Board. A colleague of his wrote the following tribute in The Times :—
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The early death of Eddie Boyd is a severe loss to the Colonial Office and to his many friends. He was devoted, fair minded, and capable, but perhaps his outstanding characteristics were his simplicity and straightforwardness. He never saw trouble where no trouble was, and many difficulties resolved at his patient touch. To work with him was to grow fond of him, and he was deeply and trustingly affectionate. His neatness, which was in keeping with his character, was noteworthy. Some men seem to wear their tidiness on their sleeve as a rebuke to others. With him it was otherwise. His ties, his bookshelves, his shoes, and his files spoke of order and method, without effort and without self-consciousness. And he had a gay chuckle at the incongruous or inconsequent which betokened a sympathy for disorder, not always found in an ordered mind. He had a severe breakdown in health many months since, due no doubt in part to overwork over many years, and he faced the discomforts and at times pains of his long illness with simple faith and courage. He leaves with us an indelible picture of gentle but firm devotion, and many happy memories of companionship in and out of the office.
John Bruce* (1896-1903), M.C., younger son of the late Mr. John Bruce, Aberdeen Free Press, and of Mrs. Bruce, Northcote, Pitfodels, died at a nursing home in Aberdeen on 4 May 1946, aged 59. For a number of years he was manager of the business of Mr. William Bruce, preserved provision manufacturer, Aberdeen, and from 1921 was managing director of Messrs. Marshall & Co. (Aberdeen) Ltd., preserved provision manufacturers. He served throughout the war of 1914-19 as an officer in the 5 i st (Highland) Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers (T.F.), being in France from May 1915 to January 1919 and being awarded the Military Cross in January 1918. He married in December 1925 Miss Ethel M. Cruickshank, younger daughter of Mrs. Cruickshank, 9 Hammersmith Road, Aberdeen, and is survived by her and their only son, JOHN MARSHALL BRUCE* (1934-45)•
James Jolly Calder* (1866-69), M.A., formerly minister of the parishes of Rhynie and Cairney, died at Stonehaven on 21 January 1946, aged 92 years and to months. He entered the School almost 8o years ago, at the age of 13, and if not the oldest F.P., was the Senior Member of the F.P. Club. Having graduated M.A. at Aberdeen in 1874, he became, as a licentiate of the Church of Scotland, assistant to Dr. Semple, Huntly, in 1877. Two years later he was ordained and inducted minister of Rhynie, where he remained for 21 years. He was then translated to the parish of Cairney, and ministered there for 32 years. He was Clerk of the Presbytery of Strathbogie for 45 years. After a ministry of 55 years, he retired in 1932 and lived in Stonehaven. He took a keen interest in public affairs and for a long time was chairman of Cairney School Board and Parish Council. George James Catto* (1882-89) died at Hampstead General Hospital, London, on 7 May 1946, aged 72 years. On leaving the School he served his apprenticeship as an engineer in Aberdeen and then went out to Assam, where eventually he became a director of the Attaree Khat Tea Co. Ltd. For a time he was a trooper in the Assam Valley Light Horse. Latterly he lived in retirement in London. He married in September 1914 Miss Jessie S. R. M`Vail, younger daughter of Dr. John C. M'Vail, Edinburgh. Joseph Steele Cornwall (1879-80), Birkland, Milltimber, died at
125 Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Aberdeen on 24 January 1946, aged 78 years. He was for many years associated with the firm of Messrs. George Cornwall & Sons, printers and lithographers, Aberdeen (founded by his grandfather in i 832), and retired in 192o. James Davidson* (1883-89), eldest son of the late Mr. James Davidson, Homewood, Mannofield, Aberdeen, died at Pitfodels on zz May 1946, aged 71 years. Shortly after leaving the School he entered the family business of Messrs. J. & A. Davidson, coal merchants and shipowners, and became its managing director. He held this position until 1922, when he retired. As will be seen from the next note, his brother, Dr. Norman Davidson, also died recently. They are survived by their youngest brother, THEODORE DAVIDSON* . (1888-99), who carries on the family business. Norman Davidson* (1884-94), M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., son of the late Mr. James Davidson, Homewood, Mannofield, Aberdeen, died at 57 Queen's Road, Aberdeen, on 7 February 1946, aged 68 years. He graduated in Medicine at, Aberdeen University in 1899 and, after taking the D.P.H. in 1901, was appointed Medical Officer of Health at Peterhead, continuing in that post until 1925, and from 1921 being also Admiralty Surgeon there. On retiring from these posts, he took up practice in Aberdeen. In the war of 1914-1919 he served for over two and a half years in the R.A.M.C., being at Salonika from August 1916 to July 1917 and thereafter in various posts at home and in France. He was demobilized in March 1919 with the rank of Captain. He is survived by Mrs. Davidson and one son, Dr. NORMAN J. H. DAVIDSON* (1925-33). Alan Cunningham Emslie (1912-18), C.A., son of the late Mrs. Emslie, 244 Great Western Road, Aberdeen, died at South Shields on zo March 1946, aged 44 years. He qualified in Aberdeen as a chartered accountant in 1927 and continued to work locally until 1940, when he took up an appointment with Messrs. Fraser, Lawson & Laing, C.A., Bothwell Street, Glasgow. In March 5945 he entered the service of R. S. & A. L. Friends, accountants, South Shields, in whose employment he was at the time of his death, which occurred after a short illness. He married as recently as September 1945 Miss Florence M'Culloch, 66 Victoria Park Drive North, Glasgow, W.4. Henry Farquhar (1874-75), M.B.E., M.A., B.D., Chaplain to the Forces (retired), died at a nursing home in London on 3 March 1946, aged 85 years. A son of the late Mr. Alexander Farquhar, Rockhead, Guthrie, he graduated M.A. at Aberdeen University in 1879 and B.D. at Edinburgh in 188z. In the following year he was ordained minister of the West Church, Dalkeith, and remained there until his resignation in 1909. In 1910 he was appointed an Army Chaplain and continued in that capacity until 1928. In the war of 1914-1919 he served successively at Dover, Grantham, and Rugeley. He received the honour of M.B.E. in June 1919. Alexander Forbes* (188o-81), M.B., C.M., died at Sheffield on 7 February 1945, aged 8o years. He graduated in Medicine at Aber-
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deen University in 1890, and spent his life in practice at Sheffield. While a student he shipped in the famous Peterhead whaler, Eclipse, as surgeon. William Garvie (1883-89), M.A., son of the late Mr. Robert G. Garvie, Fonthill Terrace, Aberdeen, died at Inverness on 9 April 1946, aged 74 years. He graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1893 and was appointed minister of the Free Church, later the United Free Church, Ballantrae, Ayrshire, in 1900. After a period of retirement he was appointed minister of the United Free Church (later Altries Church), Maryculter, Kincardineshire, in 1924 and resigned in 1935. The death of a brother, ROBERT GLEGG GARVIE (1886-96), was recorded in the last Magazine. 'John Greig* (1878-79), son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Greig, Carnation Cottage, Ann Place, Aberdeen, died at a nursing home in Colombo, Ceylon, on 2 February 1946, aged 82 years. After serving as an apprentice with the Scottish Provincial Assurance Co., Aberdeen, he went to Ceylon in 1886, where he spent the whole of his life in tea-planting. About 25 years ago he was at Brae Group, Madulkelle, and later at Watapuluwa, Katugastota. He became many years ago a Life Member of the F.P. Club. Robert Norman Hally* (1889-97), second son of the late Mr. Robert Hally, 22 Queen's Road, Aberdeen, died at his home, 130 Bridge Lane, London, N.W.ti, on 23 May 1946, aged 64 years. After leaving the School he was for four years with Messrs. Leith & Paterson, Ltd., manufacturers, Aberdeen, and for three years with Messrs. Stafford Northcote & Co., Ltd., London. He was then for a period with Messrs. Francis & Pearse, London, and later became sole proprietor of the business of Messrs. Avery & Diggens. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he received a commission in the Highland Howitzer Brigade, R.F.A. (T.F.), and served in France, Belgium, and Italy, being demobilized in March 1919 with the rank of Captain. In the late war he was put in charge of an area in London for firewatching, and being most conscientious in his duties, suffered from excessive strain. For many years he took a keen interest in the London Centre of the F.P. Club. He married in April 1928 Miss Winifred Margaret Myles of Brechin, by whom he is survived. Erskine Dawson Jameson* (1880-84), M.B. E., M.A., LL.B., died at Kinnore, Elgin, on 9 March 1946, aged 78 years. A son of the late Mr. James Jameson, Sheriff Clerk of Moray, he graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1888 and in Law at Edinburgh University in 1891. In the following year he started in practice as a solicitor in Elgin, and in 1904 became County Clerk of Moray and later of Moray and Nairn. He was also agent for the Bank of Scotland at Elgin. Throughout the war of 1914-1919 he was Treasurer of the Morayshire branch of the British Red Cross Society, and received the honour of M.B.E. in 1920. He retired in 1939. James Vass Lorimer* (1894-1906), elder son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Lorimer, 55 King's Gate, Aberdeen, died in London on 5 January 1946, aged 56 years. For a number of years he was a partner
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with his father in the firm of Messrs. James Lorimer & Son, boot and shoe makers, Aberdeen. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he was mobilized as a Lieutenant in the Highland Divisional T. and S. Column, Army Service Corps (T.F.) and served with the 5 ist Divisional Train in France from May 1915 to March 1919, becoming Captain and Adjutant. He was ' mentioned " in 1916 and 1919, and in the latter year was gazetted O.B.E. (Military Division). He married in February 1918 Miss Eleanor Atkins, daughter of the late Mr. George Atkins and of Mrs. Atkins, S4 Polmuir Road, Aberdeen; and after her death married in September 1924 Bella, widow of Captain T. B. Myles, M.C. Duncan Davidson Mackintosh (1883-88), M.B., C.M., son of the late Mr. William Mackintosh, Aboyne, died at Brighton on 27 May 1946, aged 75 years. After graduating in Medicine at Aberdeen in 1892, he was in medical practice first at Aboyne and latterly at Worthing, Sussex. Farquhar MacLennan* (1888-90), D.S.O., M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, Army Medical Service, died at Aberdeen on 27 May 1946, aged 73 years. He graduated in Medicine at Aberdeen University in 1898, and two years later entered the Royal Army Medical Corps, retiring in 1924 with the rank of Colonel, A.M.S. When war broke out in 1914 he was a Major, and for over two years he was D.A.D.G., Army Medical Dept., War Office. Later he was A.D.M.S., 3rd Division. He was " mentioned " in January 1917 and June 1919, and was awarded the D.S.O. on 1 January 1919. After his retiral he became Officer-in-charge of the Military Reception Station, Aberdeen. He is survived by his twin sons, Lieut.-Colonel ALASTAIR MACLENNAN* (1923-29), O.B.E., M.B., Ch.B., R.A.M.C., at present serving in Malaya, and JOHN DUNCAN MACLENNAN* (1923-29), M.B.E., M.B., Ch.B., who is engaged in bacteriological research work in London. Donald William Matheson (1936-41), B.Sc. (Eng.), died suddenly at Paisley on 9 March 1946, aged z1 years. The only son of the Rev. E. A. Matheson, formerly of Trinity Congregational Church, Aberdeen, and now of Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, he graduated in Mechanical Engineering at Aberdeen University as recently as March 1945.
George Milne* (1893-94), M.A., of Craigellie, Lonmay, Aberdeenshire, died there on 22 March 1946, aged 68 years. The eldest son of the late Mr. John Henderson Milne of Craigellie, he graduated M.A. with double First Class Honours (Classics and Modern Languages) at Aberdeen University in 1899, having won the Black Prize in the previous year. He entered the Indian Civil Service in 1900, and after serving in Bengal, Eastern Bengal and Assam, and Bihar and Orissa, retired in 1923, living thereafter at Craigellie. He was unmarried. After the payment of certain legacies, the residue of his estate will eventually be held for the encouragement of the study of Celtic in the University of Aberdeen. William Murray* (1884-85 and 1889-91), M.B., Ch.B., eldest son of the late Sir James Murray, Glenburnie Park, Aberdeen, died at
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine The Albany, London, on i2 March 1946, in his 69th year. He graduated in Medicine at Edinburgh in 19oz and took the D.P.H. at London in 1903. Thereafter he was for many years in medical practice in London. He served in the R.A.M.C. in France, Belgium, and Germany from December 1917 to March 1919. John Underwood Nicol (190o-or), second son of the late Very Rev. Professor Thomas Nicol, Aberdeen University, died suddenly at Aberdeen on 18 March 1946, aged 6z years. After attending classes at Aberdeen University, he entered the service of the Caledonian Insurance Co., later joining the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society, and becoming an inspector at its London office. In 1926 he was appointed secretary at Aberdeen for the Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society and retired ten years later on the grounds of illhealth. He was an elder of the West Church of St. Nicholas, Aberdeen, and secretary of the Church of Scotland's Balmedie Eventide Home. John William Paul* (1901-03), son of the late Mr. William Paul, Mains of Tarty, Ellon, died suddenly at 12 Woodburn Avenue, Aberdeen, on 3 May 1946, aged 6o years. On leaving the School he entered the service of the North of Scotland Bank at Ellon and became agent of that bank at Aboyne in 1921. Two years later he was transferred to the agency at the Market Street branch in Ellon and continued there until his retiral, in 1939, owing to ill-health. He had three sons who attended the School—JoHN WILLIAM PAUL* (1929-36), who was a Sergeant Pilot in the R.A.F. and was killed in September 1941 ; ALEXANDER CADENHEAD PAUL* (1932-37), and DOUGLAS LAMONT PAUL* (1933-4o). Samuel Pope* (1876-87), eldest son of the late Mr. Samuel Pope, Writing and Art Master at the School for many years, and one of five brothers who all attended the School, died at Aberdeen on 25 March 1946, aged 75 years. After leaving the School, he qualified as a solicitor and had been in business on his own account in Aberdeen for 38 years. Throughout that period he was secretary of the Northern Arts Club in Aberdeen, and was well known as an amateur artist. He was secretary of the F.P. Rugby Club in its early years. His only son is JOHN WILSON POPE* (1910-24), who is a civil engineer in the City Engineer's Office, Aberdeen. William Walker Reid (1889-9o), M.A., B.D., senior minister of Dumbarton Old Parish Church, died at Aberdeen on 25 February 1946, aged 72 years. He graduated in Arts at Aberdeen University in 1894 and in Divinity at Edinburgh University in 1898. He was ordained minister of Mannofield Parish Church, Aberdeen, in 191o, and translated to Dumbarton Parish Church in 1915, retiring last year and taking up residence in Aberdeen. In the war of 1914-1919 he served for a period in the Army Chaplains Department. James Sangster Melville Skoyles* (1924-38), son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Skoyles, Marchburn, Fordoun, died there on 26 April, 1946, aged 27 years. He never enjoyed good health. William George Slater* (1914-20), Tigh-na-Geald, Countesswells Road, Aberdeen, died there on 7 June 1946, aged 42 years. i z8
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On leaving the School he entered his father's firm, Messrs. W. Slater & Sons, herring curers, Aberdeen, and became a well-known figure in the herring trade throughout the country. For many years he was chairman of the British Herring Trade Association. Ile married in April 1929 Miss Jean McAddie of Wick. James Drummond Smith* (1900-08), O.B.E., M.A., died suddenly at Daventry on 22 April 1946, aged 55 years. A son of the late Rev. William Smith, of Greyfriars U.F. Church, Aberdeen, he graduated M.A. at Aberdeen University, with Honours in Economic Science, in 1911, and after being for three years junior lecturer in Economics at the University, was on war service as a commissioned officer in the Royal Flying Corps from October 1916. He was in the Directorate of Air Organization, War Office, to April 1918, and in the Air Ministry to February 192o. For his services he was made O.B.E. In 192o he was appointed Cassel Lecturer in Commerce in the University of London, but four years later went into business, becoming chairman of Messrs. Barrow, Hepburn & Gale, Ltd., tanners and leather merchants, Bermondsey, London. Later he became chairman of British Waxed Wrappings Ltd. Latterly he was head of the Westbourne Engineering Co., Daventry, and at the time of his death was actively engaged in planning and negotiating for the change-over from wartime activity to peace-time production. In an appreciation in the Rugby Advertiser it is recorded that " it was characteristic of the man not to be beaten by the Battle of London, and in 1940 suitable accommodation was located in Daventry. After astounding trials and difficulties he built up a large engineering unit of f5o workers, producing at a competitive price huge quantities of the most intricate and varied parts for the Hornet, Mosquito, and other aircraft. Barns, outhouses, and any property whatever, derelict and otherwise, were leased, and even a small colony of Belgian refugees, for whom he found housing accommodation, was utilized ; and later, out-working parttime schemes in four villages were organized, and married women were trained to perform operations which hitherto had been done by skilled male workers. Difficulties cropped up in plenty, only to be overcome by his indomitable passion for getting things done. Only the best was good enough, and he gave unstintingly and disinterestedly, inspiring others with the same zeal and endeavour. . . . And with all this James Drummond Smith was a man of culture. He loved the arts genuinely, was a wide reader—a man to whom no recreation was more sweet and refreshing than a good concert. Truly this was a man whose character and deeds will be held in long remembrance by all who knew him." Prior to the war Drummond Smith took a very keen and active interest in the London Centre of the F.P. Club. He was one of several outstanding speakers at the last Dinner, held in February 1939. James Lamond Douglass Smith* (1885-9o), C.E., died at a nursing home in Leeds on 20 February 1946, aged 73 years. After leaving the School he served for five years as a pupil and for three years as an assistant with the Engineer-in-Chief of the Great North of Scotland Railway. Thereafter he was for many years in the service
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of several well-known engineering and contracting firms in London. In 1923 he joined the Aire and Calder Navigation, and was for a time resident engineer on the Navigation's docks at Goole, supervising the construction of a new entrance lock. He retired early in 1941, but was offered and accepted an appointment with the Yorkshire Hennebique Contracting Co. of Leeds, as engineer on Government contracts. During the war of 1914-1919 he was in charge of the construction of the " Island Forts " of the Humber. George Leslie Smith Thompson* (1906-1 O), M. A., B.D., Ph.D., died suddenly in Edinburgh on 3o March 1946, aged 53 years. He graduated at Aberdeen University in Arts in 1913 and in Divinity in 1917. Five years later he was awarded the Ph.D. degree at Edinburgh University, the title of his thesis being " The Origins of Congregationalism in Scotland." In 1918 he was appointed minister of the Congregational Church, Perth, and two years later was called to Gilfillan Memorial Church, Dundee. In 1926 he went to Hope Park and Buccleuch Congregational Church, Edinburgh, where he remained until 1933. Thereafter for nine years he was on the staff of Skerry's College, Glasgow, taking the higher English and History classes.
Pro Patria Mortui. " I have only done my duty as a man is bound to do." —TENNYSON. Ballad of "The Revenge".
George Edmond Anderson* (1934-37), Sergeant, R.A.F., youngest Son of ROBERT JOHN ANDERSON* (1895-99), Strathbeg, Pitfodels, was in April of this year officially presumed to have lost his life in operations over Burma on 25 May 1943. Born on 4 July 1921, he spent three years at the Grammar School and then went to George Watson's, Edinburgh, from which he joined the R.A.F. before the outbreak of war, at the age of 17. In 5940 he was an Air-gunner in operations over France and got back to this country via Cherbourg in June of that year. He was later transferred to the India Command and was engaged in operations against the Japanese. At the time of his death he was wireless-operator air-gunner in a plane with three of a crew. Frederick Scott Thomson Dewar* (1923-29), eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Dewar, 4 Hammerfield Avenue, Aberdeen, who was a 3rd Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy, was lost when his vessel was sunk off Trinidad in December 1942, aged 3o years. On leaving the School, he entered the service of the British Linen Bank and continued in it until called up early in 1941. In 1935 he became an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, and later, in his spare time, trained as a wireless operator. This decided his occupation when he entered the Merchant Navy, in which all his service was abroad. He married in January 1942 Miss Margaret Rae, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Rae, 284 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen.
t
GILBERT WOLRIDGE ROSE
M,B., Ch.B. ;
R.A.M.C.
ALASTAIR DAVID MACDONALD M.A.; Lieutenant, 'The Royal Norfolk Regiment.
FREDERICK SCOTT THOMSON DEWAR 3rd Radio Officer, Merchant Navy.
0, 010" # HAMISII IAN SANDERSON
Flight Sergeant, R.A.F.
itirtab4
ERIC \\ILLIAM TRAIL
,
Fight Sergeant, R.A.F.
DOUGLA
DUNNINGHAM
Lieutenant, R.N.R.
GEORGE EDMOND ANDERSON
Sergeant, R.A.F.
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Douglas Dunningham (1912-23), Lieutenant, R.N.R., died at Tor-na-Dee, Murtle, on to April 1946, aged 38 years. He was the second son of the late DOUGLAS A. DUNNINGHAM (1886-90), and a grandson of WILLIAM DUNNINGHAM (1862-60—both of Messrs. W. Dunningham & Co., wholesale manufacturing jewellers, Aberdeen. Deciding to go to sea, he served an apprenticeship with the Clarissa Radcliffe Co. Ltd., Cardiff. He took his master's ticket at Aberdeen in December 1940 and was commissioned Lieutenant, R.N.R. He went overseas in April 1941 on the Centurion, and was serving in H.M.S. Chakdina when she was torpedoed. After this he served ashore at Alexandria, and was R.N.O., Bardia, when he sustained severe injuries in an accident in February 1943. After spending ten months in hospital in Cairo, he came home and entered Tor-na-Dee Sanatorium at the end of January 1944, remaining there until his death. He married in April 1941 Miss Gladys K. Forbes, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Forbes, 488 Great Northern Road, Aberdeen. Alastair David Macdonald* (1922-25), M.A., Lieutenant, The Royal Norfolk Regiment, was in February of this year officially presumed to have lost his life at sea near Padang, Sumatra, on or after 28 February 1942, aged 29 years. The second son of Mr. William N. Macdonald, principal teacher of French at the Central School, Aberdeen, he graduated M.A. at the University, with First Class Honours in History, in 1939, winning at the same time the Archibald Forbes Gold Medal and the Caithness Prize in History. A gifted musician, he was organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's Church, Aberdeen, 1933-37, and of King's College Chapel in the following year. In December 1938 he won the Organist Scholarship of St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. At Aberdeen University he played a prominent part in undergraduate life, being editor of Gaudie and Alma Mater, and one of the authors and composers of music for the very successful students' show " Beating Time ". He was the first student to conduct the Theatre orchestra at any of these shows. Shortly after the outbreak of war he received a commission in the Norfolk Regiment and was serving with it at Singapore at the time it fell. Gilbert Wolridge Rose (1900-09), M.B., Ch.B., Lieut.-Colonel, R.A.M.C., eldest son of the late Dr. George Rose, School Medical Officer, Aberdeen, died on active service at Ahmadnagar, India, on 21 April 1946, aged 53 years. Immediately after graduating in Medicine at Aberdeen University in 1915, he received a permanent commission in the R.A.M.C. and served in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. Between the wars he saw service in Egypt, India, and at home. In September 1939 he was a medical officer at the Guards depot, and with the rank of Major in the 1st Field Ambulance crossed to France with the B.E.F., being promoted Lieut.-Colonel in December 1939. After the evacuation from Dunkirk he was posted to Malta, where he spent two and a half years. Soon after D-day he was again in France in charge of a hospital, and from December 1944 was in charge of a hospital in India. He was twice married : in September 1927 to Miss Phyllis Margaret Fyfe-Jamieson, Ruthven, Perthshire ; and in
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September 1934 to Miss Bettine Robertson Brown, Regent House, Colombo, Ceylon. His younger brother, GEORGE DOUGLAS ROSE (19o2-I I), M.A., and Lieutenant, 4th Gordon Highlanders (T.F.), was killed in action in Flanders in September 1917; and his youngest brother, NORMAN SUTHERLAND ROSE (1907-16), M.A., LL.B., died in Aberdeen in December 1928. Hamish Ian Sandison* (1933-40), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F., only son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Sandison, 3 Paisley Grove, Edinburgh, died at Lee-on-Solent as the result of a flying accident on 13 February 1946, aged ax years. After leaving school in Edinburgh, he went to St. Andrews University, and from there to South Africa, to train as a pilot in the R.A.F. He was, however, transferred to a navigation school to train as a navigator. After receiving his " wing," he returned to this country and was posted to Coastal Command as Navigator Bomb-aimer, and completed two highly successful tours of " ops ". His pilots had the greatest confidence in him, one of them writing a few days before the last flight—" So long as Sandison is my Navigator, I can fly anywhere ". In the early morning of 13 February last he 'phoned home to say that they were about to take off on a flight to India. A few minutes later an engine of his Sunderland " cut out ", and it came down in flames about one hundred yards off the shore at Lee-on-Solent. The crew and emergency crew of ten all perished. It is suggested that his old teachers at the School may be interested to learn that in all his R.A.F. examinations Sandison was easily first, and the practical result of his " ops." proved the examination results to be correct. Eric William Trail* (1929-41), Flight Sergeant, R.A.F., only son • of the late Mr. George Trail and of Mrs. Trail, 46 Springbank Terrace, Aberdeen, was reported missing from air operations in September 1945, while serving with the South-East Asia Command, and in April of this year his death was officially confirmed. Born in April 1914, he spent twelve years at the School, taking a keen interest in the 17th Cubs. In the early stages of the war he was a member of the 107 Squadron, A.T.C., and in August 1942 joined the R.A.F., receiving his training and winning his " wings " at Calgary, Canada. John Thomson Wright (1924-z5), Sergeant W/T Gunner, R.A.F., was killed in an operational flight over Dusseldorf in April 1942, aged zz years. He was a son of Mr. William Wright, Vancouver, B.C., and was a pupil in the Infants' Department of the School for a few months.
•
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
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From a Malayan Diary : Fragment. he was a fisher[The facts in this story are true The Chinaman I knew well ;blue-watered bay man on a lonely beach along the east coast of Johore. His deep war. In was always a welcome anchorage on my patrols before and during theshot down 1942 he was executed by the Japanese for help given to Allied airmen over Johore.]
It was just on six o'clock when the Wildebeestes got to Kuala Endau. Below on the river Jim saw their target—barges in the main stream, a string of them, packed with troops. Out in the bay by the mouth of the river, where the long sandspit was lost in the blueness of the sea, a Jap transport swung in the swell, disgorging more troops, and further out, well back off-shore, twin destroyers and a cruiser shadowed the landing. He could see, too, the long waves breaking of and washing on the shore, and above the beaches the green spraywas palm-trees. The sun was behind them in the west and there very little cloud. Jim had just time to see all this as they went in to the attack ; then the flak began to burst all round him and he felt could the plane shudder suddenly. Out of the corner of one eye he spitting. guns their with diving, and fast in, come O's Navy Jap see the They had come up from Signapore to do the job, nineteen of them. all knew But straight from the jump they never had a chance ; they They had it. about done be could that that. And there was nothing O's, Navy the off keep to help to Hurricanes of escort an expected been but there were too few for any to be spared. Instead, they had no job, this for good no were they but Buffaloes, half-a-dozen given Johore over skies the in weeks few match for the Jap fighters ; the last when had made that plain enough. It didn't surprise Jim, then, had they Buffaloes—once the back Squadron Leader Malcolm turned go to were they So all. after lot the sacrifice Why Singapore. left they had chance earthly what Hell, into Endau unescorted, alone. ? with Wildebeestes, decrepit and old, lame, like broken-winged ducks them many of How was. it there They could do little good, but Precious would get back out of this Jim could not help wondering. Then they ? anyhow matter it did few, he knew that. Well—what Endau. came on Malcolm led the attack on the ships, going in first. Jim followed, just diving. The flak was everywhere, but he forgot even that, and torpedo the once at knew and lift dived. Suddenly he felt the plane banking had gone. " Thank God for that anyhow ", he muttered,heavy old a was she : it take would steeply, as steep as the old ship him, one crate 1 As he banked he saw Malcolm hit the water below and wreckage then ; quickly up, . almighty smack, and his plane break his Then up. dry throat his felt Jim that. like just water again, he that badly, hit was He sky. own plane was lurching all over the out right spinning, was he Now away. clean shot tail, knew—in the fast. He of control, and he could see the water coming up to him, thigh, his on and leg his on blood the moment, that at just saw, too, burst machine-gun a by wide ripped and the great tear in the fuselage, strangely leg, his in pain no was there But Zero. blasted from some himself enough. " Bale out " he yelled, behind him. But he knew
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it was too late to get out. As he hit the water he was still struggling to pull her out of the spin. He was swimming around in the water, vaguely at first, trying to remember things, and hanging on to some wreckage, a lump of wood —God knows where it had come from—but it was handy. He felt that every bone in his body was broken. He was alone in the water. Now he saw the shore, a long sandy stretch, and the sun going down behind the trees. Closer he recognized a fishing trap, its slim grey poles swinging in the water. He made for them as best he could ; but how tired he was 1 As he swam, he felt his legs trail out behind him in the water, but he kept on, it was all he could do. Sometimes he floated on his back, but the waves kept washing over him. His legs dragged and the pain in them became unbearable, but he swain on. Ah Soong found him next morning on the shore. The old Chinaman had come up along the beach, looking for cockles, and had discovered him lying there, just above the tide level, sprawled in the sand. He was alive, his heart beating faintly. Ah Soong could just feel it when he put his hand under the wet shirt ; then he saw the blood down one leg, all caked-up, and the torn and broken flesh. Gently, as carefully as he could, the Chinaman laid his hands under the young airman's armpits and pulled him up over the beach on to the bank under the trees. There he began rubbing his hands, his arms. Soon their warmth came flowing back under his moving palms. It was a hard job getting the wounded man along the shore and through the scrub, for Jim was very weak. And Ah Soong had to wait until nightfall. In the end he managed it. The old hut by the path-field was the best place, he thought. It would make a good hide-out, for it was well off any of the usual tracks and there was always a quick getaway, if necessary, into the jungle behind. It was unlikely that the Japanese patrols would come looking yet awhile. If they did get too close, then he could search for a better spot. Until that happened, the old hut would do. Ah Soong left Jim there in the hut, making him as comfortable as he could in one corner before he departed. Before dawn he was back again with blankets and dry clothes and some bandages which he had torn from an old sheet, and iodine. He brought with him, too, a big thermos of scalding hot water, and together they bathed and bound the lacerated leg. But best of all there was some boiled rice and fish soup for him, and some raw spirit that burned Jim's throat and put new life into him. The mist lay heavy on the padi-strip. It was so thick that it swallowed up the hut in its whiteness, the little brown hut that stood perched over the " sawah " on its four wooden piles. Jim was ready to go. There were few things to worry about, for he must travel light, otherwise what chance had he ? He carried a few clothes, some food, bandages, and quinine : that was all. Ah Soong had supplied everything—even some money. They had parted last night and for Jim it .had been a hard separation. It was six weeks since he had been shot down over Endau
135 Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine He weeks. these all health to and the old man had nursed him back had clothed and fed him, and had been to see him every night in the hut, even in the heaviest of rain. Now that Jim's wounds were healed he felt stronger, strong enough to go. He couldn't hang on here indefinitely, it wasn't fair on Ah Soong. The chances he had taken were big enough already, with the Japanese patrols along the coast. More than that, the old Chinaman didn't trust the Endau Malays around here over much. The first light of dawn began to show in the East and the mists on the padi-fields were beginning to lift as Jim left the hut and crossed over towards the jungle. He had a good two hours ahead of him before he need lie up again, for there was little sense in rushing things. He could work up longer stretches as he grew stronger. He carried no maps, it was safer that way. His idea was clear enough : through the jungle—there were plenty of tracks—until he hit the river, then somehow or other he must lay hold of a sampan and work up to Kahang. He must rely on the money that Ah Soong had given him for that. And from Kahang he would head across country to the West coast. Then—with any luck—Sumatra. W. FER RIER MAYOR
(1923-30).
F.P.s visit the Cocos and Christmas Islands. JOHN Courrs SMOLLET* (1938-43), A.B., H.M.S. Loch Gorm, writing in May from Singapore Naval Base, says :— " In April last I was serving on board the frigate Loch Gorm when she had the honour of taking Mr. P. A. B. MCKERRON (1904-1o), Colonial Secretary, for a visit to the Cocos and Christmas Islands. I had a talk with him on the way down to the Islands and he said that he still found the old School Mag. very interesting, even after all these years. " The trip was very successful and quite interesting. Starting from Singapore, we proceeded down the coast of Sumatra to the Sunda Straits. On reaching these, we steamed as close as possible to the famous volcano Krakatou or Krakatoa. Mr. McKerron was very keen to get a close-up view, since this is an active volcano, which last erupted in 1883. When this occurred, a tidal wave a hundred feet high formed in or rather swept through the Straits, causing widespread devastation along the coasts of Java and Sumatra. " It was in this area that Mr. McKerron had previously a narrow escape. I don't know the details, but I do know that he made a sea voyage through the Sunda Straits immediately after the Japanese had occupied Java and Sumatra—a dangerous passage, as one can imagine. ' After having a good look at Krakatoa, we continued westwards. The ship was a few hours late in arriving at the Cocos, owing to a spot of bad weather. It may be of interest to record that the Cocos are owned, I believe, by a Mr. Ross, who is in his last term at Edinburgh University.
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" The main division of the Cocos or Keeling Islands is the Southern one, which consists of a group of about twenty. These form a roughly broken circle, approaching nearly the horse-shoe shape common to coral atolls. Outside and all round the islands a natural barrier protects the lagoon. The greater part of the lagoon is filled with patches of growing coral. Owing to the presence of this coral, the ship anchored in the mouth of the horse-shoe. The following day Mr. McKerron, with a guard from the ship's company, proceeded ashore to the main island, called New Selma, and a hoisting-of-thecolours ceremony was duly carried out. Everything was very clean and tidy. The native islanders' dwellings each had a small garden, surrounded by neat white stones. The islanders turned out in grand style for the ceremony. Before returning to the ship, the guard had a taste of some of the island's fruits, such as bananas, papaws, guavas, and figs. Later in the day we were allowed to bathe from the beaches of one of the smaller islands, Mr. McKerron having a turn in the water too. But it is not quite the ideal place for swimming, owing to the presence of sharks and giant clams. Nevertheless all enjoyed themselves immensely. "The next day we departed from the Cocos, and a day later arrived at Christmas Island. This is of limestone formation and quadrangular in shape. It is very densely wooded, and steep too. Seen from a distance northwards or southwards it is saddle-shaped, the centre being considerably lower than the east and the west portions. The sea face of the island is composed of perpendicular and almost continuous cliffs, much undermined in places, which renders the island inaccessible, except where the cliff has crumbled away and formed rough beaches. " The ship dropped anchor just off one of these beaches, named ' Flying Fish Cove'. In this is the settlement of the Christmas Island Phosphate Company, which consists of the Governor's House, homes for the Europeans, and quarters for the Chinese and Malay employees. Practically everyone in the settlement is employed in the phosphate quarries. " Many pigeons are to be seen on the island, and I was informed that one variety, known as ' Carpaphaga Whartoni ', being unique, is protected. Gannets, frigate and other sea birds are plentiful. Turtles deposit their eggs on the beaches and an edible fresh-water crab is common. I was lucky enough to see quite a few of the latter, which were magnificently coloured. " Mr. McKcrron was entertained by the Governor, but there was no official ceremony. The next day we left Christmas Island and returned to Singapore. Before leaving the ship, Mr. McKerron addressed the ship's company and said that the trip had been very successful and much more interesting than he had expected. " In the near future Mr. McKerron will be flying to Borneo for a tour of inspection there, and I hope to be on my way home, as the ship is now due to return to the United Kingdom. Since joining the Service I have served in H.M.S. Nelson, H.M.S. Howe, and now H.M.S. Loch Gorm."
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Indonesia. Indonesia comprises all the islands that make up the Dutch East Indies, and includes Java, Sumatra, most of Borneo, Bali, Lombok, Celebes, about one half of New Guinea, and a large number of less known islands. The total area would approximate to that of Western Australia. Except for parts of Sumatra and Borneo, the territories are situated in the southern hemisphere, from the equator to to° S. Generally they could be indicated as lying south and east of Singapore. Although in the tropical zone, the climate is generally healthy and pleasant ; it is warm to hot all the year round, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The population is estimated at about 75 millions, of which about 45 millions reside in Java, the area of which would approximate to that of Great Britain without Wales. There are many races, which can be classified in general as Malays. These races include Javanese (Mid Java), Soendanese (West Java), Atjehnese (N.W. Sumatra), Madoerese (Island Madoeru), Diaks (Borneo), Bataks (W. Sumatra), Menadonese (N. Celebes), Ambonese (Island Ambon), Balinese (Bali), and many more. The different races have their own customs and languages. Malay is the lingua franca, but the majority speak their own language only, and the ordinary native is unable to converse with natives of another race. In religion the peoples are Mohammedan, but there are exceptions to this, as the Balinese are Buddhists. The Dutch have colonized the East Indies for about 300 years and their colonial system and administration have been most successful. The islands are not all equally developed, but this can be understood from an examination of the density of population together with soil fertility. Java with about 45 millions is thickly populated and the soil is fertile. Here the Dutch have concentrated their efforts and the high degree of agricultural development, organized and planned, transport and irrigation, public utility services, and fine cities are proof of the success of their colonial policy. Elsewhere in the colony development is not so far advanced, but everything considered, the Dutch, a small nation, have accomplished all that could have been expected of them. Why then is there all this trouble about Indonesians wanting to break away from Holland and establish their own republic? This question is being asked all over the world to-day and I shall try and answer it as I see the position. From the beginning of this century there have been independence movements in all colonies and this movement in Indonesia is no different from that in India and other places. Little of it was known to the world at large, the Dutch policy being to suppress it and to keep it out of the news. The Japanese occupation of the East Indies gave the Nationalists their chance. They co-operated with the Japanese in running the country, and their co-operation was very necessary to the occupiers. In all countries occupied by the Japanese the policy was to foster Nationalist movements with a promise of independence and freedom as an ally of Japan. This freedom to Nationalists was given to Siam and the Philippines. However, in Indonesia the
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movement was more advanced than the Japanese thought and was being carried on "underground ". On the Japanese capitulation the movement came out into the open and the " Indonesian Republic " was proclaimed on 18 August 1945. The nationalists are composed of the so-called Intelligentsia, probably less than 5 per cent. of the populace, but it is difficult to assess their hold or backing from the remainder, because of the organized policing and threats of violence. The "extremists" can be said to be in the movement but hardly of it. They comprise armed bands of brigands and gangsters and are mostly youths. The usual Axis tactics were adopted by the Japanese on occupying Indonesia—training youths and recruiting them into their military organizations. There were two armies formed, one of Soekarilas, made up of volunteers, and the other Hei Hos, of conscripts. These armies were trained and armed by the Japanese, but I do not know if they were used by the Japanese in the war. These gangsters should have been disarmed by the Japanese on their capitulating but this was not done ; in fact they were given additional armaments. Then the irony of the business comes in : these bands turned on their trainers and disarmed them. The " extremists " are pillaging the island of Java to-day, and because of them the war is continuing in the East Indies. Doubtless some dissatisfied Japanese, have joined them, but the gangs can be said to be too per cent. Indonesian. This gangster rule of violence, then, was due firstly to the Japanese and secondly to the delay in sending Dutch or Allied forces in sufficient number to take over the East Indies from the Japanese. As regards the second reason I wish it to be understood that no criticism is being made : the reason is merely given. This mob rule will be quelled in time, but there is little doubt that the Nationalists have been using it as a lever in the discussions regarding the future of Indonesia. The Japanese and Axis tactics have been impressed on the Indonesians and these are evident in many ways in Java at the present time. Are the Indonesians fit and ready to govern themselves? In my opinion the answer is an emphatic " No ". The masses would be exploited by the few, and their living conditions would be worse than they are at present under Dutch rule. Undoubtedly conditions and policy will have to be improved and altered, but these changes would have been made without all this trouble. At present the Dutch and the Nationalists are trying to find a solution to the problem, apparently on the lines of our Dominion status. Whatever is settled, there will be a demand for technicians and advisers, not to mention the business man and the planter, to get the East Indies back into production and provide the 75 millions with food and a livelihood. A word about the Indonesian. The races I know best are the Javanese and Soendanese and they are most likeable people—cheerful, smiling, and generally happy-go-lucky. They are clean in their habits and tidy in their dress ; marry early and have large families and live good family lives ; honest and loyal ; hard working and industrious. DOUGLAS S. CRUICKSHANK
(19I8-23)
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Internment in Sumatra. The East Coast District of Sumatra, in which I had spent over a quarter-century at the time of the Jap invasion, lies on the north-east of the island. It is flat and undulating country, extending from the Straits of Malacca to the mountain range which runs the length of the island, nearer to the west than to the east coast. The north, where we started our internment, lies about 4° N. latitude (roughly opposite Penang), while the south, where we found ourselves in 1945, is roughly in the same latitude as Malacca, or round about z° north of the equator. The area is very fertile and exported, up to 1941, large quantities of rubber, tobacco, tea, palm oil, sisal, mineral oils, copra, coffee, turpentine, resin, and gambier. The estate on which I was employed is near Pangkalan Brandan, where the Dutch Shell Group have oil refineries. These were destroyed by order of the Government towards the middle of February 1942. After 8 December 1941, when the Japs struck at Pearl Harbour and Malaya, all Dutchmen liable for military service were mobilized and the young fit Britishers were gradually released by their employers. Some went overseas to join British units and the remainder joined the Dutch East Indies army for local defence. The older men, mostly estate managers, were advised that their duty was to stay on their properties. Government made them sign on as " bewakers " (caretakers), which meant that they had to remain at their posts and carry on as long as the enemy allowed them to do so. There were between 9o and roo British men and five Americans on the East Coast when the enemy arrived. About zo of these had not sent their wives and families out of the country. My wife got away, just in time, from Batavia by boat to Australia on 18 February 1942. She left Medan, the capital of Sumatra, by plane for Batavia ten days earlier, and, as Singapore had fallen in the meantime, I was very anxious until I received, early in March, a cable from Sydney announcing her safe arrival there. The Japs landed on rz March at various points in North Sumatra and the first I saw of them was on the following day. The next two days were very unpleasant and I was relieved, in a way, when they called to take me on the rith at mid-day. One suitcase only was allowed me and in this I packed clothes, shoes, and toilet requisites. In Pangkalan Brandan, seven miles from my home, I was put in a house where some zo Europeans, mostly Dutch, were already collected. This number was gradually added to, until there were 34 men in one small bungalow, including eight Britishers, two Danes, two Swiss, and one Russian. After about ten days all except the Dutch and British were returned to their own homes. Women and children were in the next house. We were able to live fairly well during these first two weeks of internment, and the Japs did not interfere with us much. This we all felt was too good to last and so it turned out. One day a very irate officer paraded us and said that, until the Dutch laid down arms and accounted for all missing Jap
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P.o.W.s, we would have to go to prison. That same day we were put in an old gaol in Pangkalan Brandan which had been abandoned for many years. The place was filthy and we were allowed three rooms, each 12 feet square, for 29 of us. There were no chairs or tables, and no lighting was provided. After eight days, in which we cleaned up the place, we again got orders to move. We had to have everything ready at 6 o'clock in the morning to catch a train. At the station we were told that our destination was Bireun in Atjeh, the most northerly district of Sumatra. The journey took 3o hours, during which all the food provided by the Japs was one pail of boiled rice and another of not very• cleanlooking water for the z9 of us. Luckily we had brought some food with us and were able to buy hard-boiled eggs at the stations. On arrival at Birtun we were accommodated in the military barracks with over 6oo P.o.W.s and internees already there. Here we had a fairly good time for a fortnight, but when the P.o.W.s were taken away, to be sent to the Burma-Siam railway, we had their work to do. At times this was rather heavy—loading large drums of turpentine and boxes of resin on and off lorries and into railway trucks. Food, which we had to buy ourselves, was fair and, apart from the crowded conditions, we had not much cause for complaint. At the end of May 1942 the barracks were required for the Jap military and we were moved to a prison nearby. Fortunately we had had only a week in Bireun prison, where conditions were appalling, when we got orders to pack up and get on the train. The first day's journey brought us to Langsa (still in Atjeh), where we detrained and marched to the local prison to spend an uncomfortable night without bedding and mosquito nets. Next morning we marched back to the train and in the afternoon found ourselves again in Pangkalan Brandan. While in Bireun we met five more Britishers—planters in Atjeh —but when we were sent back to the East Coast they were kept in Atjeh and we did not see the four survivors (one died) until after the Jap capitulation. This time in Pangkalan Brandan we were confined to two houses near the railway station. On 12 June 1942 Japs representing the civil planting organization (Noyen Renggo Kai) arrived and told the planters among us that we were being sent back to our own estates and that those who worked well would be allowed to have their families with them. We had to confine ourselves to our estates and were not allowed to visit neighbours. In my bungalow all small things like clocks, watches, cigarette boxes, cutlery, crockery, etc., had been taken away ; also beds and bedding. Practically no work had been done on the estate during the two months I had been away, and the stock of rice, which should have lasted at least four months, was nearly finished. The reason for our return to the estates was obvious. We were required to get things going again and arrange food for our coolies. Before re-internment we got orders to resume rubber production at one-third of capacity. I do not think that tapping of trees was continued long after I had left, as the Japs
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were unable to export even the stocks of rubber already on the estates. The Japs gave instructions for all salaries of Europeans and highly paid Asiatics to be reduced, the maximum for any individual being fixed at zoo guilders per month. Enemy subjects were paid no salary but were allowed gls. 1.5o per day living expenses and, in the case of estate managers, two servants at not more than io guilders each per month. British and American subjects were again interned on is July 1942 but most of the Dutch planters were out till September 1943. This time there were in our party only the eight Britishers who had been together in Pangkalan Brandan at the beginning. The Jap District Officer (a Lieutenant) told us that we were to be put in a hospital in Bindjei, about ro miles from Medan. He said the quarters were good and that we would be well treated, if we behaved and had no dealings with Dutchmen. The reason for this ban, which was not observed and was later removed, was not given. In the Tanah Merah hospital in Bindjei we had our best time during internment. We worked in the garden, had plenty of books to read, and played bridge, chess, and other games. As we were not allowed to go to the shops, an old Chinese cook was employed and we fed fairly well, as we had money to buy things and prices were still reasonable, although steadily rising. Another pleasing feature of this period was that we were able regularly to listen in to B.B.C. news. We had little interference and saw Japs only four or five times during five and a half months. On 4 January 5943 we were visited by a Jap officer, who tried to be very pleasant. He told us of reports he had received about his countrymen being well treated in Australia. If there was anything we lacked, we had just to ask him (which was not very helpful, as we never saw him again). Britishers were sports, he said, and as a reward we would be allowed to stay on in our present comfortable quarters. In contrast, he told us that the Dutch, who occupied another section of the hospital, had been rude to him and would be punished by being sent to a worse camp next day. They were, but so were we, the eight of us being taken by lorry to Bindjei prison. On arrival in the prison we found z6 Britishers and two Americans already there. They had been brought that same day from the Medan gaol, where they had been less lucky than our little party. It was good to see new faces and exchange experiences, but obvious to all that our real troubles were just beginning. From now on our contact with the outside world would be curtailed and we would be entirely dependent on the Japs for food supplies. Six weeks later, on i5 February 1943, we were joined by 57 Britishers and two Americans from the Tandjong Balei prison and were now 55 strong. About this time also the Kempei (Jap M.P.) arrived on the scene to deal with political suspects housed in an adjacent section of the prison. The tortures which these unfortunate people had to undergo had to be seen to be believed and we were all very thankful when the M.P. took their departure in April 1943. The M.P. in charge
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was a pest, who used to come into our cells at all hours of the day and night, search our suitcases, and generally make himself objectionable. In August 1943 our number increased to 82 (of which 39 were Scots, including 14 Aberdonians) by the arrival of 26 Britishers and one American from the gaol in Siantar. After their arrival our rations were reduced and consisted almost entirely of rice, maize, and sweet potatoes in very inadequate quantities. Our meat ration of about xi oz. daily dwindled and eventually disappeared. By the middle of 1944 many had lost 4o per cent. in weight and the average loss over the camp was about 25 per cent. The long strain was beginning to tell and an outbreak of dysentery cost three lives in July 1944. For 18 months after arrival in Bindjei prison we had no doctor in the camp and the visiting native doctor was worse than useless. Luckily, just before the dysentery outbreak, a Dutch doctor was sent to us. He did what he could without instruments and with restricted medicines, and our casualty list might well have been much bigger without his expert knowledge and advice. Three events about this time (mid-i944) came along to cheer us. First the arrival of some parcels, containing food and cigarettes, from the American Red Cross. This was the one and only arrival during the war. Secondly, many of us got letters from wives and families overseas. Thirdly, a remittance of 35 guilders each to Britishers came through the Vatican City. It may here be mentioned that the first opportunity we had of writing to our families was in September 1944, when one message of 5o words was allowed. Mine reached my wife in Sydney in July 1945—nearly 42 months after her evacuation from Batavia. A second and final message of the same length was allowed us in March 1945 and is still on the way. During our stay in Bindjei prison we contrived to make our own amusements and for a time were allowed to have concerts, theatricals, lectures, and bridge tournaments, on Saturaday evenings. On 3o November i943 we actually held a gathering, under the auspices of the St. Andrew's Society, which proved very popular. From April 1944 these meetings had to be discontinued by order of the Japs. Bridge and poker were still allowed in the evenings, and chess enthusiasts could be found, here and there, under the fixed lights, engaged in keen struggles. From Bindjei we were moved, on 13 October 1944, to Padang Halaban in the south. The journey took two full days, with the intervening night spent on the train at Kisaran Station. There were So of us and our accommodation was two goods trucks. It was a most uncomfortable journey, especially the night in the station, and at the end of it we had to walk more than three miles in the dark to our new camp. The Padang Halaban camp consisted, so far as we Britishers and Americans were concerned, of 15 small coolie houses, one of which had to be used for a kitchen and another for a hospital. Our bedding and suitcases did not arrive till next morning, but we were all so
143 Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine huts our of floors dirty on the tired that we lay down as we were, (six in each and two in the hospital), and slept soundly. For the next week everyone was busy putting together bed racks and mosquitonet frames and cleaning in and around the huts. Very soon the whole complex, enclosed by a barbed-wire fence, assumed a much more attractive appearance. There were bananas and papajas planted by the coolies who had previously occupied the houses. These provided us with much-needed and most welcome fruit during our year's stay in the camp. Soon after arrival in Padang Halaban the Japs told us that we had to be self-supporting, as regards foodstuffs, within six months. Onethird of our number had to work outside the wire fence for three and a half hours daily. The Japs paid for such work about 3o cents per man per day. The value of this pay, in the depreciated currency, was not much. A man's pay for zo days was about sufficient to buy one egg I The remaining fit men had plenty to do inside the camp, cooking, preparing vegetables, grinding maize, carrying firewood, and boiling water, etc. No pay was received for work inside the camp. Work at this stage, in my opinion, did more good than harm, inasmuch as it killed time and provided healthy outdoor exercise. Our reading material was getting a bit stale and many were tired of bridge and other games. Besides, the produce of our gardens—maize, potatoes, beans, cucumber, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, and chillies—did much to improve the daily menu during a period when practically no green vegetables were included in our rations. Towards the end we got tobacco seed and were well on the way to supplying a want which was badly felt in the camp. It is wonderful how a smoke seemed to help matters when one was really hungry. Our daily menu during the last two years of internment was roughly as follows: Morning—ground maize porridge, to which most added two to three tablespoonfuls of palm oil ; Mid-day—sweet potatoes or tapioca with a vegetable soup, often chiefly made with potato leaves ; Evening—rice fried with dried fish and vegetable sauce or boiled and served with curry made in the camp. In Padang I lalaban we had no lighting to begin with and later, when we got an issue of paraffin, only those who could buy, borrow, or steal a lamp had a light of sorts. Being on Tokyo time, two and a half hours ahead of sun time, it was not really dark till after nine, when most of us went to bed. We lost two more of our number in Padang Halaban—one in December 1944, the other in February 5945. Considering the average age of the men—over 5o years in I945—and the fact that more than half had spent 25 years and over in the tropics, the death roll (five out of 8z in 43 months) cannot be considered excessive. We had the luck to be a small camp. The larger ones, and especially that which held the women and children, had a much worse time and suffered accordingly. Although we had heard of Germany's surrender, I think that few of us really expected the Japs to capitulate so soon after. It was on 24 August that we were told the war was over but, as our rations
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had been doubled about a week before then, we were not quite as surprised as we otherwise might have been. We had orders from the South-East Asia Command (S.E.A.C.) to stay quietly in our camps but did not expect that we would be still behind barbed wire two months later. After 24 August we got much-improved rations from the Japs, including beef, pork, fresh fish, poultry, and eggs, none of which most of us had tasted for nearly two years. Neutral Europeans, Chinese, British Indians, and Natives were very good to us, bringing or sending in fruit, cakes, eggs, cigars, cigarettes, and other luxuries. We now had contact with those who had not been interned and, although we were not allowed to visit our former homes, the news we got about them was not very cheering. We learned that our bungalows had been emptied and that all our furniture and belongings had been taken away. It was not till 19 October that we left the camp for Medan. From there we were flown to Singapore on z1 October. Those of us for Australia were sent to an A.I.F. clearing station at Changi. Three days there and another three on board the Trojan Star at the wharf and we were off on the z7th, bound for Townsville, in Queensland, where we arrived on 7 November. From there to Sydney took four days by train, and on Armistice Day 1945 we were welcomed, on arrival at the Central Station, by our wives, who had undergone a most trying time for more than three and a half years. Most of them found jobs in Australia and, with housekeeping to do as well, were kept fully occupied, which was a good thing under the circumstances. In conclusion, I should like to pay tribute to the Red Cross organization in Australia. From Townsville, where we were received, to Sydney we met with wonderful hospitality and kindness all along the line. A. V. W. CANTLAY 0903-10.
" Nor Iron Bars a Cage." THE ADVENTURES OF THREE BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR, I940-1942.
By W. H. Aston, M.M., with an Introduction' by Captain G. F. Collie, M.B.E., 51st (Highland) Division. London: Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1946. Pp. viii + 218, tos. 6d.
Most of us, I think, now realize that, behind the visible war in the years just passed, another and more secret one was being waged in a manner necessarily far less spectacular. Its chief weapons were the parachute, the submarine, the wireless set, the demolition charge, the false papers and disguise, and its objects were the sabotage of installations vital to the enemy's need, and the provision of up-to-date information for the allied commanders. Within this general framework, the information supplied by returning escaped P.o.W.s was particularly valuable, as they in many cases had first-hand experience of 1 So the title-page : Captain Collie's words on p. vii are in fact entitled Foreword.
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145 of over a period gained life and conditions in this or that country, months and even years. For that and other reasons it is only now that the public is being permitted to read accounts of events so comparatively remote as those connected with the fall of France, which is the background of this book. The output of works of the same kind has been only a trickle up to now, but I imagine that the floodgates would open were the supply of paper more plentiful, as so many distinguished prisoners have not yet published accounts of their escapes.' The result is that no work of this type from the Second World War has yet achieved even the status of minor classic now accorded to Durnford's The Tunnellers of Holzminden (1920 ; and ed. 1930) or Harrison and Cartwright's Within Four Walls (1930) ; and it has been left to the film industry to produce the best document so far made of this aspect of the war in the M-G-M International Film Co.'s (Praesens film) production The Last Chance.2 None the less, Mr. Aston's story by its very simplicity and his studied avoidance of all tricks of style carries great conviction, and is an absorbing account of his own and his companions' life and adventures between 17 June 1940 and September 1942. Mr. (then Sgt.) Aston was a member of an Engineer Stores Base Depot at Rennes, who was seriously wounded in an air-attack which wrecked the train in which his unit's personnel was being evacuated to the base. His injuries were such that he had no hope of escape ; and by much exertion on his own part he had himself transferred to the Centre Maxillo-Facial in Neuilly, where he met Driver Ernest Flack, R.A.S.C., and Captain G. F. Collie,3 M.B.E., 51st Divisional R.A.S.C. Thereafter the book narrates the activities of the triumvirate till their object was realized, and they were back home in the U.K. free. All F.P.s will delight in the tale, and it will satisfy the curiosity of many friends of Captain Collie who knew he was a prisoner, and, without any other intimation, were next conscious of him as a figure in the pages of the local press, working hard for the cause of P.o.W.s and their dependants. The nature of his injuries (even though he was marked down for a major operation) and an administrative slip by the French enabled Captain Collie to move about Paris, at least at the beginning of his period there, in a way that makes incredible reading to those who approach the book with preconceived ideas of Oflags, Stalags, or Ilags : tales of dinners, cocktail parties, and dances organized by the U.K. and U.S. nationals, and of one supremely impudent visit to the German horror film La Campagne en Pologne are recounted. This was but an Indian summer of enjoyment, however, and by October 1940 the Commandant of the hospital forbade these expeditions. ' E.g., General Giraud, Generals Sir Richard O'Connor (now the AdjutantGeneral), and Carton de Wiart—though the late Brigadier James Hargest's Farewell Campo r2 (Michael Joseph Ltd., 1945) gives some information about the last two. 2 Dealing with escape across the Italo-Swiss frontier, and filmed in Switzerland : the principal actors arc themselves escaped P.o.W.s or refugees. 8 George Francis Collie (1916-26), B.L., advocate, Aberdeen.
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Perhaps it was as well, for otherwise a snap check of documents might have involved him in serious trouble with the Germans. Thereafter till 1941 the trio settled down to the routine of hospital life, whose boredom was relieved by the many kindnesses shown them by French visitors, and the staff's sympathetic treatment: whilst Red Cross parcels assured them a tolerably good standard of living. At the end of 1941 their so far rather hazy adumbrations of escape plans began to take the shape of the planning-stage of a military operation, under the fear that the Germans would remove them to a regular prison camp. Many will find this the best part of the book. Geof Collie and Aston (the latter though a Sergeant still permitted to share a room with a Captain) were the planners-in-chief, with Flack as executive and certain trusted prisoners and friends as (sometimes unwitting) agents. The exhaustiveness of their arrangements cannot be detailed here ; obviously, however, the author's tone of unconcealed admiration shows clearly who was the leader, and indeed Geof was indefatigable, imaginative, and thorough. Eventually the day came (8 April 1942) and with a Mme. Suzanne' as guide, and passing as French-Canadian mutilis de la guerre (they were indeed mutidis), they passed from the hospital to the Glaciere Micro station, and so to the Gare d'Austerlitz, en route pour Angouleme. By good luck there were no alerts, and at Angouleme they were surprised to find how easily they had reached the place. Here, however, the inevitable anti-climax came—the car that was to take them on to cross the demarcation line didn't turn up. (Eventually they found that it had, but the driver hadn't recognized the party.) Que faire 2 Quite undaunted, Mme. Suzanne led them through the streets to the house of another member of the combine. Here an awkward wait, and finally they crossed the demarcation line into Unoccupied France, wedged in a covered recess under the steaming manure of a farmer's cart. Elation nearly caused their downfall now, and because of caution cast aside, they walked into the arms of an agent de police whose importunacy caused them many hours of worry till he finally dismissed them. Lyon was the next stage, and the contact-address there provided one of the few examples of French reluctance to co-operate. Flack, however, came to the rescue, with the address of a French soldier he had known in the Centre. This man and his wife (M. and Mme. Julien), unprepared as they were for their " guests' " arrival, put them up in their poor flat immediately and without question. Portugal was now the objective, and the time was spent in protracted negotiations to obtain permis de sortie, and Portuguese and Spanish visas. The slowness of the procedure, coupled with Laval's advent to power, however, and the likelihood of a check by his special police caused them to drop this plan, and to decide to cross the Pyrenees with the help of passeurs. Again the combine was ready with the means, and from Lyon they went to La Roque d'Olmes, near the Hispano-French frontier, where a M. Louis took them in and soon arranged for their 1 An Englishwoman married to a Frenchman.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 1 47 nightA crossing from L'Hospitalet to the Republic of Andorra.' mare journey with mules then took them across the mountains : finally, contact with a waiting car, a five-hour journey to Barcelona, and eventually Madrid, Gibraltar, and home. That is the outline of the story. Two questions arise for notice. As I have said, the story is told with such simplicity and lack of effect that one might well underestimate the achievement of the actors. The author had had his right foot amputated. Both he and Captain Collie had serious facial wounds, necessitating a very painful treatment which involved an agonizing application of tampons and clamps, and the great personal inconvenience of not being able as a consequence to open the mouth normally to take food. These facts the author does not attempt to hide or to treat with nonchalance, but he is modest enough not to obtrude them : in such conditions it needs little imagination to realize what grit and determination they needed to cross the Pyrenees, or to keep up the pretence of being French-Canadians, or to be quite normal in all their actions. Happily the superior military authorities did realize it, and we can applaud the awards they recommended the King to make : M.B.E. (MR. Div.) to Captain Collie ; M.M. to Sergeant Aston ; " mention " to Driver Flack. The other question is whether the book's purpose is really to describe an escape, or to be a panegyric ad maiorem Galliae gloriam. Obviously all I have described could not have been achieved even by the most courageous or determined prisoner without well-organized French aid. This was generously, unquestioningly, and efficiently given to the full. The ladies who appear non-committally as Mesdames Alphonse and Suzanne are heroes, the ordinary people, who under the Germans' very eyes and at great personal risk, calmly, without seeking reward, and with Gallic ingenuity and wit, formed the links in many chains which in ways too numerous to mention aided the Allies and thwarted German designs. So it was with M. Louis, the Juliens, and many others.2 They are the French people in crosssection, and it is in tribute to them that Captain Collie writes in his Foreword : " The experiences which we shared so intimately brought both of us a deep regard for the French people, and for their kindness and generosity. For that reason alone I am glad that our story has been told so that a wider public may know how we fared in France, at a time when there was no motive to prompt the goodness which we received." The purpose is eminently laudable, and it is time it was done. The mutual recriminations of 1940, the early doubts of May 1942 in Madagascar and of November 1942 in Algeria and Morocco should all be laid aside, now that the two armies have together fought both in Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany, and won the victory both needed. Nor must we omit, as far as this book goes, the splendid care of the Medicin-Chef, doctors, and nurses of the Centre Maxillo-Facial to whom this book is dedicated, and to whom 1 By chance Captain Collie had traversed this track, but in the reverse direction, many years before. 2 Including some Rennau—a section that will interest Grammarians who visited Rennes under Dr. A. A. Cormack's guidance.
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at least two of the party owe it that they are not now hideously disfigured. Captain Collie in his Foreword permits himself a reflexion on the value of friendships formed in war like his own with Walter Aston.' He finds that in this case it will stand over to peace as a valuable asset. Some of us considering the same problem will be grateful for the conclusion, which our own experience may re-inforce. It is interesting to recall that Horace had no doubts, and I recommend to Captain Collie the former's thoughts in Odes II, vii. A. H. K. S.
A Grammar School Rector and His Family. Just within the southern boundary of Buchan, on the north bank of the River Ythan and almost equi-distant from the villages of Ellon, Methlick, and Tarves, lies the ancient Barony of Schevez—or Schivas as it is spelt to-day. The Barony originally belonged to a family taking its name from the place, but when the Schevez family settled in Buchan is not recorded. The first member to be noted is Andrew de Schevez—sometimes spelt " Syves "—who held the office of vicar of Bervie in the Mearns. Little is known about Andrew de Schevez except that, towards the end of the i4th century, he was appointed Rector of the Aberdeen Grammar School. Andrew de Schevez died circa 1418. About eight years after the death of Andrew de Schevez, another member of the family is mentioned in Scottish records. This is John de Schevez, who in 14z6 is styled " Clerk to King James I ". It has been suggested that John, the Clerk, and Andrew, the Rector, were brothers, but there appears to be no confirmation of this. The most outstanding member of the Schevez family was William. He was educated at Louvain, under Spiricus the astrologer, and made such progress in theology and medicine that he was without equal in Britain or France. It is believed that William was a son of John, the Clerk, and if this assumption is correct, he was nephew to Andrew, the Rector. The exact relationship between these three members of the family has never been established, but it seems certain that they were closely related. By the middle of the 15th century William de Schevez had become one of the chief advisers to James III, who frequently sent him as ambassador to foreign countries. That Schevez exercised considerable influence over the King there is little doubt, but the suggestion made by his contemporaries that his power over James was due to his " scheming and astrological quackery " is not borne out by the facts, for Schevez was a man of considerable ability and learning. In 1478 William de Schevez was created second Archbishop of St. Andrews. Shortly after his elevation to the archiepiscopate, Schevez made a pilgrimage to the Mearns, where he visited the Shrine of St. Palladius, near Fordoun. There the Archbishop carried out extensive alterations to the chapel and caused a silver casket to be made 2
He was " best man " at Aston's wedding in November 194z.
149 Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine for the reception of the Saint's relics. The particular interest shown by Archbishop Schevez in the Fordoun Shrine may not be unconnected with the fact that his kinsman (? uncle), the Grammar School Rector, had been vicar of Bervie, near Fordoun, some 70 years before. William de Schevez has been described as an "ambitious and worldly churchman of the type of Wolsey ". Whether this is a just criticism it is impossible to say, but his physical resemblance to the Cardinal is quite remarkable. William de Schevez died in the year 1497 and was interred in the Cathedral at St. Andrews. To Schevez St. Andrews University owes the nucleus of its library, for the Archbishop was a great lover and collector of books. Several of his books can be seen in the library at King's College, Aberdeen, some bearing his elaborate signature, as elegant and decorative as any piece of medieval illumination.
(
/
SIGNATURE OF ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM DE SCHEVEZ.
The Schevez family exercised considerable influence in the NorthEast of Scotland during the 15th century, but with the closing years of that century the main line—Schevez of that Ilk—terminated through an heiress of Schevez marrying a Lipp, which carried the Barony to that family. A branch of the family appears to have settled in Aberdeen, where in 1597 one Archibald Schevez is mentioned as a Burgess of Guild. Another branch moved north to Inverness, establishing themselves at Muirtown, Robert Schevez of Muirtown being one of the chief witnesses for the Crown at the famous trial of Simon, Lord Lovat, in 1746. Some years ago the link between the ancient Barony of Schevez and the former Rector of the School was renewed when the School Art Club, during one of its excursions, paid a visit to the House of Schivas. FENTON WYNESS
(19I1-20).
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Record Ascent in Persia. ARTHUR R. H. KELLAs (1926-3z), M.A., who is now in the Diplomatic Service and has been at the British Embassy in Teheran for some time, made a solo climb last summer of Mount Demavend (or Damavand), which rises to some 18,60o feet in Northern Persia. He seems to be following in the footsteps of his uncle, the late ALEXANDER M. KELLAS (1881-84), who made several journeys to the mountains of Northern Sikkim and Garhwal, reaching in 1920 a height of 23,600 feet on Kamet. The following is an account of the expedition :— Teheran, Aug. 27—Stern and aloof, the mountain of Demavend looks down upon the city of Teheran, proudly challenging its would-be conquerors. Throughout the long months of winter and spring ardent climbers make their plans to join the small band who have managed to reach the summit of this extinct volcano and wait patiently for those few brief weeks in August when it is possible to make the attempt. On Thursday last a party of British Army officers and Embassy officials arrived at the chai-khaneh near Rehneh, from where, each year, the attempts to climb the mountain are made. They proposed to take two days, spending the night in a tent at Barigar, which is about 13,000 feet, and heading for the summit the following morning. However, at 12,Ooo feet they ran into a heavy snowstorm and decided to return to the foot of the mountain and spend the night there. At 6.30 on Friday morning the party set out once more, but after considerable progress had been made another storm blew up suddenly and on the advice of the guides the party turned back, with the exception of Mr. A. R. H. Kellas, who decided to continue alone. Unfortunately Mr. Kellas had no watch with him but he estimates that he reached the summit at about 2.3o in the afternoon. Although there were few natural obstacles to negotiate, the general conditions were very difficult and he could go only twenty to thirty yards at a time before having to pause to recover his breath. The snow was over a foot deep in places. Instead of returning by the same route, as is the usual practice, Mr. Kellas went on and finally reached the British Embassy camp at Lar at 7.3o in the evening, thus taking only 13 hours for the entire ascent and descent. As far as can be ascertained this is a record, the previous best being 23 hours by a party led by Group-Captain Hill. Mr. Kellas, who gained a half-blue for boxing while at Oxford, has always been keen on climbing, although he has never reached such a height before. While in the Army, when he was attached to a Parachute Regiment, he did some climbing in the Balkans. He has been at the British Embassy in Teheran since Christmas 1944 and this is the first opportunity he had to attempt Demavend. Mr. Kellas wore sports jacket and slacks, and took with him a few biscuits, although he said that at such heights one is not aware of hunger.
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SCHOOL SECTION. School and Random Notes. " Deficit omne quod nascitur."—Boeibirrs. record our astonishment at finding, when we looked over to We feel bound some old copies of the Magazine, that former Editors experienced great difficulty in writing their introductory note. This difficulty they usually tried to circumvent by the simple means of remarking dolefully on it in the first two or three lines. There can be little excuse for such ineptitude, as all will agree who have read that excellent booklet, "Writing Random Notes—the Theory Explained". "No elaborate introduction is needed ", says the author. " All that is wanted is a witty remark or two tossed off in a light, scintillating style ; also, if possible, a subtle innuendo to round off the note." So far, so good. * * * Without any further delay we must reconcile ourselves to the fact that the past semester (as we say nowadays) has been completely uneventful. We must hasten to correct the delusion that this lightens our task—just the contrary. The stirring incidents that should occur regularly throughout the term and provide matter for these notes have failed to take place. However, if " no news is good news ", we can congratulate most heartily the School in general and the editorial caucus in particular. * * * It gives us great pleasure to welcome to the School Mr. James Hunter, our new Games Master. He takes the place of Mr. Duncan MacGregor, who resigned his post last year after a long period of absence on military service. Mr. Hunter brings with him a great reputation, and his varied talents ought to have full scope in the School. * * * The General Assembly this year noted that there was a dearth of organists in the Church, but we arc glad to say that this School, at any rate, is showing an increasing interest in organ-playing. With the encouragement and guidance of Mr. Falconer, three Vlth year pupils have played the hymn at Morning Prayers— J. B. McLeod, B. K. Crookshanks, and A. M. Cain. * * * Now that there has been some relaxation in the petrol restrictions, several members of staff have been able to put their cars on the road again, and regularly drive to School. Every day, just after the bell rings for Prayers, high-powered limousines begin to streak through the gates. Inside can be seen the tense, white faces of masters, sternly resolved to be in time for Hall, whatever the cost, and scarcely flinching as they skid dangerously past the Byron statue. We humbly suggest that a short postscript be added to the notice already posted at the main gate. * * * classes assembled in Hall to hear senior the Wcek In the course of Temperance a lecture by Mr. Herbert Jones on the evil effects of alcohol. Mr. Jones was introduced and thanked by Mr. Milne. * * * term. Perhaps its most successful another had has The Debating Society arduous undertaking was the trial of Andrew Milne, Esq., M.A., alias Happy Harry,
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alias Beatus 11Ie. The prosecution, after eliciting damning evidence from its first witness, Mr. W. Cunningham, demanded a conviction on the strength of De Heretic° Comburendo (Hen. 4, Cap. 5). The defence, however, cited the wellknown case of Postlethwaite v. Hopkinson, and a verdict of Not Proven was returned. Mr. Milne was severely admonished by the judge and showed every sign of penitence. * * * We congratulate Mr. Niven St. C. Mackenzie on his appointment as head of the modem languages department at the Central School. This well-merited promotion was announced only a short time after Mr. Mackenzie's relensc from the Army, but not before he had re-established himself in the affections of the School. We all wish him every success in his new post. * * * Since Christmas, Grammar has had several notable wins, both in rugger and cricket. The 1st XV beat Gordon's 1t-6 and Dollar Academy 17-9. Then, after Easter, Gordon's suffered another defeat, this time at the hands of the zst XI, which also beat Glenalmond. * * * It is rumoured in usually well-informed circles that a most immoral and detestable practice is rife in the School at the moment, namely betting, the subject of speculation being the number of Prefects who attend Morning Prayers. It cannot be denied that the number varies from day to day in the strangest manner, and this unaccountable happening has now reached the point when it would be something of a great occasion if all the Fifteen marched into Hall together as they ought to do. One day, in fact, a single, solitary Prefect filed into Hall, "a solemn procession of one ". Only 6j per cent. of the Prefecture at Prayers 1 Disgraceful ! *
*
Astronomy was the subject of a lecture last term by Mr. Wrigley, of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, who has spent some twenty-five years at the Blackford Hill Observatory. In a rapid survey of the Universe, he discussed the more significant features of the sun, moon, planets, and comets, illustrating his remarks with manyvivid photographs and diagrams. *
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We welcome back to the School three masters who have returned front military service—Mr. Cunningham, Mr. McCrea, and Mr. Hemingway. Miss Holme is once again teaching at the Grammar after a short absence following Mr. Mackenzie's return. * * * The School was honoured towards the end of term by a visit from Mme. Susy Marquis and M. Georges Re; who gave a recital of and commentary on the Fables of La Fontaine. The recital was given in the Hall to an audience representing all the secondary schools in the city. * * * This year's Empire Day Speech was given by the Rector, who, it will be remembered, was recently appointed sole Scottish member of the Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies. The Rector stressed the pride we should feel in the British Commonwealth and gave an interesting exposition of the principles governing colonial development. * * * We pause for a moment to note the departure of four interim members of staff —Mrs. Garden, Miss Horne, Mrs. Muriel Ross, and Mrs. Agnes Stewart, all of hom have taught with acceptance during a very difficult period.
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It is with great regret that we learn that Mr. Miller is still very seriously ill and will be absent from the School for some time to come. His senior classes have been taken by Mr. Walker and Mr. McCrea. We extend to Mr. Miller our best wishes for a speedy recovery. * * * these brief chronicles to an end. bring but to us for remains nothing now And " Deficit omne . . .". said Boethius. Ah I the consolations of the Classics ! But for this faint spark of solace, we could never have brought ourselves to approach our arduous task if we have earned a small measure of gratitude from our readers for this fleeting glimpse into our School's activities, we shall regard our labours as amply repaid.
Heart-ache. I must get back to the Latin again, To the peaceful Latin class. 'Tis a slow way, but a sure way Of proving yourself an ass. And all I ask is a Latin prose, With the Dominic standing bawling, And a long shout, and a hefty clout, When first I start a-stalling. I must get back to the Latin again, To the peaceful Latin class. 'Tis the hard way, but the only way Of securing a Latin Pass. And all I ask is some lines to scan, With a pencil all a-quaking, And the Dominic perched up on his chair, His sad heart almost breaking. I must get back to the Latin again, To the peaceful Latin class. Where the Dominic reads cruel Latin verse To a terror-stricken mass. But when the bell gives forth its ring, To show the period's ended, We scholars then will gladly leave, Our syntax still unmendcd. G. A. M. S.
French Fever. (On coming oat of the 1946 L.C. Examination in French.) I must go back to Room Two again, to another year of French con. And all I ask is a gifted hand to write screeds out of " Horsley and Bonne " ; And a clean sheet, and with crossed fcet, and an ink-well full to o'erflowing, And a good-sized dict'n'ry by my side, and a good stock of gum for chewing. I must go back to Room Two again, 'cos I fear the examiner's choice, For a " quc " clause, a subjunctive clause, or one in the passive voice ; And all I ask is a friendly hand to guide me through the maze, And a soft smile, and a coaxing voice, as we hear in Room Two on week-days. I must go back to Room Two again, for the L.C. exams. arc much worse, And all that I get when my estimate's made, is a look of disgust and a curse ; And all I ask, when my paper's in and that ordeal is finished and through, Is a wooden bench, and a prose in French, and back to my task in Room Two. GEORGE FERRIES.
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Who's Who in the Prefects. A. A. LAWRENCE.—Our perfect captain—" Main" man of the School—and " slick-gent ". Too frequently mistaken for the Sports Master by small boys, and for Charles Boyer by small girls. J. B. Axton. Knows everything from Homer to Trotsky. Can be seen at interval lecturing to small boys on the doctrine of Lenin. J. W. BAIRD. An all-rounder, who excels in every School activity including billiards, snooker, and darts. Fined last year for sharpening the cues in B.s. & W.s. A. M. CAIN. A keen youth-hosteller ; we believe he is quite a Walker. Perhaps this accounts for his tongue being in his check. A. G. CRAIG. A budding surgeon who practises on Mr. Collie's dog-fish, setting to work with scalpel and scissors murmuring—" lovely grub ". J. B. McLEon. Our multi-medalled dux. too per cent. mathematician and too per cent. classicist. It is rumoured that he dots Euclid in the original Greek. J. M. Mu.. A Jazz-man of repute. Can be seen in the Chemy. lab. grimacing and beating out any " Dorsey " (is that how you spell it ?) number on a 25 c.c. pipette. I. STUART. Difficult to know what to say about this character. Frequently in a trance but always full of " Viv "-e. W. M. BROWN. Now doing his bit at the Bridge of Don holiday-camp, where his destructive nature can be put to better use. R. V. WILLIAMS. "Toomer", the funny man of the Prefects' room. Rumoured he asked the Bun Queue girl to the School Dance. Responsible for the " Muggy " atmosphere in the Prefects' room. J. W. CRADOCK. A full-back who pipes in his spare time—bags not briars. Can be heard putting the small boys at No. 8 Queen's Road to sleep with " Blue Bonnets over the Bo(a)rders ". G. B. NicoLsoN. Spends most of his time explaining to an admiring audience of High School girls what a " hat-trick " is. I. G. ROGERS. Our C.S.M.—a product of the Queen's Road labour camp. Responsible for the detour of a " green crocodile ". H. TAYLOR. A " dark horse ". Can be seen at intervals signing young boy's autograph books. For further details apply to Cran of V. R. L. WArsort. A " ruddy" warrior. Wonders why Masters keep asking him if he would like the windows opened.
The Athletic Sports. The Athletic Sports were held on Friday, 31st May, and Saturday, 1st June, before large crowds and in very fine weather. The House Championship was once again won by Keith, with 1351 points, while Melvin were second with 88 points ; Dun were third, and Byron fourth. Only one record was broken this year. J. Sutherland, of Keith, cleared 4 ft. II in. in the class II high jump, thus breaking the 4 ft. to in. record of H. S. Macpherson. Keith owe their large lead to winning both the Relays and the March Past, and were fortunate in having good athletes in each athletic class. Competition was keener than it has been for many years, and the Individual Championship was shared by three boys, namely, J. W. Baird (Melvin), W. K. Scott (Keith), and J. M. Milne (Keith), who each obtained to points. Baird won the Javelin and Cricket Ball, was second-equal in the High Jump, and third in the too yards, 220 yards, and Long Jump. Scott won the Mile and Pole Vault and was second in the Hurdles and Half-mile. Milne won the 220 yards, was second in the too yards, 44o, and Long Jump, and was third in the Cricket Ball. Champions in other classes were as follows :—Class II—Equal: J. Sutherland (Keith) and R. D. Milne (Dun). Class III—Equal: H. Paterson (Keith) and J. Eddie (Melvin) ; Class IV—Equal: J. Thow (Keith) and A. J. Grant (Mel v in).
School Rugby Football 1st XV-Season 1945-46.
Standing—Mr. P. M. Stewart (Interim Games Master), I. V. Anderson, A. G. Craig, I. G. Rogers, G. R. Rhind, Mr. J. J. Robertson (Ream), C. S. Knowles, H. J. G. Connochie, R. D. L. Smart, Mr. W. P. Stewart (Comb). Sitting—W. M. Brown, E. Craig, I. Stuart (Vice-Captain), A. A. Lawrence (Captain), R. L. Watson, J. M. Milne, J. W. Cradock. In front—V. G. R. Stephen, G. B. Nicolson.
School Cricket ist XI. Season 1946.
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Siandin1;—Mr. P. NI. Stewart (Interten Games .‘faster), I. Donald, T. 1. Morrison, W. A. Ste \A iii, J. \\ . G. S. Williams, D. R. Mitchell, Mr. J. C. Hunter (Games Master). .Vitting—J. C. K. Steel, I. Stuart (I 'fre-Captain), A. A Lawrence (C..aptain), J, M Milne, G. B. Nicolson.
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House Notes. Byron House. At the beginning of the summer term the following elections were made :— Cricket Captain, J. M. Eddison ; Vice-Captain, T. I. Morrison ; Athletics Captain, W. M. Brown ; Vice-Captain, A. J. G. Notholt. We must congratulate the following boys on having been awarded Colours :— Rugby, W. M. Brown, Cap ; J. M. Eddison, and XV Half-Colours. Hockey, Full Colours, A. P. Farquhar (re-award), G. S. Williams, T. I. Morrison, H. Taylor, Half-Colours, A. J. G. Notholt, R. Lynch ; Cricket, I. Donald, 1st XI Half-Colours. We were not very successful on the rugby field, but the House cricket XI, on the other hand, has done remarkably well. There were no inter-House Hockey matches, as six of the School ist XI were in the House and they were the pick of the XI. The House did not excel at the School sports, but those who entered acquitted themselves very well. In conclusion I would like to thank the House for their co-operation both on and off the field and to wish them every success in the future. W. MORRISON BROWN, Howe Captain.
Dun House. Before reviewing this term's activities we must congratulate the following on receiving rugby awards: ist XV Cap—I. G. Rogers, E. Craig, R. L. Watson, I. Stuart ; ist XV Colours—H. J. G. Connochie ; sat XV Half-Colours—R. D. L. Smart, G. B. Nicolson ; 2nd XV Colours—A. J. K. Monro (re-award), \V. W. Isles, G. G. Cormack. With such talented players in the House, it should be no surprise that Dun ran out worthy winners of the Rugby Cup, which has for so many years eluded us. At a House meeting held at the beginning of the summer term, the following officials were elected :—Cricket Captain—I. Stuart ; Vice-Captain—G. B. Nicolson ; Athletic Captain—A. J. K. Monro ; Vice-Captain, R. D. Milne. Up to the time of writing we are doing as well in cricket as in rugby. We have played two games—against Byron and Keith—which we have won. The only remaining House game to be played is against the undefeated Melvin team. The Junior House XI is following fast in the footsteps of their seniors. They, too, under the able captaincy of R. D. Henderson, have won two House matches, and hopes are high for the forthcoming game with Melvin. We take this opportunity of congratulating G. B. Nicolson and I. Stuart on gaining their ist XI Caps. In the School sports we ran out third. Although this does not seem a good position on paper, I must congratulate the House on doing their best and I am grateful for the support which I received. A special word of congratulation to A. J. K. Monro and R. D. Milne, who fostered the spirit of athletics in the House throughout the summer. The Swimming has not gone too well for the House this year, through the inability of our Captain, E. Craig, to participate. In conclusion, I wish to thank the House for its splendid support throughout the year, hoping that those returning will keep the Dun House flag flying and raise the House to an even higher level of efficiency. I. STUART, Howe Captain.
Keith House. At a House meeting at the beginning of the present term the following officials were elected: Cricket Captain, A. A. Lawrence ; Cricket Vice-Captain, J. M. Milne ; Captain of Athletics, J. M. We congratulate J. M. Milne and A. A. Lawrence on gaining their zst XV Caps ; I. V. Anderson and C. S. Knowles their zst XV Colours ; and A. G. Craig his tst XV Half-Colours. J. M. Milne and A. A. Lawrence their ist XI Caps (both re-awards) ; J. C. K. Steel his ist XI Half-Colours ; and P. E. G. Mitchell his sat XI Hockey Colours. In the inter-House rugby and cricket matches the results have been rather disappointing. Only two matches were played during the rugby season, while up
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to date both cricket games, against Melvin and Dun respectively, have been lost. In athletics, however, there is a brighter story to relate. The House athletes gave Keith first place in the Annual Sports by a comfortable margin. J. M. Milne, W. S. Scott, J. S. Sutherland (who broke the Class II High Jump record), H. B. Paterson, P. G. Matthews, T. W. Thow, and R. M. Preshaw are to be congratulated on fine individual performances. There is every reason to look forward to next session with confidence and I, on behalf of those who arc leaving, wish the House the hest of luck in all its future activities. A. A. LAWRENCE, House Captain.
Melvin House. Melvin House took third place in the inter-House rugby competition, and at the end of the season the following awards were made to Melvin boys :-1st XV Cap, J. W. Cradock ; ist XV Colours, V. G. R. Stephen, G. R. Rhind ; ist XV Half-Colours, W. Salter. 2nd XV Colours were awarded to McRae, Anderson, Stuart, Clark, McLeod and Williams. McKay gained his ist XI Colours for hockey and J. C. Masson his Half-Colours. At a meeting held at the beginning of the term the following officials were elected :—Captain of cricket, J. W. Cradock ; Vice-Captain, D. R. Mitchell ; Captain of Athletics, J. W. Baird ; Vice-Captain, V. G. R. Stephen. Melvin, with three players in the ist XI, has had a very successful term, and has scored convincing wins over Keith and Byron. The match with Dun, who arc also undefeated, has still to come, but the all-round ability of the House should enable the team to retain its unbeaten record. D. R. Mitchell, who has played well for School and House, has been awarded his 1st Xl Colours, and J. W. Cradock has been re-awarded his ist XI Half-Colours. In the annual sports Melvin took second place to Keith, but as the majority of the House's points were gained by the younger boys, the I-Iouse's prospects in future sports are bright. In the Open and Class II events, some good performances were put up by Melvin boys, particularly in the field events, where points were made by Baird, Clark, and Cradock. Melvin 's greatest success of the sports was probably in the Lower School relay, where the Houses's chosen, Cradock (jun.), Bain, Kemsley and Grant, ran out easy and impressive winners. On behalf of the many senior boys who will leave the School at the end of the term, I wish the I-louse further successes both in playing-field and classroom. J. W. BAIRD, Howe Captain.
Rugby Football. After Christmas the list XV played six inter-school games, of which four were won. Unfortunately, the attractive away fixtures with Royal High School, George Watson's College, and Glasgow High School were cancelled owing to weather conditions. 'The teatn was very fortunate in being able to see Scotland beating the " Kiwis " and Ireland at Murrayfield, and much was learned from these games. School's best achievement of the year was the beating by 17 points to 9 of Dollar Academy, who came north in February with an unbeaten record. A second victory over Gordon's College was also gained. In the whole season the list XV played 14 school matches and won To.
ist XV Matches. 12 January 1946.—v. Robert Gordon's College, at Rubislaw. School team :— J. \V. Cradock ; A. G. Craig, E. Craig, A. A. Lawrence, J. M. Milne ; I. Stuart, V. G. R. Stephen; A. Stewart, W. M. Brown, G. R. Rhind, I. Anderson, II. J. G. Connochie, I. G. Rogers, R. D. Smart, R. L. Watson. School were quickly on the attack after a kick-ahead by Lawrence, but play was mostly confined to the forwards and School's backs got little chance to show what they could do. School's pressure was rewarded, however, when Brown sent Rhind over for a try, which Cradock narrowly failed to convert. The backs were playing very well and Milne had a brilliant run, only to be brought down on the goal-line.
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Gordon's were rarely off the defensive and play was becoming rather scrappy when Brown went over for a try, which Lawrence converted. The visitors attacked but School's tackling was good and the backs cleared. Not long before half-time Stuart scored an unconverted try for School. Half-time—School, it points ; Gordon's College, nil. Play never reached a high level in the second half, and Gordon's College were definitely the better side after the changeover. Play was evenly contested, but there was little attempt at constructive back play by either side. Lawrence, the School captain, was limping on the wing. After a spell of forward play, the visitors deservedly scored an unconverted try, through Cruickshank, and not long after they again had the ball over the School line, only to be recalled for touch. The Gordon's backs had lasted the pace far better than the School backs and were corning more into the game, but forward, School was more than holding its own. Play reached a very low level and School were lucky to keep their line intact until the whistle went for full time. Result—School, ix points ; Gordon's College, 3 points. 2 February.—v. Dollar Academy, at Rubislaw. School team : J. W. Cradock ; G. B. Nicolson, E. Craig, A. A. Lawrence, J. M. Milne ; I. Stuart, V. G. R. Stephen ; G. R. Rhind, W. M. Brown, C. S. Knowles, I. V. Anderson, H. J. G. Connochie, R. D. L. Smart, R. L. Watson, I. G. Rogers. Dollar came north with an unbeaten record. Unfortunately one of their team took ill during the night and they played with 14 men. Dollar scored an unconverted try in the first minute. Grammar fought back and gradually got on top. The forwards were playing very well and two tries came from members of the pack, G. R. Rhind and R. D. L. Smart. Both these tries were unconverted. Soon after, with the team playing in great style, Cradock kicked a grand penalty from forty yards, and a few minutes later he converted a try at the corner by Milne. Halftime—School, 14 points ; Dollar, 3 points. School resumed up hill and the next half was one of dogged defence and tenacious tackling. The over-eager forwards gave away many penalties but only one was converted. Cradock, however, offset this by another magnificent penalty from far out. The Dollar forwards made a great effort to save the game and one of them scored an unconverted try. The team takes great credit for its fine performance in this grand game. Result—School (I placed goal, z penalty goals, z tries), 17 points ; Dollar (1 penalty goal, a tries), 9 points. 9 February.—v. Heriot's, at Goldenacre. School team: J. W. Cradock; G. B. Nicolson, E. Craig, A. A. Lawrence, J. M. Milne ; I. Stuart, V. G. R. Stephen ; G. R. Rhind, W. M. Brown, C. S. Knowles, I. V. Anderson, H. J. G. Connochie, R. D. L. Smart, R. L. Watson, I. G. Rogers. Play was very even for a start, but School didn't settle down. Heriot's unorthodox tactics kept shaking the School team. Bad marking allowed Heriot's to score two tries, one of which was converted. At half-time School lost Nicolson through injury and Rogers was moved to the wing. Half-time-School, nil ; lierioes, 8 points. School started off in grand spirit after half-time and Milne immediately scored an unconverted try. Play was even for a spell and then Heriot's increased their lead with a try, which was converted. School fought back again and Cradock kicked a grand penalty. School made a big effort but could not score again. Result-School (t penalty, r try), 6 points ; Heriot's (a placed goals, i try), 13 points. 23 February.—v. Perth Academy, at Newfield. School team : J. W. Cradock ; G. B. Nicolson, E. Craig, A. A. Lawrence, J. M. Milne ; I. Stuart, V. G. R. Stephen ; G. R. Rhind, W. M. Brown, C. S. Knowles, I. V. Anderson, H. J. G. Connochie, R. D. L. Smart, R. L. Watson, I. G. Rogers. School refused to settle down even with the wind and were on the defensive for a spell, which was ended by Perth scoring an unconverted try. School fought back and Lawrence dropped a very fine goal to put them in the lead. Not long after, Milne scored an unconverted try. Half-time-School, 7 points; Perth, 3 points. School resumed up hill against the wind and spent the second half in deadly tackling, as the Perth backs were receiving plenty of the ball. The School defence, however, held out. School increased their lead when Milne scored an unconverted try after running the length of the pitch. The game finished with School still
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defending. Result—School (I dropped goal, z tries), to points ; Perth Academy (I try), 3 points. 9 March.—v. Dundee I-Egh School, at Dundee. School team : J. W. Cradock ; J. W. Baird, E. Craig, A. A. Lawrence, J. M. Milne ; I. Stuart, V. G. R. Stephen ; G. R. Rhind, H. Macrae, C. S. Knowles, I. V. Anderson, H. J. G. Connochie, W. M. Brown, R. L. Watson, R. D. L. Smart. School again refused to settle down and found themselves eleven points down shortly after the start. They reduced the leeway when Lawrence scored an unconverted try. The first half was very scrappy. Half-time-School, 3 points ; Dundee High School, It points. School still could not strike any good form in the second half and Dundee scored another try, which was converted. This seemed to wake up School and Baird scored a try, which was converted by Lawrence. School continued to press and Cradock kicked a penalty. School were definitely playing better and Baird scored another try, which was not converted. This was School's most disappointing show this season. Result: Dundee High School (1 penalty goal, z placed goals, I try), 16 points ; School (I penalty goal, I placed goal, 2 tries), 14 points. z3 March.—v. Morgan Academy, at Dundee. School team : J. W. Cradock ; A. G. Craig, E. Craig, A. A. Lawrence, J. M. Milne ; I. Stuart, V. G. R. Stephen ; G. R. Rhind, W. M. Brown, C. S. Knowles, H. J. G. Connochie, I. V. Anderson, R. D. L. Smart, H. Macrae, I. G. Rogers. Morgan scored an unconverted try in the first minute but Cradock equalised with a penalty. School took the lead when Cradock scored a second penalty. The forwards were playing very well in the loose, but the handling of the hacks was at fault. half-time—School, 6 points ; Morgan Academy, 3 points. The second half was a repetition of the first and School increased their lead with a try by Rogers, which was not converted. The game ended with School attacking. Result—School (z penalty goals, I try), 9 points ; Morgan Academy (I try), 3 points. On 6 April a seven-a-side tournament was held at Rubislaw and School played a " friendly " with Gordon's College. School team : J. M. Milne, A. A. Lawrence, 1. Stuart, E. Craig ; I. V. Anderson, W. M. Brown, I. G. Rogers. School won by 15 points to lo. Thanks are due to Mr. W. P. Stewart for his fine coaching of the side.
Who's Who in the 1st XV. A. A. LAWRENCE C' Sandy "). 6 ft. 1 in. ; is st. 1 z lb. The Captain of the side. A centre three-quarter of considerable ability and promise. His infectious enthusiasm and tactful handling of his " men " contributed greatly to the success of the team. I. SruART (" Fats "). 5 ft. TO in. ; It st. 9 lb. Vice-captain. A clever standoff half with a very safe pair of hands. More speed in attack and defence would put hint in the top class. R. L. WATSON (" Bob "). 5 ft. 1 t in. ; i t st. to lb. A grand back-row forward who never played a poor game. Led the pack well, more by example than by precept. Excelled at the line-outs. W. M. BROWN (" Mor"). 5 ft. 9 in. ; to st. 7 lb. An excellent hooker, who aspired to play as a wing forward. A tireless player, who has the happy knack of turning up where he is most needed. E. CRAIG (" Eck "). 5 ft. to in. ; to st. 7 lb. An elusive centre three-quarter of great ability. Can be brilliant in attack at times ; his defence never falters. His " happy-go-lucky " temperament is a considerable asset to his play and to the rest of the team. J. M. M/LNE (" Johnnie"). 5 ft. 9 in. ; 9 st. t3i lb. A speedy and clever wing three-quarter. His enthusiasm, ability, and technical skill should take hint far. A very promising player, who could do well in any position behind the scrum. J. W. CR A DOCK (" Whitby "). 6 ft. A in. ; 13 st. 1 i lb. A successful full back with great kicking skill. He is an excellent tackler and has a good sense of position. More speed in getting across needed.
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I. G. Rooaas (" Ian"). 5 ft. 9} in. ; so st. 1 s lb. An excellent and everimproving wing forward. Speedy and always " up " in attack. Very promising. G. R. Itt (IND (" George "). 6 ft. 1 in. ; 13 st. I lb. A front row forward who can be very effective in the loose at times. Enthusiastic and hard working. V. G. R. STEPHEN (" Vince "). 5 ft. 3i in. ; 9 st. Is lb. A clever scrum half with an accurate service. Takes many a hammering from the opposing forwards but invariably comes up grinning. A grand, unselfish player. I. ANDERSON (" Ian "). 5 ft. 8 in. ; so st. 12 lb. A hard-working second row forward who can also use his feet in dribbling. A whole-hearted player who should go on improving. H. J. G. CONNOCIIIE (" Harry "). 5 ft. 9 in. ; 14 st. 5 lb. A heavy, effective second row forward. Very useful both in the tight and loose mauls. C. S. KNows.Es (" Charlie "). 6 ft. 2 in. ; 12 st. so lb. A tough, strong front row forward who should do well with more experience. Very effective at line-outs. Needs to overcome considerable natural inertia. R. D. L. SMART (" Dick "). 5 ft. so in. ; so st. 13 lb. A speedy wing forward of great promise. Needs to tighten up his defence. G. B. NICOLSON (" Niccie"). 5 ft. 6 in. ; 9 st. 3 lb. A young, clever wing three-quarter. Should develop confidence with more experience. A. G. CRAIG (" Alan "). 5 ft. 9 in. ; so st. 8i lb. A versatile player who successively deputized at full back, wing three-quarter, and wing forward. W. Y. SALTER (" Bill "). Played as wing-forward till Christmas, when he left to join the R.A.F. A keen, clever player with a devastating tackle.
Hockey. Season 1945-46 saw the School finish about the middle of the Hockey League. Considering the fact that the team was largely inexperienced, this was a creditable achievement. They were a most enthusiastic side, with several outstanding players individually but a noticeable failure to alter their tactics, particularly among the forwards, when up against it, cost them several games. The three inside forwards used the centre of the field too much and far too seldom were the wings brought into action. This was clearly shown in the key match against R.N.A.S. at Peterhead, where all the efforts of the defence (and Taylor in particular) came to nothing, the inside forwards persisting in trying to work the ball up the middle of the field in a sea of mud, the ball never reaching the wings standing on dry ground above high-water mark.
Who's Who in the 1st XI. DAVID D. G. Ross. The strong, silent man of the team. Filled this difficult position well. Improved tremendously as the season went on. Should cultivate a more powerful kick. HARRY Tamost. An enthusiast, if ever there was one. The most versatile player in the side, at home in any position. A powerful hitter, he plays with great determination. GORDON S. WILLIAMS. Deserves the thanks of every member of the side fur his unceasing efforts to make every game a success. Nothing was ever a trouble to him except trying to stop the High School outside right. ARTHUR NOTHOLT. A first-rate tackler and stopper who excelled in recovery. Never gave up. Should increase his hitting power. PETER E. G. MITCHELL. At centre-half has been the backbone of the team. Shows grand stick-work and is good in both defence and attack. Small in stature but great in heart. IAN MORRISON. A very fine left-half. Hits strongly, is very fit and is not afraid to work the ball. J. CAMERON MAssoss. A temperamental winger. Lacked dash and determinaticas. Showed good control and possessed a fierce shot. I isually came off against she " auld enemy ".
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Captain. A most capable player, with grand stick-work and elusive run. Delightful to watch. Would be more deadly if he made the ball, instead of himself, do most of the work. ROBERT LYNCH. At centre-forward he added dash to the forward line. Never afraid to go in, but over-anxious to do well. Must learn how to open up play. A most sportsmanlike player. ALEXANDER P. FARQUHAR. In every game played as if a kingdom were at stake. Very fast on the ball and dangerous. At inside-left he only likes the left wing. GRAHAM BURR. In match-play never did justice to the form shown in practice. Must learn to run hard and cross hard. DOUGLAS R. SPENCE. Always the willing horse. Would play anywhere and always with evident enjoyment. No report would be complete without an expression of the great loss the Hockey Section sustained when Mr. Forbes left us. Player, counsellor, umpire--often at one and the same time. We hope he still cherishes the memory of many deathless struggles with the unnamed masses on a Wednesday afternoon. W. GRAHAM MACKAY.
Cricket. At the beginning of the season A. A. Lawrence and I. Stuart were re-elected Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. Up to the time of writing the team has been very successful, winning every game. Early in the season the weakest point of the team was its fielding, which has happily improved steadily. The bowling of I. Stuart and G. B. Nicolson has been very strong and they have both returned a good analysis. The team as a whole has batted very well and there have been several bright innings. 27 April I946.—v. F.P.s. School won the toss and put F.P.s in to bat on an easy-paced wicket. F.P.s amassed a total of 139 before declaring with 8 wickets down, G. B. Nicolson taking 3 for 25 and I. Stuart 2 for 45. School's fielding was very poor, with plenty of room for improvement. After a poor start, two wickets having fallen for so runs, Milne and Lawrence played themselves in and set about the bowling. With the score at 77, Milne (34) was caught behind the wicket. The score mounted slowly and at 125 Lawrence was bowled by Tyson for 6o. Steel and Williams batted confidently and brought the total to 141 for 6 wickets— an encouraging start to the season. 4 May.—v. Brechin. Batting first, School started very shakily, none of the first four batsmen reaching double figures, but Stuart played very confidently, for zo, before being bowled. Apart from Williams (3o) and Nicolson (38) no other batsman reached double figures, the whole team being dismissed for 116. Brechin was dismissed for 114, mainly due to the excellent bowling of Stuart, who had 5 for 24. There was a marked improvement in the fielding. it th May.—v. Morgan Academy. Morgan batted first on a very tricky wicket and were dismissed for 76. Nicolson (6 for 19) and Stuart (3 for 40) bowled well, Stuart taking three wickets with four consecutive balls. Only two Morgan batsmen reached double figures. Again starting poorly, School gradually got going and Mitchell (31) gave a good display of offensive batting. He, with Lawrence (z9 not out), carried the total to 5o before being caught out. School declared with the score at 78 for five wickets. Nicolson had a grand all-round day, having I i not out to his credit at the end of play. 18th May.—v. Glenalmond. On a perfect wicket School elected to bat and, against a varied and well-handled attack, only two batsmen reached double figures —J. M. Milne (it) and A. A. Lawrence (6o not out). The whole side was dismissed for 1O2. The Glenalmond batsmen had to admit defeat to a superior bowling attack, being dismissed for 36. Nicolson took 6 for 17, including the " hat-trick ", and Stuart 3 for 15. The team's fielding was excellent in this game. 22 May.—v. Gordon's College. School dismissed Gordon s for 6z on a very fast wicket. Rennie was top scorer for Gordon's with I1 not out. Bowling for School, Nicolson took 4 for 13 and Stuart 4 for 28. Again Mitchell, although lucky, had a fine offensive innings, scoring 27. School passed the Gordon's total with four wickets in hand—Nicolson, 20 not out.
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. 25 May.—v. Arbroath High School. Winning the toss for the sixth consecutive tune, Lawrence put Arbroath in to bat. They were all out for 29, Stuart taking 5 for 19 and Nicolson 3 for 5. School went on to score 64 for 4 wickets. 1. Stuart 3o not out ; T. Donald, 17 not out. Batting Averages. A. A. Lawrence G. B. Nicolson T. Donald . G. S. Williams D. R. Mitchell
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
.
Curers. 61.5 a_3._a 4
Bowling Averages. G. B. Nicolson . 1. Stuart
• •
Times No. of Innings. not out. 2 6 . . z 5 i . 3 2 5 • o 6 . * Not out.
Highest Score. 60* 38 if
Runs. 117
Wickets. 23
17 I
22
Maidens. 15 26
30
31
Average. 40.5 ~5 r4.5 14 12.5
Average. 5.08 7.77
Tennis. At a meeting held at the beginning of term the following officials were appointed :—Captain, J. W. Cradock; Vice-Captain, I. G. Rogers; Secretary, G. R. Rhind. This season's subscription was raised to 2s. 6d. The courts were not open till later, because of the lack of whiting, which was overcome by the rule that, as well as paying the subscription, members had to procure a pound of whiting. In this way we received about 38 lb. Matches have been held with St. Margaret's School and the Girls' High School. Both of these were very successful. G. R. RHIND, Secretary.
Swimming. The only event of any significance this term was the inter-school relay in the R. Gordon's College Gala. The following boys represented the School :—G. Rhind, M. J. Longmore, R. W. Strachan, and R. Tennant. The team from Central finish. School scratched, but as it was, our team were only a few yards behind at the Friday Mr. Wilson continues to do good work coaching beginners at a class on afternoons. A. R. I.YAI.L, .Secretary.
Rambling and Mountaineering. This popular School activity, which has been closed down for six years owing to the lack of Masters, transport difficulties, and general war conditions, was begun again this term with the return of Mr. Cunningham from the Forces. A meeting was held after the Easter vacation, at which the general outline of the Club's activities were discussed and a committee formed—D. Archibald, VI ; A. M. Brown, VI ; A. G. Craig, VI ; J. M. Milne, VI ; and M. Paterson, V. R. V. Williams was appointed secretary and treasurer. So far we have had three successful outings— Kerloch, on 27 April, by bicycle ; Mount Battock, on it May, by bicycle ; and Lochnagar, on 25 May, by bus. There have been good attendances at all the outings—especially to Lochnagar, when there were 45 boys from Middle and Upper Schools. Several parties ascended by the Black Spout and the weather was exceptionally good. The Club is looking forward to the Cairngorm week-end of three days, which is in conjunction with the A.C.F.
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We wish to thank the Rector for his support of the Club, and Mr. Milne, who has given valuable help in the arranging of trips although himself unable to take part in the climbs. We wish the Club the best of luck in future years. R. V. WILLIAMS.
The School Company A.C.F. " I to the hills . . . " is a phrase which keeps running through the mind at this time of the year, for our annual trek to the Cairngorms takes place over the week-end 14-16 June. An enthusiastic band, some fifty strong, will load up the old rucsack or army pack and take the glen road to Derry Lodge and the Robbers' Copse. A picture that is now familiar to many old Grammarians is that of a number of tiny tents nestling at the foot of heather-clad, boulder-strewn Cam Crom in the quiet of a long summer twilight, with the clouds quietly settling on the shoulders of Ben Macdhui and Cairn Toul. On closer approach, the primus stoves will be roaring and the chattering occupants of the hivvy tents arguing as to what shall be cooked for supper. Happy days. Summer camp this year will see us back at an ideal camping site at Findhorn. Our first and most successful summer camp was held there three years ago, and we are eagerly looking forward to " being on our own " once again. The success of School cadets in the Certificate " A " Examinations is borne out again this year. Congratulations to the recruits, all of whom passed, and to the older cadets who are now entitled to wear the full red star. The Pipe Band continues to flourish. Although most of our experienced pipers left us last session, the younger ones have put in strenuous practice to become as proficient as they were. A meritorious appearance was made at the School Athletic Sports, and the honour of leading the Church parade of the City of Aberdeen Army Cadets on Sunday, 9 June was given to us. " Cadet Week " was celebrated from the 9 to is June. Many of us hope to have flights with the R.A.F. from Dyce Airfield, and the R.E. Demonstrations and Airborne Display will find in us eager spectators. Courses still hold their attractions for some of us. During the session cadets from the School Company have attended Signals and P.T. courses at Edinburgh, technical courses at Catterick, and mountaineering courses in Wales. The Annual Cadet Dance was voted " better than ever ". It was held in the School Hall on Wednesday, z7 March. During the four years we have been " operative ", many boys have passed through our ranks. And many unusual " adventures" have happened our way. The " disastrous " first trek by Loch Lee and Mount Keen, when Strathdec was unable to carry his well-stocked larder ; the testing climb on the steep slope of the Devil's Point and the " shagging" at the bottom of Braeriach ; the fun on the sands at Findhom with Sergeant Bellamy and the other two " fierce " sergeantmajors ; the snowstorm on Ben Macdhui in mid-summer ; the night exercise on Battle Hill at Unfitly ; all good things to remember. So, at the end of another session, we send our greetings to the many ex-members of the School Company. W. P. S.
Scout Notes. xst Troop. " What glorious weather "—it's not often that we come home from camp with those words on our lips, but this Easter we could not have been luckier in that respect. The week was spent at Clinterty, where each Patrol had a task to perform —the Lions built a hut, the Curlews a signalling tower, and the Stags a bridge ; and although the bridge had to be prematurely cut down, each task was enthusiastically undertaken. Our only regret was that George Davidson was unable to be with us. George, who has been our Acting Scoutmaster for the past two years, left Aberdeen to take up an appointment at Birmingham. All who have come in contact with him in his scouting in Aberdeen will realize what a loss his departure is to the Troop,
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
163
During the Summer term there is always a long list of activities open for the Troop—outdoor meetings, five-a-side football, athletic sports, Scouts' own parade and, last but not least, the County Flag competition. Up to the time of writing the parade and the football have taken place. The Troop entered two teams for the football, and the Junior team won the Cup. Templars' Park, requisitioned during the war years, will be the scene this June of the County Flag Competition, and we hope our patrol, under the able leadership of P.L. Bill Michie, will be well to the fore. To round off the Summer activities will be the camp—that highlight of all Scouting—to be held this year at " Altdachie ", Strathdon. With the advancement of demobilization there have been more and more former Scouters coming back to the Troops, and we of the 1st recently welcomed George Chrystal, a pm-war stalwart of the Troop. Miss Macintosh continues her invaluable work with the Cub Pack and she has now as an Assistant Cubmaster, Miss Lesley Brown. The Cubs intend to spend a Saturday at Clinterty, as they have done for the past few years. JAsrEs A. MCGREGOR, Acting Scoutmaster.
gth Troop. At the end of the Winter term the Court of Honour decided to dose the Troop to recruits during the Easter term. This experiment proved quite successful. It was designed to allow the patrols to become stabilized and to enable scouts the better to proceed with test-work. During the Easter holidays two patrols camped in the Haddo IIouse estate, when the weather by no means lived up to its Easter camp reputation. There were two mysteries at this camp—a secret organization, called the S.S.U. ; and a peculiar owl which knocked down pots in the middle of the night. 'I'olquhon Castle was visited and its dungeons, look-outs, and ovens well explored. At the beginning of this term the pent-up flood of recruits broke through as soon as the Troop was re-opened. It is good to see so much interest in Scouting, now that war-time organizations are on the decline. Indeed, so many would-be recruits have turned up that it has been necessary to tell several to come back after the summer holidays. There are now six patrols, with eight boys in each. This has necessitated the promotion of Second P. Imes to he P.C. of the Kestrels, and A. Milne and J. Taylor to be Seconds. As our Summer camp site has been in Deesidc for five out of the last six years we looked further afield this year. The result is that the camp, from 9-z3 July, will be held at the head of Loch Morlich, Aviemore, on a site nestling at the foot of Cairngorm, which promises to be one of the best. The Cubs have done very well this term. They were very close runners-up in the Totem Pole competition, and in the football competition were beaten only during extra time, once again taking second place. In their ordinary cub work they have excelled themselves, gaining 23 badges. A. GORDON LAING, Acting SCOMilltalifT.
The Literary and Debating Society. The first meeting of the Spring term was the recurrent Members' Brains Trust, which included one representative from each of years II-VI. The questions, as usual, were varied, ranging from " What is the highest form of Art ?" down to " Is a man happy only when he is drunk ? " Next week came one of the most successful meetings of the year—a discussion with Robert Gordon's College Debating Society on " The Thriller v. the Classic ". A. M. Cain, Vice-President, who led for the Thriller, and L. Symon, who seconded for the Classic, represented the Grammar School, and the discussion was lively throughout. In the end the Thriller won by at votes to 17. On 1 February J. Baird led a discussion on " How I shall bring up my children ". Every aspect of a child's upbringing, from religion to pocket-money, was discussed, but the chief controversy raged round boarding-schools : a majority of members believed they were " ruled by repression ". The " biggest event " of the year's programme took place the next week in the Hall—the trial of Mr. Andrew Milne, M.A. Under the capable chairmanship of
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Mr. Justice Craig, the Society met to try the prisoner for corruption of the youth, mental cruelty, excessive homework, and slander of a certain Mr. B. Crookshanks. The plea was " not guilty ", and evidence for both sides was then heard—members of the Staff co-operated with members of the accused's classes, first in blackening his name, then in white-washing it. After the prisoner had testified, Mr. Cain, K.C., spoke for the defence, and Mr. Anton, procurator-fiscal, for the prosecution, and when Mr. Justice Craig had summed up, the jury retired and returned a verdict of " Not Proven ". On the following week the " Balloon Debate " was revived. A. Craig, J. B. Anton, D. M. Craig, John Milne, and A. A. Lawrence supported the teacher, artist, politician, scientist, and minister of religion respectively. Inevitably the politician was " thrown out of the balloon " at the first vote—he was the least essential according to the majority. Surprisingly enough, the artist followed him, and, after the minister lost the third vote, a tussle between teacher and scientist resulted in the latter's expected victory. The liveliest meeting of the session was the " Inquisition "—a religious Hat Night—held on zz February. Acrimonious debate surged backward and forward on such controversial topics as divorce, miracles, religious instruction, and atheism. Our third inter-school debate, that with the Central School, was conducted with far less acrimony than last year's debate with the same school. The subject, "'That the man of ideas is to be preferred to the man of action ", did, however, call forth several good speeches. H. Macrae (for the negative) and J. F. Kirk (for the affirmative) both delivered convincing orations, but the man of action emerged narrowly victorious. On 8 March the ever-popular Mr. Walker, of the English and History Departments, gave a most entertaining and instructive talk on tortures, which, like last year's one, on body-snatching, drew a record crowd. After a short historical introduction, he dealt with various celebrated methods of torture, including the " Scavenger's Daughter ", the tortures of the Inquisition, and the notorious " Peinc Forte et Dure " ; and finally the torments inflicted on suspected witches. Messrs. Walker, McCrea, and Cunningham were the judges in the annual Short Story Competition, the first of four meetings held after Easter. First prize of los. was awarded to A. Brown, second prize of 7s. 6d. to L. Symon, and third prizes of 5s. each to A. M. Cain and D. M. Craig. A Hat Afternoon was held the following week : questions concerned Russian aggression, modern poetry, the Creation myth, professional politicians, the American loan, the Yellow menace, and Sunday sport. Discussion was good, but as at the remaining two meetings, the attendance was relatively scanty. The next meeting—a discussion on the question, " Is Civilisation deteriorating ? " —was marked by good but not lively discussion, largely on modern art, literature, and science, including the inevitable atomic bomb. The affirmative won by a fairly small majority. Last—and least in attendance—was an " International Forum ", i.e. a discussion on various aspects of international affairs. Fascism, the Russian menace, the " American menace ", open diplomacy, and Britain's economic position were debated capably, in spite of the small number of those present. The total of members is, however, 88—a record, we believe—and that is a good augury for the ensuing session. J. M. C.
S.S.C. This year saw the start of the Junior Branch, which is composed of IIIrd year boys, who are very keen despite the fact that the Easter camp at Stobs was cancelled owing to the indisposition of Mr. Miller. The Senior Branch has been continuing its usual programme of games and discussion week about, and at Christmas two members of the committee went to Lamington to attend a conference with boys from Edinburgh and Glasgow. At Easter three members of the committee went to the Edinburgh camp at Stobs for a week-end. The Summer camp this year will be held at Bruar, in Glen Garry, Perthshire, in conjunction with the Edinburgh and Glasgow groups. It is a perfect site and we hope that the camp will be a success. We also wish Mr. Miller a speedy recovery and a quick return to School activities. R. V. WILLIAMS.
Aberdeen Grammar School Alagrcine
I6 5
School Office-Bearers for Session 1945-46. J. B. ANTON. J. W. BAIRD. W. M. BROWN. A. M. CAIN. J. W. CRADOCK.
Prefects. A. A. LAWRENCE (Senior Prefect). A. G. CRAIG. I. STUART. J. B. McLEon. H. TAYLOR. J. M. MILNE. R. L. WATSON. G. B. NitcoLsoN. R. V. WILLIAMS. I. G. ROGERS.
Byron. W. M. BROWN.
House Captains. Dun. Keith. I. STUART. A. A. L 1WRENCE.
Melvin. J. W. BAIRD.
Games Committee. I. V. ANDERSON. W. M. BROWN. J. W. CRADOCK. E. CRAIG. H. J. G. CONNOCHIE. A. P. FARQUHAR. C. S. KNOWLLS.
A. A. LAWRENCE. W. G. MACKAY. J. M. MILNE. I). R. MITCHELL. P. E. MITCHELL. T. I. MORRISON. A. NOTHOLT.
G. R. RHINE,. I. ROGERS. V. G. R. STEPIIEN. I. STUART. H. TAYLOR. R. 1.. WATSON. R. V. WILLIAMS.
Captain
-
Rugby Football. A. A. LAWRENCE. Vice-Captain - 1. STUART. I
Captain
-
A. A. LAWRENCE.
Cricket. Viet-Captain - I. STUART. I
Captain
-
W. G. MACKAY.
Hockey. I Via-Captain - A. P. FARQUHAR.
Captain
-
J. W. CRADOCK.
Tennis. Vice-Captain - I. G. ROGERS. I
Captain
-
J. W. BAIRD.
Athletics. Vice-Captain I
Captain
-
G. R. RIIIND
.
- J. M. MILNE.
Swimming. I Vice-Captain - M. J. LONGMORE.
Literary and Debating Society. J. B. ANTON. A. M. CAIN. J. M. CRAIG.
President Vice-President .Secretary and treasurer
Dramatic Society. - A. M. CAIN. - J. B. McLe.oo. - B. K. CROOKSHANKS.
President Vice-President Secretary and Treasurer -
Editors of the Magazine.
School
-
J. B. ANTON. A. M. CAIN.
I
'ri"rts
-
f J• W. BAIRD. (J. M. MILNE.
Rambling and Mountaineering Club. - R. V. WILLIAMS.
President
Scottish Schoolboys Club (S.S.C.) - R. V. WILLIAMS.
School Representative
166
Aberdeen Grammar School Alaga;,ine .
The Former Pupils' Club. Founded 5893.
President : THEODORE WArr, M.A., LL.D. Vice-President and Chairman of Executive : JOHN LENNOX RIDDELL. Secretary and Treasurer : JOHN SCOTT MACLACHLAN, Advocate,
22o Union Street, Aberdeen.
Secretaries of Sections : Cricket Section—A. N. INNES, 74 Burns Road, Aberdeen. Rugby Section—N. I. \V. MELDRUM, 10 Carden Place.
Rates of Subscription for Membership : LIFE MEMBERSHIP . . . • • . £S o o Or Five Consecutive Annual Payments of L1 ts. each. ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP— For those of at years of age and upwards at commencement of Club year (1st January) . o 5 o . For those under at years of age at the commencement of Club year (1st January) . . . o a 6 but for those under a x a single payment of is. will secure membership for SEVEN YEARS.
Club Executive Notes. It is thought that a revival of these notes after an interval since 1939 might prove of interest to F.P.s. With the precedent of the 1914-18 war in front of it the Executive of 1939 decided to carry on in a " caretaker " capacity, little realizing the time that would elapse before the next General Meeting of the Club. While many of the normal activities, such as the Dinner and Ball, lapsed, the Rugby and Cricket Sections continued to function, though on a reduced scale. The " At Home " to boys of 16 and over on leaving the School had finally to be abandoned owing to catering and other war difficulties, but this is a function which might now be revived. During the war years the Executive met from time to time to discuss various matters, and it is interesting here to note and praise the close liaison which has been
Aberdeen Grammar School Maxazine
167
established between the Rector of the School and the Executive. Mr. Robertson has on several occasions approached the Executive in order to discuss matters affecting the School, and these contacts have, I am sure, proved of interest and benefit to both parties. The first General Meeting to be held since 1939 took place on 12 June 1946 and is recorded elsewhere. It was a momentous one on more than one count. Dr. Theodore Watt, who has been Secretary and Treasurer since 1919, resigned these offices, and I should like to take this opportunity of placing on record the Executive's great sense of indebtedness to Dr. Watt for all he has done for the Club and the School. The full story and extent of this will probably never be disclosed. It is gratifying to know, however, that he continues as Editor of the Magazine. The Club at its General Meeting indicated in some measure its appreciation of Dr. Watt's services by electing him as President for the ensuing year. I am sure that the election of Mr. J. Scott MacLachlan as Dr. Watt's successor will make certain a continuance of the best traditions of the Club. The meeting was also noteworthy in that there was an unusually large turnout of members, though these represented only a tiny fraction of the F.P.s resident in Aberdeen. A change in the Constitution was carried whereby five out of the fifteen members of the Executive must retire each year and shall not be eligible for reelection for one year. This means that we need at least five nominations each year and it is hoped that there will be no difficulty in the future in getting them. At this meeting six new members were elected, three of the vacancies being caused by the retiral of Messrs. James C. Duff-us, Alan McBain, and James Patterson, all of whom have given long and valuable service. The new Executive will now have to get down to its task of reviving the various activities of the Club. It is hoped during the next year to hold the Dinner and the Ball, though there may be difficulties. If members have any suggestions, the Executive will be glad to have them. May I, in conclusion, take the opportunity of thanking those members who at the General Meeting re-elected me as Vice-President for a further year. I shall do my very best to be worthy of this honour. J. LENNOX RIDDELL, Vire-President.
General Meeting of the Club. The first General Meeting of the Club since March 1939 was held in the Caledonian Hotel on Wednesday, is June 1946. Mr. J. Lennox Riddell, the Vice-President, presided over a good attendance of members. After a few words of welcome from the Chairman, the Report by the Executive for the period from 1 January 1944 to 30 April 1946 was submitted, as follows :— REPORT BY THE EXECUTIVE.
The Executive now submits its first post-war report. The last report, published in the Magazine of July 1944, covered the year 1943, and the present report covers the period from 1 January 1944 to 3o April 1946. During that period war conditions to a large extent continued and the normal activities that have been in abeyance since 1939 have not yet been resumed. This report is being submitted to the first General Meeting of the Club held since March 1939, and it is anticipated that the Club will now enter on a new period of prosperity. MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTIONS.
The following is an analysis of the membership of the Club at 3o April 1946, with the comparable figures for the last complete pre-war year 0900:— (Continued on page 170.)
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Abstract of Revenue and Expenditure Account REVENUE. Ordinary Subscriptions received prior to 1 Jan. 1945 Ordinary Subscriptions received during 1945 Arrears recovered in 1945 ..
Revenue from Investments Deficit for year „
• •
a&
*8
88
• •
.• •• ••
• •
•
•
• •
• •
• •
• • •
•
• •
.. .. ..
£92 11 143 4 4 10
.. ..
£240 6 0 115 15 0 60 2 10 £416
6 6 0
3 10
Balance Sheet as CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES. I. CAPITAL—
Amount at credit at 31 December 1944 .. £4,982 14 11 Life Members' Subscriptions received during 1945 439 19 0 £5,422 13 11
II. ENTERTAINMENTS SUSPENSE ACCOUNT—
Amount at credit
..
•.
• •
•
III. CLUB DEVELOPMENT RESERVE ACCOUNT— Amount at credit . • •
• •
15
• •
• •
10 0 0
£101 16
0
79 9
0
••
• •
IV. ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE— Balance of Subscriptions received prior to 31 December 1944, applicable to future years .. Subscriptions received in 1945 applicable to future years .. •• •• -• V. FUNDS OF CLUB SECTION AND CENTRE IN
•
•
0
0
181
5 0
10
4 8
SUSPENSE—
Motor Section Edinburgh Centre ..
£4 3 8 6 1 0
VI. GIFTS AND LEGACIES10 Shares in Boarding House Co., Ltd.
Legacy from Miss Alice Lamb Donations for Swimming Pool
.. .•
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VII, " MAGAZINE"—
Advertisements paid in advance
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£5,809 18 7
FORMER PUPILS' CLUB. for year ended 31 December 1945. EXPENDITURE. •• .. .• Working Expenses •. .. .. .• .. Magazine—Cost for year, less revenue from advertisements and sales .. .• .. .. Miscellaneous Expenses .. .. ..
£86 9 6 325 1 10 4 12 6
£418 3 10 -
at 31 December 1945. ASSETS. I.
"MAGAZINE"
EXPENSES PAID IN ADVANCE AND
FOR ADVERTISEMENTS
AMOUNT DUE . •
• •
HAND AND INVESTED FUNDS AT 31 DECEMBER 1945
II.
CASH IN
III.
DEFICIT IN REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
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.. £138 6 8 .. 5,372 19 4
298 12 7
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ABERDEEN, 27 May 1946.—We have examined the foregoing Revenue and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 1945, and relative Balance Sheet as at 31 December 1945, compared the figures with the vouchers, and found the Accounts correct. We are of the opinion that the above Balance Sheet correctly states the position of the Club as at 31 December 1945. We have had exhibited to us the various Securities supporting the Funds at the close of the Accounts. The Securities are all entered in the Balance Sheet at cost prices. (Signed) BOWER & SMITH, C.A., Honorary A uditors.
£5,809 18 7
27o
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Life. Fully
50/446 31/12/38
Paid. 962
Partially Paid. 70
Ordinary. Senr. Junr. 890 154
637
__ ___
1,195 --
262 -__
+325
7o
—305
— to8
Honorary.
Extraordinary.
I0 17 ___
39 42 ---
2,125
- 7 -
- 3
-28
Total. 2, 1 53
In the top line the figures for Ordinary Members include those whose subscriptions are in arrears for only one year. The noticeable decrease in comparison with the figures for 1938 is due, in part, to the very considerable number of those who, owing to their having been on war service, have allowed their membership to lapse and have not yet re-joined, but, much more, to the remarkable increase in the Life Membership of the Club. During the war period the number of Life Members and of those who are in process of becoming Life Members has grown from 637 10 1,032—an increase of 62 per cent. Since the last report was published there has been a total enrolment of 224 Life Members, excluding those who arc paying fur Life Membership by instalments. The number of boys who join the Club immediately on leaving the School, or shortly afterwards, continues to be very satisfactory. Such boys may be reminded that F.P.s while still under the age of zi may make a single payment of kJ is. to cover Ordinary Membership for seven years. LOSSES BY DEATH. Since 31 December 1943 the deaths of no fewer than 85 members have been reported, including 45 who died on war service. Among the members who died during the past two years were three of the IIonorary Vice-Presidents—Sir Chalmers Mitchell, Sir David Prain, and Colonel Thomas Ogilvie ; two of the Club Consuls —John No Dawson, Singapore (the donor of the John No Dawson Prize at the School), and Thomas B. G. Ilenderson, New York ; George Topham Forrest, an ex-President of the London Centre ; James Murray Tomory, an ex-President of the Glasgow Centre ; Patrick Reid, the Senior Member of the Club, who died at the age of 94 ; Major Geoffrey A. Rowton, B.A., LL.B., a member of the Executive of the Club ; and Raymond G. Wilson, Secretary of the Malayan Centre. HONOURS TO F.P.s. Numerous New Year, King's Birthday, and other Honours have been conferred on members of the Club and, so far as ascertained, have been recorded in the Alagazine. THE CLUB AND THE. SCHOOL. At the Prize-givings in June 1944 and June 1945 the Club presented Silver Medals for Geography, German, and Spanish. The winners of the Club's All-Round Trophy and John No Dawson Prize were, in 1944., David L. Cowie, and in 1945, Arthur W. A. Main. The F.P. Club Boarding House, started in 1928 and now comprising a Senior and a Junior House, has latterly been filled to capacity and there is now a very considerable waiting list of applicants for admission. Priority is given first to the sons of Shareholders and next to the sons of Members of the Club. THE " MAGAZINE ". The publication of two half-yearly numbers of the illa,gaine has continued to be the main feature of the Club's activity both during and since the War. No effort has been spared to make the War record of F.P.s as complete as possible, and very welcome contributions from Old Boys have been published. Numerous letters received by the Editor, and particularly from F.P.s serving in the Forces abroad, have testified to the warm appreciation in which the Magazine is held. A suggestion that there should be published a Roll of Service of Members of the Club and also an F.P. Roll of Ilonour, accompanied by all the portraits that have appeared in the Magazine of those who have fallen, is receiving careful consideration.
School Prefects—June 1946.
Back Row—H. Taylor, J. W. Baird, J. W. Cradock, R. L. Watson., J. B. Anton, A. M. Cain, I. G. Rogers. J. B. M`Lcod. Front Roy—A. G. Craig, J. M. Milne, A. A. Lawrence (School Captain), Mr. J. J. Robertson (Rector), I. Stuart, R. V. Williams, G. B. Nicolson.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
171
CLUB SECTIONS. The Rugby Football Section, which had to struggle against and overcome many difficulties during the War, has welcomed the return of many old players, and the prospects for next season are bright. The Cricket Section, although not winning any championships, had a very successful and enjoyable season in 1945, and is doing well in 1946 under the inspiring Captaincy of Jack Manley. The Section has been specially fortunate in receiving invaluable service on and off the field from Mr. Tyson, the School cricket coach and groundsman. FINANCE. Owing mainly to the heavy cost of producing the Magazine in wartime, including the reproduction of numerous portraits, the expenditure of the Club for the year 1944 exceeded the revenue by L82 9s., and for the year 1945 by £6o as. rod. As will be seen from the abstract of accounts that accompanies this report, the total Revenue and Expenditure Account deficit is now £298 12s. 7d. The Capital, however, of the Club has increased during the past two years by £440, from £4,982 to £5.422. At the end of 1938 the Capital amounted to £3,281, so that in seven years there has been an increase of no less than £2,141. The total funds of the Club now amount to over £5,800. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. George A. C. Walker, the foregoing Report and also the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 1945 were unanimously adopted. A motion, proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Mr. Ranald Esslcmont, that the first sentence of para. 19 of the Constitution be deleted and the following substituted : " Five of the members of the Executive shall retire annually and shall not be eligible for re-election until the expiry of one year ", was carried by a substantial majority against an amendment, moved by Mr. James S. G. Munro and seconded by Mr. R. B. Williamson, that the new wording be : " Five of the members of the Executive shall retire annually ". Before the Office-bearers and Members of the Executive were appointed for the ensuing year, the Chairman announced that Dr. Theodore Watt had definitely decided to relinquish the posts of Secretary and Treasurer, which he had held since June 1919. Mr. Riddell, in the course of paying a warm tribute to Dr. Watt for his services, read the following letter, dated 6 June, which he had received from the Rector of the School :— " Next week brings to a close Dr. Theodore Watt's long term of office as Secretary of the Club, and I should like you to be assured that we in the School share to the full your own sense of indebtedness to him. " What Dr. Watt has done for the Grammar School goes far beyond the proper duty of a loyal son, and the years can neither quench his interest nor weary his endeavours on her behalf. " With all that is said in his praise next Wednesday the School desires to be warmly associated." The Chairman, after stating that Dr. Watt was meantime to continue his Editorship of the Magazine and that appropriate recognition of his services would be made later, proposed that the Club should appoint Dr. Watt as its President for the ensuing year. This was seconded by the Rev. P. D. Lawrence and carried with acclamation. The other Office-bearers and Members of the Executive for 1946-47 were appointed in accordance with the list which appears on page 176. Messrs. Bower & Smith, C.A., who have been the Honorary Auditors of the Club's accounts since.1900, were thanked for their services during the past year and unanimously re-appointed. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
.•
172
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
Club Consuls. Now that the war is over and a new Executive of the Club has been elected, the system of Club Consuls will be revived and reviewed. It is hoped that an up-to-date list of the Consuls will appear in the next issue of the Magazine. In the last issue it was recorded that HERBERT BREBNER SCOTT (1905-08), 26 Dalhousie Square, Calcutta, the Secretary of the Bengal Centre of the Club and Consul for Bengal, had been appointed Consul for Assam as well. In place of the late Raymond G. Wilson, WILLIAM FERRIER MAYOR (1923-30), M.A., is to take over the Consulship at Singapore, when he returns there in the near future. DOUGLAS SCOTT CRUICKSHANK (1918-23), B.Com., C.A., who before the War was the Consul for Java, is shortly to resume his duties there, his address being c/o Messrs. Francis Peck & Co., Ltd., Kali Besar West, Batavia.
The Club Boarding Houses. List of Boarders. As usual in the July issue of the Magazine a complete list is given below of the boys (6i) who have been resident in the Boarding Houses during the past session. ENTERED IN SESSION 1931-36. Thomas Hill Buchan, s. of Captain J. I. Buchan, Governor's House, H.M. Prison, Saughton, Edinburgh. ENTERED IN SESSION 1938-39. Peter M. Gordon, s. of Dr. D. G. Gordon, " Revoan," Ellon. ENTERED IN SESSION 2939-4o. George F. Durno, s. of Mrs. Dumo, Jackston, Rothienorman. John C. K. Steele, s. of Charles S. Steele, 82 Bedford Court Mansions, London, W.C. I. ENTERED IN SESSION 194o-4r. C. Alan W. Ramsay, s. of Hugh G. Ramsay, " Broom Close," Comsland, Brentwood, Essex. John W. Cradock, a. of Mrs. E. M. Cradock, 125 Desswood Place, Aberdeen. ENTERED IN SESSION 190-42. Ian G. Rogers, s. of Mrs. Rogers, Murray Street, Montrose. John Michael Luxton, s. of Charles E. Luxton, Cairness House, Lonmay. Gordon Hamilton Bell, s. of Dr. J. H. Bell (1908-14), 55 Wood Street, Walthamstow, London, E. 17. Alaister Gillies MacCrimmon, s. of A. G. MacCrimmon, Adela House, Baleygunge, Park Road, Calcutta. ENTERED IN SESSION 1942-43. W. Graeme H. Bell, s. of William S. Bell, 56 Bridge Street, Aberdeen. Norman S. Kirkby, s. of A. R. Kirkby, 19 Esplanade Mansions, Calcutta. Jeremy Sands, s. of Mrs. Alice R. E. Sands, 13 Forest Road, Aberdeen. Richard D. L. Smart, s. of George M. Smart, The Braes, Bieldside. Robert L. Watson, s. of Mrs. A. M. Watson, Holly House, Montrose. ENTERED IN SESSION z943-44. W. Lyall Anderson, s. of Mrs. Anderson, 15 Beechgrove Avenue, Aberdeen. Kenneth W. Bowie, s. of Mrs. Bowie, Buchan Hotel, Ellon. David Brittain, s. of Dr. J. Simon, 5 Birmingham Road, Walsall. James Cowie, s. of Mr. Alex. Cowie, 3 Redfield Road, Montrose. Richard Cradock, s. of Mrs. Cradock, 125 Desswood Meal, Aberdeen. John Holloway, s. of Mrs. Holloway, lictchworth Avenue, Reading. Neil Johnston, a. of Mrs. Johnston, 7o Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magatine
173
Michael Keaton, s. of Mrs. Bush, to Macdonnell Gardens, Watford. Michael Keith, s. of Mr. John Keith (1905-08), Mains of Tatty, Elton. Alexander MacIntyre, s. of Mrs. Maclntyre, " Cruachan," Tomintoul. David Orton, s. of Mrs. Orton, Monecht House, Echt. William Sinclair, s. of Mr. Alastair Sinclair, 39 Old Edinburgh Road, Inverness. Alexander Skinner, s. of Lieut.-Commander Alex. Skinner, R.N.R., Marine Dept., Lagos, Nigeria. Ian Smith, s. of Mr. John Smith, New Pitsligo. Wilson Tait, s, of Mr. Charles E. Tait, Aberdeen Arms Hotel, Tarves. Alexander Watt, s. of Captain F. R. Watt (1905-16), 3 Woodstock Road, Aberdeen. ENTERED IN SESSION 2944-45• Wm. W. Isles, s. of J. R. Isles, 37 River Street, Montrose. Neil W. Gollan, s. of Donald Gollan, Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone. John S. Milligan and Anthony Milligan, ss. of Mrs. Milligan, Stracathro Hospital, by Brechin. Iain M. B. Mackay, s. of Dr. J. B. Mackay, Matlock House, Old Meldrum. Eric C. M. McLeod, s. of Dr. John McLeod, Glencorse, Fraserburgh. David Jack, s. of Major F. W. Jack, St. John's Wood, Inverugie. John Chalmers, s. of Marshall Chalmers, Maud. John L. Wishart, s, of Rev. Wm. P. Wishart, St. Laurence Manse, Forces. James C. Stewart, s. of Mrs. L. Lodge, to Newlands Park Drive, Scarborough. Michael Thomson, s. of Mrs. G. M. Thomson, Cromlet Hill, Old Meldrum. Ian G. McPherson, s. of Dr. H. G. McPherson, Lochengair, Stonehaven. John D. Benzie, s. of John D. Benzie, 27 Colquhoun Drive, Bearsden, Glasgow. John C. Wilson, s. of John Wilson, Batchart, Blairs. Ian S. Smith, s. of Geo. F. Smith, 14 Auldcastle Road, Inverness. George C. E. Gibb, s, of Dr. G. Gibb, 14 Caimfield Place, Aberdeen. Erroll G. Anderson, s. of Mrs. D. Anderson, 13 Beechgrove Avenue, Aberdeen. James Leishman, Richard Leishman, Kenneth Leishman, Douglas Leishman, ss. of Mr. R. L. Leishman, 26 Harlow Road, Aberdeen. Angus Petrie, s. of Mrs. Petrie, Alleppey, Travancore, S. India. ENTERED IN SESSION 1945-46. J. Michael Chalmers and Ian Fyfe Chalmers, as. of Mrs. J. Chalmers, zo Carlton Place, Aberdeen. Donald S. Cook and James T. F. Cook, ss. of William F. Cook (1911-13), Woodend, Dchiowita, Ceylon. William jack, s. of F. W. Jack, " St. John's Wood," Invcrugie. Roger Sampson, s. of Eric Sampson, tot Colinan Street, Hull. Quentin Skinner, s. of Lieut-Conunander A. Skinner, N.N.R., Marine Department, Lagos, Nigeria. James R. S. Turner, s. of Robert I. Turner, c/o A.I.O.C:., Masjid-i-Sulaiman, Iran.
F.P. Rugby Notes. Since the last issue of the Magazine the Rugby Section has continued to flourish. Many old players have returned to the Club on demobilization, the standard of play has risen considerably, and the weather has been very kind to the game. After the fluctuations of form in the first half of the season, the ist XV gradually settled down, and, despite many changes in personnel caused by players returning, was by the end of the season fast approaching pre-war strength. The return of the Captain, L. Middleton, at the beginning of January was a great help, as both by his personal example and his personality he instilled a dash and snap into the forward play which had been badly lacking previously. Although the composition of the team was continually changing, latterly the chief strength lay behind the scrum. The forwards were very good with their feet in the loose and covered well in defence, but were sadly lacking in weight, with the result that the backs saw comparatively little of the ball, but when they did, they were capable of scoring.
_ Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 174 The best displays since Christmas have been a narrow defeat by an almost Aberdeen Select XV playing under the name of Wanderers, a well-earned draw with 'Varsity, a draw down in Glasgow against Cilasgow Academicals, and a victory —the first since season 1942-43—over Gordonians in the last match of the season. From Christmas-time onwards a and XV was run, but owing to the selfish attitude of certain members who turned up only when they felt like it, the team had generally to play under strength and was not very successful. The local seven-a-side tournament was held at Rubislaw on 6 April. The F.P. " A " seven put up a grand performance to win quite comfortably. Playing with great spirit, they conceded only one try in four games and scored 47 points. They beat the much fancied Gordonians in the final by the substantial margin of 14-3. Results of earlier rounds were :-1st round—8-o v. I.T.C.A. ; and roundB," Peterhead ; 3rd round—t1-5 v. 'Varsity A, who were unfor14-0v. tunately handicapped by injury. The " B " seven was beaten 3-5 by R.N.A.S. " A," Peterhead in the first round. Teams :—" A " seven—F. R. Paterson, J. A. McGregor, N. S. Mercer, I. M. Duguid, J. H. Warrack, I. G. K. Phillips, J. D. Chalmers. " B " seven—I. McLean, J. R. Guy, K. G. Buthlay, a Paul, L. Middleton, J. S. G. Munro, L. Milne. Colours for the season were awarded as follows :—Full : C. R. Cruickshank, J. D. Chalmers, I. M. Duguid, J. A. McGregor, N. S. Mercer, L. Middleton, J. S. G. Munro, I. G. K. Phillips, J. H. Warrack. Half : E. A. Alexander, K. G. Buthlay, L. Milne. At the Annual General Meeting held at the end of the season, C. R. Cruickshank was elected Captain for season 1946-47 ; N. S. Mercer, Vice-Captain ; N. L W. Meldrum, to Carden Place, Aberdeen, continues as Secretary, and F. R. Paterson is Teams Secretary. For season 1946-47 a very fine fixture list has been arranged for the 1st XV. Although arrangements arc not yet complete, it is probable the season will start with a visit to the Borders at the September holiday week-end, and during the season Hillhead II.S.F.P.s, Watsonians, Royal H.S.F.P.s, Glasgow Academicals, Allan Glen's F.P.s, and Hutcheson' F.P.s are to be met at Rubislaw, and Glasgow H.S. F.P.s, St. Andrews University, Allan Glen's, and Hutchcsons' away from home. An attractive fixture list is also being arranged for the and XV, and it is hoped that numbers will permit of three XVs being run. I would appeal to all boys leaving School this year who are to be staying in Aberdeen to join the F.P. Club, to ensure that we can carry through this heavy programme successfully ; I would also beg the many F.P.s resident in Aberdeen to support the F.P.s in their home matches. The management of the Section has done its best to provide attractive matches, hut without financial support things may well prove very difficult. Lastly, would all F.P.s who have been demobilized recently or are about to be demobilized and who wish to join or rejoin the Section, please get in touch with the Secretary as soon as possible. The playing records for last season were :1st XV played at, won 12, lost 7, drawn 2 ; points for, 243 ; points against 149. and XV played 8, won 2, lost 4, drawn 2 ; points for 68 ; points against, 116. 1st XV Results.
1 945. . . Dec. az.—v. LT.C. . . . „ 29—v. Wanderers 1946. Jan. 6. 5—v. R.N.A.S., Peterhead . „ 26—v. R.A.F., Kinloss Feb. 2—v. R.N.A.S., Peterhead . . . „ 9—v. I.T.C. . . . „ 16—v. Varsity . . 23—v. Gordonians . Mar. 9—v. Glasgow Academicals „ 23—v. Morgan Academy F.P.s . „ 30—v. Wanderers . . Apr. 3—v. Gordonians .
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Rubislaw Rubislaw Peterhead Rubislaw Rubislaw Rubislaw Anniesland Rubislaw Rubislaw Seafield
13- 5 won o- 3 lost 25- 3 won 20-i T won
t3- o won :8- 9 won 6- 6 draw draw 63:164 li'st 17- 6 won 3- 9 lost i 2- 8 won
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Aberdeen Grammar School Maga:tine
175
2nd XV Results. 1945.
Dec. as—v. Wanderers . „ and Gordonians 1946. Jan. 26—p. School . Feb. 2—v. and Varsity . „ 23—v. Centralians . . . Mar. 9—fi. and R.N.A.S., Peterhead . „ 25—Y. and R.N.A.S., Peterhead . . as 30—V. and I.T.C. •
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Rubislaw Rubislaw
3-23 lost 3- 3 draw
. Rubislaw 3-41 lost . Rubislaw o-12 lost • Rubislaw 1/-11 draw • Rubislaw no- 6 won • Rubislaw 23- 9 won . Bridge of Don 5-11 lost
N. I. W. MEL DRUM, Hoe. Secretary.
The Cricket Section. At the business meeting which was held in April last, there was a large attendance
of past and present members, a fact which augured well for the Section's prospects during the present season. The following officials were elected :—Captain, J. S. Manley ; Vice-Captain, L. E. Tyson ; Hon. Secretary, A. H. Innes, 74 Burns Road {'phone Aberdeen 3931) ; Hon. Treasurer, C. H. Webster. The Club has been glad to welcome back four pre-war members in J. S. Manley, G. P. Mart and R. E. Wetherly, all of whom have been available since the beginning of the season, and H. Reid, just " demobbed "• They, along with other prominent members who have seen the Section through the war years, have helped to get together a good sound side, which should do well in the Aberdeenshire League and Cup competitions. J. A. Innes has been able to extricate himself from Fort Augustus on two occasions to come to the Club's assistance, when he proved that he was still the first-class all-rounder. D. Stuart, too, has also played when able to get leave from the R.A.F. and has been a decided asset to the team. To date, two matches have been won and two lost out of the four league matches played, and it is hoped to record many more victories before the end of the season. In the Aberdeenshire Cue, which is still in its preliminary stages, the team was unfortunate in that the first-round game, with Inverurie, had to be abandoned owing to bad light, for the large total of 173 for 6 wickets declared U. A. Innes 92 nor out) had been run up against Inverurie1's S7 for 7. However, there is always another day and provided a side, comparable in strength to the one which played against Inverurie, can be fielded regularly, there are very good hopes of annexing the trophy. To all members who arc serving in the Forces and who expect to be demobilized shortly, and to those who will be leaving School this year and thinking of joining F.P.s, the Section would like to extend a hearty welcome. They will be assured of enjoying their cricket, for the wicket at Rubislaw, thanks to the untiring efforts of Mr. Tyson, is in excellent condition, and one of the best, if not the best, in Aberdeen. The Section practises at Rubislaw every Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The averages up to date are :— Batting. I-Iighest No. of Runs. Score. Average. Innings. . J. S. Manley I26 20 . 6 50* R. E. Wetherly . 26 11.8 . 6 71 ~3 A. H. Innes • * . 6 57 9.5 * Not out.
G. P. Marr . A. H. Innes . A. C. Edmond
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine
176
F.P. Club Office-Bearers, 1946-47. Honorary President—JAMES J. ROBERTSON, M.A., B.D. (Rector since 1942). Honorary Vice-Presidents—
The Right Hon. Lord ALNESS, P.C., Sir HUBERT DOUGLAS HENDERSON, M.A., LL.D. (1901-04). G.B.E., M.A., LL.D. (1884-85). President, 1928-29. Sir WILLIAM WILSON JAMESON, K.C.B., DAVID MIDDLETON ANDREW, M.A. M.A., M.D., LL.D. (1892-1902). Rector, 1924-42. Colonel HARRY JACKSON KINGHORN, C.B., T.D. (1876-8o). Sir ANDREW GOURLAY CLOW, President, 1935-36. C.I.E., M.A. (1896-98). The Hon. Lord MACKAY (ALEXANDER Sir PATRICK ASHLEY COOPER, B.A., MORRICE MACKAY), M.A., LL.I). LL.B. (1896-1901). (1882-91). President, 1937-38. ALEXANDER
THOMAS
CRUICKSHANK,
O.B.E., M.A. (1882-87). President, 1923-25.
The Right Rev. Bishop ERNEST DENNY LOGIE DANSON, M.A., D.D. (189294). President, 1932-33.
President, 1931-32.
Right Hon. Lord MESTON (1901-02). DOUGLAS GORDON MILLER, M.A. Rector, 1921-24. Lt.-Col. ALEXANDER G. NICOL SMITH, The
D.S.O. (188o-88). President, 1926-27.
Colonel ARCHER IRVINE-FORTESCUE, Sir JOHN MACKAY THOMSON, C.B., D.S.O., M.B., Ch.B., A.M.S. M.A. (1892-97). Rector, 1920-21. President, I939--46.
JOHN MALCOLM FYFE (1882-87). President, 1925-26. Sir ROBERT WILLIAM LYALL GRANT,
M.A., LL.B. (1884-91).
GEORGE WATSON (1873-77). President, 1934- 35. Lt.-Col. EDWARD WILLIAM
WATT,
T.D., M.A., LL.D. (1883-94). President, 1936-37.
President—THEODORE WArr, M.A., LL.D. (1889-1901). Vice-President—JOHN LENNOX RIDDELL (1907-16). Secretary and Treasurer— JOHN SCOTT MACLACHLAN, M.A., LL.B., Advocate (1922-32),
zzo Union Street, Aberdeen. Committee—
J. P. JEFFREY, T.D., A. R. ABERCROMBY. B.Sc., C.A. MAURICE CRAMS, M.A., IAN G. MCPHERSON. LL.B. NEIL I. W. MELDRUM, C. R. CRUICKSHANK. M.A. A. J. M. EDWARDS, M.A., JAMES S. G. MUNRO, B.Com. ALEXANDER GRAY, M.A., G. 6.-NicoL, D.S.O. LL.B.
W. DOUGLAS SIMPSON,
M.A., D.Litt. G. A. C. WALKER. J. B. Warr, M.A., C.A. R. B. WILLIAMSON, D.S.O., T.D., M.A., LL.B. R. P. WISHART.
Hon. Auditors—Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C.A.
Admittedly the best place to Lunch in Aberdeen
Watt & Grant's
RESTAURANT As in all the other sections of the store, Quality is the predominating feature. Despite the difficulties of Rationing, every effort has been made to increase the variety of dishes by adding new and attractive unrationed menus. You will find the Restaurant an ideal place to bring your friends for Luncheon or Tea. Meals are quickly and daintily served by a courteous and efficient staff.
Watt & Grant Ltd., Union St., Aberdeen
WE
SPECIALISE IN
GALLOWSES •
W. J. MILNE, LTD. Hatters
kLBERDEEN Phone 1293 Telegrams: "Gallowses"
Opposite Royal Northern Club
IRONMONGERY A LARGE AND VARIED STOCK ALWAYS ON HAND SHEETMETAL
WORK
A
SPECIALITY
H. LEITH & SON LTD. 26 and 28 NETHERKIRKGATE Phone 259
ABERDEEN
W. M. McPHERSON Baker and Confectioner
15 FOUNTAINHALL ROAD AND
8
ST. SWITHIN STREET ABERDEEN
TB.EPHONE ISIS
18 Back Wynd Aberdeen ESTABLISHED 1853
BOOKBINDING OF EVERY DESCRIPTION
BIND, FIND FAST FAST s§:1 TRADE MARK
Leather Goods Lettered with Initials or Inscription Maps or Plans Mounted Loose Leaf Specialists
STAY
AT
THE
Caledonian Hotel ABERDEEN A.A.***•
R.S.A.C.
R.A.C.
Telephone
Telegrams
2916 (3 lines)
" Repose, Aberdeen"
Overlooking Union Terrace Gardens. Three minutes from Station. Quiet.
80 Bedrooms, all with H. and C. Running Water. PRIVATE SUITES.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
CENTRAL HEATING. LIFT.
LOUNGES.
WRITING ROOM.
AMERICAN BAR.
GARAGE
40
CARS.
Dining Room and Restaurant a la carte. Grill Room open until 11.45 p.m. O
En Pension Weekly from
Six Guineas. 0
Managing Director, JAMES MERCER
CORPORATION
OF
ABERDEEN-EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
ABERDEEN
GRAMMAR
SCHOOL
(FutNORD BEFORE I256.) Rector
-
JAMES J. ROBERTSON, M.A., B.D., F.R.S.E.
HE GRAMMAR SCHOOL provides Tand Secondary Education for Boys.
a complete course of
Primary
The School is organised as follows :—Nursery Class (4-5), Kindergarten (5-7), Lower School (7-1z), Middle School (1z-15), Upper School (15-18). The School, which occupies an extensive site in the West End of the City, has, in addition to ample classroom accommodation, an Assembly Hall with Stage, a spacious Library and Reading Room, five well-equipped Laboratories, three Art Rooms, two Music Rooms, three Workshops, two Gymnasia, a Dining Hall, a Museum, and a Botanical Garden. While the School has a Classical tradition, it offers considerable variety of courses, the subjects of the Secondary Department being (in addition to Religous Education, Music, Physical Exercises and Games), English, History, Geography, Latin, Greek, French, German, Spanish, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Art and Crafts, Technical Subjects, and Commercial Subjects. Boys are prepared for the Universities, the Civil Service, the Professions, Commerce and Industry. The Examinations normally taken are the Senior Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department and the Bursaries Competitions of the Scottish Universities. The School has spacious Playing Fields at Rubislaw, the games played being Rugby Football, Cricket, Hockey, and Tennis. There are two Boarding Houses run in conjunction with the Grammar School.
ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. (ALLYN PLACE.) Head Mistress
- Miss B. M. ROSE, M.A. (Oxon.).
SCHOOL provides a liberal education for Girls from THEto HIGH 18 years of age. It is organised in three Departments—Infants, 5
Primary, and Secondary. The Classes in the Infants and Primary divisions are graded in accordance with the requirements of the Scottish Code. Pupils in the Secondary Department are prepared for the Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department and University entrance and Bursary Competition examinations. Pupils, whose parents desire it, can be taught Theory and Practice of Music (Pianoforte, Violin, Singing, etc.) and can be entered, if desired, for the examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music. The School buildings occupy an excellent and spacious site in the West end of the city. A Playing Field of eleven acres, situated at Hazlehead and provided with a suitable pavilion, is used for organised games. Information as to Fees, Scholarships, Courses of Study, etc., at the Grammar School and High School for Girls is given in the School Prospectus, which may be had free on application to the Director of Education, Education Offices, or to the Rector or Head Mistress respectively.
3 reasons why you should save just now through the Aberdeen Savings Bank
You help to keep prices from soaring when goods are scarce :
you help the Country in its peace
time reconstruction programme : and last but not least you help yourself
Interest 2i per cent.
Money repayable on demand
SHOE FITTING BY X-RAY
JOHN A. DUNN Family Boot and Shoe Maker
46 UNION STREET ABERDEEN Phone MS
-
Repairs Executed
SPECIALISTS IN YOUNG-PEOPLES FOOTWEAR PRINTED AT TES ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRIES.