Organisations > University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919

IN MEMO RI AM.
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thing — in his work, on the football field, on the
battle-field, Stuart was one to be relied on always.
WATSON, JOHN DOUGLAS : Machine
Gun Sergeant, 9th Battalion Gordon
Highlanders; son
of Rev. John Watson ;
born Banchory-
Devenick, 3 October
1885 ; educated Kelso
High School from
which he passed as
Dux to Edinburgh
University in 1904.
During the summer
session of 1906 he
attended Arts classes
at Aberdeen Univer-
sity. He graduated
M.A. (Edin.), 1908; LL.B. (Edin.), 1910; and
was admitted W.S., 1913. In 19 14 he was
assumed partner in the legal firm of Messrs.
Laing & Steedman, Selkirk.
In August 1 9 14 he hastened to Aberdeen to
join Kitchener's Army as a Private, and was at
once promoted platoon Sergeant of a platoon of
miners. He became so greatly attached to this
platoon that he refused a commission. Later he
was appointed Battalion Machine Gun Sergeant,
and proceeded to France with the Battalion in
June 1 91 5. At Loos on 25 September 191 5, after
being twice wounded, he was last seen serving
his gun in the face of the advancing enemy. He
is missing and presumed killed on that date.
ALEXANDER, WILLIAM DUNCAN ': Pri-
vate, 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders;
son of William Alex-
ander, builder ; born
Banff, 6 December
1892 ; entered the
University, 1 9 1 2 ;
student in Medicine,
1912-14.
He enlisted in the
4th Gordon High-
landers, 12 December
1 9 14. After nine
months in Scotland
and England he
crossed to France on
15 August 1915, and took part with his Battalion
in the " heroic charge " on the German posi-
tions at Hooge on that eventful 25 September
191 5. He was reported " missing " on that date,
and later presumed killed.
EWEN, JOHN BIRNIE : Private, 4th Bat-
talion Gordon Highlanders ; son of James
Ewen, nurseryman ;
born Aberdeen, 2 1
February 1893 ; edu-
cated Robert Gordon's
College ; matriculated
in Arts, 19 10, entering
the University as 13th
Bursar; graduated
M.A., 1914, with
Second Class Honours
in Classics. He re-
presented the Univer-
sity in Association foot-
ball and in tennis,
being awarded his "full-blue " in the latter.
In October 19 14, after a previous medical re-
jection, he joined the 2 /4th Battalion Gordon
Highlanders and trained with them in Aberdeen
until March 1915, when he had the hard ex-
perience of being drafted straight from his own
home to the Battalion in France. It was his
strong sense of duty that took him to France,
for he had just gained in open competition a
post under the National Health Insurance Com-
mission and only with much difficulty was he
allowed to continue on service. He remained
with the 2/4th Gordons until his death on that
black 25 September 191 5 when the Battalion
gained such costly distinction at Hooge.
Though modest and self-effacing in disposition,
Ewen had a strong trait of sympathy and help-
fulness that is gratefully remembered by many.
FINDLATER, ALEXANDER : Lance-
Corporal, 4th Battalion Gordon High-
landers ; son of Alexander Findlater, mason ;
born Edinburgh, 1 April 1896 ; educated at
Fordyce Academy, where he gained five medals
in his final year; entered the University in 19 13,
and carried off the 1st prize in Latin, and 5th in
Greek during his first session.
Then the war came, the fighting blood in