Major Alfred Hamilton Connell , 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, was born in February 1881, and was at Loretto 1897-1900. He was gazetted, shortly after leaving school, to the Scots Fusiliers, and served in South Africa. Prior to the outbreak of war he had been serving as Adjutant of the 3rd Battalion (S.R.) Royal Scots Fusiliers at Ayr. Major Connell fought at the Battle of Loos and came unscathed through the three days of fierce fighting from 25th-27th September 1915, but on the 28th whilst going round his trenches to see to the mens` comfort after the battle, he was killed by a shrapnel shell.

CAPTAIN GRAHAM ROBERTSON COWIE, South African Medical Corps, was born in February 1891, and was at Loretto from 1905 to 1909. He took his degree in Science at Oxford (Univ. College) in 1913, and belonged to the 'Varsity Corps of King Edward's Horse. In August 1914 he rejoined this Corps, in December 1914 was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery and went to France and was mentioned in Despatches after Loos, September 1915. In June 1916 he returned to England, resumed his medical studies, and qualified in 1917. Captain Cowie was then commissioned in the S.A.M.C. and attached to a General Hospital, but at his own request was appointed Medical Officer to a South African Artillery Brigade in the front line. He was wounded on September 2, 1918, and died of his wounds next day.

2ND LIEUTENANT JAMES CYRIL BAPTIST CROZIER, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, the first Lorettonian to fall in the war, was born in October 1890, and was at Loretto 1906 to 1909. He played in the XV and was a Prefect. In 1909 he went to Edinburgh University, where he studied medicine and played for the XV. In 1912 he applied for, and was given, a commission in the 3rd (S.R.) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, and passed into the Regular Army in June 1914. He was gazetted to the 2nd Munster Fusiliers and went to Flanders with the 1st Division British Expeditionary Force. He was killed on August 27, 1914, near Etreux, during the retreat from Mons, together with seven other officers of his Battalion.