Lieutenant Douglas Stewart Kennedy

Lieutenant Kennedy, The Royal Artillery, was born on 3rd March 1920, and at Loretto from September 1933 to July 1938. He was a Prefect, in the VI Form, XI, Hockey, Boxing (Captain) and Fencing Teams, and a Sergeant in the O.T.C. He entered the R.M. Academy, Woolwich, in January 1939, and in the same year became Captain of Fencing and represented the R.M.A. at Olympia. After being commissioned into the 57th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A., attached to the 4th Indian Division, he served with it in 1941 in the Syrian campaign, and later in the Western Desert during the advance to Benghazi and the subsequent retreat. In August 1942 he volunteered for the Special Air Service and joined the 1st S.A.S. Regiment. On 22nd November of that year he was sent with eight men to blow up the railway line near Tobruk, and was on his return from the completion of a very difficult operation when the jeep in which he was travelling ran over a mine, and he and the two other occupants of the car were killed.

"He showed himself to be an officer of very fine qualities, not the least of which was his great courage in action. His behaviour in the face of the enemy always showed a complete disregard for his personal safety."

Pilot Officer Cuthbert King-Clark

Pilot Officer King-Clark, The Royal Air Force (V.R.), was born on 29th August 1917, and at Loretto from May 1927 to July 1935. He was in the VI Form, Editor of the Lorettonian, and a Lance-Corporal in the O.T.C. Having joined the R.A.F. in 1939, he served with Coastal Command for the first eight months of the war. At the end of May 1940 he was sent to a fighter squadron, and was shot down and killed over Cambridgeshire on 19th June, during one of the first big enemy air attacks on this country.

"Had he lived he would undoubtedly have done very well."
" From a very little boy he was always gentle and kind-hearted, especially towards the down-trodden, whether a person or an animal; always a champion of lost causes."

Captain Robert William Kynoch-Shand

Captain Kynoch-Shand, M.C. , 153rd (Gurkha ) Paratroops, Indian Army, was born on 23rd September 1922, and at Loretto from September 1936 to April 1941. He was a Prefect, in the VI Form, XV, and Boxing Team, and a Sergeant in the J.T.C. After being gazetted to the 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles, he was later transferred to the Paratroops and served with them during the operations in Burma. On 27th March 1944, he was taken prisoner by the Japanese, but escaped and rejoined his unit. While carrying out a withdrawal through the enemy lines to the north-east of Imphal he was captured, searched and questioned. He refused to answer any questions. He was then bound up with his hands behind his back and a rope running from his feet to his neck, questioned further, beaten on the head, and threatened with sword, bayonet and pistol. On his still refusing to answer, his captors placed him in front of a large fire and kept him there, without water, for the greater part of the night. On the following night the Japanese moved forward, and Kynoch-Shand marched with them under guard. Just before dawn, as they were going along a track cut in the Khud side, though his hands were still bound, he threw himself over the edge, and fell so far down that he was able to avoid recapture. After lying for several hours he began to make his way through the enemy lines. For three days, barefooted and with his hands still bound behind his back, he struggled on till he met a Naga who cut his cords for him, and next day he reached Imphal, bringing valuable information about the enemy. For the gallantry and endurance he displayed on this occasion he was awarded the M.C. , and soon afterwards promoted Captain. On 1st May 1945, he was killed in action at Elephant Point during the operations to capture Rangoon, and was buried at sea.

"Robert was a fine soldier, one of the very best of the young officers in the Battalion, and I am sure would have gone far in the Army. He took a great pride in his men, and in return they loved and respected him."