Captain Arthur Crosbie Mactaggart

Captain Mactaggart, 127th Field Regiment, The Royal Artillery, Highland Division, was born on 30th July 1918, and at Loretto from September 1927 to December 1936. He was a House Prefect, in the VI Form, and a Lance-Corporal in the O.T.C. In September 1939 he enlisted in the R.H.A. and three months later went to an O.C.T.U. He was commissioned in March 1940 into the 127th Field Regiment, R.A., Highland Division, and underwent training in Scotland for two years. After being promoted Captain he accompanied the 51st Division to North Africa in June 1942, and went into action at the end of September. Later he saw continuous fighting as a Forward Observation Officer from mid-October until he was killed by enemy mortar fire while operating a wireless control post on 24th October, during the battle of El Alamein.

"Beloved by all ranks in his Battery for his two outstanding qualities - devotion to duty and constant thought and care for the men under his command."

Squadron Leader John Noel Mahler

Squadron Leader Mahler, D.F.C., The Royal Air Force, was born on 15th December 1913, and at Loretto from January 1928 to July 1932. He was in the VI Form, XI, and Boxing Team, and a Lance-Corporal in the O.T.C. In 1935 he joined the R.A.F. and, having trained in Egypt and Iraq, was stationed in the latter country for nearly five years. After taking part in the Waziristan campaign in 1937-38, and gaining rapid promotion, he was, on his return to Iraq, appointed P.A. to the Air Vice-Marshal. An accomplished horseman, he won many trophies in point-to -point out there. On the outbreak of war he was, at his own request, sent home and posted to Bomber Command. During a long spell of active service he carried out many day and night raids over enemy country. On one occasion, when his fully-loaded bomber caught fire after a successful engagement with three enemy Messerschmidts, he brought it back with damaged undercarriage and by superb handling made a pancake landing. The crew just got clear of the burning machine before the bombs exploded. For this fine piece of work he was awarded the D.F.C. In 1941 he was given a rest and made an Instructor, a job which he performed very efficiently; but he soon returned to bombing and was sent to a Stirling station. On 16th January 1942, he was killed over Cambridgeshire in a collision with another aircraft during a trial flight, as a passenger, in a new type of plane.

"He was a very unusual person. Flying was for him a great sport, and he went in for it with open eyes, realising its hazards. As in his climbing, the joy was worth the risk, and he played the game as hard as he could. The things one always liked about him were his love of action, his kindness and his sense of loyalty."
"He was a man among men at a time when real men count."

Acting Sub-Lieutenant Hamish Brown Maclaurin Marr

Acting Sub-Lieutenant Marr, R.N.V.R. (Clyde Division), was born on 29th March 1920, and at Loretto from September 1933 to July 1938. He was Head of School, in the VI Form, XV, Boxing and Athletics Teams and Fives Couples, editor of the Lorettonian, a Prizeman and a Sergeant in the O.T.C. After joining the R.N.V.R. he served for some time at Scapa, where his ship was engaged in examining neutral vessels entering the area. He was then sent south, and on 1st June 1940 lost his life in the sinking of H.M.S. Grive, off Dunkirk, just after she had reached the French coast from Dover.

"One could not have wished for a finer batch of young men than the Gun Room which was mobilised in September, and he stood very high in that Gun Room."