This book has been about 15 years in the making and, sadly, all of the Merchistonian veterans and many of their family members who have contributed have passed away. The organisation of this book has been a matter of debate. Should the casualties be listed alphabetically, as per the War Memorial, or by date of death?

In the end, I decided on a chronological order, which gives the reader an idea of the ebb and flow of the War and its impact on the School. I have also included some contemporary accounts from the Merchistonian magazine of the time. Where possible I have included photographs taken of our fallen while at School. I can scarcely imagine what it must have been like to be a master at Merchiston, week by week, month by month receiving news that a former pupil had been killed. I suspect that, in their mind’s eye, the image associated with the name would have been the one I have reproduced here. They truly “did not grow old”.