BEGG Robert Burns of 94 Inverleith-place Edinburgh died 17 July 1920 Confirmation of Andrew Vannan Begg writer and Peter Rintoul chartered accountant.
Sealed London 30 September.

DEATH.

DRYSDALE—At Royal Albert Military Hospital Woolwich, on 25th October, Adam McLean West Drysdale, Air Mechanic, R.F.C. Aged 19 years, youngest son of David Drysdale, 36 School Wynd, Kinross.

KEAY-FALCONER, WILLIAM, Jun., Lieut., 7th Battn. Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), only s. of William Keay-Falconer, Clerk of Lieutenancy and Sheriff-Clerk and County Clerk of Kinross-shire, by his wife, Margaret More, dau. of James Thomson Morrison, of Coatbridge; b. Kinross, 29 Nov. 1894; educ. Edinburgh Academy (1907-13), where for the last two years he served in the O.T.C., and at the Institut Polyglotte, Namur; afterwards being employed in his father's office. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 20 Sept. 1913, and was promoted Lieut. 7 Sept. 1914. On the outbreak of war he immediately volunteered for service abroad, went to France with his regt. in Dec. following, and was killed while leading his men in a charge against the enemy, at Ypres, 25 April, 1915; unm. The Brigade of which his battn. was a unit had been called from a rest camp to help the Canadians whose flank was exposed through the troops acting with them having fallen back owing to gas. Col. Craig wrote: "While I was with the battn. In France I had many conversations with him on the subject of his work and have frequently remarked to Capt. Murdoch. and others who interested themselves in him, upon his coolness. He knew his work well, and was devoted to it. He didn't know what fear was, and he seemed fully to realise the responsibility of his men's comfort that rested upon him as a platoon commander, and the men were devoted to him. . . I will never forget your son's interest in his work, and his valuable services from the time of mobilisation in Aug. last till I left the battn. on 11 March." Col. Carden who succeeded Col. Craig, wrote: "During the short time I have been in command of the battn. I had formed the highest opinion of your son's military capabilities. He died bravely leading his men, and is mourned by all his brother officers"; and Capt. Murdoch: "Keay fell like a hero in front of his men." Lieut. Keay-Falconer was a keen golfer, and a member of Edinburgh Academical Golf Club. He was also a prominent and enthusiastic member of Kinross Club, and held both the gold and silver medals for 1914. He spoke French fluently, and was consequently of much use to his comrades when abroad. Memorial brasses were erected to his memory in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Princes Street, Edinburgh, and in St. Paul's Church, Kinross. The tablet in the former church was placed there by the children of the church to perpetuate Lieut. Keay-Falconer's memory, as he was Warden of their special services during the greater part of his school days in Edinburgh. The last five words of the ingcription on the brass sum up his character as the subscribers to the memorial knew it: "Gallant and true and tender." The brass in St. Paul's Church, Kinross, was dedicated by the Bishop of St. Andrews on 1 Feb. 1916.

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM KEAY-FALCONER, 7th BATTN. (TERRIT.) PRINCESS LOUISE'S (ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS), who was killed in action near Ypres on the 25th April, 1915, while leading a charge against the enemy, was the only son of William Keay- Falconer, Clerk of Lieutenancy, and Sheriff Clerk and County Clerk of Kinross-shire. He was born at Kinross on the 29th November, 1894, and was educated at Edinburgh Academy (1907-13), and at the Institut Polyglotte, Namur. At the Academy he was in the O.T.C. for the last two years, and on leaving school received a commission, in September, 1913, as 2nd Lieutenant, in the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, being promoted Lieutenant in September, 1914.

After his battalion was mobilised he was stationed with it at Bedford, and having volunteered for active service went with it to France in December, 1914.

An Officer who convoyed the news of his death to his friends said: "He was killed instantaneously about three miles north-east from Ypres. I buried him last night under a tree behind the position we now hold, and a little wooden cross marks the place."

A former Colonel of his battalion, writing of him, said: "When I was with the battalion in France I frequently remarked to his Captain and others upon his coolness. He knew his work well and was devoted to it. He didn't know what fear was, and he seemed fully to realise the responsibility for his men's comfort that rested upon him as a platoon commander, and the men were devoted to him. I will never forget your son's interest in his work and his valuable services from the time of mobilisation in August last."

The Colonel who later succeeded to the Command said: "I had formed the highest opinion of your son's military capabilities. He died bravely leading his men, and is deeply mourned by all his brother officers."

The Headmaster of his school, in sending his condolences, said: "And now he is taken from you, and I know what a blank this will mean. But you will be proud that he died fighting for his country at duty's call, and here at school we shall cherish his memory as that of one who was such as we would have all our sons to be." The following appeared under the heading of "Academical Notes" in the Issue of "The Edinburgh Academy Chronicle" for November, 1915: "A brass tablet has just been put up in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Princes Street, Edinburgh, by the children of that church to perpetuate the memory of W. Keay-Falconer, Lieutenant, 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who, as the tablet puts it, gave his life for his country at Ypres on 25th April last. He was warden of the children's services during the greater part of his school days in Edinburgh. The last five words of the inscription on the brass sum up his character as the subscribers to the memorial knew it: ' Gallant and true and tender.' "

As a result of his education abroad, Lieutenant Keay-Falconer spoke French fluently, and was, in consequence, of much use to his comrades when on active service. He was a keen golfer, a member of the Edinburgh Academical Golf Club and the Kinross Golf Club, of which latter he held the gold and silver medals for 1914.

In the list of Scottish casualties published on Thursday we note that Lieut. Robert Fleming, son of Mr Thomas Fleming, Craigton, has been wounded in the neck.

FLEMING Died at a Casualty Clearing Station on Oct. 20th (four days from his birthday) from wounds received on Oct. 16th, Thomas Fleming, Sec.-Lieut. R.G.A., third son of Thomas Fleming, Craigton.

MACINTOSH Henry Mailland of-St. John's Vicarage Alloa North Britain captain Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders died 26 July 1918 in France Probate London 10 December to Alexander Horn civil servant. Effects £129 8s. 8d.

MATSON, ANDREW GEORGE SHAND, Acting Sergt., No, 7173, 9th Battn. (Queen Victoria's Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of John Matson, of Kinross, Railway Clerk, by his wife, Anne Eliza, dau. of Andrew Shand; b. Kinross, 9 March, 1890; educ. Kinross Public School; was a Tailor's Cutter; joined the Queen Victoria's Rifles in Sept. 1914; served withthe Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from July, 1915, and was killed in action at Arras 14 April, 1917; unm.

MATHEWSON.—At York, on the 8th inst., of pneumonia, John Kilgour Mathewson, aged 33, piper, 13th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Private William Wilson, 8, Old Causeway, Kinross, has been reported missing since 22 August, as we announced in our issue of 4 October. The above photograph has been published in other periodicals in the hope that the anxiety of his relatives may be relieved by more hopeful tidings.