David was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, where he was dux. He was also Greek dux in 1906. In 1906 he entered Edinburgh University, first studying with a view of entering the Church but eventually turned to medicine. He qualified M.A. in 1909 and then M.B., Ch.B. in 1913. David took a leading part in the public life of the University, becoming well known in the Union, and as a President of the Dialectic Society. He was even better known as a prolific contributor to the University Journalism, becoming Joint-Editor of ‘The Gambolier’, and was a member of the Editorial Committee of ‘The Student’, acting as Deputy-Editor and Editor in 1912-13. One of his works was an exposition of Physical Methods in Therapeutics, which was included in a volume published by Messrs. T C & E C Jack. Another was entitled Waiting Night Sketches with a memoir and a Personal Impression was printed for private circulation at the Darien Press, Edinburgh in 1916. David also devoted much of his time to social work in the University Settlement and in playing with the children and telling them stories. After graduating, he became House Surgeon to Mr Alexis Thomson at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and later Senior House Surgeon at King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor, which he voluntarily left to join the R.A.M.C. on the outbreak of war. He was gazetted at the rank of temporary Lieutenant on 10th August 1914, entering the war very shortly after. David became attached as medical officer to the 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment. He was wounded on 17th May 1915, by fragments of high explosive shell when bringing in wounded men from the trenches at Festubert and died very suddenly at the Duchess of Westminster’s Hospital at Le Touquet, Paris-Plage. He was the first officer to be buried in the British Cemetery at Etaples. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatches for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field for his actions at Neufchatel and Festubert. He was the son of John Watson of 19 West Mayfield, Edinburgh - Headmaster Broughton Higher Grade School and Junior Student Centre, Edinburgh, and Agnes - daughter of David Galloway of Edinburgh.