BoerWar-2.htm

Boer War Volunteers

1st Service Company, Gordon Highlanders

Men of the 2nd V.B.G.H (Headquarters Oldmeldrum) - 1895

Back Row: J Young; A Gordon; M Reid; R Ingram; A Nicol; J Riddich; A Thomas

Middle Row: G Fraser; A Halliday; W Chalmers; H Dey; W Geddes; G Littlejohn; W S Bremner; W Erskine

Front Row: T Mair; T Webster; Cpl J Argo; Lt H Forbes; Col Sgt Instructor J Campbell; J A Gordon; J Murchie; Charles Milne.

(My thanks to David Ellis for providing this photograph)

The first Service Company Gordon Highlanders consisted of men from the 1st (HQ Aberdeen), 2nd (HQ Oldmeldrum) and 4th (Donside) Volunteer Battalions [VBGH]. In 1908 the 2nd VBGH amalgamated with the 3rd (HQ Peterhead) to form the 5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders TF. Below is a list of the men from the 2nd VBGH who served with the 1st Service Company in South Africa from 17th February 1900 to 13th April 1901.

Number	Rank	Name	Location	Notes
8067	Sgt	Hay, J R	Tarves	Occupation: clerk
8068	Sgt	Argo, J	Tarves	Occupation: farmer
8069	L.Cpl	Brebner, W S	Tarves	Occupation: joiner
8085	L.Cpl	Thomson, John	Ellon	Occupation: tailor
8070	Pte	Chalmers, William	Ellon	Enlisted for war service 17th Jan 1900. Aged 24. Occupation: gardener. Father: William Chalmers, Meikle Milne, Esslemont. Served in South Africa from 17th Feb 1900 to4th July 1900. He was discharged at his own request on 5th Oct 1900.
8071	Pte	Erskine, W	Oldmeldrum	Wounded at Komati Poort 30th Sept 1900. Occupation: blacksmith
8072	Pte	Fraser, G	Ellon	Occupation: painter
8073	Pte	Gordon, J A	Oldmeldrum	Slightly wounded at Leehoek 11th July 1900. Mentioned in Despatches 4th Sept 1901. Occupation: baker
8074	Pte	Halliday, A	Oldmeldrum	Occupation: slater
8076	Pte	Ingram, R	Oldmeldrum	Occupation: slater
8077	Pte	Mair, Thomas	Ellon	Born 1871. Occupation: clerk. (Re-enlisted in 1915 and killed at the battle of Loos.)
8078	Pte	McCallum, J	Oldmeldrum
8079	Pte	Milne, C N G	Ellon	Occupation: farmer
8080	Pte	Milne, J	Turriff	Occupation: miller
8081	Pte	Murchie, J	Oldmeldrum	Occupation: shoemaker
8082	Pte	Nichol, Alex	Oldmeldrum	Occupation: miller
8083	Pte	Riddoch, J	Turriff	Occupation: mason
8084	Pte	Thomson, A	Ellon	Occupation: tailor
8086	Pte	Webster, T	Oldmeldrum	Slightly wounded at Doornkop 11th July 1900. Occupation: baker
8087	Pte	Young, J	Turriff	Severely wounded at Doornkop 11th July 1900. Occupation: baker
8106	Pte	Gordon, J	Ellon
8108	Pte	Geddes, W	Auchterless	Slightly wounded at Leehoek 11th July 1900. Mentioned in Despatches 4th Sept 1901

An example of the Attestation form completed by Volunteers can be found in Miscellaneous items here