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Casualty List : 1st/5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders

Names in Blue also appear on Battalion Roll

From War Diaries(and other sources)  May - October 1915. Includes recommendations for awards - September 1915

Disposition of the Battalion May-June 1915. Source:  Ray Westlake, British battalions on the Western Front January to June 1915 : Neuve Chapelle, Ypres, Aubers Ridge and Festubert  London : Leo Cooper, 2001.

From Bedford to Folkstone and arrived Boulogne 4th May. Moved by train to Berguete and from there marched to billets at L'Ecteme. To Paradis 5th, returning to L'Ecteme 12th. Moved to Caestre 14th, Vieux-Berquin 17th, Pont Riqueul 18th.  Took over trenches near Indian Village 20th. Relieved 25th and moved into billets near Bois de Pacauet.  Moved into trenches near Festubert 31st May.  Occupied positions in The Orchard. Relieved 4th June and to Cornet Malo. To Riez-du-Vinage 6th and took over breastworks at Le Tournet 16th.  Moved into reserve trenches near La Cinque Rue later.  Withdrew to billets on canal west of Les Caudrons 19th then into trenches east of Festubert 22nd.  Relieved 27th and to La Tombe Willot 27th, Pont du Hem 28th, Le Drumez 29th June.

Click her to view War Diary for June 1915

Place                         Date                   Number Rank            Name                 Nature of Casualty  Notes                                            
 Richebourg 22 May 1915 1952 Pte Taylor, John Died of wounds        Age 29. Son of John and Bella Taylor, 16 Broad St Lane, Fraserburgh. (BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY). Born Fraserburgh
  30 May 1915   Major Fowlie, Charles W.L      Killed by a shell  Son of John and Elizabeth Lawson Fowlie, of Udny, Aberdeenshire. (PONT-DU-HEM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE)  Major Fowlie was killed by a shell while inspecting the trenches of 4th Canadian Bn, prior to relieving them. The incident was mentioned in Canadian War Diary and in a letter from a Canadian soldier, Willis Adcock, to his father. (Information kindly supplied by a relative of L.Cpl Adcock,  Michael Sharpe)
War Diary for June does not name casualties - except officers.  Shows 2 officers killed; 4 wounded; 14 other ranks  killed ; 69 wounded.  Details of  killed come from SDGW and CWGC. There are 16 listed. The Diary was compiled on 30th June and one man died of wounds on 28th and was possibly not included in the count.
June : Festubert Sector (from 31st May) 1 June 1915 1117 Pte Knox, Fred  Died of wounds "A" Coy. Killed in action 1/6/1915. Age 24. Son of Elsie Simpson (formerly Knox), of 66 Main St., New Deer, and the late John Knox. (LE TOURET MEMORIAL)
   2 June 1915
Lieut. Forbes-Sempill, Hon Robert. A. Died of wounds Age. 45. Fourth son of The Rt. Hon. William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Baron Sempill. LE TOURET MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
   2 June 1915  1497 Pte  Whyte, Alexander Died of Wounds  Born New Aberdour. Enlisted Strichen. (CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY ) 
   3 June 1915  2475 Pte McLean, Alexander  Killed in action  Scotsman 12/6/1915 "Pte Alexander McLean. 1/5 GH, 40 Merchant St, officially reported killed. His captain, in a letter to his mother, stated that McLean met his death nobly. He was killed on June 3. He was holding, along with others, an important section of the trench, when a shrapnel shell burst on the parapet, killing him and two others instantaneously. He was buried behind the firing trench. He was 32 years of age, and a labourer at the Admiralty works, Peterhead. He went through the Boer War, where he was made a prisoner."   (LE TOURET MEMORIAL)
   3 June 1915   2392 Pte Burnett, Robert Killed in action  Enlisted in Ellon. (LE TOURET MEMORIAL)
   3 June 1915 1156 Piper Graham, William Killed in action   "Killed at Festubert".  Born in Peterhead. (PONT-DU-HEM, LA GORGUE)  (See additional information)
   3 June 1915 1198 Drummer  Watt, George Killed in action  (PONT-DU-HEM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE) 
  3 June 1915 1430 L.Cpl Park, John  Died of wounds  Born Tyrie.  (CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY )  See additional information
  3 June 1915 1693 Pte Mackie, John Killed in action  (LE TOURET MEMORIAL )
  4 June 1915 1167 Sergt Mair, Alexander Killed in action  "Killed at Festubert."  (LE TOURET MEMORIAL)  Printer in civilian life.
  6 June 1915 1222 Pte Trail, Edward Killed in action  (LE TOURET MEMORIAL ) 
  16 June 1915   Lieut Scott, William Leslie  Killed in action    Age 22. Son of Willian Leslie Scott and Elizabeth Campbell Lowe Scott of Willowbank, Peterhead.(See additional information
  16 June 1915 2018

Pte

 

Gray, Charles Forbes  Missing (Presumed killed)  Age 19. Carter for Wisely & Co Fraserburgh. Son of the late James and Mary Gray, of 3, Castlehill, Turriff (LE TOURET MEMORIAL) Reported missing at Festubert while in a bombing attack, and death presumed. (WBT)
  17 June 1915 1760 Pte Wight, Patrick Killed in action  Born Tyrie. Enlisted Strichen. Age 20. Son of Elizabeth Grant (formerly Wight), of Alpine Cottage, St. Fergus, Peterhead, and the late James Wight. (LE TOURET MEMORIAL ) 
  17 June1915  2609 Pte Minty, John Killed in action  "B" Coy . Age 21. Son of George and Elizabeth Minty, of Sandhaven, Fraserburgh. Enlisted Stricken.(LE TOURET MEMORIAL) 
  17 June 1915 2065 Pte McArthur, Alexander Killed in action  (LE TOURET MEMORIAL) 
  17 June 1915 2583 Pte Craib, James Killed in action   (LE TOURET MEMORIAL)  (CWGC shows  date of  17th January 1915. Btn wasn't in France then.) Report in The Scotsman: "New Byth-Turriff - an elder son of Mrs Milne, Meldrum Bldgs New Byth, has been killed. He is survived by a widow and one child who reside in St Peter Street, Peterhead. After enlisting in 2/5 Gordons November [1914] last, he was, on going to France in May,  transferred to the 1/5th Bn. He was 22 years of age and was a farm servant in the New Byth district."
  17 June 1915 510 L.Cpl Mackie, William Killed in action  Born Banff. (LE TOURET MEMORIAL )
  28 June 1915  2448   Pte McCurrach, W Died of wounds Son of Alexander McCurrach, of 3, Gilcomston Place, Aberdeen. (BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY) 
  4 June 1915   Captain Runcieman, F.S Wounded Severely wounded in back and neck by a shell, and buried among sandbags while under way to help a wounded brother officer, and dug out by the Company Sergeant Major
  date unknown   2nd Lieut  Fuller, L.C.H  Wounded (War Diary)
  18 June 1915
Lieut Col Grant. A  Wounded Wounded in arm by a shell (War Diary)
  date unknown
Lieut Cowie, R  Wounded (War Diary)
War Diary not held for July  and August.  Details of killed come from SDGW and CWGC
   5 July 1915 1902 Pte  Barclay, William M Died of wounds Born and enlisted in Methlick. Son of Charles and Lizzie Barclay, of Haddow Methlick. (AUBERS RIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY, AUBERS) Commemorated on Methlick War Memorial.
   7 July 1915   2184 Pte Gibson, James Died of wounds  Born Savoch. Enlisted Peterhead. (MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY )
  8 July 1915  1462 Pte Milne, Thomas Killed in action 

Age 19. "A" Coy. Son of Mrs. Jessie Benange, of 148, High St., Newpitsligo AUBERS RIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY

  8 July 1915   2041 Pte Taylor, Peter Frank Killed in action  Age 21.  "D" Coy. Son of Adam Taylor, of Bogs, Kininmonth, Mintlaw. (Mentioned in letters of Alex Copland.) See Soldiers' Wills
  15 July 1915   1930 Pte Sim, James Died of wounds Age 25. Son of James and Ann Sim, of 72, Broadsea. (LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY) Died of wounds received on 4th June 1915 near Festubert. Occupation cooper employed with James Cheyne, fishcurer Fraserburgh. (Biography in De Ruvigny's R o H v4)
Bercourt/Hamel Sector  8 Aug 1915   2913 Pte Cowie, William Killed in action  Age 19. Son of the late George and Mary Cowie. Enlisted Strichen. (BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY) 
  8 Aug 1915   473 Pte Wisely, Charles Killed in action  Age 24. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wisely, of 98, High St., Fraserburgh. (BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT) 
  9 Aug 1915   679 Sergt Mitchell, Edward Died of wounds Born/Enlisted Fraserburgh. (BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT  )
  20 Aug 1915   2198 Pte Will, George Killed in action  Born Turriff. Enlisted Fraserburgh. (BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT ) Farm servant.
  21 Aug 1915   2nd Lieut  Roberts, Philip Hugh Gore Died of wounds Age 19. Son of Ann S. Roberts, of Milton House, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, Middx., and the late Rev. W. W. Roberts. (MILLENCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION) See Additional information 
  1 Sept 1915   2205 Pte Shepherd, James Died of wounds Age 21. Son of Henry and Margaret Shepherd, of Perth; husband of Charlotte Shepherd, of 9, Albert St., Fraserburgh. Native of Perth. (ETAPLES) 
 Albert 4 Sept 1915   2438 Pte Wallace, Henry Wounded  Bullet in biceps of right arm
   5 Sept 1915   928 Sgt Morrison, John S  Wounded  Cut in right wrist - Trench Mortar (Later Killed in Action 31/7/1916)
   6 Sept 1915   1625 Pte Robb, Alexander Killed

Rifle bullet through head. Age 18. (BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT  ) Born Ellon 

  11 Sept 1915   1645 L.Cpl Murison, F Wounded Bullet wound in left shoulder 
Trenches Sector G3 Authuille-Hamel  17 Sept 1915   2317 Pte Watt, William Killed by Shrapnel

Age 19. Son of Samuel & Jane Montgomerie Watt of 20 Constitution St Peterhead. ( PERRONNE RD CEMETERY,MARICOURT)

      2993 Pte Birnie, George A Wounded  Shrapnel in neck
  23 Sept 1915   2nd Lieut Stearns, H.G Wounded Scalp wound from rifle grenade 
     2232 Sgt

Macintosh, James R 

Wounded Wounds to left side of face and right arm - r. grenade 
     2532 Cpl Davidson, William  Wounded Wound to left hand - accidently, while cleaning rifle. (Killed in action 31/7/16) 
      1933 Pte Livingstone, Forbes Wounded  Wound to scalp - caused by shrapnel
  25 Sept 1915   Lieut Troup, R.J Slightly Wounded Knees and side - barbed wire 
     3145 Pte Fraser, Thomas Wounded Compound fracture of left arm - caused by a bomb 
     2744 Pte Anderson, A.F Wounded Left hand and knees - barbed wire 
  30 Sept 1915  1767 L.Cpl Dunbar, John Wounded Wounds to left arm - rifle bullet (Wounded again July 1916) 
  October 1915   1995 Pte McAllister, Archibald  Wounded  (Later killed in action 31/7/16. Born Banff)
      1569 Pte Brown, J Wounded  
      1597 Pte Strath, George  Wounded  
      2291 Pte Stewart, William T Wounded  
             
Record of Officers, NCOs and Men recommended for Honours and Awards, September 1915. NOTE: These awards may not have been granted.
      Major  McDonald DSO  
      Capt & Adj Cruden, J.W.F  MC  
      Lieut & QM Marr, J Mentioned in Despatches   
      Capt Low, J.L Mentioned in Despatches    
      Capt Lyall, W Mentioned in Despatches    
      Capt Robertson, C.T.A Mentioned in Despatches  (Later Killed in action 23/3/1918, aged 32. Major)
    1613 Pte Souter, William M DCM D Coy 
    1829 Pte Jaffray, Alexander M  DCM D Coy (Later awarded MM- London Gazette 3/6/16. Killed in action 25/7/16)
    115 CSM Chalmers, James DCM D Coy
    2275 Sgt Dickie, Charles DCM C Coy (Later awarded MM. Commissioned from ranks.)
    2350 Cpl Stuart, James DCM C Coy 
    544 Sgt

Matthew, J

DCM B Coy 
    838 Sgt Taylor, James S DCM Machine Gunner
    1604 Pte Park, James C DCM Machine Gunner
    2587 L.Sgt Sinclair, Alexander Skinner DCM B Coy (Later Commissioned)
    1273 Sgt Murison, Alfred DCM A Coy (Died of wounds 21/3/16) 

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Carolyn Morrisey