Casualties for December 1917 From the War Diaries
(German counter attack after Battle of Cambrai)Names in Blue are listed in original 1914 Roll.
Date Number Rank Name Nature of
CasualtyNotes
3 Dec 260123 Pte Cook, William Killed "A" Coy. Enlisted Paisley. (CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL) 266009 Pte Chisholm, Thomas Killed "C" Coy. Age 20 Son of Thomas and Jane Chisholm, of 100, Gordon St., Huntly. (CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL) (Previously wounded: Scotsman - 21/3/1917) 240939 Pte Garden, John A Killed "C" Coy. Service return shows age as 21. (CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL) (3084) Buchan Observer 25/12/1917 - Mrs Garden, 21 Merchant St., Peterhead has received official notification that her grandson has been killed. Previously he has been twice wounded. Prior to the war he was in the employment of Mr John Fowlie, butcher, Rose St Peterhead. 4 Dec 241121 L.Cpl Hopkins, James Killed "C" Coy (CWGC shows "B" Coy) . Age 20. Son of James and Mary Hopkins, of Overbrae Fisherie, Turriff (CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL). War Book of Turriff: (Crudie & Upperbrae) Farm servant. Killed at battle of Cambrai 4th Dec 1917. (p.191) 5 Dec 242009 Pte Gordon, James Killed B Coy. Born Tullynessle Son of Robert Gordon and Amilia Barron. Husband of Margaret Murray Brebner. Enlisted Aberdeen. (CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL.) Additional information. 5 Dec 240543 L.Cpl McWilliams, David Killed "B" Coy. Born Peterhead. (CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL) 2345 Buch. Ob 18/12/1917: Mrs McWilliam 22 Queen St has received official information that her 3rd son has been killed in action. In the official statement a high tribute is paid to him as an N.C.O. Prior to the war L/Cpl McWilliam was a cooper with Messrs A. Wood and Sons, fishcurers. He has other two brothers serving in the Navy. 5 Dec 202560 Pte Graham, James Killed "C" Coy "Born Barony enlisted Glasgow. Age on Service returns 37. (CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL.) 3 Dec S/41381 Pte Currie, Alexander Died of wounds "B" Coy. Age 19. Born St Andrews. Enlisted Dundee. (RED CROSS CORNER CEMETERY, BEUGNY) 6 Dec 240261 Pte Thomson, George Killed "D" Coy. Age 21. Son of George and Mary Thomson, of 37, St. Mary St., Peterhead. (BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY) Buch. Ob.18/12/1917: Reported killed in action. He was a son of Mr George Thomson, 37 St Mary Street and in civil life was a farm servant at Corskellie, Lonmay. 23 Dec 242071 Pte Mitchel, George Brown. Killed "A" Coy. Age 21. Husband of Jessie A. Mitchell, of 19 Gordon St., Aberdeen. (married 16/10/1917) Enlisted Aberdeen. (BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY) 24 Dec 240703 Pte McLeish, Bruce A.C Missing presumed POW "C" Coy Diary shows "Missing believed prisoner". Diary shows "C" Coy was in front line and between 22nd & 26th was improving the front line system of trenches and thickening the wire in front of the line. Previously wounded 16-17 May 1917. Scotsman shows home as Bankroot. No record of death. 28 Dec 203080 Pte Anderson Norman L Killed "A" Coy. Born Durham. Enlisted Necastle-on-Tyne. Age 19 Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson, of III Corbridge St., Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne. (RED CROSS CORNER CEMETERY, BEUGNY) 3 Dec S/17471 Pte Brown, Harry Wounded "A" Coy 3 Dec 291400 Pte Clark, George Wounded "A" Coy. SWB. 3 Dec 291825 Pte Hillman, Frederick Wounded "A" Coy 3 Dec S/9718 Pte Rhinds, Robert Wounded "A" Coy. To France 11/11/1915 3 Dec 260248 Pte Sherlock, Christopher Wounded "A" Coy 4 Dec 291350 Pte McGregor, Alexander Wounded "B" Coy. Address: Bednagauch, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. 4 Dec 260154 Pte Jarvis, George Wounded "B" Coy. SWB. Enlisted 26/11/1915. Discharged 17/5/1919. P392(xvi)K.R. 2bi AO11/17 (unfit) 4 Dec S/41376 Pte Campbell, Thomas Wounded "B" Coy (Also A & SH) 4 Dec 240977 L.Cpl Whyte, James Wounded "B" Coy (3207) Buch. Ob. 25/12/1917. Reported as wounded in left leg and thigh, is the only son of Mr James Whyte, gardener, Sandford Lodge, Peterhead. He has been in France since Oct 1915. 4 Dec 260076 Pte Devine, Edward Wounded "B" (Also A&SH) 4 Dec 260195 Pte Thomson, Alexander Wounded (Also Royal Highlanders) 4 Dec 242483 Pte Duncan, Alexander F Wounded (5668) 4 Dec 260138 Pte Miller, William Wounded "B" Coy (Also A & SH) 4 Dec 240547 Sgt Stuart, James Wounded "B" Coy. Buch. Ob 18/12/1917. Mrs James Stuart 28 St Mary Street has received information that her husband has been wounded and lost his left eye. He is at present in hospital at Newcastle. Previous to the war he was a millwright in the Turriff District. This is the 2nd time he has been wounded. 4 Dec 240593 L.Cpl Anderson, James Wounded "B" Coy 2431. Wounded for 3rd time. In civil life he was a cooper with Messrs P & J Sutherland, fishcurers. He is a son of Mr James Anderson, 1 Roanheads and his wife resides in George St Burnhaven. (2431) 4 Dec S/18599 Pte Kemp, Alexander Wounded "B" Coy 3 Dec 242124 Pte Leiper, William Wounded "C" Coy. Previously wounded 16-17 May 1917 (Aberdeen) SWB. 4 Dec S/41397 Pte McKenna, David Wounded "C" Coy (Also A & SH) 4 Dec 260225 Pte McLaren, Archibald Wounded "C" Coy (Also Royal Highlanders) 4 Dec 1254 L.Cpl Carruthers, Angus Randolph M Wounded "D" Coy (TNA shows him as - 2nd Gordon Highlanders 1254 and 2nd Gordon Highlanders 1254 Private ) 4 Dec 242367 L.Cpl McDougall, Arthur Wounded "D" Coy. Previously wounded 16-17 May 1917 (Kirkcaldy) SWB. Enlisted 3/9/1914. Discharged 14/12/1918. (4051) 4 Dec 241602 Pte Ambrose, Frederick C Wounded "D" Coy. SWB Attested 25/10/1915. Discharged 26/3/1918 4 Dec S/41272 Pte Suttie, John M Wounded "D" Coy (Also Royal Highlanders) 3 Dec S/41324 Pte Yates, Frederick Wounded "D" Coy (Also Royal Highlanders) 4 Dec S/41310 Pte Ritchie, Henry Wounded "D" Coy Note: Diary shows initial as A. (Also Royal Highlanders.) 4 Dec S/41322 Pte Anderson, Alexander H Wounded "D" Coy. (Also Royal Highlanders) 4 Dec 241691 Pte Unsworth, William Wounded "D" Coy (TNA shows 241661 / 3361) Previously wounded 16-17 May 1917. (Manchester) 4 Dec S/41306 Pte Morton, Alexander Wounded "D" Coy (Also Royal Highlanders) 4 Dec S/9115 Pte Oliphant, Myles Wounded "D" Coy. Originally 10th Gordon Highlanders. To France 9/7/1915. 4 Dec 240249 Pte Simpson, Robert K Wounded "D" Coy (New Pitsligo) 2113 4 Dec S/8986 Pte Stewart, Donald Wounded "D" Coy (Also Royal Highlanders) To France 20/7/1915. (1st GH) 4 Dec S/18612 Pte Philip, James Wounded "D" Coy Also Royal Highlanders 6 Dec 240267 Pte Fraser, Robert Wounded "B" Coy Buch. Obs. 25/12/1917 Fraserburgh. Pte Robert Fraser wounded was before enlisting, foreman compositor to Messrs Calder Brothers, printers, Fraserburgh. (1756) 6 Dec 260186 L.Cpl Mansfield, Alfred Wounded "D" Coy 7 Dec 241212 Pte Clark, James Wounded "B" Coy. Son of Robert Clark, Scotston, Dudwick Ellon. (Killed in action 21/3/1918) 11 Dec 240053 Cpl Thom, Henry Wounded "B" Coy New Deer (682) 11 Dec 260085 L.Cpl Calder, Walter Wounded "B" Coy. (Also A & SH.) 11 Dec S/41287 Pte Edwards, David Wounded "B" Coy. SWB. Enlisted 19/2/1916. Discharged 30/8/1919. 392 (xvii) KR 2bi AO/11/17 (unfit) 11 Dec 203036 Pte Smart, William Wounded "B" Coy. SWB. Attested 19/11/1915. Discharged 24/10/1918. 23 Dec 240153 Pte Mitchell, James Wounded "D" Coy (1501) 23 Dec 242531 Pte Wemyss, Alexander N Wounded "C" Coy (5791) 23 Dec 290418 Pte McAndrew, Albert Wounded 2768 7th GH. To France 2/5/1915. Disembodied 5/3/1919 23 Dec 260045 Pte McLean, John Wounded "D" Coy. Later Scottish Rifles. SWB 28 Dec S/14451 Pte Adams, Robert Wounded "A" Coy 28 Dec S/17892 Pte Cook, Stewart Woundec "A" Coy 30 Dec 240701 Pte Gray, James A Wounded "D" Coy Wounded for third time (Port Erroll) 2637. To France 5/12/1915. Discharged to Reserves (Class Z) 5/2/1919
In early December the 51st Division was recalled to the front to help deal with the German counter attack that followed the battle of Cambrai.
Location Date Summary of Events Old British Front Line
2nd Dec On night of 2/3rd patrols were sent out to reconnoiter the ground in front...One patrol encountered an enemy post and sustained two slight casualties. Attempts were made to erect wire in front and to cut gaps in the wire in rear of front line to facilitate access to the front in case of counter attack, but the work was greatly hindered by the clearness of the night which enabled the enemy to observe all movement. Enemy artillery was active throughout the day, the tight of Tadpole Copse being heavily shelled. 3rd-4th Dec Enemy artillery activity continued throughout the 4th and at about 3pm the sectors held by A and B companies were heavily bombarded, as a result of which several casualties were sustained. Orders to evacuate this part of the line were received in the evening. Evacuating Line
5th Dec Everything of use to the enemy and everything that could be done to obstruct him and delay his getting cover when he came forward to the ground we were evacuating was organised and carried out. The front line Companies left posts behind for one hour after their leaving, while C and D Coys carried on the process of obstruction. Battalion HQ was last to leave after the two Coys and posts had successfully withdrawn. While the 153rd and 154th Brigades effected the withdrawal the 152nd meantime held the original British Front Line. The same day the battalion embussed for FAUREUIL where the remainder of the day was spent resting in billets. FREMICOURT 6th Dec The battalion marched to FREMICOURT where a new camp was made. Enemy aircraft visited the area on its way to BAPAUME. Four casualties were sustained from bombs that evening : one killed and three wounded. Protection was forthwith constructed either by sinking the floor of the tents or sandbag revetment,. MORCHIES 11th Dec Battalion front was extended. Work parties commenced and mining platoon started operations in front area. 4 casualties were sustained by party working in Support Line night 11/12th. Front Line
22nd Dec On this day the battalion took over part of the line from the 4th Seaforths. On the night of 22nd "A" Coy were at work clearing ROBIN ALLEY. Front Line 23rd - 26th Dec The companies in the line improved the front line system of trenches and thickened the wire in front of the line. On the night of 26th an inter-company relief was carried out, "B" Coy taking over from "A" Coy and "D" Coy from "C" Coy. 28th - 30th Dec Nothing of importance happened these days. General improvement of trenches was made by the companies. On the night of the 30th the battalion was relieved by the 6th Black Watch and came back to a camp in BEUGNY. BEUGNY 31st Dec This day was spent resting and cleaning. Inspections were also held. At night the officers of the battalion had a dinner together and the New Year was brought in in a suitable fashion.
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