The Officers

The officers certainly represented more of a social mix than might have been found in many Regular Army units. Some indeed were the sons of local gentry while others came from farming or professional families. The following details come in the most part from the 1901 census records:

• Captain Charles Fowlie (later Major) was a farmer of some means. The 1901 census shows the Fowlie family farmhouse as being a large establishment with several live-in servants together with several families of farm-workers living in cottages attached to the property.
• Lieut George Moir’s father was a tailor and clothier, employing several workers.
• Captain David H. Martin was the son of a Peterhead solicitor and he himself studied law. (He was a 21 year old law clerk in 1901)
• Lieut James Chalmers (Later Captain) was a farmer. (War book of Turriff).
• Captain Frank Souter Runcieman (later Major) was a farmer. He had joined the Volunteer Battalion as a private in 1899 and was commissioned in April 1900 and promoted captain in 1910. (War book of Turriff)
• Lieut Charles Thomas McWilliam was a minister’s son from Foveran. (De Ruvignys Roll of Honour)
• Hon. Robert Abercromby Forbes-Sempill was the fourth son of The Rt. Hon. William Forbes-Sempill, 17th baron Sempill.
• Lieut Robert William Ferguson was the son of Alexander Ferguson, a Peterhead house painter. He was educated at Peterhead Academy and entered Aberdeen University in 1905. He graduated with honours in Mathematics in 1909. In April 1915 he enlisted in the Aberdeen Company, Gordon Highlanders and was later commissioned in the 5th Battalion. He died at Beaumont Hamel in 1916.
• Lieut Philip Hugh Gore Roberts was the youngest son of Rev. William Roberts. Born and educated in England, he left school, Clifton College in December 1914 and obtained a commission in the 5th Gordons on 27th February 1915. He died of wounds 21st August 1915 aged, 19. (De Ruvignys Roll of Honour)

Tables showing officers of the 5th Battalion: A - H : I - P : R - Y

1914 Roll of Volunteers (Officers)