George Tinn Wilson and fellow NCOs

An undated photograph, put probably pre- or very early- war showing five NCOs from the 5^th Battalion Gordon Highlanders.

The inscription on the reverse, written by the son of George Wilson, one of the men shown, reads: “Cruickshank, Dad (i.e.George Wilson), Chisholm, Chalmers, E.Will.

Unfortunately the names don’t appear to correspond with their position in the photograph, as George Wilson is the Corporal second from the right. In the Battalion Roll of October 1914, George Wilson was shown as a Sergeant, so the photograph must pre-date that time.

Wilson was born in 1874. He was employed in the Prison Service and in 1905 he was transferred to the convict prison at Peterhead. The photograph was therfore taken between that date and 1914. He would have been 40 years old at the time war was declared.

Men with the names shown on the photograph appear in “C” Company of the Battalion Roll. All are shown as living at the Prison Quarters. The following is a tentative identification:

• Chalmers is probably James Chalmers N^o 115, Colour Sergeant Major. He is therefore most likely to be the man in the middle who has a crown above the chevrons on his arm. (He was Disembodied – i.e. stood down from war service - on 23/2/1919) He was appointed a Warrant Officer Class 1 during the course of his service. A notice appearing in the Buchan Observer newspaper on 6th August 1918 reports:"Mrs Chalmers, The Cottages, H.M. Prison Peterhead, has been informed that her eldest son L/Cpl James Chalmers, Gordon Highlanders, has been killed in action. L/Cpl Chalmers was in the employment of Charles Bruce, Chapel St., Peterhead, and has been in France for over a year. His father, Q.M.S James Chalmers is also serving in France."

• Cruickshank is probably Sergeant William Cruickshank, N^o 125. (Discharged 4/4/1918). In the 1901 census there is a William Cruickshank, age 38, Prison Warder Class 1 and his 17 year old son, William, both residing at the Prison Quarters. With the service number 125, the man was very likely in the Force at its inception in 1908. The older man would have been about 51 in 1914 and 55 at the time of discharge. The son would have been 30 in 1914.It is difficult to know which of the two it is. It is possible that he was "discharged" rather than "disembodied" because of his age (55), thus identifying him as the elder man.

The regulations relating to the maximum age for Territorials outlined in the 1909 Territorial Force Manual, Para. 41(b) : 

Attainment of the Age-Limit. Sergeants not on the permanent staff are discharged on reaching the age of fifty years, whether their period of engagement is completed or not.  The Brigade Commander may sanction their retention up to the age of fifty-five in very special cases, but in no case beyond.  For the rank and file ...the age for discharge is forty years. The Brigade Commander may sanction retention to the age of forty-five.

• Chisholm is possibly Lance Corporal William Chisholm, and therefore the man on the right, next to Wilson. A William Chisholm, number 1635, in the same Company as the other men, appears twice on the Roll, in "C" Company and as Depot staff, Peterhead. As a member of the Depot staff he did not go to France with the Battalion in May 1915. It was December 1915 before he rejoined his comrades. This man was a Sergeant, (acting) in 1916 and was wounded at Beaumont Hamel. His medal card shows that he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2.  William Chisholm (WO Class 2) served in the King’s African Rifles late in the war. The following is the biography from a fellow NCO in the 5^th Battalion – Benjamin Smith (2152) of Idoch, who also served in the same African force : “One of 2000 Warrant Officers and NCOs sent to East Africa with Nairobi as headquarters, to train seven regiments (about 30 battalions) of Blacks. Had to learn the native tongue – ke-swahili- for purposes of instruction. Headquarters close to the Nguru Hills, associated with scenes in some of Rider Haggard romances.” (War Book of Turriff)
  
  Chisholm was awarded a D.C.M during his service in Africa. Th citation reads:
  
  "241207 A/C/S/M W. Chisholm, 5th Bn., Gord. Highrs. and 2/2nd K. Afr. Rif (Peterhead)
  
  (E. Africa) For conspicuous gallantry in action and high devotion to duty.  He has at all times displayed great determination and ability in action as a platoon leader, and has performed some bold patrol work, rendering most useful service." (Gazette 7/2/1919)