Gordons at Ailly-sur-Somme July 1916

[tn.drummond]

I've recently acquired a photograph of what I take to be 4 |Gordons outside of a French Billet and dated and attributed in contemporary hand as "A Souvenir of Ailly-sur-Somme 10/7/1916". It is addressed to a Mrs Alexander Craig, Mira Villa, Elliot Street, Arbroath.

I've loaded three details which have prompted the following questions:

1) Looking at Gerald Gliddon's "Somme Battlefield Companion" I note that on that day Ailly was out of bounds and that the soldiers nearby who had been pulled out of the line were various units of the 21st Division. This Div did not include any battalions for whom Scottish dress was appropriate (no cap badges are visible). If they are indeed Gordon's any idea what they were doing there and from what unit they could have been ?

2) The left hand soldier in Picture 1 appears to have some kind of insignia over his shoulder and under his arm - not seen the likes of this, any ideas ?

3) Alexander Craigs are many in the Gordons and without 1910 Scottish Census details I'm struggling to identify. Any suggestions ?

4) No cap badge but what looks like a piece of backing cloth in picture 2.

5) One soldier is wearing a standard SD whilst the another is wearing Scots cutaway, something or nothing ?

Bit stumped by this so all and any suggestions will be most welcome.

Thanks

Suddery

Detail 1

Detail 2 Detail 3