2nd Seaforths

[Jesse]

I have a large photo of D Co., undated, with names, and would like to trace those in it. I believe it was taken in 1914 or shortly before overseas deployment, but experts on the 2nd might be able to help me get a better handle on this. Company CO, in an inset photo, was Capt. R. LAING. Seated center in the group is Lieut. H.M. SPENCER, who I know was killed at St Julien in April, 1915. I believe this Company suffered greatly in this action. Does anyone have a D Company, 2nd Btn. listing for the war?

[David_Bluestein]

Hi Jesse,

I have the 2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders 'War Diary' for April 25, 1915. The last page for the entry lists all active officers by Comapany. HOWEVER my copy stops after 'B' Company! I was simply crushed it didnt go further-you would have had your names.

At least you know where to look.

Good luck,

David

Canada

[KAYJAY]

Hello David & Jessie,

Regarding the 2nd Seaforths, the Regimental Journal "Caber Feidh" has some very nice photographs of the Sergeants mess in 1921/1922 showing all the surviving sergents wearing their ribbons and giving a detailed name by name listing at the bottom.

Regards Ken.

[aramsay]

Why don't you contact the Custodian of the Regimental Museum up at Fort George ? They will have this info. at hand, surely ? When I was there in June, the guy dissapeared thro' the back for all of 2mins, and returned with the lists, listed by battalion/company..... He said they also have batt. photos, so would be easy to make a copy of your's, and then match against what they have.

They also like, and deserve, to see a small donation for doing work for researchers. They do NOT like medal-collectors/dealers btw..........

http://www.qohldrs.co.uk/html/about_us.htm

Slainte, Alan

[Jesse]

Thank-you all for your replies. I appreciate the helpfulness of those within this forum. Per your advice, I have just sent e-mail to the Ft. George Museum. I believe the photo was actually taken there, and suspect that some half of those in it did not survive the war. I have run the names through the CWGC, but many of them are common not only to the Regiment, but to the Battalion, as well. I am in the US, so not too adjacent to Regimental Archival sources.

Thanks again,

Jesse

[Tom Lang]

Hello Jesse,

I have a copy of the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders War Diary.

I show Captain (not Lieut) H.M. SPENCER as commanding C coy.

Your photo may be prior to his promotion and attachment to the 2nd Bn.

The Roll of Officers is as follows:

Roll of officers for April 1915

Page 15

Lt Col R.S. VANDELEUR

C.M.G. – Comdg.

Wounded 25^th

Major K. W. ARBUTHNOT

Senior Major

Killed 25^th

Major E. CAMPION

Comdg. From 26^th

Capt. Hon. E. O. CAMPBELL

D.S.O. - Adjutant

Wounded 25^th

Lt. D. MUNRO

Quartermaster

Lt. A. R. BURNESS

Machine Gun officer

Died of wounds 25^th

Lt. N. I. MacWATT

Transport officer

Lt. P. W. JAMES

R.A.M.C. - Medical officer

Rev. A. R. YEOMAN

C.F.

A coy

Major E. CAMPION

Comdg till 25^th – to Comdg Battn.

Capt. J. O. HOPKINSON

Comdg after 25^th – rejoined from Hosp 19^th

Lt. G. M. MacKENZIE

(3^rd Battn)

Wounded 25^th

Lt. B. STEWART

Wounded 25^th

2^nd Lt. A.I.D.CAMERON

([illegible])

Died of wounds 25^th

2^nd Lt. S.H. MacCULLOCH

Till 26^th when he took comd of B coy

B coy

Capt. K. D. M. MacLACHLAN

Comdg

Wounded 25^th –

Died of wounds 29^th

Capt. B. N. LUMSDEN

Missing 25^th

Lt. I. P. H. CHALMERS

(3^rd Bn)

To Hosp - Shock 26^th

Lt. J. F. GLASS

Wounded 25^th –

Died of wounds 26^th

2^nd Lt. W.N.L. BOYD

Wounded & Missing 25^th

2^nd Lt. S.H. MacCULLOCH

From A coy to comdg. 26^th

2^nd Lieut. D KINGSLEY

Joined 29^th

C & D coys are as follows:

Roll of officers (April 1915) contd.

C coy

Capt. H. M. SPENCER

Killed 25^th

Capt. W. A. A. MIDDLETON

Killed 25^th

Lt. R. G. BARLOW

To Hosp – Shock – 25^th

Lt. I. N. FYFE-JAMIESON

Wounded 25^th

2^nd Lt. J. G. H. FIELDEN

Killed 25^th

2^nd Lt. H. C. S. Munro

From D coy to comd from 25^th

D coy

Capt. F. ANDERSON

Wounded 25^th

Lt. C. E. BAIRD

Wounded 27^th to Hosp 29^th

2^nd Lt. H. C. S. MUNRO

To comd C coy on 25^th

2^nd Lt. M. MacPHERSON

(3^rd Bn)

Wounded 7^th

2^nd Lt. H.E.R. WIDNELL

(3^rd A&S Highrs) to comd of D coy from 29^th

2^nd Lt. M.A. ARBUTHNOT

(3^rd Bn) joined 17th

Wounded 25^th

2^nd Lt. J.M. LOW

Rejoined from Hospital 27^th

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

P.S. Hope this re-invigorates your posting...

[Lee Smart]

[Tom Lang]

The photo of the Officers is very blurred.

Can you send me a 'better' copy by DM?

Kindest Regards,

Tom.

[Tom Lang]

33 minutes ago, Lee Smart said:

Here's my transcription of the 2nd Bn War Diary for Sep 1914.

It lists the List of Officers who Landed in Aug 1914, along with Officers who were with the Battalion at the end of Sep 1914.

Originals courtesy of TNA.

Tom Lang.

[Lee Smart]

Tom, apologies for the delay in response...I have been Absent for the past month doing some resettlement activities. Sadly I don't have a better quality image of the Officers but the photograph is undoubtedly a Regimental shot - so their property, (although the copyright will be likely lapsed: 70+ years),  and so it is likely the negative/plate or original print should hopefully still be with the Highlanders Museum somewhere in their archives. I am heading home to UK to settle in Perthshire in a few months time and then intend to visit the Museum, so will ask them then.....

I gleaned the image from  the book WW1 Diaries and Sketches of Capt. Gilbert MacKenzie, who was in A Company 2nd Seaforths from the outset in August 1914 until he himself was also wounded at St Julien. (He then went to Mesopotamia where he was killed at Kut).

I have then updated the information on each officer from my research on the Seaforths Officers 1914 - 1915 - a work still in progress.