6th Bn Seaforth Highlanders

[Pete1052]

New book tribute to Morayshire Battalion

By Steven Cookson

Press and Journal

Aberdeen

Published: 08/11/2008

A Moray author has written a book to commemorate the 6th (Morayshire) Battalion’s involvement in World War I.

Derek Bird, 53, who lives near Garmouth, published the book, The Spirit of the Troops is Excellent, in time for the 90th anniversary of the Armistice.

The book is the result of 10 years of research compiled from official documents, newspapers and hundreds of personal accounts and contains more than 170 photographs and maps.

It tells the story of ordinary men serving in the trenches.

The Moray battalion, part of the Seaforth Highlanders regiment, crossed into France in May, 1915, and fought in major battles until the war ended in 1918.

Of the 4,888 men who served with the battalion during the war, 1,163 were killed or later died of wounds or illness.

Mr Bird, who is also chairman of the Scotland (North) Branch of The Western Front Association, has been researching the war since visiting the battlefields in 1981.

After moving to Moray in 1985 he learned the story of the Seaforth Highlanders and became interested in their story.

He said: “My overall interest in the subject came when I saw the memorials and even though I was only in my 20s I was an old man compared to some of the ages on the headstones.

“It was when I moved up here that I realised that nobody had really written about the Moray battalion.

“I started to write this book because I thought that this was a story that needed to be told.”

The launch of the book also coincides with the centenary of the Territorial Army and the foreword is written by Lieutenant-Colonel Grenville Johnston, a former commander of the Territorials in Moray.

Published by Mr Bird himself, The Spirit of the Troops is Excellent is priced £14.99 and is available at Yeadon’s Bookshop in Elgin, Moray libraries and Elgin Museum.

The book is also available direct from the author who can be contacted on 01343 870562 or by e-mail at derek.bird@ virgin. net