Seaforth Highlanders

[Karrilu]

Hi

I'm very new to this, and I've never posted anything on here before, but I need some help.

My Grandad, HUGH MacDONALD, was born 15/4/1893 in Lairg, Sutherland where he became a crofter, following family tradition. He was a Territorial before he was called up at the outbreak of the First World War to serve with the Seaforth Highlanders.

I believe he went to France. He was able to play the pipes but I don't know of he was a piper with the Seaforth Highlanders, and I don't know his number or whether he had any medals.

The only other information I have on him is that, as a result of severe frostbite, he finished his service in this country.

Can anyone tell me how I find out more about his service record, or how I can find his service number, or even where he would have been treated for the forstbite. More than anything, I would love a photo, but I don't even know which Battalion he was in, so that I can look for myself. Any help given will be gratefully received!

Karen Anderson

[dfaulder]

Karen

Welcome to the forum, I hope you find it useful.

If you want to have the excitement of finding out for yourself, the following may help. (Otherwise sit back and I am sure some members will start digging on your behalf).

On the top menu bar of this forum there is a link to "LLT" - a large website concerning the Great War created by Chris Baker (member no 1 of this forum). Then look for "Researching a Soldier".

from there you will be directed to:

• Medal Index Cards: Either on Ancestry.co.uk - by subscription (or free at many libraries), or via the National Archives website - documents online If you are lucky you will find out the service number, the battalion details and the date of entry into a theatre of War, and his campaign medal entitlement. When searching remember to check permutations of miss-spellings e.g. Huw McDonald. If he was demobbed for medical reasons he will probably also have received the SWB (see LLT for more detail)
• Service Records (non-officers): Available on Ancestry.co.uk - if they were not destroyed in the WW2 Blitz - most were. With Ancestry, you may have to be very inventive with the search function! If your Grand-dad was commissioned, his records will probably still exist, but you will have to visit the National Archives in London to see them.

For photo's you are probably out of luck - unless you find something in a local paper archive (microfilm at the library in the area where he lived)

Seaforth Highlander experts will no doubt fill in details.

You may also want to look up you Grand-dad on Scotland's People.

Hope this helps

David

[Drover]

Hi karen

If he was in 6th Seaforths, this

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wfasnb/research05.htm

is the definitive work on their WW1 service.

Good hunting!

Drover

[dundeesown]

Hi Karen Welcome to the Forum,this lad is in with a good shout for your Grandfather, Pte 575 Hugh Macdonald 5th Seaforths, ( Territorial Force Records ).

[dundeesown]

these are in pension records,but he may have re enlisted in Seaforths Nos,3774,1781 or 204671.?

all the best Gary.

[Karrilu]

Hi David

Thanks so much for your reply to my post. I've been stunned by the helpfullness of everyone!

I've had a go at doing all the things you suggested, but I keep getting stuck!

It looks as though you were right and someone else has found him for me!

Thanks again

Karen

Karen

Welcome to the forum, I hope you find it useful.

If you want to have the excitement of finding out for yourself, the following may help. (Otherwise sit back and I am sure some members will start digging on your behalf).

On the top menu bar of this forum there is a link to "LLT" - a large website concerning the Great War created by Chris Baker (member no 1 of this forum). Then look for "Researching a Soldier".

from there you will be directed to:

• Medal Index Cards: Either on Ancestry.co.uk - by subscription (or free at many libraries), or via the National Archives website - documents online If you are lucky you will find out the service number, the battalion details and the date of entry into a theatre of War, and his campaign medal entitlement. When searching remember to check permutations of miss-spellings e.g. Huw McDonald. If he was demobbed for medical reasons he will probably also have received the SWB (see LLT for more detail)
• Service Records (non-officers): Available on Ancestry.co.uk - if they were not destroyed in the WW2 Blitz - most were. With Ancestry, you may have to be very inventive with the search function! If your Grand-dad was commissioned, his records will probably still exist, but you will have to visit the National Archives in London to see them.

For photo's you are probably out of luck - unless you find something in a local paper archive (microfilm at the library in the area where he lived)

Seaforth Highlander experts will no doubt fill in details.

You may also want to look up you Grand-dad on Scotland's People.

Hope this helps

David

Hi Drover

Thanks, but it looks as though he was in the 5th.

I did check out the web page, though, and its really interesting.

Thanks again

Karen

Hi karen

If he was in 6th Seaforths, this

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wfasnb/research05.htm

is the definitive work on their WW1 service.

Good hunting!

Drover

[Karrilu]

Hi Gary

You're a star! I don't know how you did this, but you've managed to find Pop in 5 minutes, while I've been looking for months! These other numbers you've quoted, are they just other numbers he might have been issued with? My mum found a belt that Pop had embroidered, but it just says Seaforth Highlanders on it with 1918 M. I'm not sure what the M means. Anyway, I can't thank you enough for your help - I think you're a genius!

All the best

Karen

these are in pension records,but he may have re enlisted in Seaforths Nos,3774,1781 or 204671.?

all the best Gary.

[graykcb]

Hi Karen Welcome to the Forum,this lad is in with a good shout for your Grandfather, Pte 575 Hugh Macdonald 5th Seaforths, ( Territorial Force Records ).

Hello Dundeesown,

I was idly browsing the Forum when I came across this post and particularly the quotation at the bottom regarding the cemetery at Buzancy. My grandfather's step-brother was KIA on 28/07/1918 and is also buried there:

Smith, George. b. c.1891. Private. No. S/8050. 8th Bn, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's). British. Born in Grays, Essex, enlisted Southend. The 8th Bn, formed part of 15th Scottish Division attached to the French Third Army in 1918. Killed in action on Sunday, 28th July 1918, age 27, in Buzancy during the Second Battle of the Marne and is buried in Buzancy Military Cemetery, Aisne, France. (I.E.6)

"Here the noble thistle of Scotland will flourish for ever among the roses of France" (17th (French) Division to 15th (Scottish) Division). The monument was erected on the highest point of the plateau, where we found the body of the Scottish soldier who had advanced the farthest (on July 28th, 1918 - Buzancy).

It seemed strange at the time that an Englishman served in a Scottish Regiment within the French Army. Having visited the location I can confirm that the monument bearing the inscription is still there.

Kevin Gray

[truthergw]

Hi Kevin. Looking at his number, I think your relative was a Kitchener man. 15th Div was part of the second New Army. Many men served in Scots regiments although not Scots. All Scots regiments recruited countrywide. It is also the case that when men were volunteering in such numbers as at that time any regiment might have seemed preferable to none. Of course, after conscription, men were simply allocated to the next regiment on the list, regardless of which it was.

[graykcb]

Hi Kevin. Looking at his number, I think your relative was a Kitchener man. 15th Div was part of the second New Army. Many men served in Scots regiments although not Scots. All Scots regiments recruited countrywide. It is also the case that when men were volunteering in such numbers as at that time any regiment might have seemed preferable to none. Of course, after conscription, men were simply allocated to the next regiment on the list, regardless of which it was.

Hello truthergw,

Thank you for the information and that about the possible Kitchener Number. I will endeavour to find out more.

Kevin