Officer Losses of the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders at the Battle of St Julien 24th April 1915

[Lee Smart]

I am currently trying to research the background of the officers of the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders and have drawn a blank on many young men. I have drafted a table of the Officers in the Battalion who were with the Battalion both before and after the battle of St Julien, including the many young 2Lts who were rushed to the front to fill the posts of the 24 Officers who were lost or wounded that day (10 Officers Killed, Died of wounds or missing, 12 wounded and 2 with Shell-Shock). I have managed to get biographical notes on most of the HQ and the more senior officers as well as the longer serving subalterns.

I have not, however, been able to make much headway with many of the younger officers most of whom had very short careers thereafter it would seem. I would be very grateful if anyone has easy access to any details on some of the officers listed below.

[PRC]

Lt. G.M. Mackenzie - Died Evening Tines 29th April 1916.

Probably Captain Gilbert Marshall Mackenzie died 21st April 1916 and remembered on the Basra Memorial. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1657578/gilbert-marshall-mackenzie/

Mini biography for him on the Scottish Architects website -

He studied at Charterhouse and Cambridge.

Gilbert was a special reserve in the Seaforth Highlanders before the war and served in the First Battalion during the war and reached the rank of Captain. While serving in France he drew and painted life in the trenches. He was with the British Expeditionary Force in the Retreat from Mons and was wounded at Ypres in May 1915 before joining the Metropolitan Relief Force. Subsequently was sent to Mesopotamia where he was killed in action near Kut on 21 April 1916. http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=201808

Soldiers Died in the Great War records him as Killed in Action.

MiC as G.Marshall MacKenzie shows he first landed in France as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on the 23rd August 1914.
His father, A. Marshall MacKenzie, applied for his medals, initially in November 1917 for his sons 1914 Star. Looks like his contact address then was Ladyhill, Bielderside, Near Aberdeen. Subsequent addresses are Culter House, Culter, Aberdenshire, and c\o Mrs M.F. Godfrey, Hillingdon, Greenway, Frinton on Sea.

The book "Antiques Roadshow: World War One in 100 Family Treasures" available via Google books has illustrations of some of his paintings, plus a picture of him in uniform. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gTJtBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=Gilbert+Marshall+Mackenzie+Seaforth+1916&source=bl&ots=e7yyELmiIk&sig=ACfU3U3EUAhAWPgclT-hJVAZGzRUlXMbiQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLtsb5-cH3AhWNbsAKHZmgAXsQ6AF6BAgXEAM#v=onepage&q=Gilbert Marshall Mackenzie Seaforth 1916&f=false

He is also remembered on the Coull War Memorial. http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic7607.html

Possibly a little bit more from the website "Surrey in the Great War" https://www.surreyinthegreatwar.org.uk/person/116998

Hope some of that helps,

Peter

Edit. Looks like Fold3 have a Pension Ledger card for him - presumably relating to his widow.

Edited 2 May , 2022 by PRC

[Tawhiri]

Hoping I don't cross-post with Peter, but the best candidate for Lt R R Nye looks to be Captain Reginald Rayner Nye of The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) according to his officer's file at the National Archives. The CWGC website has him being killed in action on 17 December 1915 while serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Scots.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/448074/nye,-reginald-rayner/

He has quite a detailed biography available at the link below.

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3296371

His medal index card records previous service with the Royal Fusiliers as a private, before being commissioned on 24 November 1914 with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Scots.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28984/page/9696

He was subsequently promoted to Captain on 1 June 1915.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29285/supplement/8830

The one thing I am struggling with is the date of his initial entry to France, which could be 11 March 1915, or it might be 11 May 1915 on his medal index card. Looking at how the 3's and 5's are formed on the card, and given the date of the Battle of St Julien I'm inclined to lean towards the former, rather than the latter date.

There is also a photograph of him on page 74 of the 15 January 1916 edition of the Illustrated London News.

Page74LondonIllustratedNews15January1916.pdf

Edited 3 May , 2022 by Tawhiri

[Tawhiri]

Captain T C Reed appears to be Captain Thomas Curwen Reed. Born in Newtonmore, Invernesshire, Scotland on 18 March 1880, he was living in Canada at the outbreak of war, enlisting on 22 September 1914 with the Canadian forces and being promoted to Captain on the same day with the 17th Canadian Infantry Battalion which sailed the following month for the UK. His Canadian service record notes 12 and a half years previous service with the Territorials, and is quite brief, noting that he resigned his commission on 24 April 1915.   

https://canadiangreatwarproject.com/person.php?pid=135764

His full, albeit brief, Canadian service record is available online as well

https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B8177-S006

The Gazette notes his appointment from the Canadian contingent as Captain in the 3rd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders on 8 May 1915.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29156/page/4418

There is also an earlier mention of a Thomas Curwen Reed in the Gazette from 1899, in which a Thomas Curwen Reed, Gentleman was appointed to be a Second Lieutenant with the 3rd Middlesex Volunteer Artillery Corps on 25 January 1899. This presumably links with his stated service of 12 and a half years with the Territorials on enlistment in Canada in 1914.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27045/page/464

He survived the war, but was apparently made bankrupt early in 1919.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/13384/page/222

[PRC]

2Lt A A MacClachllan

There are no MiCs’ or Officers long papers for anyone of any rank with that surname. Nor is there anyone with that surname on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for either World War.

A check of the index to the British Army Monthly List for April 1915 shows no individuals with the surname MacClachllan, McClachllan or M’Clachllan.

The nearest I could see in the index was an A.A. MCLACHLAN in column 1460.

That would be a Second Lieutenant A.A. McLachlan shown on the establishment of the 3rd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. His seniority – given his rank that is going to be his commissioning – was the 13th January 1915. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

There is a MiC for a 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Archibald McLachlan, Seaforths, who had an entitlement to the 1914/15 Star and the Victory Medal & British War Medal. He would go on to be a Captain attached to the Royal Air Force. There is no first theatre or date of entry information but written in pencil is “name not added to roll, star and medals not issued”. I suspect this is because they were issued by the Air Ministry. The back of the MiC on Ancestry is blank.

His London Gazette entry for his commissioning reverses his first names to Archibald Alexander McLachlan. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29038/page/387/data.pdf

In the same London Gazette entry there is a commissioning in the Seaforths recorded for a John Howard McEwen. (The April 1915 Monthly list shows 2Lt J.H. McEwen on the strength of the 3rd Battalion). Will come back and take another should I get to him, but potentially a match for the 2nd Lieutenant T.H. Ewan of D Company that you record as gassed 24th May.

The AIR76 record for Alexander Archibald McLachlan is currently free to download from the National Archive if you sign in with your account. Looking at the preview version he was born 19th November 1896 and his permanent home address was given as Rendcomb Manor, Near Cirencester, Gloucestershire. His next of kin was his mother of the same address.

He had been a Cadet at the Royal Military College, Camberley.

It’s recorded that since joining the Royal Flying Corps he had completed a School of Instruction for E. Officers at Henley-on-Thames in January to March 1918. He transferred automatically to the Royal Air Force when that was formed on the 1st April 1918.

In February 1918 he was assessed as unfit for General Service for at least 6 months, fit for Home Service. In June and November 1918 he is recorded as fit for home service ground duties only.

On the 22nd March 1919 he relinquished his commission on account of ill-health contracted on active service. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8201984

Fold3 possibly have a Pension Ledger Card for him as Archibald Alexander McLachlan.

A high level search of the 1921 Census of England & Wales shows an Archibald Alexander McLachland, born c1897, a Catherine McLachlan born c1872 and a William James McLachlan born c1864, all recorded living at Rendcomb – a check of the returns would be needed to confirm thet are all at the same address. None has a place of birth shown.

Three potential mentions in papers from the 1930’s including a marriage – might have an image of him.

And three more from the forties.

Both images courtesy FindMyPast. The fuller articles will be available via FindMyPast and the British Newspaper Archive.

The death of an Archibald A. McLachlan, aged 66, was recorded in the Cirencester District in Q2 1963.

The UK Probate Calendar has this entry for 1963 – image courtesy https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk

Cheers,
Peter

[Lee Smart]

Tawhiri, PRC,

Many thanks.

In return may I offer you a RE panorama of the ground over which I have colourised and which the Seaforths would have attacked on the 25th April 1915 (photo was taken 2nd Jun 1917 prior to the 3rd Battle of Ypres - the lines have not moved much in the time between the 2nd and 3rd battles). I will offer up my collated Officers' summary when it is complete - 'closer now thanks to you.

Lee

[PRC]

And while I’m looking at the April 1915 British Army Monthly list entry for the Seaforth Highlanders, also recorded there are matches for:-

A Company

2Lt J.W.E. Dickenson (3rd Bn). – Possibly J.W.E DICKSON, Temporary 2nd Lt on Probation with seniority from the 13th January 1915. On the establishment of the 3rd Battalion. Column 1461. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079150

MiC for J.W.E Dickson, M.C., shows him as 2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant and Captain in the Seaforth Highlanders, but the only Battalion listed is the 1st. He served in the West European Theatre of War in 1915 and so qualified for the 1914/15 Star. When the OC 1st Battalion forwarded a list of officers eligible for the 1914/15 Star in February 1919, the address given for Captain Dickson was Claughton House, Garstang, Lancashire. By the time Captain Dickson formally applied for his medals in the summer of 1921 he gave a contact address of c\o Messrs Buck & Dicksons, Solicitors, 17 Winckley Street, Preston.
The National Archive has surviving officers long papers for Captain Joseph William Edmund Dickson who served with the Seaforths, but none for any officer with the surname Dickinson.  https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1054812
Gazetted in a list of Cadets and ex-Cadets of the Officers Training Corps who were to be commissioned Second Lieutenant on probation – page 390, The London Gazette, 12 January 1915. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29038/page/390/data.pdf

B Company

Lt. I.P.H. Chalmers. – Lt. I.P.H. Chalmers, 3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, with seniority not shown. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC as I.P.H Chalmers, Lieutenant & Captain, 3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, landed France 15th September 1914, although O.C. says 13th. Back of the MiC on Ancestry is blank.
No obvious long papers in the National Archive catalogue, so may have stayed in the Army post-war.

On the 1911 Census of England & Wales there is a 22 year old Lieutenant Ian Patrick Honyman Chalmers, 3rd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, born Aberdeen, who was recorded as the sole occupant of 110 Victoria Street, London, Westminster.

Lt. R.G. Barlow – 2nd Lt. R.G. Barlow, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 2nd September 1913. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC shows Robert George Barlow was 2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant and Captain, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. When the Joint Secretary of the Military Department, India Office, forwarded a roll of officers entitled to the 1914 Star it looks like Robert was stated to have landed about the 19th November 1914. However he was subsequently deemed ineligible for the 14 Star and had to settle for the 14/15 Star instead.  When Robert formally applied for his medals at the end of 1920 he asked for them to be sent c\o Depot, Seaforth Highlanders, Fort George, Inverness, Scotland.

2Lt R.E. Paterson. – 2nd Lt. R.E Paterson, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 1st October 1914. Column 1460. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC shows 2nd Lieutenant R.E. Paterson, M.C. Seaforth Highlanders, first landed in France on the 4th December 1914. He was subsequently a Captain in the General Reserve of Officers. When he applied for his medals in the spring of 1920 he gave a contact address of 60 Evelyn Gardens, South Kensington, London, SW.
No obvious long papers in the National Archive catalogue, so may have stayed in the Army post-war.
No stand-out candidate in the 1921 Census of England & Wales in the Kensington area.

2Lt W.N.L. Boyd (KiA 25th Apr) – 2nd Lt W.N.L. Boyd, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 23rd January 1914. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC shows Lieutenant William Noel Lawson Boyd was serving with the Seaforth Highlanders when he landed in France on the 7th March 1915. It is noted that he was killed in action on the 25th April 1915. His father, William Boyd Esquire, would apply for his sons medals in July 1920, giving a contact address of 26 Inverleith Place, Edinburgh.
CWGC records he died, aged 22, on the 25th April 1915 while serving with the 2nd Battalion. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menion Gate) Memorial. Additional information is that he was the Son of William and Laura Boyd, of 26, Inverleith Place, Edinburgh. Educated at Cargillfield School, Clifton and Exeter College, Oxford. Obtained University Commission in Regular Army.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/928720/william-noel-lawson-boyd/

It looks like several missing persons enquiries were received by the International Committee of the Red Cross, showing him as a 2nd Lieutenant with “B” Company, 2nd Battalion. https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/1510477/3/2/

According to Ancestry he has an entry in De Ruvignys.

2Lt D. Kingsley (J 29th Apr) –  ???

There is a MiC for Private 1730 D. Kingsley, subsequently Lieutenant Seaforth Highlanders & Royal Flying Corps He first landed in France on the 18th September 1914, his 1914 Star being issued by the Army. His Victory Medal and British War Medal were issued by the Air Ministry. When he applied for his 1914 Star the contact address given was 1 Middleton Road, Golders Green, London. There is an AIR 76 record for a Douglas Kingsley, born 28th January 1895, that can be downloaded from the National Archive. It has the same 1 Middleton Road address as his permanent home, and also that of his next of kin, his father George. His occupation in civil life was Engineer Apprentice.

2Lt. G.S. Rawstone (J 8th May) – 2nd Lt G.S. RAWSTORNE, 3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 17th February 1915. Column 1460 & 1462. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

The MiC for George Streynsham RAWSTORNE M.C, Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant & Captain, Seaforth Highlanders, shows he first landed in France on the 2nd May 1915. As well as the 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal, he would also go on to claim the Indian General Service Medal with clasp for Waziristan 1919-21.When he applied for his Great War medals in 1924 he gave a contact address of Camsie House, Charlestown, Fife. At the time of his application for his IGSM it was Crocton Rectory, Preston, Lancashire.
(Brief) Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Rawstorne

Outline of his various awards and citation for his Military Cross award can be found here https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/71452/Rawstorne-George-Streynsham.htm

2Lt E.D. Stevenson (3rd Bn – WIA 16th May) –  Shown as 2nd Lt E D STEVENS N but suspect that’s a printers glitch.He was on probation and on the strength of the 3rd Battalion with seniority from the 14th October 1914. Column 1461. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079150

No obvious MiC or long papers recorded in the National Archive catalogue.

Fortunately a lot of good information on him in a previous thread including a log of appearances in the 2nd Battalion War Diary.

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 3 May , 2022 by PRC
Typos

[PRC]

C Company

Capt H.M Spencer KiA 25th  - Captain H.M.Spencer, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 9th April 1913. Column 1458. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC for Captain Hugh M. Spencer, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders records that he first landed in France on the 23rd August 1914. A Miss Spencer applied for the medals of Captain Spencer in February 1919. Her address then was Pondsmead, Oakhill, Somerset, although there is then a confusing set of address including Catholic Hut, A.P.O 822, B.E.F. France.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that Captain Hugh Maitland Spencer died at the age of 33, serving with the 2nd Battalion. He is buried at Seaforth Cemetery, Cheddar Villa, Belgium. Additional information is that he was the Son of Frederick Spencer, J.P., D.L., of Pondsmead, Oakhill, Somerset. Served in the South African Campaign. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/161392/hugh-maitland-spencer/

You already have the picture of him from the Imperial War Museum. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205388971

Lt. A.G. Cowie (J 9th May) took Comd. – Lieutenant A.G. Cowie, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 12th September 1914. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC shows 2nd Lieutenant, (later Captain), Alexander Gordon Cowie, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, first landed in France on the 23rd August 1914. His widow, a Mrs Gatehouse, applied for his medals – I assume she had remarried. Her contact address is given as Lauriston(?) Lodge, Exter Road, Bourenmouth. He is noted as having died on the 6th April 1916.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website lists that Captain Alexander Gordon Cowie died on the 6th April 1916 while serving with the 1st Battalion. He is buried at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/627956/alexander-gordon-cowie/

Lt R.G.Barlow – already covered under B Coy

2Lt I G H Fielden KIA 25th. – probably 2nd Lieutenant G.J.H. FEILDEN, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 12th August 1914. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

The MiC for 2nd Lieutenant G John H FEILDEN, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, shows he first landed in France on the 15th September 1914. He is recorded as Killed 25th April 1915. A Major G.C. Feilden applied for his sons medals in May 1919, giving a contact address of Dudley House, Twickenham Park.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that 2nd Lieutenant Granville John Henry FEILDEN, 2nd Battalion died on the 25th April 1915, aged 19. He is buried at Seaforth Cemetery, Cheddar Villa, Belgium. Additional informtion is that he was the Son of Maj. Granville C. Feilden, D.S.O. (late Seaforth Highlanders), and Edith M. Feilden, of Dudley House, Twickenham Park, Twickenham, Middx. Educated at The New Beacon, Wellington College, and R.M.C. Sandhurst. Born at Golspie, Sutherland. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/161316/granville-john-henry-feilden/

Lt. J.A.D. Perrins (Leave 26th Jan – 2nd Feb) then? – Lieutenant J.A.D. Perrins, 3rd Battalion, no seniority shown. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

The MiC for Lieutenant James Allan Dyson Perrins, M.C., 3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, shows that he first landed in France on the 28th August 1914. He was subsequently Staff Lieutenant & Staff Captain 1st W. Guards A.H. XIV Corps H.Q.
He was on lists from the G.O.C. XIV Corps and the O.C. Welsh Guards forwarded to the Records Office at the end of 1917 showing officers eligible for the 1914 Star. When Captain Perrins applied for the medals in May 1919 his contact address was Davenham, Malvern.

2Lt J.G. Wood (3rd Bn) (J 8th May) – 2nd Lieutenant J.G. Wood, on probation, 3rd Battalion with seniority from the 24th December 1914. Column 1461. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079150

The MiC for John George Wood, Seaforth Highlanders, shows him as 2nd Lieutenant / Lieutenant / Acting Captain / Captain. He first landed in France in 1915. It is noted that John deceased on the 4th October 1917. The medal application came from a Mrs J.P. Wood, 16 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website shows that Captain John George Wood, 3rd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, died on the 4th October 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/875645/john-george-wood/

The International Committee of the Red Cross does not appear to have received a missing person enquiry for him.

2Lt W L Gordon (3rd Bn) (J 9th May) – 2nd Lieutenant W.L. Gordon, 3rd Battalion attached Gordon Highlanders, with seniority from the 15th August 1911. Column 1461. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079150

There is a MiC for a Captain W.L. Gordon, M.C., Seaforth Highlanders, which is very light on information. There is no first theatre or date of disembarkation, although there is a 14/15 Star award. There is a note that the medals were awaiting disposal – “see echelon roll 2nd Bn Seaforths Page 17”. The back of the card is noted that an application for medals on behalf of the officer abroad on the 15th January 1922 was received from a B.D. Gordon of Murray Place, Bellshill, Lanarkshire.
No long papers in the National Archive catalogue but this probably reflects that he stayed in the Regular Army post war. However no obvious match for any W L Gordon in the Quarterly Army List for Q4 1919.

2Lt F W A Faithfull (J - ?) – 2nd Lieutenant F W A Faithfull, on probation, 3rd Battalion with seniority from the 18th February 1915, (but underlying seniority from the 22nd December 1914). Column 1461. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079150

The MiC for 2nd Lieutenant Francis William Alexander Faithfull, Seaforth Highlanders, shows he first landed in France on the 2nd June 1915. The card is noted that he was killed on action on the 3rd July 1915. His medals were applied for by his father, the Reverend R.C. Faithfull, Beach Tower, Southsea.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that Second Lieutenant Francis William Alexander Faithfull, 3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, died on the 3rd July 1915, aged 18. He is now buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium, but there is a Concentration Report attached to his CWGC webpage.According to the CWGC webpage for the Bard Cottage Cemetery – “For much of the First World war, the village of Boesinghe (now Boezinge) directly faced the German line across the Yser canal. Bard Cottage was a house a little set back from the line, close to a bridge called Bard's Causeway, and the cemetery was made nearby in a sheltered position under a high bank. After the Armistice, 46 graves were brought in to Plot VI, Row C, from the immediate area, including 32 from MARENGO FARM CEMETERY (this was located a few hundred metres to the south of Bard Cottage, on the same side of the road. It was used from June 1915 to August 1916).”, https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/50800/bard-cottage-cemetery/

The additional information is that he was the Son of the Rev. Robert Colquhoun Faithfull and Felicia Amy Faithfull, of Shrub House, Copford, Colchester. Late of Peakirk Rectory, Peterborough. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/440039/francis-william-alexander-faithfull/

Cheers,
Peter

[Tom Lang]

7 hours ago, PRC said:

C Company

<snip>

Lt. A.G. Cowie (J 9th May) took Comd. – Lieutenant A.G. Cowie, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 12th September 1914. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC shows 2nd Lieutenant, (later Captain), Alexander Gordon Cowie, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, first landed in France on the 23rd August 1914. His widow, a Mrs Gatehouse, applied for his medals – I assume she had remarried. Her contact address is given as Lauriston(?) Lodge, Exter Road, Bourenmouth. He is noted as having died on the 6th April 1916.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website lists that Captain Alexander Gordon Cowie died on the 6th April 1916 while serving with the 1st Battalion. He is buried at Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/627956/alexander-gordon-cowie/

<snip>

Cheers,
Peter

I am attaching a photo I have of (now) Captain A.G. Cowie, 2nd Seaforths.

I cannot provide the source of this photo & I do not remember where or when I got it, and must give my apologies to the original owner.

I hope this helps.

Tom.

[Tom Lang]

1 hour ago, Tom Lang said:

I am attaching a photo I have of (now) Captain A.G. Cowie, 2nd Seaforths.

I cannot provide the source of this photo & I do not remember where or when I got it, and must give my apologies to the original owner.

I hope this helps.

Tom.

I am also attaching a snippet of my transcription of the WD (May, 1915) when (then Lieut. Cowie joined the 2nd Battalion. This may be of further use.

Tom

[PRC]

4 hours ago, Tom Lang said:

I am attaching a photo I have of (now) Captain A.G. Cowie, 2nd Seaforths.

I cannot provide the source of this photo & I do not remember where or when I got it, and must give my apologies to the original owner.

I hope this helps.

Tom.

Surround looks like the Illustrated London News, but not picking up a specific issue via the search via FindMyPast. I did however come across three references from April 1916, and looks like potentially two have a different picture. (Sorry, don't subscribe so can't check it out).

Image courtesy FindMyPast

3 hours ago, Tom Lang said:

I am also attaching a snippet of my transcription of the WD (May, 1915) when (then Lieut. Cowie joined the 2nd Battalion. This may be of further use.

Tom

Looks like we agree on the spelling of McEwen, Laurie, McLachlan & Dickson versus those put forward by the OP

Rawsterne however is a variation on the Rawstone \ Rawstorne previously put forward. Rawstorne seems to be the best documented.

Cheers,
Peter

[Tom Lang]

19 hours ago, PRC said:

Surround looks like the Illustrated London News, but not picking up a specific issue via the search via FindMyPast. I did however come across three references from April 1916, and looks like potentially two have a different picture. (Sorry, don't subscribe so can't check it out).

Image courtesy FindMyPast

Looks like we agree on the spelling of McEwen, Laurie, McLachlan & Dickson versus those put forward by the OP

Rawsterne however is a variation on the Rawstone \ Rawstorne previously put forward. Rawstorne seems to be the best documented.

Cheers,
Peter

I have a subscription to the British Newspaper Archives so I'll have a search.

Regarding the spelling of Officer names, the WD is mostly illegible.

My transcription is my interpretation of what I 'see'. I take full responsibility for any errors or omissions. However, I'm attaching the WD pages for April and May 1915 (courtesy TNA) and my transcriptions of these pages (2 pages for each month).

Tom.

[Tom Lang]

21 hours ago, PRC said:

Surround looks like the Illustrated London News, but not picking up a specific issue via the search via FindMyPast. I did however come across three references from April 1916, and looks like potentially two have a different picture. (Sorry, don't subscribe so can't check it out).

Image courtesy FindMyPast

Looks like we agree on the spelling of McEwen, Laurie, McLachlan & Dickson versus those put forward by the OP

Rawsterne however is a variation on the Rawstone \ Rawstorne previously put forward. Rawstorne seems to be the best documented.

Cheers,
Peter

I found the attached newspaper clippings (courtesy British Newspaper Archives).

08 Jul 1915 - Wounded - Glasgow Daily Record, page 6.
17 Apr 1916 - Died of Wounds - Aberdeen Press & Journal, page 3.
17 Apr 1916 - Died of Wounds - Glasgow Daily Record, page 3.
17 Apr 1916 - Died of Wounds - Irish Independent, page 2.
17 Apr 1916 - Died of Wounds - Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, page 6.
29 Apr 1916 - "death from wounds" - Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News, page 5.

The 'potential' for a different photo is no longer a problem.
The articles concerned have his name and details embedded in the text among the photos of different officers.

Tom.

 

[Lee Smart]

Tawhiri, Peter, Tom,

Many thanks for all your assistance. Please find below the initial fruits of my labours this week...A Company's Officers.  I do have a photo of Lt Houldsworth but very much older in the 60's as the Lord Lieutenant of Moray and retired Brigadier.  Moving on o B Company now:

[PRC]

On 05/05/2022 at 20:36, Tom Lang said:

The 'potential' for a different photo is no longer a problem.
The articles concerned have his name and details embedded in the text among the photos of different officers.

Thanks for checking Tom.

Finally got round to looking at the D Company queries.

D Company

Capt D A Carden – Captain D.A. Carden, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 3rd July 1901. Column 1457 https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC as Captain D A Carden 2nd Bn subsequently Lieutenant Colonel. First arrived in France 23rd August 1914. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1696949
The reverse of the card shows that Mrs J C.B. Kennedy applied for the 1914 Star in respect of the services of Lt. Colonel D. A. Carden. Her address was Westown, Staffam, County Kildare, Ireland.

No obvious long papers in the National Archive catalogue.

Lieutenant Colonel Derrick Alfred Carden, Seaforth Highlanders attached 7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, died aged 40 on the 25th May 1915. He is buried at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, France. Additional information is that he was the Son of Sir John Carden, 4th Bart., of Templemore, Ireland, and of the late Lady Carden, of Westown, Co. Kildare. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/44307/

Previous GWF thread

The 1915 UK Probate Calendar records Derrick Alfred Carden, of Westown, Straffan, Kildare, Colonel in H.M. Forces died 25 May 1915 at Ypres in France. Probate was awarded at the Dublin court to George Edward De Vere Kennedy, gentleman.

2Lt M. MacPherson – 2nd Lieutenant M. Macpherson, 3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion, with no date of seniority shown. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

Possible  - MiC for a Second Lieutenant, (later Captain), Maximillian MacPherson, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. However that has him landing in France on the 22nd September 1915. It shows him as Killed in Action 4th October 1917. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3878361
The back of the card shows that Mrs L.M. Macpherson applied for her husbands medals in January 1919. Her address was 12, Gloucester Terrace, Westmoreland Road, Newcastle-om-Tyne.

Various MiD cards as well.

While his MiC would appear to rule him out, his memorial webpage on the Univesity of Glagsow website has a picture of him and has a mini-biography. For his wartime experiences it records “He served in France with the 2nd Bn. Seaforths and was wounded on the 9th April 1915. He wrote of this event to his mother, who was living in Largs. The wound healed and he returned to service after having it treated first in a Red Cross Hospital and then in a General Hospital at Le Treport on the Channel coast south of the Somme estuary.

On the 22nd September he was seconded to serve with the Royal Engineers, though he later returned to his Regiment. He was a fine soldier, promoted to Captain and Mentioned in Despatches for his valour in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches of the 25th June 1917. His personal life promised happiness. The 25 year old Captain married Lucy Crawshaw at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Glasgow, on the 14th August 1917. He would not have time to spend with his new wife, however. His regiment was in Flanders in the autumn and the build-up to Passchendaele began.

Captain Macpherson’s company went into action on the 4th October. It was a day of very heavy rainfall, but despite the conditions, Haig’s plan for a ‘bite and hold’ attack, put into effect at the Battle of Broodseinde, near Poelcapelle was one of the most successful of the campaign and inflicted a blow to the morale of the 4th German army. Nine Victoria Crosses were awarded for heroism that day.

Just as Maximillian’s men were about to reach their objective to push the Germans back from a ridge overlooking the village, he was wounded in the leg. His life did not appear to be in great danger but as he was being stretchered off a bullet passed through his head. Captain Maximillian Macpherson is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery and commemorated on the war memorial of Greenock High School, on the Roll of Honour of the Royal Technical College of Glasgow, and on South Africa’s Roll of Honour.”  https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-biography/?id=3549

Captain Maximillian Macpherson, 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve) attached 2nd Battalion would die on the 4th October 1917 aged 25 years. Despite what the University of Glasgow webpage says, he has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial – his grave must have been lost in subsequent fighting. He was twice mentioned in despatches and the additional information is that he was the Son of Alexander and Margaret Knox Macpherson; husband of Lucy Muir Macpherson. Member of Glasgow University O.T.C. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1634124/maximillian-macpherson/

The 1918 UK Probate Calendar records that Maximillian Macpherson, of Southcroft, Largs, Ayr, captain Seaforth Highlanders, died 4 October 1917 in Belgium. Administration was granted at the London Court on the 17th May 1918 to Lucy Muir Macpherson, widow.

Lt C E Baird – Lieutenant C.E. Baird, 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 17th September 1913. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC for 2Lt C E Baird, 2nd Battalion shows him killed in action 1st July 1916. He first landed in France on the 23rd August 1914. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1121644
His father, Brigadier-General E.W. Baird for apply for his sons’ 1914 Star in November 1917. He gave the address of 108 Lancaster Gate, London, W2.

There are long papers in the National Archive catalogue for Captain Charles Edward Baird, Seaforth Highlanders. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1063265

Captain Charles Edward Baird, 2nd Battalion, would die on the 1st July 1916, age 21. He is buried at Serre Road Cemetery No.2, France. Additional information is that he was the Son of Brig. Gen. E. W. Baird and Millicent Bessie Baird, of Kelloe, Edrom, Berwickshire, and Forse, Caithness. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/608073/charles-edward-baird/

Charles was a product of Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst. https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/136120

Mini bio here http://undyingmemory.net/Exning/baird carol.html

There is a plaque for him in St. Nicholas' Chapel, Landwade Hall Estate, Landwade, Forest Heath, Suffolk https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/11475

The 1917 UK Probate Calendar records that Charles Edward Baird, (the younger) of Forse, Caithness, captain Seaforth Highlanders, died 1st July 1916 on active. Confirmation came from Brigadier General Edward William David Baird, and was sealed at London on the 8th March 1917.

2Lt J M Low – 2nd Lieutenant J.M. Low, Reserve of Officers attached 2nd Battalion, with seniority from the 6th August 1914. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC for 2nd Lieutenant James Morrison Low, Seaforth Highlanders, subsequently Lieutanant Machine Gun Corps. He first landed in France on the 19th February 1915. He was originally recorded as missing on the 1st July 1916. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3725217
The back of the card is blank.

Lieutenant James Morrison Low, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders attached Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) would die on the 1st July 1916 aged 24. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. The additional information is that he was the Son of the late Sir James Low, Bt., and Lady Low, of Kilmaron Castle, Cupar, Fife. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/801525/james-morrison-low/

You already have an image of him – looks like the same one is on the Lives of the First Worl War site https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2711024
As well as Great War Dundee. https://www.greatwardundee.com/entry/low-james-m/

No obvious missing persons query received by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Lt. J E Lawrie (Coy Comd from 9th May) – Lieutenant J.E. LAURIE, 1st Battalion, with seniority from the 30th October 1914. Column 1459. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

MiC for Lieutenant John Emiluis LAURIE, 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders,subsequently Lieutenant Colonel & D.S.O. He first landed in France 12th October 1914. The card is noted that he was invalided to England 18th November 1914. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3302551
The reverse of the MiC shows he applied for his medals in May 1921, giving an address of the Caledonian Club, St. James Square, London SW1.

There is also a card for MiD.

Wikipedia page for Major General Sir John EMILIUS LAURIE, CBE, DSO & Bar, finished the Great War commanding the 6th Battalion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Laurie,_6th_Baronet

The National Portrait Gallery has images of him, but the only one on their website dates from 1942. https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp79835/sir-john-emilius-laurie-6th-bt

2Lt T. H McEwan (gassed 24th May) – already had a suggestion from the London Gazette of John Howard McEwen. 2nd Lieutenant J H McEwen, 3rd Battalion, seniority from the 13th January 1915. Column 1460. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

No MiC for a T. McEwan or a J. McEwen.

There are however long papers in the National Archive catalogue for a Captain John Howard Potter McEWAN, Seaforth Highlanders. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1054674

2nd Lt W S MacKenzie (3rd Bn) – 2nd Lieutenant W.S. Mackenzie (on probation), 3rd Battalion, with seniority from the 27th February 1915. Column 1461. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079150

The London Gazette 10 November 1914 page 9141
Special Reserve of Officers.
The undermentioned Cadets and ex Cadets of the Officer Training Corps to be 2nd Lieutenants (on probation). Dated 11th November 1914.

William Stuart Mackenzie, 3rd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28969/page/9141

Supplement to the London Gazette 6 May 1915 Page 4395.
The undermentioned Second Lieutenants in probation are confirmed in their ranks.

3rd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
William Stuart MacKenzie.
 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29155/supplement/4395

London Gazette 8 March 1918 page 3003.

The King has approved the admission of the undermentioned Officers to the Indian Army on probation.
Lieutenant William Stuart Mackenzie, 3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, attached 4th Gurkha Rifles. Dated 4th April 1917 but to rank from 11th August 1916.
 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30565/page/3003

MiC for 2nd Lieutenant William Stuart MacKenzie, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders Unattached List.He first landed in France on the 2nd May 1915. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3841386
The back of the card notes that claim were received from India in July 1919 for his 1914-15 Star.
 

2Lt W S MacKay (3rd Bn) – Probably 2nd Lieutenant W M Mackay, (on probation) 3rd Battalion, with seniority from the 24th March 1915. Column 1461. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079150

London Gazette 23 March 1915 Page 2855.

The undermentioned Cadets and ex-Cadets of the Officers Training Corps to be Second Lieutenants on probated. Dated 24th March 1915.
William Morton Mackay. 3rd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29109/page/2855

MiC for a Lieutenant, (later Captain) William Morton Mackay, 3rd Seaforth Highlanders. MiC only shows VM , BWM & Emblems. No date of entry into a Theatre of War. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3832664
Back of the card shows Captain Mackay applied for his medals in May 1922 giving a contact address of 4 Windsor Terrace, St George’s Road, Glasgow,

No obvious long papers in the National Archive catalogue.

2Lt A W Somerville (3rd Bn) – 2nd Lieutenant A W Somerville, 3rd Battalion attached 1st Battalion, with seniority not stated. Columns 1459 (and 1461). https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/121079138

London Gazette 25 August 1914 Page 6699

The undermentioned Cadets and ex-cadets of the Officer Training Corps to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 15th August 1914.
Alexander Welsh Somerville, 3rd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28879/page/6699

London Gazette 1 December 1914 Page 10199.

The undermentioned Second Lieutenants (on probation) are confirmed in their rank.
3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Alexander Welsh Somerville.
 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28992/page/10199

No obvious MiC.

Officers long papers in the National Archive catalogue for a Captain Alexander Welsh Somerville, Seaforth Highlanders. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1074815

May be a co-incidence but in the Supplement to the London Gazette 31 May 1956 page 3119, an Alexander Welsh Somerville, Esquire, Youth Welfare Worker, Edinburgh, was included on a long list of those who were to be Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order, (i.e. O.B.E.).
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40787/supplement/3119

Cheers,
Peter

[Lee Smart]

Gents....May I present; The Boys of Company B... or 'the Officers'. I have drawn a complete blank on 2Lt HH Burns (3 Gordons). I had posted this earlier but accidently slipped in two C Company interlopers. I have still to colourise 2Lts Glass and Sillars..but thought I'd post anyway.

[6RRF]

Very minor little correction to the entry on Gilbert Marshall Mackenzie of A Company

 

His home was Bieldside rather than Bieldersde. Bieldside is a small village on Deeside just to the west of Aberdeen. His parents were married in Elgin in 1876

Actual birth was recorded at Queen's Gate [a maternity hospital west centre of Aberdeen] on 21 November 1890. 

[PRC]

13 hours ago, Lee Smart said:

I have drawn a complete blank on 2Lt HH Burns (3 Gordons).

Possible candidate for you.

Looking at the entry for the 3rd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in the July 1915 British Army List, there is amongst the 2nd Lieutenants shown as attached to the Seaforth Highlanders an H.H. BROWN. His seniority dates from the 10th March 1915, and he was still then recorded as on probation. (Column 1473a) https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/119512561

The National Archive catalogue records long papers for a 2nd Lieutenant Harold Halstead Brown, The Gordon Highlanders. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1055129

His Medal Index Card records that Harold Halstead Brown first landed in France on the 31st May 1915, (your “2Lt Burns” caught up with the 2nd Battalion in the field on the 11th June). There is no reference to him serving with the Seaforth’s. but as he was only attached that wouldn’t be automatically recorded anyway. Harold was Killed in Action on the 18th July 1916. His medals were applied for by his mother, who gave a contact address of c\o Messrs Gillespie + Paterson W.S., 31 Melville Street, Edinburgh.

His CWGC webpage shows that Second Lieutenant Harold Halstead Brown died on the 18th July 1916. He was then 3rd Battalion attached 1st Gordon Highlanders. Harold has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/765556/harold-halstead-brown/

This mini-biography appears on the University of Glasgow First World War Roll of Honour website.

“Harold Halstead Brown was the youngest son of the late Very Reverend John Brown, DD, minister of Bellahouston Parish, and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1916-1917). He was born on the 24th October 1896. On leaving the High School of Glasgow, he proceeded to the University, entering on the Arts side. There he joined the OTC, from which he obtained his commission in the Gordon Highlanders in March 1915.

He left for the front on the 1st June 1915, and was attached to the 2nd Bn. Seaforths, then at Ypres. Later he was invalided home. He rejoined the 3rd Bn. Gordon Highlanders in September, and left again for the front on the 7th March 1916. He was attached to the 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders, and with them took part in an attack on Delville Wood on the 18th July, and fell in action, aged 29. He was a nephew of Professor Rankine, KC, of Threepwood, Roxburghshire, and a grandson of the Very Reverend John Rankine DD, of Sorn, who was Moderator of the Church of Scotland in 1883. Like his older brothers he had a brilliant career at the High School.

2nd Lieutenant Harold Halstead Brown is honoured on the City of Glasgow Roll of Honour, and his name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial, in France.” https://universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-biography/?id=1402

FMP, (and BNA), has at least five newspaper reports of the death of Harold. From the preview thumbnails it looks like there are pictures on at least two of the pages, but it would need someone with a subscription to check out if they are relevant.

Image courtesy FindMyPast.

Hope that is not an (Aberdeen) red herring

Cheers,
Peter

[Lee Smart]

6RRF;  Many thanks, adjustments made.

Peter,

You're on the money!...As ever, Went back to the diary and squinted through Capt Campbell's handwriting: 2Lt HH Brown it is!!  Many thanks - Sadly I have not been able to access any photo yet.

 

Edited 15 May , 2022 by Lee Smart

[6RRF]

53 minutes ago, Lee Smart said:

6RRF;  Many thanks, adjustments made.

 

My pleasure, I'm an "old boy" of Queen's Gate myself, albeit more than 60 years after Gilbert Marshall Mackenzie, and later grew up near Bieldside

His father, incidentally, signed the register as A. Marshall Mackenzie, so the gallant Lieutenant may likewise have been known as Marshall rather than Gilbert

[Lee Smart]

One week on...so it must be C Company's turn.

I struggled to find any more on either JAD Perrins or W L Gordon who both have later references to them as Captains with a Military cross each...but there I lost the trail.

 

Edited 21 May , 2022 by Lee Smart
Correction

[generalist]

1 hour ago, Lee Smart said:

I struggled to find any more on either JAD Perrins or W L Gordon who both have later references to them as Captains with a Military cross each...but there I lost the trail.

A bit of background here, but nothing very useful on the military career...

It looks like JAD Perrins was the son of Charles William Dyson Perrins, and thus a scion of the Lea & Perrins sauce dynasty. BNA throws up a couple of lengthy accounts of his 21st birthday in 1911 - it was a grand celebration for the tenantry at Ardross Castle, to mark "the coming of age of the heir of Ardross", with the band of the 2nd Seaforths present (apparently for several days!)

CWD Perrins seems to have been a substantial local benefactor, including a drill hall for the Alness territorials (opened 1911, £3000). Perrins senior had been in the HLI, but the Ardross estate presumably explains the Seaforths connection for the son. (The estate factor was himself a major in the 4th Seaforths). Privately educated - no school or university education mentioned here, just "privately educated" so likely tutors - and seems to mostly have gone by Allan Perrins. 2nd Lieutenant in 3rd Seaforths May (?) 1911, Lieutenant May 1912.

This from 1915 notes he was mentioned in despatches and suggests he took the first draft of replacements from 3rd Seaforths out to France, which sounds about right for 28th August. A letter of his was quoted in the papers in January 1915 giving details of a corporal killed in November; it notes he was with D Company at the time.

An engagement notice was published September 1916 giving him as "adjutant, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards" (to Marie Louise Rodewald, an American; there doesn't seem to have been a subsequent wedding?)

Edited 21 May , 2022 by generalist

[pjwmacro]

Fascinating stuff gentlemen

[Lee Smart]

All...D Company in all their splendour...I struggled a bit to get anything for Mackenzie, Somerville or MacEwan....and have yet to do much colourizing of the photo's.

[Lee Smart]

Gents, (and any Ladies looking in),

I am progressing well and back from  a summer break - I have one lingering itch...one officer in particular interests me now: 

Lieutenant V M PRICE   (Platoon Commander, B Company) he was commissioned  2nd Lieutenant into the 3rd (Reserve) Bn Seaforth Highlanders on 9th Aug 1911, and subsequently promoted to Lieutenant on 5th August 1914. He deployed with the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders as a Platoon Commander in B Company but was reported as departed sick with malaria on 14th September 1914.

I can find no further information about him at all - he does not return to the Battalion and all other information eludes me: No indication of a Medal Index Card. Obviously with a name like Price it leads to lots of false trails in google search (the same as Captain E G Hay, another whose surname again is prone to false trails). I have tried all manner of first names: Victor, Vaughn, Vincent etc but to no avail...

He left the battalion as sick, on 14th September - later in the same day as the CO, Lt Col Sir Evelyn Ridley Badford, Capt W E Murray (Gordon Hldrs - attached to D Coy), Lt A I N Williamson (C Coy: Pl OC) were killed (All by shell-fire in separate strikes,- the CO died at 9am whilst conducting a recce of the enemy lines with the Adjacent Rifle Brigade - Lt Williamson and Murray were killed around midday when they came forward to reinforce the lines before an anticipated attack) and Captain P G Anstruther (OC B Coy) was wounded. The War Diary records it as quite a busy day with A & B Companies digging-in a new front line under increasingly heavy artillery fire (lots of shrapnel)... the enemy infantry attack never materialised due to the heavy fire laid onto their trenches.

If anyone can dig up any more information on him (including pre-and post sickness) I would be very grateful.