Sparky53 Posted 4 October , 2007 Share Posted 4 October , 2007 Hi I was excited to find this message in 7 Black Watch War Diary today. Can anyone read the other officer's name with Capt Spark looks like Lt ? Gillone ? Gallone Have long been researching how Gt Uncle Archibald Douglas Spark won his MC at High Wood on or around 30 July 1916. He was with 153 Brigade Machine Gun Company at the time. I think I have got closer to the time & place now. Thank you Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 4 October , 2007 Share Posted 4 October , 2007 Is that Londons or Gordons at the bottom? If Gordons (and the 1/7 Gordon Highlanders were at High Wood at the end of July 1916), then could it be G_th___ - look at the "th" in "within". If Londons, then L__th__ So maybe Latham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wullmackie Posted 4 October , 2007 Share Posted 4 October , 2007 Hi Jane Could it be Guthrie Name: GUTHRIE, HUGH SMITH Initials: H S Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Unit Text: 7th Bn. Age: 25 Date of Death: 31/03/1918 Additional information: Son of Henry and Jeannie Pryde Guthrie, of "Paarl", Hawthorn St., Leven, Fifeshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. F. 1. Cemetery: CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ Died ( in German hands ) All the best Wull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 4 October , 2007 Share Posted 4 October , 2007 I suspect it's the 1/7th Gordons (same Division & Brigade), and I also think Guthrie fits. Hugh Smith Guthrie was a Private in the 1/7th so may have been commissioned to a different battalion of the Black Watch? Also, the note states Lt., whereas Hugh was a Sec. Lt. when killed. It could be a hasty error on the note of course. One might expect a 1916 Sec. Lt. to be promoted by 1918, though? EDIT: Hugh Smith Guthrie was commissioned 30-5-1917, so it can't be him. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= There is also: Medal card of Guthrie, John Mack Corps Regiment No Rank Royal Highlanders Second Lieutenant Royal Highlanders Territorial Force Captain http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=5 Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 4 October , 2007 Share Posted 4 October , 2007 I'm running with John Mack Guthrie for a moment: 6th (Perthshire) battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders); the undermentioned Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants. Dated 2nd September, 1914: Lawrence F. Burgis. Robert B. Ellis. The undermentioned to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 2nd September, 1914: Walter Haig. Charles Shearer. William Ernest Coutts. Archibald Alexander Stewart. John Mack Guthrie. Charles George Gordon. Robert Patrick Haldane. Not a good start..... LG 26-6-1916 Roy. Highrs. 2nd Lt. (temp. Lt.) J. M. Guthrie to be Lt. 12th Aug. 1915. So he was Lt. before July 1916. LG 15-1-1917 Royal Highlanders. Lt. J. M. Guthrie to be temp. Capt. 7th Sept. 1916 Jury's out on that one..... Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wullmackie Posted 4 October , 2007 Share Posted 4 October , 2007 I read it as Lt Guthrie and Capt Spark 179 Coy out in open within 50 yds of enemys strong point N E of wood can you help them am reinforcing you with 1 platoon 1/7 Gordons when they arrive Wull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky53 Posted 4 October , 2007 Author Share Posted 4 October , 2007 I can't find Lt Guthrie or anyone who's name fits, in the relevant battalion war diaries of the time, ( 7 BW, 6BW, & 7 Gordons, 5 Gordons & 153 Machine Gun Company) very odd as you would have expected him to be killed, wounded, awarded a medal or mentioned in some way I think it says Capt Spark M G Coy This is a mesage in 7 Gordons War Diary:_ to SLAY per SLUG. “Situation Right Company. Captain Gillespie and Boase killed. Officer and 6 men hanging on to right of Wood in shell hole. Centre Company--. 30 men digging in about 70 yards in advance. Left Company-------No gain, about 40 casualties per Company. Request more artillery Support†6th.Black Watch hung up with M.G. fire, from strong point south of Wood.†From G.S.F.Cheape Lt.Col. 7th.Black Watch. Time 7.30 p.m SLAY must be 7 Gordons SLUG 7 Black Watch Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 14 October , 2007 Share Posted 14 October , 2007 Jane, I think the officer is John Mack Guthrie MC, of the 6th Black Watch. Maj W A Guthrie leaves the 7th Black Watch on the 2nd April 1916. On the 4th of April, Lt Guthrie from the 6th Black Watch, is attached to the 7th Black Watch to instruct the Lewis Gun. He is subsequently killed on 28th of July 1918 and his Military Cross is awarded posthumously. Hope this helps Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky53 Posted 14 October , 2007 Author Share Posted 14 October , 2007 Thanks Tom it would tie in with the Machine Gun link Cheers Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 14 October , 2007 Share Posted 14 October , 2007 Not sure if this helps at all but...... Taken from this site 6th Battalion Abbey J G Pte 266956 : Obituary Bowie W R Pte 41079 : Photo Brook E Pte 3746 : Photo Brown A Captain : Photo Butler C H 2nd Lt : Photo Cairns G M 2nd Lt : Photo Cameron J K Pte 1877 : Obituary Cramb R Cpl 201426 : Obituary Edwards C E Pte 3768 : Photo Ferrier J P D Pte 267309 : Photo Guthrie J M Captain MC : Photo Haldane R P Lt : Portrait Harbidge G V Pte 2525 : Obituary Johnston A Y Pte 268038 : Photo Knight W A F Pte 41144 : Obituary McEwan D F 2nd Lt : Photo Wilson J N Captain : Photo Photos due to be added apparently. Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Smith Posted 8 June , 2011 Share Posted 8 June , 2011 I believe this to be Lt Col GRH Cheape, (later Brigadier General, commanding 86th Brigade) See http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=158980 "7/Black Watch: Lieut-Col H M Allen (wounded at High Wood 28 July 1916). Command passed to Lieut-Col G R H Cheape MC." For a short biography, see also http://www.gateside-fife.org.uk/Brig_Cheape.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jackolyn27 Posted 14 March , 2015 Share Posted 14 March , 2015 Hello..I know this is an older post so hope you still have same email. I have some data on an Archibald Douglas Spark..don't know if this is the same one you are looking for or not. He was married in 1917 to an Elsie Divorty Ross. At the time of his 1917 marriage he was a Major with the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders. Parents were Robert Spark and Christian Taylor Lyon. There are a couple of London Gazette military postings also that can be found on a google search. Feel free to contact me for additional information. Jackolyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 14 March , 2015 Share Posted 14 March , 2015 Ominously, Jacky (sparky53) hasn't been on the Forum since 2009. Hopefully if the 53 is year of birth she may still be with us, just not participating having completed her research, moved, lost password etc etc. It may be possible that she is still contactable on a Family History site such as Ancestry where she may have put her Family Tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 11 December , 2015 Share Posted 11 December , 2015 I think this recently found sketch map is from the area and time of this action, I have no idea what the numbers on the left refer to. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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