William Macdonald and brother John

Pte William Macdonald, Seaforth Highlanders, died 21st March 1918 in France.  On the same day his brother Lance Corporal John Macdonald, Seaforth Highlanders, died age 23, also in France.

They are sons of Pipe Major William Macdonald and his wife Jessie Murray of Craigmohr, Golspie.  Pipe Major Macdonald was born in Rogart.  His wife in Brora, Clyne. In 1901 this family were living in Main Street, Golspie.  Pipe Major William died in 1909.  Jessie lived until 1933.  They are buried in Golspie where William and John are commemorated on their gravestone.

The boys are also commemorated on The Arras War Memorial, France and on Golspie War Memorial.
Photographs of the panels at Arras by Shirley Sutherland.

Lance Cpl. John Bain

Lance Corporal John Bain, 5th Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, killed in action 13th March 1917 France.  John was born at Rosskeen, Ross-shire.  He is the son of Mr Bain, shepherd, Clayside, Golspie.  His home is shown as Dunrobin Glen, Golspie and he enlisted in Golspie in 1915.  Would like to know more about John if anyone can help.  Who are his parents?

He is buried in Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France and listed on the Golspie War Memorial.

Sgt. Alexander Macdonald

Sgt. Alexander Macdonald, Seaforth Highlanders, killed in action 13th November 1916 Beaumont Hamel, France. Alexander was born in Golspie in 1884 and worked as a gamekeeper for Sutherland Estates, living in Dunrobin Kennels. He is the son of John and Margaret Macdonald.

Buried Mailly Wood Cemetery, France, listed on Golspie War Memorial and also on the Strathardle War Memorial, Perthshire, where his parents were living.  He is also recorded in Clan Donald Roll of Honour Book.

Photograph by Shirley Sutherland.

Alexander Sutherland & brother Roderick

Lance Cpl. Alexander Sutherland, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, Killed in Action 24th May 1915, age 26 in Belgium.  Alexander was born in Golspie, son of Mr and Mrs G. Sutherland of Myron's Lane, Golspie.  He was a regular solder. Alexander is commemorated on panel 38 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium and on the Golspie War Memorial.  He is also recorded on The Seaforth Highlanders Ross of Honour in The Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle.

Also his brother Pte. Roderick John Sutherland, 1/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, Killed in Action 24th March 1916 France.  Roderick is buried in the Maroeuil British Cemetery, France.  He is commemorated on Golspie War Memorial with his brother Alexander, and also in the Seaforth Highlanders Roll of Honour, The Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle. Roderick was a former member of the Golspie Boys Brigade.

Photograph of Menin Gate panel by Shirley Sutherland

Pte. James Murray

Pte. James Murray, Seaforth Highlanders, Killed in Action 21st March 1918 aged 39 years.  Commemorated on Arras Memorial, France. Also commemorated on Golspie War Memorial and on his parents' gravestone in Golspie (photograph below).
James was born 31st January 1878 in Golspie, son of David Murray, tailor, and his wife Janet Mackay (Jessie) who lived at West End, Golspie.

Arras Memorial photograph by Shirley Sutherland

Golspie gravestone photograph by Christine Stokes

David, Donald & Hugh Oliver

Pte. Hugh Oliver, Seaforth Highlanders, died 11th May 1917, age 23, buried St Mary's Churchyard, Harlow, Essex - gravestone above, commemorated on Golspie War Memorial with his brothers David and Hugh.  Sons of David Oliver, shepherd, and his wife Kate Macgregor of Academy Street, Brora, Clyne. Hugh was born in Dunbeath, Caithness.

Brother Pte. Donald Oliver, Seaforth Highlanders, died 2nd September 1917, commemorated on Golspie War Memorial, lived in Golspie, born in Lairg.

Brother Cpl. David Oliver, Seaforth Highlanders, died 4th March 1918 hospital, Paisley, age 22 years following being discharged in December 1917 as medically unfit due to gun shot wounds, born Golspie, lived Kirkton Farm, Golspie.

Note: would the gentleman who left a comment here earlier today please email me - email link on left.  Thanks.

John A. Sutherland, Royal Naval Reservists

John A. Sutherland 8951, Royal Naval Reservists died 17th June 1917, on board steam ship 'Raloo' killed in action with submarine off South of Ireland, age 29, son of Adam (Dulla) and Catherine Sutherland, fisherman, born Golspie, enlisted, Golspie  Commemorated on Golspie War Memorial and Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Alexander K. Sutherland

 Lance Sergeant Alexander K. Sutherland, Seaforth Highlanders.

son of the late Andrew Sutherland (King), fisherman and his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Sutherland of Church Street, Golspie.

died 13th November 1916 France.  Buried Mailly Wood, France.

Alexander was born in Golspie on 17th January 1892.

He is commemorated on Golspie War Memorial.

Photograph by Shirley Sutherland

Pte. William Gordon, 6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders

Pte. William Gordon, Seaforth Highlanders, died 13th November 1916, buried Mailly Wood Cemetery, France. Commemorated on Golspie War Memorial.

William was born around 1894 at Cambusmore, The Mound, Golspie, son of William Gordon, head gardener at Cambusmore and his wife Elizabeth Stage and grandson of Donald Gordon, shepherd, and his wife Isabella Pendrith and of John Stage, master tinsmith in Golspie and his wife Annie Gow.

A news report of young William's death in France confirmed he was the youngest son of this family.

Photograph by Shirley Sutherland, Golspie.

Sgt. Sackville Ross

Sgt. Sackville Ross, Seaforth Highlanders

Sackville was born 21st February 1873 at Drummuie, Golspie, son of Thomas Ross, gardener, and his wife Ann, nee Murray.  He was named after his maternal grandfather Sackville Murray who worked at Dunrobin for many years.

 Sackville died on 21st March 1918 in France.  He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, bay 8 and also on the Golspie War Memorial.

Lance Cpl. Walter Robson

Lance Cpl Walter Robson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, son of William Robson and his wife Diane, nee Mackay, of Torroble, Lairg and Culmaily, Golspie. Walter's father was a shepherd.  The family lived at Polly, Clyne and later at Mudale, Farr, then Golspie before moving to Lairg.

Walter died on 27th March 1918.  He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Bay 9, France.  He is also commemorated on the Lairg and Rogart War Memorials and on his parents' gravestone in St. Callan's Churchyard, Rogart.

Photograph taken by Shirley Sutherland, Golspie

Pte. Andrew G. Baddon and brother Donald

Andrew G. Baddon, born Evanton, Ross-shire, son of Mr and Mrs John Baddon, Golspie.

Andrew was a lorry driver with the Third Army Troops Supply, Col. Army Service Corps.

He was killed in a rail accident in France while on his way home on 24th November 1916.
Photographs of Andrew above supplied by family.

Andrew is commemorated on the Golspie War Memorial with his brother Donald who is also commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France

Charles and John Bannerman

Cpl. Charles Gray Bannerman 1st Bn. Seaforth Highlanders was born 9th June 1891 at Backies, Golspie, son of Hugh and Margaret (nee Murray) Bannerman.

Charles, a regular soldier, served in India and shortly after the outbreak of the war he was transferred with his regiment to France.  Charles who died on 26th September, 1915, at the Battle of Loos, has no known grave but is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial. He is also named on the Golspie War Memorial. Medals Victory British and 1914 star.
 
His brother Sergeant John Bannerman, 6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders was born in 1894 at Backies. On  Monday 9th April 1917 aged 25 years, he was killed during the Battle of Arras and is buried in the Highland Cemetery, Roclincourt, Pas de Calais, France.  He is also commemorated on Golspie War Memorial.

Information supplied by family members and with the kind permission of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Private Peter Campbell, Golspie

Private Peter Campbell, Seaforth Highlanders, 7th Bn.age 36,
died 12th October 1917
lived Kelso, Roxburghshire.
Son of Peter and Elizabeth Campbell, Golspie, husband of Jane Campbell.
Named on Golspie and Kelso War Memorials.
Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium, panel 133.

 

 

Kelso War Memorial

Placed here by Shirley Sutherland, Golspie.  Family photographs kindly provided by Elizabeth.

Lt. W. Forsyth, Golspie

Lt. William L. Forsyth, Seaforth Highlanders

tenant of Culmaily Farm, Golspie,

son of John F. Forsyth and his wife Agnes Laing, both deceased.

William is commemorated on bay 8, Arras Memorial, France

and also on Golspie War Memorial.

His parents are buried in Golspie Cemetery.

Sgt. Major James R. Fraser

Sgt Major 240026 James R. Fraser, Seaforth Highlanders

son of John Fraser and his wife Agnes Russell of Fountain Buildings, Golspie

died 21st March 1918 age 30 years.

Memorial Bay 8, Arras Memorial, France

He is commemorated on Golspie War Memorial also.

John's father was a merchant in Golspie.  He is buried with his wife in Golspie cemetery.  James is commemorated on their gravestone also.

Photographed by Shirley Sutherland, Golspie

William and John Munro WW1

"A wave of deep sympathy passed over the whole community when the sad intelligence was known that Sergt-Major John A. Munro, Smithy Lane, Golspie, had been fatally wounded in action.  This is the second son of Mrs Munro to be killed within the space of a few months. Sergt-Major Munro was a member of the first British Expeditionary Force.  He was in the famous Mons retreat, the battle of the Marne, the fierce fighting around Ypres, La Bassee, the first battle of the Vimy ridge, the offensive on hte Somme, and the present offensive.  Before receiving his fatal wound he had been hit on four separate occasions, and it was of his own choice that he went back to the firing line, as, he used to say himself, he would like to take part in the driving of the Germans back to the point he came in contact with them in Belgium.  He was but 23 years of age".  (Extract from 'Chronicle', Inverness, April 25, 1917).

The photograph of the grave above shows the original wooden grave markers that were erected over the fallen on the Somme and below as it looks today. John is buried in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery.

This photograph shows John's brother Sgt. William Munro, Seaforth Highlanders, born 13th January 1891 in Golspie, died 13th November 1916. William is buried at Mailey Wood, France.

William and John are sons of William Munro and his wife Hughina Macdonald, Golspie.

Many thanks to Shirley Sutherland, Golspie for the above photograph and information.

See also Golspie War Memorial

Sgt. Cathel Sutherland Melville, Scots Guards, WW2

 Cathel Sutherland Melville, was born 26th November 1914, son of George Melville and Annie Fraser and born in Murray Buildings, Golspie, was a Butcher to trade  and well known as an active sportsman playing football to a high level in Sutherland and in the Army. Cathel was also a very proficient Billiards player.

 

He was a Sergeant in the Scots Guards and was killed in World War Two when on active service in Germany on 6th April 1945.  He is buried in a war grave at Oldenburgh, Sage British Cemetery 13 miles south of Oldenburgh in Germany.

The Golspie War memorial records Cathel’s service to his country and his death and he is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll of Honour.

 

Cathel was married to Georgine (Joey) Angus from Castletown where his widow and their son David lived until their deaths in 2000 and 2002 respectively.

Many thanks to Allan Lannon, Caithness, for the above.