Pioneer James David Sutherland

159314 Pioneer James David Sutherland, No 1 Special Coy, Royal Engineers, who died 2nd December 1917, son of Hector and Joanna Sutherland of Lybster, Caithness.  James was educated at Sutherland Technical School, Golspie.

James is buried in Dusians British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas de Calais, France - photograph above.

Many thanks to Morag Sutherland for photographs.

Pte Alexander Sutherland

Private Alexander Sutherland, born 20th January 1888 at Pittentrail, Rogart, son of John Sutherland and Catherine Sutherland.  Alexander, Private, 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, was killed in France on 9th June 1918.  He is buried in the Wanquetin Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.  He is also commemorated on the Rogart War Memorial and on his parents' gravestone at St. Callan's churchyard, Rogart.

Many thanks to Morag Sutherland for this photograph.

Pte Donald Sutherland, Seaforth Highlanders

 Donald Sutherland was born circa 1886 Clyne. He died 8th May 1920 near the railway bridge, Brora, when he accidentally drowned whilst trout fishing, aged 29 years – he served in the war arriving in France on 1st May 1915, Private with the 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, he was demobilized after the war and returned to his trade as a journeyman plumber – following his death he was buried in a War Grave in Brora Cemetery and commemorated on the Clyne War Memorial.

Donald is the son of Roderick  Sutherland (born Clyne) and his wife Jessie Ewing (born Rogart).  He is the grandson of John Sutherland, crofter, and his wife Janet Macdonald and of Alexander Ewing, ploughman, and his wife Marion Macpherson.

Trooper W J Sutherland, WW2

Trooper William John Sutherland, Lovat Scouts died in World War Two on 22nd January 1942 in Lanarkshire. He is buried in Brora Cemetery, Clyne in War Grave, commemorated on family headstone, Clyne War Memorial and on the Lovat Scouts Roll of Honour in The Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh.  William was single.

William was born 6th April 1916 in Clyne, son of William Sutherland of Brora, Clyne and his wife Johan Murray.  Grandson of Alexander Sutherland and his wife Mary Baillie and of Alexander Murray and his wife Janet Gordon.

Lt. William Sutherland, WW2

Lt. William Munro Sutherland, Royal Army Pay Corps, died 28th January 1946 aged 59 years, buried in War Grave, Dornoch Golf Road Cemetery. Son of James Sutherland and his wife Catherine, husband of Margaret Mackay.
Photograph by Christine Stokes

Sgt. Robert Sutherland, Seaforth Highlanders

Sgt. Robert Sutherland, Seaforth Highlanders.

Killed in Action 9th April 1917 The Scarpe, Arras, France.

Robert was born in Clyne in 1893, son of George and Robina Sutherland of Moss Hill, Brora. He worked for the North of Scotland Bank starting his career with them at Brora in 1908.  At the time of mobilization he was working in the Eastgate Branch, Inverness. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France, Bay 8.  He is also commemorated on the Clyne War Memorial.  Listed on the Clyne United Free Church War Memorial, recorded in the Seaforth Highlanders Ross of Honour, The Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle and recorded in the North of Scotland Bank Roll of Honour book and on their memorial in Aberdeen.

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

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

Sgt. A. N. Sutherland

Alexander Nicholas Sutherland, Sergeant 18th Queen Mary's Own Hussars, killed 24th August 1914.
Son of Walter David Sutherland, Clashmore, Dornoch, Sutherland; husband of Gertrude Maude Ward (formerly Sutherland), of Highfield House, Ludgershall, Andover, Hants. He is buried in Cement House Cemetery, Belgium.

This man was a regular soldier – in an early cavalry attack near Mons he reached down to help a French cavalry officer and as a consequence was shot in the back and died from his wounds…………..the French officer survived and remembered Alexander who  was awarded the French medal militiare posthumously.
He was one of the very first casualties of the war.

Not too many years ago the authorities were persuaded to add the French MM after his name on the Dornoch war memorial- it is in slightly raised bronze.  There is a plaque in Dornoch cathedral which features his name along with others from the congregation who lost their lives in the Great War

Meanwhile his brother Walter had emigrated from Clashmore (where he had been a gardener at Skibo castle) to Canada. When he heard of Alexander’s death he enlisted with the Canadian expeditionary force and was posted to the western front near to the town of Poperinge in Flanders, Belgium.

He met a local girl who served him a beer in an estaminet (wee local pub) and they got married…………so he stayed on in the area. After the war his gardening experience stood him in good stead and he got a job with the CWGC and worked in Lissjenthoek cemetery until his retiral. He had a son George who is almost 88 – he and my George are second cousins!

I only know this story because of our going to Talbot House in Poperinge  as volunteer wardens. George discovered the family connection and once we found George A Sutherland’s name in the local phone book, contact was made and friendships formed………

We will remember Alex on the 11th November but are grateful for the family connection made with George, his wife and family.

The picture below shows Walter in the early days of planting trees in the cemetery.

Morag L Sutherland – October 2009