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9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
9th (Service) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders was raised in Aberdeen in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and joined 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. They trained at Aldershot and in November moved to Haslemere, becoming a pioneer Battalion for 15th (Scottish) Division on the 12th of January 1915. In February the moved to Perham Down, then to Andover for final training in May. They proceeded to France in the second week of July 1915, landing at Boulogne. They were in action in the The Battle of Loos in 1915. In spring 1916, they were involved in the German gas attacks near Hulluch and the defence of the Kink position. They were in action duringthe Battles of the Somme, including The Battle of Pozieres, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the capture of Martinpuich, The Battle of Le Transloy and the attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt. In 1917 they were in action in The First and Second Battle of the Scarpe, including the capture of Guemappe during the Arras Offensive. They then moved north to Flanders and were in action during the The Battle of Pilckem and The Battle of Langemark. In 1918 they fought in The First Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras, The Battle of the Soissonnais and the Ourcq taking part in the attack on Buzancy, and The Final Advance in Artois.
15th of March 1915 Active Artillery 
19th of March 1915 Patrols
20th of March 1915
15th Aug 1915 Enemy Tricks
1st July 1916 Fire on Airships Forbidden
13th July 1916 Operational Order
30th July 1916 Operation Orders
13th August 1916 Reorganisation
30th September 1916 Paraded under Officer from 9th Gordons
1st October 1917 In Brigade Reserve.
2nd October 1917 Working Parties
7th November 1917 Football Match
1st August 1918 Operational Orders No.42
1st August 1918 Left front Company gained objective
25th September 1918 Operation Orders No.65.
5th December 1918 Concert
6th December 1918 Orders
14th December 1918 6th Cameron Highlanders played Football against 9th Gordon Highlanders
21st January 1919 Silk Union Flag to be known as the 'Kings Colour' is presented to the Battalion
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders during the Great War 1914-1918. - Collie George Rae. Pte.
- Gebbie Andrew. Cpl.
- Gillespie Peter. L/Cpl. (d.24th March 1918)
- Gordon Alexander. Pte. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Heads George William. Pte. (d.22nd August 1917)
- Heywood John Charles. Pte. (d.26th Sep 1915)
- Johnstone Barclay. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- Kay Elias James. Pte.
- Kirkwood Andrew. Cpl. (d.11 Nov 1918)
- McDonagh Hugh. Pte. (d.22nd Nov 1915)
- McIntyre Sinclair. Pte. (d.29th June 1917)
- Morren Robert G.E.S.. Pte (d.28th Mar 1918)
- Morton Alexander. Pte.
- Munro David. Pte (d.22nd August 1917)
- Murray Francis. Pte. (d.1st Oct 1916)
- Neill CdG. John Kidd. Sgt.
- Robertson Robert. Pte. (d.27th September 1915)
- Robertson Thomas Paterson. Pte (d.23rd May 1916)
- Ryrie David Ross. Pte. (d.28th Aug 1916)
- Smith James. Pte. (d.29th Aug 1916)
- Watson John Douglas. Sgt.
- Westhorp Robert. Pte. (d.29th August 1916)
- Wightman Archie. Pte. (d.28th June 1917)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders from other sources.
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Pte. Alexander Morton 9th Btn. Gordon Highlanders My grandfather, Alexander Morton served in the 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders from 1914-1916. He served and fought during that period in France, the Battle of Loos and several others.
About August 1916 he was unfortunately enveloped by Mustard Gas fired from a German gun near the village of Vermeils, near Cambrai. As a result of this he was returned to Britain for treatment but was discharged from the hospital in Perth in June 1917.
I remember him from the early 1960s when I was a child. I know he suffered from the effects of the gas on his lungs all his life until he died in 1966.
After the war he was employed as a farm grieve (manager) in the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire but suffered terribly from the effects of the mustard gas and had a difficult time carrying out physical work.
I inherited his Short Magazine Lee Enfield bayonet which sits on a plaque in my living room.
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Sgt. John Douglas Watson 9th Btn. G Coy. Gordon Highlanders This post card was sent by my great-uncle Douglas Watson, to his brother James Innes Watson. John died at Loos six months later. On the reverse of photo is written, "9th Gordons, G Company , 12th Platoon, in genial mood! Taken at Perham Down, Hants, on Sunday 21st of March 1915. Hope you're still fit. 6th Gordons have evidently been getting it. No word, Jean says, lately from you, soon, I hope. My beauty is rather marred by the white spot. Douglas."
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Sgt. John Kidd Neill CdG. 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders John Neill (my father) enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders 2 weeks after war was declared in August 1914. He was involved in many battles through out the war, finishing with the rank of sergeant. In July 1918 members of his section were scattered due to violent bombardment. Though suffering from gassing and constant shelling he retraced his steps and reformed the various sections of his company. For this heroic action he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by General Petain. My father died in 1974 in traffic accident.
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Cpl. Andrew Gebbie 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders Andrew Gebbie served with 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
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Cpl. Andrew Kirkwood 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (d.11 Nov 1918) Andrew Kirkwood was my great great uncle. He enlisted on 17th March, 1915, age 31 years and six months. He died in France on the last day of the war from Influenza. He left behind his wife and six children ages: 14, 13, 11, 8, 6 and 4 years old. His wife received 33 pounds, three shillings and sixpence from the British Army. Two of his brothers-in-law were killed in action at Flanders.
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Pte. John Charles Heywood 9th (Pioneers) Btn. G Coy. Gordon Highlanders (d.26th Sep 1915) John Charles Heywood's Battalion, the 9th Pioneer Gordon Highlanders, assisted the Cameron Highlanders in capturing Hill 70 on 26th September before having to withdraw under great pressure. The Hun used artillery fire and JC's body was never found. RIP
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Pte. Archie Wightman 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (d.28th June 1917) Archie Wightman was my grandfather's brother. One of six brothers in the Army. He enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders at Berwick, Nov 1914. I have a letter written to my grandfather from Archie dated 13th of June 1917. Archie died 28th of June 1917 aged 23. He was laid to rest at Menin Road South Cemetery.
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Pte. Elias James Kay 9th (Pioneers) Battalion Gordon Highlanders My great-grandfather, Elias James Kay, was a Lancastrian working at Denny's shipyard, Dumbarton, Scotland, when he joined the Gordon Highlanders in 1914. He was allotted to 9th Battalion, which was later designated as the Pioneer Battalion. After training at Aldershot and Haslemere in Hampshire and Perham Down in Wiltshire, the battalion, as part of 15th (Scottish) Division moved to France.
There Elias saw service at Loos, some of the Somme battles, Arras, Third Ypres and many others.
When the Pioneer battalions were reorganised Elias was transferred to the Division's 46th Brigade and 10th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). It was with the Scottish Rifles that he was wounded and invalided home, never to return to combat.
His father (also Elias) had died in 1916 and of Mrs Alice Kay's three other sons who had enlisted Harold, was also invalided home in November 1916 from 1/4th Loyals. John and Albert were bothkilled on the same day the 20th of September 1917 in the 'Passchendaele' offensive (Third Ypres) serving with 1/7th King's (Liverpool) Regiment.
Elias married Alice Thompson in the last few months of 1917, perhaps when granted compassionate leave following the death of his brothers. He raised a family after the War (including my Nanna, Ena Elizabeth Kay) and served in the Admiralty Civil Police at a naval air base at Inskip during the Second World War.
He had flecks of shrapnel leaving his body right up to his death in Preston in 1951. Elias was much-loved, his son Elias (known as Ellis) even inherited a love of the pipes from him.
It has been a moving and illuminating process to trace Elias's wartime service and I have recorded the story in a book: "The Road Unknown - With Private Elias Kay and 15th (Scottish) Division in the Great War."
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Pte. Francis Murray 9th Btn. Gordon Highlanders att. Royal Engineers (d.1st Oct 1916) Pte. Francis Murray was executed for murder 1916-10-01 and buried in Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Noeux-les-Mines, France.
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Pte. Sinclair McIntyre 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (d.29th June 1917) Sinclair McIntyre was a first cousin of my great-grandmother. He was one of 9 children of John McIntyre and Eliza Ann Macdonald.
I have a photo of the children, but do not know which one is which. He served with the 2/6th & 9th Battalions of the Gordon Highlanders and was killed on the 29th June 1917.
I am writing a book on my Hamilton and McWilliam ancestors. His father's branch remained in Scotland, but all the other siblings emigrated to Canada in the 1850s.
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