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2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders were based at Shorncliffe with 10th Brigade, 4th Division when war broke out in August 1914. 4th Division was held back from the original British Expeditionary Force by a last minute decision to defend England against a possible German landing and the 2nd Seaforths were mobilised to North Yorkshire, being based at around the city of York. The fate of the BEF in France and the lack of any move by the Enemy to cross the channel,soon brought a move to Harrow to prepare to proceed to France. They crossed the channel on the 23rd of August 1914, landing at Boulogne and crossing France in time to provide infantry reinforcements at the Battle of Le Cateau, the Artillery, Engineers, Field Ambulances and mounted troops being still en-route at this time. They were in action at the The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne and at The Battle of Messines in 1914. In 1915 they fought in The Second Battle of Ypres and in 1916 moved south to The Somme taking part in the Battles there over the summer months. In 1917 they were at Arras, in action during the The First and Third Battles of the Scarpe, before heading north for the Third Battle of Ypres, where they fought in The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Battle of Poelcapelle and The First Battle of Passchendaele. In 1918 they were in action on The Somme, then returned to Flanders fighting in the Defence of Hinges Ridge during The Battle of Hazebrouck and in The Battle of Bethune, The Advance in Flanders The Second Battles of Arras, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy. The 4th Division was demobilised in Belgium in early 1919.
18th Aug 1914 Concentration
19th Aug 1914 Concentration
26th Aug 1914 Shellfire
27th Aug 1914 Enemy Advance
27th August 1914 On the Move
30th Aug 1914 Rear Guard
30th Aug 1914 Under Fire
30th of August 1914 A Hot March
30th Aug 1914 On the March
31st Aug 1914 Rear Guard
31st August 1914 Continued withdrawals
31st Aug 1914 On the March
1st Sep 1914 Rear Guard
1st Sep 1914 On the March
2nd Sep 1914 Rear Guard
2nd Sep 1914 On the March
3rd Sep 1914 Rear Guard
3rd of September 1914 Across the Marne
3rd Sep 1914 On the March
4th Sep 1914 Rear Guard
5th Sep 1914 Rear Guard
6th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
6th Sep 1914 On the March
7th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
8th Sep 1914 Advance Guard
9th Sep 1914 Bridging
10th of September 1914 Marching
20th Oct 1914 2nd Seaforths in action The 2nd Seaforth Highlanders are in action on on the banks of the river Lys. At 4 am, B & D Companies moved up to occupy houses on on the outskirts of the village of Frelinghien, to the north east of Armentieres. The men worked on improving their defensive position in the properties until an advance could be organised. A and C Coys were in reserve.
Beside them, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, supported by an artillery barrage, made an advance across the open but found it heavily entangled with barbed wire and came under fire from the enemy until their guns were silenced by the artillery. Under partial cover of a low bank and a line of trees the Irish Fusiliers advanced towards the German trenches as the Seaforths prepared to advance towards the enemy trenches on their left. When the men were about 200 yards from the trench line, the Germans opened fire and it was decided that the Seaforths would take the position by assault. At about 11 am C company, 2nd Seaforths, lead by captain D. C. Methuen and 2/Lt J. F. Glass attempted to storm the enemy trench, under heavy fire. The German trench was situated on a high, steep slippery bank which added to crossfire from snipers in the Brewery on the edge of the town, made the task more difficult. But the Seaforths succeeded in capturing and holding the section of trench, taking 20 prisoners and killing about 30 of the enemy.
At about 1pm, 15 Germans soldiers surrendered and left their trenches unarmed. Shortly afterwards, others surrendered from houses in the town and after negotiations, three snipers left the Brewery and surrendered. The buildings and cellars were searched and found to be unoccupied. After dark, the Brewery was occupied by two and a half platoons from A coy, with the rest of A coy occupiing houses to the east of road along with 1 platoon from D coy. C & D coys along with with Headquarters occupied the houses taken the previous night, with B coy holding the newly captured trenches with Irish Fusiliers on their right, 2 Coy Rifle Brigade came up during the night as support. Work commended to strengthen defence and re-entrench the captured positions.
30th Oct 1914 Under Shellfire
5th December 1914 Quiet
9th December 1914 Uniforms
8th Apr 1915 Instruction
9th Apr 1915 Instruction
10th Apr 1915 Instruction
11th Apr 1915 Instruction
23rd May 1915 2nd Seaforths in dugouts
25th May 1915 The Effects of Gas
8th Jul 1915 Inspection
9th Jul 1915 Recce
12th Jul 1915 On the March
16th Jul 1915 Dugouts
18th Jul 1915 On the Move
28th Aug 1915 Harvest near the Trenches
15th November 1915 In the trenches
17th November 1915 Second Party to Trenches
21st November 1915 Final Party on Fatigues
31st January 1916 Funeral
26th Apr 1916 Trench Work 
30th Jun 1916 Preparations 
Soldiers of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment of the 29th Division parading at 'White City' opposite Hawthorn Ridge for the attack on Beaumont Hamel. Behind them is a group from the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders of the 4th Division. © IWM (Q 796) The officer in the middle left (with his back to camera, removing his cap) is Second Lieutenant Norman Frank Currall of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.
1st Jul 1916 2nd Seaforths Attack
1st July 1916 Bombardment
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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 with2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders during the Great War 1914-1918. - Allan Alfred. Pte. (d.4th July 1917)
- Baird Thomas. Pte. (d.14th October 1916)
- Brown Henry Beattie. Cpl. (d.11th Apr 1917)
- Burgess William. L/Cpl. (d.30th Nov 1914)
- Ewan Alexander. Pte. (d.13th Apr 1917)
- Ewan Alexander. Pte. (d.13th April 1917)
- Finlayson Murdo. Sjt. (d.29th Apr 1915)
- Gjers Lawrence. Capt. (d.4th Oct 1917)
- Gordon Belgium Crois de Guerre George Leslie. Sgt.
- Hume John Alexander. L/Cpl. (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Justice MM. Thomas John. Pte. (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Lancashire Christopher Owen. Pte. (d.4th August 1918)
- Mack DCM William. Sgt. (d.30th May 1917)
- McLeod William. Pte (d.4th October 1917)
- McMillan Andrew. Pte.
- Monteith William. Pte.
- Nelson James Punton. Cpl. (d.2nd Nov 1918)
- Orr Peter. Pte. (d.27th Apr 1918)
- Polson Duncan. Pte. (d.31st Mar 1918)
- Riley Percy. L/Cpl. (d.11th Apr 1917)
- Ross Robert. Pte. (d.4th Aug 1918)
- Selby-Lowndes Meyrick Edward. Lt. (d.27th October 1918)
- Spies John McIntosh. Pte. (d.26th Oct 1914)
- Storey William. Sgt.
- Taylor Archibald. Pte. (d.18th April 1918)
- Tebbutt Alfred. Pte. (d.3rd November 1918)
- Telfer MM Richard Russell. L/Cpl.
- Tosh David. L/Cpl.
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 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders from other sources.
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Pte. Alexander Ewan 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.13th April 1917) Alexander Ewen was killed in action on the 13th of April 1917, aged 19. Buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France, he was the son of James and Marion Ewan, of Craigrothie, Aberdour Rd., Burntisland, Fifeshire
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Pte. Robert Ross 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.4th Aug 1918) Robert Ross was my grand-uncle, and it's only through ancestry research that I discovered him. He died in Flanders Fields and is remembered on the Rogart War Memorial.
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Pte. Thomas "Tam" Baird 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.14th October 1916) Tam Baird was born 11th February 1890 in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire.
Enlisted 1907 in 2nd Seaforth Highlanders. Arrived in France with the Battalion August 1914. He was killed 14th of October 1916 outside Lesbeoufs in France.
His body was found in 1932 and interred in Serre Road Cemetery #2.
Three other brothers who served, survived the War.
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L/Cpl. Percy Riley 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.11th Apr 1917) Percy Riley was gassed with mustard gas.
He had a brother Corporal Alfred Riley who was killed in action on 19th of September 1918.
Both brothers were from Herbert Street, Northampton.
They were butchers by trade.
Alfred was also in the South African war.
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Pte. Archibald Taylor 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.18th April 1918) Archibald Taylor served with the 2nd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. He enlisted in Elgin on the 27th April, ten days after the birth of his son Archie (who was himself killed in Action in 1944), and he was killed two years later, on 18th April 1918, probably in an intense action defending against an attack on a canal.
I have written up the story of Archibald Taylor and his son on the following website: For Armistice Day.
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L/Cpl. John Alexander Hume 2nd Btn. Seaforth Higlanders (d.1st Jul 1916) John Hume was one of three sons sent to war.
His father James Hume was chief warden of the Military Prison in Gosport.
He married Carlotta Berini in Gibraltar where he was stationed.
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Lt. Meyrick Edward Selby-Lowndes 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.27th October 1918) Lieutenant Meyrick Edward Selby-Lowndes came from nobility and landed gentry. In 1911 his family lived at Highfield, Milton Avenue. In the 1920s his father, a Burnham magistrate, owned Marsham Manor and his sister Violet lived at The Corner House.
Meyrick joined the prestigious 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in 1916 but was mortally wounded near Cambrai in France. He died after seven weeks of suffering on 27th of October 1918, age 20 years, just two weeks before the end of the war.
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Pte. Alfred Tebbutt 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.3rd November 1918) Like many others during WW1 my grandmother was made a widow when my grandfather Alfred Tebbutt was killed. The sad thing was, she had my uncle aged 2 and my mother who was born 26th January 1919 to look after on a war widow's pension. My mother never meet her dad or saw a photograph of him as I was told my great grand parents removed any images of him in the house.
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L/Cpl. William Burgess 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.30th Nov 1914) William Burgess went to France on the 23rd of August 1914.
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Sgt. William Mack DCM 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.30th May 1917) Sergeant William Mack (birth name W. Kurtzman, but served as William Mack) DCM, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, was the son of Barnett Maurice Kurtzman, a shoemaker, and Esther Sanders Kurtzman, of Ashley Buildings, High Street, Edinburgh, then 71 Rose Street, Glasgow, and later 24 Waverley Buildings, Edinburgh. He married Catherine Goldberg, daughter of Lazarus Goldberg, jewellery traveller, and Rachel Woolfe, on 22 March 1915 at Edinburgh. He enlisted at Edinburgh. He died of wounds on 30th May 1917 and is buried in St. Pol Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.
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L/Cpl. Richard Russell Telfer MM 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders My great great uncle, Richard Russell, was born on 15th April 1885 at Haywood, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father was Charles Telfer, who was born on 15th August 1826 at Kirkurd, Newlands, Peeblesshire, Scotland; he died on 2nd March 1895 at Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. His mother was Janet Sommerville, who was born in 1842 in the Parish of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland; she died on 17th November 1904, at Calderhead, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
In the 1891 Census for Calderhead, Lanarkshire, Scotland, he was age 5, living with his parents and siblings at Torbothie Row, Parish of Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father Charles Telfer died on 2nd March 1895, at Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland.
In the 1901 Census for Calderhead, Lanarkshire, Scotland, he was age 15, a pit labourer, living with his mother and siblings at Torbothie Row, Parish of Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
On 11th January 1904, he enlisted at the age of 18, at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, to the 2nd Btn Seaforth Highlanders. His Service Record did survive and is available to read on the Ancestry website.
On 5th November 1907, he married Margaret Hudson Scott at Edinburgh, Scotland. On the marriage record he shows his address as Edinburgh Castle. His battalion was stationed there at the time.
He was mobilized on 5th August 1914, and arrived in F & F on 23rd August, 1914. He was appointed L/Cpl on 20th October 1916.
On 11th November 1916, he was awarded the Military Medal. The War Diary of the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders for November 1916, shows a list of those rewarded for gallantry. L/Cpl 8669, Telfer, R., is shown as awarded the Military Medal for two (2) 'Dates of Action' on '25.4.15 and 2.5.15'.
His MIC shows he was awarded the M.M., Victory, British, 14 Star, and Clasp of Roses IV 1760. His MM MIC shows the date of the Gazette as '11.11.16'. The London Gazette 29819, page 10931, shows the award to L/Cpl 8669 R. Telfer. The Edinburgh Gazette 13010, page 2041, also listed the entry of the award.
The Military History Sheet of his Service Record shows that he was awarded The Military Medal. It also shows he was asphyxiated by 'Gas Fumes' on '6/5/15'. He was invalided back to the UK on 15.5.15. He rejoined his Battalion on 31.7.15.
On 30th October 1916 he was injured by "Foreign body - Eye". He was moved to 21 Casualty Clearing Station, then 5 General Hospital at Rouen. He was eventually evacuated back to the UK on 25.11.16.
He was discharged on 31st March 1917, having served 13 years and 80 days with the Colours.
He emigrated to Australia on 15th May 1922, with his wife and three children, and died in Lily, Victoria, Australia in 1966 aged 81.
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Cpl. Henry Beattie Brown 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.11th Apr 1917) Henry Brown was born on the 5th of March 1896 at Whitehill Colliery Stables, Rosewell, Midlothian, Scotland. Son of William and Grace (nee Paul) Brown. He died at the Battle of Arras.
He was my Great Uncle, his sister, Leezie was my Grandmother.
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Cpl. James Punton Nelson 2nd Battalion, D Company Seaforth Highlanders (d.2nd Nov 1918) I followed the last day of his diary and on to the extension cemetery in Presau in France where Great Uncle James Punton Nelson has a memorial stone.
So wish I had a photograph of him. James was one of five children and only his brother William, my grandfather, went on to have a family - my father and he was an only son. So sad!
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Sgt. William Storey 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders William Storey married Johan Herbertson of 3 Caroline Place, Langholm on 31st December 1908 at 35 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.
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Pte. Duncan "Angus" Polson 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.31st Mar 1918) Duncan Polson was killed in action on 28th March 1918 at Arras. He was exactly 31 years old. He was my great grandfather.
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Pte. Peter Orr 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.27th Apr 1918) Peter Orr was born in 1885 at Ormiston East Lothian and enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in 1906, serving in India prior to WWI.
The 1911 Census in India identified him as being a Lance Corporal but he had left the Army prior to his marriage in March 1914 where his occupation was given as a Miner.
He re-enlisted on 23rd August 1914, this time to the 2nd Battalion, as a Private, was re-assigned his old number and sent with the BEF to France thus receiving the Mons Star.
Peter died of wounds on the 27th April 1918 and is remembered with honour at Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery in Belgium.
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Pte. William Monteith 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders My Dad, Pte. William Monteith, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, was taken prisoner on the 26th of August 1914. I have the war office letter to my granny with the information of his capture.
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Pte. Andrew "Darky" McMillan 2nd Btn. Seaforth Highlanders 8428 Private Andrew McMillan.
My Grandfather served with 1st Seaforth Highlanders in India and trained as Mounted Infantry at Bangalore April –June 1903. Served with Mounted Infantry in Somaliland 1903-1904 (unit unknown).
Was discharged from 2nd Seaforth Highlanders at Edinburgh Castle September 1908.
Coalminer in civilian life.
Recalled to 2nd Seaforths in August 1914 and went to France with 10th Brigade, 4th Div.
Transferred to Royal Engineers as 156462 Private Andrew McMillan on 1st June 1916 and served with 252 Tunnelling Coy until discharged.
252 Tunnelling Coy is shown as being with British Third Army on 11 November 1918.
I cannot find any documentation as to when he was discharged but he returned to being a coalminer.
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Pte. Alexander Ewan 2nd Btn Seaforth Highlanders (d.13th Apr 1917) Alec Ewan is my wife's great uncle and he is buried in the military cemetery at Aubigny-en-Artois near Arras. We don't know much, but we do know he "died of wounds" so we suspect he succumbed to his injuries at a Casualty Clearing Station, of which there appears to have been three at Aubigny (No's 24, 30 and 42) around this time.
The 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders were in action on 11 April 1917 between Fampoux and Roeux (part of the Battle of Arras) and we can only surmise that he was wounded there, removed from the field to the CCS where he died two days later. Alec was 19.
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