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51st (Highland) Division    51st (Highland) Division was a formation of the Territorial Force. It was formed as the Highland Division a result of the reforms of the army carried out in 1908 under the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane and was one of 14 Divisions of the peacetime TF. 1914 The units of the Division had just departed for annual summer camp when emergency orders recalled them to the home base. All units were mobilised for full time war service on 5th of August 1914. A week later the Division was ordered to concentrate at Bedford. On 22md of October it was inspected there by King George V. Several units left the Division during the period November 1914 to March 1915, being sent independently to France as reinforcements for the BEF. 1915 On 13th of April the Division was warned that it would go on overseas service. It crossed the Channel between 30th of April and 3rd of May and by the 6th of May had concentrated in the area of Lillers, Busnes and Robecq. In early May 1915, the Highland Division was hurried to the defence of Ypres. The enemy had attacked on 22nd of April 1915, using poison gas for the first time. All available reserves were deployed to stop the Germans taking advantage of the initial surprise. The Division remained in action until moved to the area of Estaires on the River Lys, on 19th of May. The Division also took part in the following engagements in 1915: The Battle of Festubert The Second Action of Givenchy 1916 The attacks on High Wood - Somme The Battle of the Ancre - Somme in which the Division captured Beaumont Hamel and took more than 2000 prisoners. 1917 The First Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The Second Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The capture and defence of Roeux - Arras Offensive The Battle of Pilkem Ridge - Third Battles of the Ypres The Battle of Menin Road Ridge - Third Battles of the Ypres The tank attack - Cambrai Operations The capture of Bourlon Wood - Cambrai Operations The German counter attacks - Cambrai Operations 1918 The Battle of St Quentin - Somme The Battle of Bapaume - Somme The Battle of Estaires - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Hazebrouck - Battles of the Lys The Battle of the Tardenois - Battles of the Marne The Battle of the Scarpe - Second Battles of Arras The Pursuit to the Selle The Battle of the Selle - Final Advance in Picardy The Division had been relieved and was resting the Cambrai-Iwuy area on 11th of November 1918. The demobilisation of the Division began December and the service of the Division came to an end in March when the final cadres left for England. The 6th Black Watch, 4th Seaforth Highlanders and 4th Gordon Highlanders had the honour of selection to join the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and left for Germany in February 1919. The Division was reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920. Order of Battle of the 51st (Highland) Division 152nd (1st Highland) Brigade (Seaforth and Cameron Brigade up to 12 May 1915) 1/4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders left November 1914 1/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders 1/6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders 1/4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders left February 1915 1/6th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders joined from 153rd Brigade April 1915, left June 1915 1/8th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders joined from 153rd Brigade April 1915, left February 1918 1/6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders joined June 1916 (later retitled 6/7th Battalion) 152nd Machine Gun Company formed 16 January 1916, moved to 51st Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918 152nd Trench Mortar Battery formed July 1916 153rd (2nd Highland) Brigade (Gordon Brigade up to 12th of May 1915) 1/4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders left February 1915 1/5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders left February 1918 1/6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders left December 1914 1/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders left October 1918 Shetland Coys, the Gordon Highlanders absorbed late 1916 7th Battalion, Black Watch 153rd Machine Gun Company formed 15 January 1916, moved to 51st Battalion MGC 19 Feb 1918 153rd Trench Mortar Battery formed July 1916 1/6th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders joined 6 October 1918 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade (Argyll & Sutherland Brigade) units exchanged with those of the the North Lancashire Brigade from West Lancashire Division on 18th April 1915 and retitled on 12th May 1915. The components of the former North Lancashire Brigade returned to their old Division on 6th of January 1916being replaced by Scottish units. 1/6th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders left for 152nd Brigade April 1915 1/7th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders left December 1914, rejoined March 1916 1/8th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders left for 152nd Brigade April 1915 1/9th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders left February 1915 1/4th Battalion, King's Own joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916 1/8th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916 2/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916 1/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Rgt joined 18 April 1915, left 6 January 1916 1/6th Battalion, Cameronians joined 2 June 1915, left 12 January 1916 1/4th Battalion, Black Watch joined 6 January 1916, left 29 February 1916 1/5th Battalion, Black Watch joined 6 January 1916, left 29 February 1916 1/4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders joined 7 January 1916 1/4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders joined 7 January 1916, left 26 February 1916 1/4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders joined 23 February 1916 1/9th Battalion, Royal Scots joined 1 March 1916, left 6 February 1918 154th Machine Gun Company formed 14 January 1916, moved to 51st Battalion, MGC 19 Feb 1918 154th Trench Mortar Battery formed July 1916 1/5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry joined from 151st Brigade 12 February 1918, reduced to cadre and left 15 July 1918 Divisional Troops 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion, 19 August 1915 232nd Machine Gun Company joined 20 July 1917, moved to 51st Battalion, MGC 19 Feb 1918 51st Battalion MGC formed 19 February 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops D Squadron,North Irish Horse left May 1916 Highland Divisional Cyclist Company left 9 May 1916 Divisional Artillery CCLV (I Highland) Brigade, RFA CCLVI (II Highland) Brigade, RFA CCLVIII (III Highland) (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up 21 August 1916 IV Highland (Mountain) Brigade, RFA left 10 March 1915 CCLX (I Lowland) Brigade, RFA joined 10 November 1915, broken up 28 January 1917 Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery, RGA a Battery of four 4.7-inch guns which left the Division to join IV Brigade HA on 3 May 1915 51st Divisional Ammunition Column RFA V.51 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA joined 18 October 1916, left for IV Corps in February 1918 X.51, Y.51 and Z.51 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA joined 28 April 1916, in February 1918 Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have six 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 400th (1st Highland) Field Company 404th (2/2nd Highland) Field Company 3rd (Durham) Field Company joined 19 September 1915, left 30 January 1916 404th (2nd Highland) Field Company rejoined January 1916 51st Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 2nd Highland Field Ambulance 3rd Highland Field Ambulance 2/1st Highland Field Ambulance joined May 1915 51st Sanitary Section left for XVII Corps 17 April 1917 Other Divisional Troops 51st Divisional Train ASC retitled from the Highland Divisional Transport and Supply Column, and the units also retitled as 471, 472, 473 and 474 Companies ASC 1st Highland Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 51st Divisional Ambulance Workshop joined May 1915, absorbed into Divisional Supply Column 6 April 1916 245th Divisional Employment Company joined 6 June 1917 4th Aug 1914 Orders Received 5th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 6th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 7th Aug 1914 Equipment 8th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 9th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 10th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 11th Aug 1914 Mobilisation Complete 12th Aug 1914 On the Move 13th Aug 1914 On the Move 14th Aug 1914 In Billets 15th Aug 1914 On the March 16th Aug 1914 On the Move 24th Aug 1914 Training 28th Aug 1914 Inspection 29th Aug 1914 Training 30th Aug 1914 Church Parade 31st Aug 1914 In Action 2nd Sep 1914 Training 7th Sep 1914 Inoculations 12th Sep 1914 Inoculations 14th Sep 1914 Training 15th Sep 1914 Training 18th Sep 1914 Training 19th Sep 1914 Route March 28th Sep 1914 Training 1st Oct 1914 Training 22nd Oct 1914 Review 2nd Nov 1914 Exercise 3rd Nov 1914 Musketry 20th Nov 1914 Inspection 1st Dec 1914 Training 24th Dec 1914 Inspection 25th Dec 1914 Training 28th Dec 1914 Training 29th Dec 1914 Training 30th Dec 1914 Route March 31st Dec 1914 Training 1st Jan 1915 Into Billets 4th Jan 1915 Practice 5th Jan 1915 Route March 6th Jan 1915 Training 7th Jan 1915 Training 8th Jan 1915 Practice 9th Jan 1915 Route March 11th Jan 1915 Training 12th Jan 1915 Training 13th Jan 1915 Training 14th Jan 1915 Practice 15th Jan 1915 Excerise 16th Jan 1915 Practice 17th Apr 1915 Orders 19th Apr 1915 On the Move 27th Apr 1915 Equipment 28th Apr 1915 Equipment 29th Apr 1915 Horses 30th Apr 1915 Horses 1st May 1915 Equipment 2nd May 1915 Equipment 3rd May 1915 Equipment 4th May 1915 On the Move 5th May 1915 On the Move 5th May 1915 On the Move   6th May 1915 On the Move 6th May 1915 Orders   7th May 1915 On the Move 7th May 1915 Orders 8th May 1915 On the Move 8th May 1915 Orders 9th May 1915 In Billets 9th May 1915 In Reserve 10th May 1915 On the Move 10th May 1915 In Reserve 11th May 1915 In Reserve 12th May 1915 In Reserve   13th May 1915 Instruction 13th May 1915 In Reserve 14th May 1915 Orders 14th May 1915 On the March   15th May 1915 Instruction   15th May 1915 In Reserve   16th May 1915 In Reserve   17th May 1915 In Reserve   18th May 1915 Orders 18th May 1915 Orders Received   19th May 1915 Battle of Festubert 19th May 1915 On the Move 19th May 1915 Reliefs   20th May 1915 On the Move 20th May 1915 Relief Complete 21st May 1915 Trench Work 22nd May 1915 Trench Work 23rd May 1915 Some Shelling 24th May 1915 Intermittent Shelling 25th May 1915 Occasional Shelling 26th May 1915 Intermittent Shelling 27th May 1915 Heavy Shelling   28th May 1915 Quiet Day   29th May 1915 Line Advanced   29th May 1915 Instructions   30th May 1915 Instruction 30th May 1915 Order Received   31st May 1915 Reliefs   31st May 1915 Orders   1st Jun 1915 Reliefs 2nd Jun 1915 Trench Work 3rd Jun 1915 Trench Work 4th Jun 1915 Reorganisation 5th Jun 1915 Quiet 6th Jun 1915 Relief Complete 7th Jun 1915 Orders Received 8th Jun 1915 Orders 9th Jun 1915 Preparations 10th Jun 1915 Preparations 11th Jun 1915 Preparations 12th Jun 1915 Orders   13th Jun 1915 Artillery Active 14th Jun 1915 Artillery in Action 14th Jun 1915 Orders   15th Jun 1915 In Action   15th Jun 1915 Attack Made   15th Jun 1915 Report   16th Jun 1915 Attack Made   16th Jun 1915 Attack Made   16th Jun 1915 Communication   16th Jun 1915 Report   16th Jun 1915 Orders   17th Jun 1915 Reliefs   18th Jun 1915 Orders Received   19th Jun 1915 Artillery in Action   20th Jun 1915 Quiet 21st Jun 1915 Quiet 22nd Jun 1915 Relief Completed 23rd Jun 1915 Trench Work 24th Jun 1915 Orders 25th Jun 1915 Routine 25th Jun 1915 Orders Received 26th Jun 1915 On the March   26th Jun 1915 Reorganisation 27th Jun 1915 Ammunition Supplied   27th Jun 1915 On the Move 28th Jun 1915 Ammunition Supplied   28th Jun 1915 HQ Moves   29th Jun 1915 Ammunition   29th Jun 1915 Orders Issued 30th Jun 1915 Ammunition   30th Jun 1915 Mine Explodes 22nd July 1915 19th Field Ambulance ordered to move to Estaires   On orders from 19th Infantry Brigade HQ visited Agricultural College, Estaires, with a view to taking over buildings at present occupied by 1st Highland Field Ambulance 51st Division. Orders received from the 19th Infantry Brigade headquarters cancelling arrangements re Agricultural College, and ordering Field Ambulance to move on July 23 to Pensionnat des Jeunes Filles, Estaires. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance 26th of July 1915 Visits and Drills 30th July 1915 Orders 30th July 1915 In Action 31st July 1915 Orders 3rd Aug 1915 Instruction 17th of August 1915  Our Patrols Out   24th Aug 1915 Instruction 5th of September 1915  Damaged Aeroplane   6th of September 1915 Retaliatory Firing   10th of September 1915 More Moves 13th of September 1915 Artillery Moves 13th of September 1915 RFA Moves 17th of September 1915 Advance Units Arrive   29th of September 1915  Enemy Alert   29th Nov 1915 Orders 1st Dec 1915 Units Move 3rd Dec 1915 Instruction 4th Dec 1915 Instruction 5th of December 1915 Leaving and Joining 5th Dec 1915 Instruction 6th Dec 1915 Instruction 7th Dec 1915 Orders Received 8th Dec 1915 Instruction 9th Dec 1915 Instruction 10th Dec 1915 Instruction 11th Dec 1915 Instruction 12th Dec 1915 Reliefs 13th Dec 1915 Instruction 14th Dec 1915 Instruction 15th Dec 1915 Instruction 16th Dec 1915 Instruction 17th Dec 1915 Instruction 18th Dec 1915 Instruction 19th Dec 1915 Instruction 20th Dec 1915 Instruction 21st Dec 1915 Instruction 22nd Dec 1915 Orders Issued   3rd of January 1916  German Post Bombed   12th of March 1916 100lb Minenwerfer   27th Mar 1916 Reliefs 28th of April 1916  Guns Open on SOS 16th May 1916 Reliefs 21st June 1916  1st Jul 1916 Shelling 2nd Jul 1916 Mine 3rd Jul 1916 Shelling 4th Jul 1916 Explosion   5th Jul 1916 Artillery Active 6th Jul 1916 Mine Blown 7th Jul 1916 Shelling 8th Jul 1916 Some Shelling 9th Jul 1916 Bombardment 10th Jul 1916 Camouflet 11th Jul 1916 Shelling 12th Jul 1916 Reliefs   13th Jul 1916 Trench Raid 14th Jul 1916 Relief Completed 15th Jul 1916 On the Move 16th Jul 1916 On the Move 19th Jul 1916 Orders 20th Jul 1916 On the Move   21st Jul 1916 Orders Received 22nd Jul 1916 Reliefs Completed   22nd Jul 1916 Preparations   22nd of July 1916 Front Adjustment Completed   23rd Jul 1916 In Action   23rd Jul 1916 Attack Made   23rd of July 1916 Longueval Attack Report   24th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling   24th of July 1916 Reliefs   25th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling   26th Jul 1916 Relief   27th Jul 1916 Attacks Made   28th Jul 1916 Shelling   29th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling   29th of July 1916  Quiet Situation   30th Jul 1916 Attack Made   31st Jul 1916 Consolidation   31st Jul 1916 Report   31st of July 1916 KOSBs Hold Line   1st Aug 1916 In Action   1st Aug 1916 Instructions 29th of August 1916 A Little Gas Show 19th Sep 1916 Orders 20th Sep 1916 Orders 25th Sep 1916 Reliefs   6th Oct 1916 Orders   7th Oct 1916 Reliefs   16th July 1917 Amendments   16th July 1917 Attack   17th July 1917 Relieved unit in trenches 19th July 1917 Preliminary Instructions.   20th July 1917 Attack rehearsal 25th July 1917 Starting points of the Tanks   31st July 1917 The 18th Corps. attacked 25th of September 1917 Orders 30th of September 1917 Battle Narrative   1st October 1917 Somme and Cambrai 1st of October 1917 Orders 4th of October 1917 Reliefs 5th Oct 1917 Reliefs Complete 6th of October 1917 Reliefs Complete 15th Oct 1917 Preparations   19th Oct 1917 Line Taken Over   1st November 1917 Battle of Cambrai   3rd Nov 1917 Conference 13th Nov 1917 In Action   14th Nov 1917 In Action   15th Nov 1917 In Action   16th Nov 1917 Report   19th of November 1917 Enemy Patrols Active 23rd Nov 1917 Attack Made   25th Nov 1917 In Action   1st December 1917 Retreat from Cambrai   6th of December 1917 Tank Attack Expected   24th December 1917 Boundaries 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 25th Dec 1917 Boundaries   25th Dec 1917 Orders   25th Dec 1917 Orders   25th Dec 1917 Boundaries   28th Dec 1917 Orders   30th Dec 1917 Orders   21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 19th Feb 1918 Formation 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 22nd Feb 1918 Arrival 2nd Mar 1918 HQ Established 11th Mar 1918 In Reserve 12th Mar 1918 Guns into Position 20th Mar 1918 Machine Guns into Position 21st Mar 1918 In Action   21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attack   21st of March 1918 Intense Barrage    22nd Mar 1918 Under Pressure   22nd Mar 1918 Under Attack   22nd of March 1918  Germans Break Through   23rd Mar 1918 In Action   23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Fighting 24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 25th Mar 1918 Pressed Back   26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal   26th Mar 1918 Casualties 27th Mar 1918 On the Move   28th Mar 1918 On the Move 29th Mar 1918 Inspection   King George V inspecting the 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders of 51st Division, 29th of March 1918. The Battalion had just come out of the line having lost 16 officers and 300 men. The Battalion was at Frevent and about to entrain. © IWM (Q 11465) IWM 29th Mar 1918 Inspection 30th Mar 1918 On the Move   31st Mar 1918 Fierce Fighting   31st Mar 1918 At Rest   1st Apr 1918 At Rest   2nd Apr 1918 At Rest   3rd Apr 1918 Reinforcements   4th Apr 1918 Reinforcements   5th Apr 1918 Refitting   6th Apr 1918 Refitting   7th Apr 1918 Reorganisation 7th Apr 1918 Refitting   8th Apr 1918 New Billets 9th of April 1918 A Busy Day   9th Apr 1918 Enemy Attacks   10th Apr 1918 Line Held   11th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting   12th Apr 1918 In Action 12th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting   12th of April 1918 Orders 13th Apr 1918 In Defence   13th of April 1918 Report   19th Apr 1918 Reliefs 20th Apr 1918 In Billets 21st Apr 1918 At Rest 22nd Apr 1918 Baths 23rd Apr 1918 Operations 23rd Apr 1918 Reliefs 24th Apr 1918 Training 25th Apr 1918 Training 26th Apr 1918 Reliefs 27th Apr 1918 Equipment 28th Apr 1918 Award 29th Apr 1918 Training 30th Apr 1918 Training 9th July 1918 Company Training 15th August 1918 Relieved by 4th Seaforth Highlanders 18th August 1918 Operational Orders No.51.   18th August 1918 Strong fighting patrols sent out 1st of October 1918  Division Relieved 31st December 1918 Chapter 2. The Salient. If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 51st (Highland) Division? There are:426 items tagged 51st (Highland) Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 51st (Highland) Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Hunter Sidney. Pte. 2/1st Highland Field Ambulance Johnson John Thomas. Sgt. 8th Btn. (d.22nd Aug 1917) McKenna Thomas Patrick. Cpl. 528 Field. Coy. (d.10th Nov 1917) McRae James. Pte. 5th Btn. (d.2nd Dec 1916) Murray William. Dvr 51st Highland Div. Ross William Houston. Spr. 528 Field Coy. (d.14th Oct 1917) Russell Joseph. Pte. 7th Btn. Wateridge William James. Pte. 4th/5th Btn. (d.1st Aug 1918) 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 The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. 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Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders In 1965 my grandfather Joseph Russell wrote a set of memoirs (hand-written in ink) and sent copies off to my father and my uncle. These memoirs record his experiences during the war. There is a section on his memories of the camp at Ripon in 1916. "... My brothers and cousins came with me to St. Enoch station, Glasgow to bid me good-bye, Alec (his brother), had already been severely wounded in the Battle of Loos, so much so that the Army authorities had to discharge him from all further service. The journey to Leeds and then to Ripon was uneventful so I arrived on time in order to prepare for the great adventure to France where life seemed to be much cheaper than muddy water. The march of four hundred 51st Division of Highland soldiers armed to the teeth down from North Camp to Ripon station a distance of a mile and a half and led by Pipe bands was certainly no silent affair. The scenes were indescribable, the animal natures of men seemed to be predominant, even the writer seemed to have gone hay-wire yet I was brought up in the fear of God. Army training in war time either creates a recoiling product in the mind or a moulded product into its image, if a recoiling product then heavy measures are engineered whereby the stereotyped condition becomes plastic through a high fahrenheit of tears. Fear of death is not so much a means of escape from the toiling, unmitigated and unending burden of viewing slaughter and blood rather than the cancelling of the telegram which brings continuity of despair and grief to those whom you love. We board the train at Ripon station, it is crowded with people, civilians and soldiers, the excitement of war in action has now generated into a passionate flame, the last is without description, I'm sure that not even a bugle can have been heard above its noise. I had a hundred and two rounds of ammunition in my equipment so I put a clip of five rounds in my magazine. On the station platform stood Major X he was our official conductor from the Camp to the station and I had a score to settle with him, then immediately across the road on the near side of the platform was encamped a battalion of Yorkshires and I didn't like them. The reason was this, the Major was a bullying brute, he had two golden chevrons on his left sleeve, signifying that he was wounded twice in action yet his reputation was incorporated in his nick-name "more sandbags", the soldiers who knew him in action said that if a sniper's bullet hit the top of his deep dug-out then the parapet must be reinforced to make it doubly secure. Again, while I was under a slight narcotic of alcohol one Saturday night in the town of Ripon I wandered aimlessly or maybe not into the Yorkshire Camp and my mind as I write is as clear as if it happened yesterday. No doubt I was aggressive but I don't think their action was justifiable or warrantable by the extent of my crime. I got into their physical instructors hut for N.C.O.s, my outstanding portrait is of a man about half a head taller than myself, he had a small gingerly moustache and was wearing a white jersey. I don't remember seeing trousers for all I could see of him was from his elbows upwards. What followed is in the darkness of oblivion and all I know is that I came to on the Sunday morning lying on the floor of a wash-house belonging to the Yorkshires. A gift I got from my sister a wrist watch with a spring bracelet was ruined with blood and water and my face resembled a butcher's shop, for this I got three days detention but I swore revenge on the Yorkshires. The moment had now arrived, the Major and the Yorkshires, the guard's whistle sounded, I have five rounds in my magazine, I extended my mark VII rifle out of the open window, I saw the Major about forty yards down the platform towering above everyone under the station canopy. I took aim and fired two shots; not to hit him but in a line between the top of his head and the glass roof of the canopy, when I looked up he was taking a nose dive down the stairs to get out of sight and no doubt shouting "more sand bags". The Yorkshire Camp was now in full view, there could have been about a hundred tents and men were walking to and fro, raising my rifle I fired three quick shots into the Camp then withdrawing it I turned to the soldiers in compartment, they looked speechless as if they were afraid to speak in case I would have turned my rifle on them. I aimed not at any man with the intent to kill although it could have happened in the Yorkshire Camp, momentarily I had gone hay-wire with recrimination. I half anticipated that the train would be stopped for investigation but luck seemed to be on my side as well as the Yorkshires in the Camp...." Paul Russell Add to this record. 233960 Sgt. John Thomas Johnson 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.22nd Aug 1917) Jack Johnson was my great uncle, brother to my grandmother on my fathers side. He was born in June 1898 and believed to have joined the Seaforths as a fifteen year old, as recalled by my Gran. He was killed on 22nd of August 1917 aged 18/19 and is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery. His body was identified by tag and was found at grid ref D26.a.30.40. I believe these figures refer to a British army trench map, and if anyone reads this and can shed light on the figures I would be obliged. Steve Mather Add to this record. 219678 Pte. James McRae 5th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.2nd Dec 1916) My great uncle James McRae served in the First World War with the Gordon Highlanders. He was killed on Dec 2nd, 1916 in the Battle of Arras (I believe) - his body was never found so he is sadly one of the thousands of 'unknown soldiers' from the First World War. He was a poet and I am in possession of some of his poems. My grandfather was the last person in our family to see him, as he walked to the train station with him on his way to the front. Editor's Note: It is more likely James was killed following the Battle of Ancre Heights as he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Jim McRae Add to this record. 216513 Cpl. Thomas Patrick McKenna 528 Field. Coy. Royal Engineers (d.10th Nov 1917) Thomas Patrick McKenna served with 528th Field Company, Royal Engineers and died of wounds on the 10th November 1917. He is remembered at St. Paul's Church and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery. His medal card shows the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals. His younger brother William of 22nd Brigade RFA was also among the fallen. Thomas was born in Jarrow. son of William and Elizabeth McKenna nee Watson of 48 Charles Street, Jarrow. He was married to Minnie McKenna nee Storey of 15 Frederick Street, Jarrow. In the 1911 census Thomas(24) a ships plate rivetter is living at 9 Gibson Street Jarrow with his wife of 2 years Minnie(23) and they have a son Thomas Edward who is two years old. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 216084 Pte. William James Wateridge 4th/5th Btn. The Black Watch (d.1st Aug 1918) William James Wateridge, Private S/40618, enlisted in Dunfermline and served in the 4th/5th Battalion, the Black Watch. He died on the 1st August 1918 and is buried in Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire. His medal card also records the regimental number 3458 and the award of the War and Victory Medals. William was born in Jarrow 1897, son of Charles Ernest and Matilda Agnes Wateridge nee Wade of 229 Jefferson Street, Newcastle. The 1911 census form records his parents living at 11 Wellesley Street, Jarrow with Charles(38) a papermaker beaterman in a paper mill and Agnes(32) his wife of 14 years. William(13) is their only child and still attending school. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 215725 Spr. William Houston Ross 528 Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.14th Oct 1917) William Houston Ross enlisted in Jarrow and served in 528 field Company, Royal Engineers. He is remembered at Palmer Cenotaph and is buried in Railway Dugouts Burial ground. His medal card shows the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals also that he was killed in action on the 14th October 1917. William was born in South Shields 1894, son of William and Frances Ross nee Edwards. In the 1911 census the family are living at 25 Rosa Street, South Shields with William(55), a special railway porter for North Eastern Railways and Fraces(54), his wife of 33 years having 12 children of whom 10 survived. Seven, all single, are living here, George(26) assistant clerk to Justice, Walter(22) solicitors clerk, Harold(20) gasfitters shop assistant, Helen(18) Drapers shop assistant, William Houston(16)Grocers shop assistant, Gladys(15) and Norman(13) at school. There is also an adopted daughter Amy Ross who is 4 years old. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 210846 Dvr William Murray 51st Highland Div. Royal Artillery Willy Murray transferred from the Aberdeen Police as a Constable to the RFA on 24 May 1915 and was disembodied on 17 May 1919 in Charlton. As boy he had worked on the farm with horses and on returning to the Police established the Mounted Police Unit in Aberdeen. He retired as the Superintendent of the Police having acted as Chief Constable during WW2 in 1944. He died in 1959. Duncan Murray Fraser Add to this record.

Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices. History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914-1918 F.W. Bewsher The Highland Division was one of the pre-war Territorial divisions. Its HQ was in Perth with brigade HQs in Aberdeen, Inverness and Stirling. On mobilization the division moved down to its war station in Bedford where it remained, carrying out training till embarking for France in May 1915. During this period six of its battalions were sent to France, three in November 1914 and three in the following March, replaced by two Highland battalions and a brigade of four Lancashire battalions; it is not clear whether the latter were required to wear kilts. They were transferred to the 55th (West Lancashire) Division when that division reformed in France in January 1916 and were replaced, appropriately, by Scottish battalions. It was in May 1915, just as the division arrived in France, that it was designated 51st and the brigades 152nd, 153rd and 154th; by the end of the war the 51st (Highland) Division had become one of the best known divisions in the BEF. More information on: History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914-1918 Links The Bedford Highlanders Suggest a link

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