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1/4th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great1/4th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
1/4th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders were based at Aberdeen as part of the Gordon Brigade, Highland Division when war broke out in August 1914. They moved to Bedford for training, then proceeded to France on the 20th of February 1915 landing at Le Havre to join 8th Brigade, 3rd Division who were at La Clytte. They were in action in The First Attack on Bellewaarde and the Actions at Hooge. On the 10th of October 1915 they transferred to 76th Brigade still with 3rd Division. On the 23rd of February 1916 they transferred to 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. they were in action in the Battles of the Somme, including the attacks on High Wood and The Battle of the Ancre, capturing Beaumont Hamel, taking more than 2000 prisoners. In late 1916, the 1/4th Battalion absorbed the Shetland Companies of the Gordon Highlanders. In 1917 They took part in the Arras Offensive, The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Menin Road Ridge and the Cambrai Operations. They remained in the Cambrai area until the 21st of March 1918, when the enemy launched an overwhelming attack and the Division were engaged in a fighting withdrawal back to Bapaume. In April they moved north and fought in The Battles of the Lys before a quiet spell at Oppy near Arras, from May to July. They were then in action at The Battle of the Tardenois, The Battle of the Scarpe, The pursuit to the Selle and the Final Advance in Picardy. They were resting the Cambrai-Iwuy area at the Armistice, the 4th Gordon Highlanders were selected to join the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and left for Germany in February 1919.
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Those known to have served with 1/4th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders during the Great War 1914-1918.
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- Pte. James Slorach Read their Story.
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Pte. James Slorach 1st/4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders
James mobilized august 5th -7pm at Robert Gordon College sent for garrison duty to Stoneywood Naval Wireless Station 3pm- -august 5thReturned to Aberdeen 8pm-aug 7th
Joined Aberdeen for Perth 7am-9th
Started field training and route marching till aug 13th
Left perth for bedford midnight aug14th arrived bedford 8pm-aug15th started general training for over seas service
Signed for service abroad voluntary by appeal of Earl Kitchener -sept
Highland Division formed in Bedford and inspected by General Sir Ian Hamilton -Oct inspected by HM George V in December 1915
Had embarkation leave Feb 15
Left Bedford for Southampton 6pm-19th Feb
Left Southampton 6pm 19th Feb
Anchored off Le Harve, France on morning of feb 20th
Proceed to camp (Le Harve) after dinner at docks 12noon stayed 2 nights and one day at camp Le Harve
Had 38 hour journey in cattle trucks detrained at Bailull in North France noon 23 feb and proceeded to billets (the north vineyards) and stayed overnight in same town
Started marching 9am for the village of "La Clytte" across the Belgian frontier, arrived there the same day 4pm weather bitterly cold "La Clytte" 5km+ from firing linr =3 and a half miles inspected and addressed by General Smith-Dorrien
Were taken on strength of 3rd Division 8th Brigade -26th feb and recognized as the "sister" battalion to the 1st Battalion of the Gordons.
Went to trenches for the first time on night of the 29th with two different battalions 1st Gordons and 2nd Suffolks had no casualties after
Had 6 days rest and went to trenches further to right on the front of Messines Ridge had first man killed there.
After 6 days rest 10 men of transport go to frontline with battalion & I went with "B" coy. and do 6 days & come back for 6 days and same again in march.
April Germans start gas attacks and 3rd Div.called upon 4th Gordons to proceed to "hill 60" and B Reserve to the Canadians (1st Contingent)
April 3rd take up position on Memin Road in front of Ypres which was burning furiously.
June, battalion does 26 days in frontline and has 15 hours bombardment from Germans about 90 casualties.
June 16th 9th Brigade attacks "D" Coy and 4th Gordons go over on right at "Y" woods and is almost wiped outby machine gun fire.
Sept 24th 8th Brigade composed(for attack only) of 1st gordons,4th Gordons and 2nd Royal Scots, 1st Royal Scots Fusilliers inspected by Lord Kitchener (eve of Battle of Loos)
Sept 25th Battle of Loos 4th Gordons have terrible casualties reduced to 4 officers and 150 men - former strength 16 officers and 750 men
The battle station position - Sangutary Wood right of Ypres (loss 600 men and 12 officers)
Sept 28th another 10 days of trenches without reinforcements
Oct leave the line for rest billets by rail to Ceeke.
Nov.1 leave ceeke on 7 days pass arrive in Aberdeen after a disagreeable passage
Tueday leave aberdeen for France
Sunday after painful leave of 4 days
December arrive back in France after delay and rejoin Battalion after further delay at Reninoghelst in Belgium
Dec Battalion does poneer for 2 months on account of low strength.
1916 Feb granted another rest at Éperlecques, France
Feb20th celebrate anniversary of arrival in France
Feb 26th leave 3rd Div.farwell speech from General Haldane.March on St Omer and train to Somme - after 24 hrs jounery 6 transport men lose train detrained and march via Valley of Somme and reach Corbie ground covered with snow and very cold meet 51st Div and relieve 4th Camerons in 154th Brigade
After a week's rest proceed by road marching to Arras a distance of 200 kms taking almost 2 weeks to complete.
Relive French troops at Rocklincourt and hold the line there until July.
First transport man killed behind Vinney Ridge. I.along with other 3 men, do work on light railway behind vinney ridge for two months and have one man killed and one man wounded and two mules killed,
End of July take road for Somme arrive at village of Fricourt which had fallen to the British 2 days before.
Battalion proceeds to...
This is where the dary ends James 's thoughts : Where have all the young men gone? gone to a graveyard every one, when will they ever learn- when will they ever learn
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