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5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders was a Territorial unit. They served with the 9th (Highland) Division then transferred to 152nd Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. They saw action in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and in North Western Europe.
6th of January 1942 Orders
16th of April 1942 Battalion Orders by Major J.H. Walford Commanding, 5th (Caithnees & Sutherland) Bn., The Seaforth Highlanders.
22nd May 1942 Competition
23rd May 1942 Competition
1st Jun 1942 Royal Visit
2nd of June 1942 B.O. No. 127/42 Page 2
4th Jun 1942 Training
14th Aug 1942 On the Move
15th Aug 1942 In Camp
15th of August 1942 Orders
16th of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Lieut-Col. J.E. Stirling No.2
17th of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Lieut- Col. J.E. Stirling No. 3.
19th of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Lieut-Col. J.E. Stirling No.4.
20th of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Lieut-Col. J.E. Stirling No. 5.-
21st Aug 1942 In Camp
21st of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Lieut-Col. J.E. Stirling No. 6
22nd Aug 1942 Visit
22nd of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Lieut-Col. J.E. Stirling No. 7.
23rd Aug 1942 In Camp
23rd of August 1942 Field Return of Officers
23rd of August 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
23rd of August 1942 Movement Order No. G/3.
24th Aug 1942 In Camp
25th Aug 1942 In Camp
25th of August 1942 Routine Orders by Lieut.-Col. J.E. Sterling No. 8.
26th Aug 1942 In Camp
26th of August 1942 Routine Orders by Lieut. Col. J.E. Stirling. No.9
27th of August 1942 Quiet
27th of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Major J.H. Walford No. 10.
28th of August 1942 Quiet
28th of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Major J.H. Walford No. 11.
29th of August 1942 Quiet
29th of August 1942 5th Seaforth Highlanders Daily Routine Orders by Major J.H. Walford No. 12.
30th of August 1942 Quiet
30th of August 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
30th of August 1942 Field Return of Officers
31st of August 1942 On standby
31st of August 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Major J.N. Walford No. 13.
1st of September 1942 At notice
2nd of September 1942 At notice
3rd of September 1942 Move
4th of September 1942 Change of Command
5th of September 1942 Visit
6th of September 1942 Quiet
7th of September 1942 Quiet
8th of September 1942 Move 
9th of September 1942 Quiet
10th of September 1942 Quiet
11th of September 1942 Quiet
12th of September 1942 Quiet
13th of September 1942 Quiet
14th of September 1942 Quiet
15th of September 1942 Quiet
16th of September 1942 Quiet
17th of September 1942 Quiet
18th of September 1942 Move
19th of September 1942 Training Exercise
20th of September 1942 Move
21st of September 1942 Training
22nd of September 1942 Training
23rd of September 1942 Training
24th of September 1942 Relief
25th of September 1942 Quiet
26th of September 1942 Quiet
27th of September 1942 Quiet
28th of September 1942 Casualties
29th of September 1942 Quiet
30th of September 1942 Quiet
30th of September 1942 Movement Order No. 3.
1st Oct 1942 Quiet
1st of October 1942 Admin Instruction issued with Movement Order No. 3.
1st of October 1942 Movement Table
2nd Oct 1942 Reliefs
3rd Oct 1942 Patrol
3rd of October 1942 152nd Infantry Brigade Admn Order No. 1
4th Oct 1942 Patrol
4th of October 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
5th Oct 1942 Under Fire
6th Oct 1942 Patrol
7th Oct 1942 Reliefs
7th of October 1942 Relief Order Appendix B G/7/?/1
8th Oct 1942 Move
9th of October 1942 Orders
11th of October 1942 Field Return of Officers
11th of October 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
13th of October 1942 Exercise
14th of October 1942 Orders
15th of October 1942 Orders
16th of October 1942 Quiet
17th of October 1942 Quiet
17th of October 1942 Orders
17th of October 1942 Nominal Roll
18th of October 1942 Movement Timetable
18th of October 1942 Movement Order
18th of October 1942 Field Return of Officers
18th of October 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
18th of October 1942 Relief
19th of October 1942 Field
19th of October 1942 Night Patrols
19th of October 1942 Night Patrols
19th of October 1942 Field Return of Officers
19th of October 1942 Relief
20th of October 1942 Patrols
20th of October 1942 152nd Brigade Operational Order
20th of October 1942 Notes
20th of October 1942 Gapping and Taping
20th of October 1942 Patrol Reports
20th of October 1942 Patrol Reports
20th of October 1942 Orders for Patrols
20th of October 1942 Night Patrols
21st of October 1942 Operation Order No.1
21st of October 1942 Move to attack
21st of October 1942 Peg laying
21st of October 1942 Patrols
21st of October 1942 Patrol Reports
21st of October 1942 152nd Brigade Administrative Order No.1.
21st of October 1942 5 Seaforth Projected Patrols Night 21/22 Oct. 42
22nd of October 1942 Protective patrols
22nd of October 1942 Notes on 152 Brigade O.O. No 1. dated 20 Oct 42
22nd of October 1942 Schedule of Tasks for Evening
22nd of October 1942 Vehicles
22nd of October 1942 Admin Order
22nd of October 1942 Consolidated Patrol Reports for Night 21/22 Oct 42.
22nd of October 1942 Patrols
23rd Oct 1942 In Action
23rd Oct 1942 Led by the Pipers
23rd of October 1942 Battle Begins
23rd of October 1942 Operational Order No. 1.
23rd of October 1942 Orders for Drivers
23rd of October 1942 Role in Offensive
23rd of October 1942 Reports
24th Oct 1942 In Action
24th of October 1942 Tape Work
24th of October 1942 Battle continues
24th of October 1942 Operational Order
25th of October 1942 In battle
26th of October 1942 In battle
27th of October 1942 Battle of El Alamein
27th of October 1942 152nd Brigade Operation Order
27th of October 1942 5 Seaforth Operation Instruction
28th Oct 1942 Barrage
28th of October 1942 In battle
29th of October 1942 In battle
30th of October 1942 Relief
31st of October 1942 Rest day
1st of November 1942 Operational Order No. 2
1st of November 1942 Field Return of Officers
1st of November 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
1st of November 1942 Battle of Alamein
1st of November 1942 In the battle of El Alamein
1st of November 1942 Orders
1st of November 1942 Orders
1st of November 1942 Orders
2nd of November 1942 In Action
3rd of November 1942 In Action
4th Nov 1942 In Action
4th Nov 1942 Out of Action
4th of November 1942 Reorganization
5th of November 1942 On standby
6th of November 1942 Move off
6th of November 1942 152 Bde. Operation Order No. 1 - Appendix 7
7th of November 1942 Personnel changes
8th of November 1942 Move
9th of November 1942 Move back
9th of November 1942 Orders
10th of November 1942 Salvage and Casualties
10th of November 1942 Casualty List No. A/3/1.
10th of November 1942 Salvage
10th of November 1942 Salvage
11th of November 1942 Memorial service
11th of November 1942 Salvage
11th of November 1942 List 'B'
11th of November 1942 Admin Order No. 1
11th of November 1942 Salvage - Admin Order No.2.
12th of November 1942 Quiet Day
12th of November 1942 Admin Order No. 3
13th of November 1942 Return of C.O.
14th of November 1942 Move warning
14th of November 1942 Daily Routine Orders by Lieut-Col J.E. Stirling, Commanding 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders No.1
14th of November 1942 Field Return of Other Ranks
15th of November 1942 Quiet Day
15th of November 1942 Field Return of Officers
15th of November 1942 Field Return of Officers Part B Continued
15th of November 1942 Field Return of Officers - Part C
16th of November 1942 Move
17th of November 1942 Move
18th of November 1942 Move
19th of November 1942 Dust storm
19th of November 1942 Daily Orders by Lieut-Col J.E. Stirling, Commanding 5th Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders. No. 2.
20th of November 1942 Competition
20th of November 1942 Daily Orders by Lieut-Colonel J.E. Stirling No. 3.
20th of November 1942 Movement Order No. 1.
20th of November 1942 Operation Order No. 1. Appendix 'A'
21st of November 1942 Move
22nd of November 1942 Move
23rd of November 1942 Move
24th of November 1942 Warning Order
24th of November 1942 Daily Order by Lieut.-Colonel J.E.Stirling Commanding 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders No. 4
25th of November 1942 Warning Order
25th of November 1942 Warning Order
25th of November 1942 Daily Orders by Lieut-Colonel J.E. Stirling No. 5
26th of November 1942 Quiet
26th of November 1942 Daily Orders by Lieut. Colonel J.E. Stirling No. 5
27th of November 1942 Preparations
27th of November 1942 Operation Order No. 1
27th of November 1942 March Table - Appendix to Operation Order No. 1.
27th of November 1942 152 Bde Operation Order No. 1
27th of November 1942 Bde HQ Group Layout Appendix A to Operation Order No. 1
27th of November 1942 152 Bde. HQ Group Movement Table issued in conjunction with 152 Bde. O.O. No. 1
27th of November 1942 Notes for Adv. Guard Group Desert Move
28th of November 1942 Move
29th of November 1942 Move
29th of November 1942 Field Return of Officers
30th of November 1942 Move
1st of December 1942 Move
2nd of December 1942 New position
2nd of December 1942 152 Brigade Operation Instruction No 1
3rd of December 1942 Recces
3rd of December 1942 Interrogation of two Libyans
4th of December 1942 Reports
4th of December 1942 Patrol Instructions
4th of December 1942 Appendix 10 - Patrol Report
4th of December 1942 Patrol Report - Appendix 5
4th of December 1942 Patrol Reports - Appendix 6
4th of December 1942 Detail of Working Parties 4/5 Dec. 42.
4th of December 1942 Patrol Detail
4th of December 1942 Patrol Programme 4/5 Dec - Appendix 8
5th of December 1942 Patrols
5th of December 1942 Appendix 9 - Patrol Report
5th of December 1942 Detail of Working Parties - Appendix 11
6th of December 1942 Op Order No. 13 Appendix B
6th of December 1942 Visits
7th of December 1942 Patrols
8th of December 1942 Relief
8th of December 1942 Relief
9th of December 1942 Maintenance
10th of December 1942 Normal day
11th of December 1942 Proposed attack
12th of December 1942 Proposed attack cancelled
13th of December 1942 Move planning
14th of December 1942 Update
15th of December 1942 Awards
16th of December 1942 Warning Order
17th of December 1942 Training
18th of December 1942 Normal day
19th of December 1942 Training
20th of December 1942 Normal day
21st of December 1942 Normal day
22nd of December 1942 Training
23rd of December 1942 Normal day
24th of December 1942 Move
25th of December 1942 Christmas Day
26th of December 1942 Road work
27th of December 1942 New draft
28th of December 1942 Move
29th of December 1942 Working
30th of December 1942 Reinforcements
31st of December 1942 Enemy activity
16th Jan 1943 Advance
5th Feb 1943 Inspection
6th Mar 1943 In Action
16th Mar 1943 In Action
6th Apr 1943 Attack Made
6th Apr 1943 In Action
19th Apr 1943 In Action
5th May 1943 In Action
Jul 1943 Embarkation
 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders arrive at Sousse Harbour prior to embarkation. © IWM (NA 4074)
 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders board landing craft while, in the foreground, others wait their turn at the quayside at Sousse Harbour. © IWM (NA 4075)
Jul 1943 Embarkation
9th Jul 1943 In Action
29th Jul 1943 In Action
17th Jan 1944 Exercise
18th Jan 1944 Exercise
19th Jan 1944 Exercise
29th Feb 1944 Royal Inspection
 The King inspects officers of 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders during a snow storm at Gorhambury Park in Hertfordshire, 29th of February 1944. © IWM (H 36241)
29th Feb 1944 Royal Inspection
7th of April 1944 Training
22nd of April 1944 Orders
18th July 1944 In Action
7th Aug 1944 In Action
17th August 1944 Reorganisation
18th August 1944 Enemy Withdrawal
26th August 1944 Drafts
27th August 1944 Transport
19th Oct 1944 Reliefs Completed
23rd Oct 1944 In Action
23rd Oct 1944 Attack Made
24th Oct 1944 Artillery Support
25th Oct 1944 Advance
28th Oct 1944 In Action
30th Oct 1944 Railway Bridge Blown
27th of March 1945 Move
3rd May 1945 Orders
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Asher Alexander Gordon. Pipe Major
- Ball Thomas. Pte.
- Brawley William. Pte. (d.21st Aug 1944)
- Bremner Isaac Watters. Pte. (d.22nd March 1943)
- Buxton Charles Edwin. Pte. (d.19th February 1944)
- Forrester W.
- Gunn John George Cormac. Pte (d.29th June 1944)
- Jack Ebenezer Chisholm Leitch. Pte. (d.16th Jun 1944)
- Mackay John. Pte.
- Manson George. Sgt. (d.18th July 1944)
- Nicol Robert Hector. Sgt.
- Scholes George. Cpl.
- Smith John Rennie. Pte.
- Younger Joseph. RSM. (d.21st January 1943)
The 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 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders from other sources.
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Want to know more about 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders? There are:1608 items tagged 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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W Forrester 5th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders W Forrester served with the 5th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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RSM. Joseph Younger 5th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.21st January 1943) Joseph Younger was born to parents Joseph and Isabella Younger, of Simonside, South Shields, Co. Durham and was the husband of Jane Younger, of Ardersier, Inverness-shire.
During WW2 Joseph served with the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders and died 21st of January 1943 aged 37 years. He is buried in Tripoli War Cemetery. in Libya.
His brother Allen Younger also died in service with the R.A.F. on 22nd of February 1944.
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Pte. Ebenezer Chisholm Leitch "Abie" Jack 5th Btn, 11 Pl, B Coy. Seaforth Highlanders (d.16th Jun 1944) We have many letters from the front from Uncle Abie Jack to his loving sister Flora Henderson
He speaks of many things but all are about his family, and all give us a tear, but the most wonderful and heart breaking is a letter sent to his Father from 2/Lt Patrick H Grant
It tells us he was a bren gunner a great solider. A cheerful and popular member of the community. It tells of his death during a bombardment
He speaks of the loss to both family and platoon and tells of how he died with honour, a soldier's death and that he was buried in a little country church.
It even speaks of how his personal belongings were removed, all but a silver ring on his right hand that he must have treasured.
Uncle Abie served in Africa, Italy and took part in the Normandy landings, all with the Seaforth Highlanders
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Pte. John Rennie Smith 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Jackie Smith served with the 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
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Pte. Thomas Ball 5th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders    Thomas Ball, my hero! He persuaded his mum to say that he was 16 years old so that he could join the Territorial Army, primarily so he could go to the army camp in Wales as they as a family could not afford holidays.
Shortly after his 'holiday' in Wales, war broke out and Dad was assigned to the Seaforth Highlanders. He was so very young when he went to war. His recollections of his time during the war were always very vivid to him and he would become very upset as he related stories about friends and comrades who had fallen.
I can recall my dad telling me that he drove a truck in the desert and he was at the front leading the convoy and he fell asleep at the wheel and went off the road and every other truck followed him! The gentleman who was with him in the truck (sorry, I don't know his name) realised that my father was exhausted and ordered him to have a sleep before continuing.
I have my Dad's cap badge and lots of photos which I treasure. I wish my Dad was around now to relate other stories to me which I would have loved to share with you all. Dad passed away in December 2013 aged 92. God bless him and all who fought for us.
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Pte. Charles Edwin Buxton 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders (d.19th February 1944) Eddie Buxton died 19th February 1944 at the age of 31 while serving with 5th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders. He is buried in St. Bartholomew's Churchyard, Old Whittington, Chesterfield. He was the son of Charles Edward and Alice Buxton, elder brother of Bert L. Buxton and husband of Kathleen May Buxton(Nee Harvey), all of New Whittington, Chesterfield.
I do not know where he died nor the circumstances of his death.
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Pte. Isaac Watters Bremner 5th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.22nd March 1943) My great uncle Isaac Bremner died in Tunisia on 22nd March 1943 aged 21. All I have been able to find was this quote online from Orkney where he was from "I was told a short time ago by members of the Rendall family that the last time that Isaac Bremner was in Hoy and visited Rackwick he was afraid and said he did not want to go back as he thought his life was in great danger". He's buried in the Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia.
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Sgt. Robert Hector "Bert" Nicol 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Bert Nicol was in 2nd Battalion then 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, 51st Highland Division. He served at El Alamein, Sicily and then the Normandy landings where he was shot in the hand by friendly fire from an American aircraft.
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Sgt. George Manson 5th Btn., 10 Pltn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.18th July 1944) George Manson was killed in action in the Triangle near Caen, Normandy with ten of his No. 10 platoon, 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.
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Pte. John "Daisy" Mackay C Btn. No.11 (Scottish) Commando Private John Mackay, son of Hugh Kenneth and Elizabeth Mackay and brother of Georgie Mackay, was a 16 year old farm servant when he enlisted with 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders in 1938. He left home on September 2nd 1939. In the summer of 1940, his time was spent patrolling remote sites in Wester Ross and Sutherland when he and some of his fellow soldiers decided to volunteer for the Special Service Brigade. He was then sent to Africa to join the 11th Commando.
John Mackay set off on his first patrol on 11th Oct 1941, destined for Kharga in the Libyan Desert. In Egypt, April 1943, the fit and healthy members of the Long Range Desert Group, of which John was now a member, were sent to train in Lebanon at the Mountain Warfare School. He was then ordered to fight for the Dodecanese Islands, and LRDG were sent to the island of Calino at the start of the campaign. On 20th October the Battle of Leros was underway, and British command gave the LRDG orders that the island of Levitha was to be captured immediately. On the night of 22nd October the commandos of ‘B’ Squad slipped into canvas assault boats and prepared to land on the nearby beach. Unfortunately they came under heavy machine gun fire and the end result was that there was no option but to surrender. John Mackay was officially captured by the Germans on October 24th 1943. The LRDG men taken prisoner on Levitha were first shipped over to Yugoslavia from where they began the long train journey to Germany. Private Mackay ended up a POW in Stalag 8b, Lamsdorf, Poland. In late January 1945 he made the journey to Trieste to work salt mines in northern Italy.
Once he was set free he had to make his way back to the British lines on foot, and once back in Britain he spent a period convalescing in hospital prior to coming home. John arrived at Fort George in March 1946, and was reunited with his family two months later.
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