James C. Forbes

Our thoughts today go to James C. Forbes, Pte 1226 Gordon Highlanders, who was 21 years of age when he lost his life near Ypres on 17^th June 1915.  James was the son of William & Agnes Forbes, who farmed at Cowhythe, Portsoy.  He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium, as well as on the memorial at Portsoy School.

James McBeath

On this day we remember James McBeath, Lance-Corporal in 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, who was killed on 14th December 1914 near Ypres.  He was the son of Mary Ann Dow and the father of the renowned folk-singer Jimmy McBeath, to whom a stone is dedicated in Portsoy New Cemetery.