Portsoy remembers Reston Garbutt

On 1st December 1915, James Reston Gardiner Garbutt joined the ranks of Portsoy's war casualties.  He was the son of William Milne Garbutt and Elizabeth Gardiner and in 1911 had graduated MB ChB from Aberdeen University.  He was serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps in France when he was killed in action at the age of 26.  He is commemorated by a gravestone at Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

In memory of Pte James Main

James Main was the son of Mrs Jane Main, who lived at 24 Chapel Street in Portsoy.  He served at Pte 10/1901 in the Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force and fought along with them at Gallipoli, where he was fatally wounded.  He died of his wounds in London on 22nd September 1915, aged 23 years.

James is commemorated by a marble stone in Fordyce Old Kirkyard and on the Portsoy town war memorial.

Charles Shand, RMA/12829

On this day we remember the sacrifice of Charles Grant Black Shand, who was just 20 years old when he lost his life on 30th August 1915.  Charles served as a gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery on board HMS "Swiftsure" which saw action in the Dardanelles.  He was born in Portsoy and his family lived at 23 Durn Road, before moving to Moray.  His aunt, Mary Elizabeth Grant, is known to have lived at 77 Clifton Road, Lossiemouth.

Charles is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

In memory of James Leslie, Pte 4/8936 Durham Light Infantry

Today, 9th August, marks the anniversary of the death of James Leslie, a native of Portsoy.  James was serving with the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry when he lost his life at the age of 41.  He left behind a widow, Matilda Leslie, who was living at 38, Bedford St, Edinburgh.

James is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.

Remembering the fallen: Alexander McWilliam

Pte S/9351 Alexander McWilliam, serving in the 1st Gordon Highlanders, fell in action on 2nd August 1915.  He was the son of James McWilliam whose home was at 3, North High Street, Portsoy.

Alexander's grave lies at the Chester Farm Cemetery at Ypres in Belgium, where over 400 casualties are commemorated.

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.

In memory of Alexander Gray

On this day we remember the loss of Alexander Gray.  At the age of 18 Alexander was serving in the Royal Naval Reserve when, on 9^th June 1915, he died of wounds sustained in action in the Dardanelles.  A gravestone is dedicated to him at Mudros in Greece and he is also commemorated on the family gravestone in Portsoy cemetery.  Alexander was the son of John and Maggie Gray who lived at Muir of Glassaugh, Fordyce.

Remembering Hector Guthrie

One hundred years on, Portsoy remembers Hector M. Guthrie, Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers.  After graduating with 1st Class Honours from Aberdeen University, he was 22 years of age when he became a casualty of the Gallipoli campaign on 4^th June 1915.  He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial as well as in Aberdeen University Roll of Honour.  Hector’s parents, James & Bella Guthrie, lived in Roseacre Street, Portsoy.

In memory of James Grant Gray and Donald Stuart

One hundred years on, Portsoy war casualties James Grant Gray and Donald Stuart are present in our thoughts.  Both young men were on active service with the Gordon Highlanders when they lost their lives on 16^th May 1915.  Both are commemorated on the LeTouret memorial in Pas de Calais, France. 

James Grant Gray, Pte 909, Gordon Highlanders was aged 23 at the time of his death.  His parents were William Ker Gray, Glenboyne, Portsoy, Banffshire, and Christina McKechnie Gray.

Donald Stuart, Pte 1470, 6^th Battalion Gordon Highlanders was the son of James & Annie Stuart of Cultain, Fordyce and was only 17 when he was killed.  His name is absent from the Portsoy town memorial but he is commemorated on the family gravestone in Portsoy cemetery.  

Forthcoming records on WW2 casualties

As a complement to the existing data on casualties of WW1, records of WW2 victims are shortly to be made available online from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.  These will be accessible free of charge and include details relating to individual gravestones and headstone inscriptions, which can often prove invaluable to the family members of those who fell.

To find out more, see this page on the CWGC site .

William McCulloch, Portsoy

Today Portsoy remembers William A McCulloch, Pte 27289, serving in the Canadian Infantry 15^th Battalion, who was killed in action near Ypres on 24^th April 1915, at the age of 31.  His father, John McCulloch, was a draper at 13 Aird Street.  William is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial at Ypres.

In memory of William Littlejohn, Portsoy

On this day we reflect on the sacrifice of William Littlejohn, Gunner 2014 in the Royal Garrison Artillery (34^th), who died of his injuries on 18^th March 1915 at the Royal Military Hospital, Isle of Wight.  He left behind a widowed wife, Jane Morrison, Chapel Street, Portsoy.  His grave can be found in Portsoy’s old burial ground.

In memory of William Charles Bremner, 1898 - 1915

Charlie Bremner was brought up in Banff, the son of William Bremner and Mary Beaton.  He was already serving in the 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (a Territorial unit) when war was declared 1914.  Just after his 16th birthday he left Britain with his comrades, bound for France.  On 13th March 1915 the battalion went into action, attacking the strategic objective of Neuve Chapelle.  Over 300 casualties were sustained during this operation.  Charlie is commemorated, together with other casualties of this action, at the nearby Le Touret memorial.

John McWilliam & James Morrison

On this day we remember the sacrifice made by John McWilliam, Pte 906, 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders and by James A. Morrison, L/Cpl 971, also 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders.  Both were killed in action on 10th February 1915.

John McWilliam lived at Backgreen, Portsoy, and James Morrison lived at 3, Culbert Street, Portsoy.

They are both commemorated at the Rue Petillon cemetery , Fleurbaix, Pas de Calais, France.

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.