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.  

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.

James Williamson, Glassaugh, Fordyce

Today we remember James Williamson, Pte 1465, 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, a casualty of the battle of Neuve Chapelle.  James was the son of J. Williamson, gamekeeper at Glassaugh, Fordyce, and was aged just 19 when he died on 13th March 1915.  He is named on the memorial at Le Touret in Pas de Calais, France.

Robert J. Gordon

Today we remember Portsoy war casualty Robert J. Gordon, Pte 10013, 1st Scots Guards, the son of Jessie Thomson (formerly Gordon), 182 Newlands Road, Cathcart, Glasgow.  He was 24 years old when he fell in action on 25th January 1915.  He is commemorated on the Le Touret memorial, Pas de Calais, France.