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6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
6th (Banff and Donside) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders was a unit of the Territorial Force, part of the Gordon Infantry Brigade, Highland Division. Their HQ was in Keith. A Coy was drawn from Banff, Aberchirder, Cornhill and Portsoy. B Coy from Dufftown, Aberlour, Chapeltown, Glenrinnes and Minmore. C Coy from Keith and Grange. D Coy from Buckie, Findochty and Cullen. E Coy from Inverurie and Pitcaple. F Coy from Alford, Cushnie, Lumsden, Glenbucket, Strathdon, Corgarff, and Towie. G Coy from Bucksburn and Dyce. H Coy from Huntley, Insh and Rhynie.
7th Aug 1914 Mobilisation
9th Aug 1914 Church Parade
11th Aug 1914 On the Move
5th Sep 1914 Comforts
5th Sep 1914 Duplicate Units
5th May 1915 Relief Completed 
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
1st Jul 1916 Shelling
2nd Jul 1916 Mine
3rd Jul 1916 Shelling
10th Jul 1916 Camouflet
11th Jul 1916 Shelling
12th Jul 1916 Reliefs
13th Jul 1916 Trench Raid
14th Jul 1916 Relief Completed
15th Jul 1916 On the Move
16th Jul 1916 On the Move
19th Jul 1916 Orders
20th Jul 1916 On the Move
21st Jul 1916 Orders Received
22nd Jul 1916 Reliefs Completed
23rd Jul 1916 In Action
24th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling
25th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling
26th Jul 1916 Relief
27th Jul 1916 Attacks Made
28th Jul 1916 Shelling
29th Jul 1916 Heavy Shelling
30th Jul 1916 Attack Made
31st Jul 1916 Consolidation
31st Jul 1916 Report
1st Aug 1916 Instructions
17th of October 1916 Relieved
15th Oct 1917 Preparations
19th Oct 1917 Line Taken Over
13th Nov 1917 In Action
14th Nov 1917 In Action
15th Nov 1917 In Action
16th Nov 1917 Report
21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attack
22nd Mar 1918 Under Pressure
22nd Mar 1918 Under Attack
23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Fighting
24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
25th Mar 1918 Pressed Back
26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
29th Mar 1918 Inspection 
King George V inspecting the 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders of 51st Division, 29th of March 1918. The Battalion had just come out of the line having lost 16 officers and 300 men. The Battalion was at Frevent and about to entrain.
© IWM (Q 11465)
31st Mar 1918 Fierce Fighting
9th Apr 1918 Enemy Attacks
11th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting
12th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting
13th Apr 1918 In Defence
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders during the Great War 1914-1918. - Barnett DCM, MM. William Forbes. Pte. (d.11th Apr 1918)
- Blackmore Arthur James Cyril. Pte (d.29th May 1915)
- Campbell William James. Pte. (d.31st July 1917)
- Carmichael Malcolm. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- Clark David Watt. Pte. (d.11th Apr 1918)
- Davison MC, MM. Henry. WO1.
- Duguid William Albert Thow. Private
- Esson Alexender. L/Cpl. (d.11th April 1918)
- Fentie Robert. Pte.
- Gardiner John Slater. Cpl. (d.21st March 1918)
- Gardiner William. L/Cpl. (d.26th May 1917)
- Gilpin James. Pte. (d.11th Apr 1918)
- Grant Alexander John. Pte.
- Jackson Joseph. Pte.
- Main Alexander. Pte. (d.23rd November 1916)
- McConnachie John. Cpl. (d.10th June 1917)
- Middleton William. Pte. (d.9th April 1917)
- Morrison Alexander. Pte. (d.4th June 1915)
- Murison William. Pte.
- Murray John. L/Cpl
- Nicoll John Henderson . Pte.
- Richmond Malcolm R.. Pte. (d.26th May 1918)
- Robb James. CSM. (d.30th September 1915)
- Ross James Milne. Sgt.
- Sandison William. Pte.
- Scatterty William. Pte. (d.5th March 1917)
- Scott MiD. James. Lt. (d.25th Sept 1915)
- Scott James. Cpl. (d.18th May 1918)
- Scott James. A/Sgt. (d.18th May 1918)
- Scott Joseph McKnight. Private (d.9th Apr 1917)
- Shanks Alexander. Pte.
- Smith Leonard Francis. (d.12th Apr 1917)
- Smith William. Pte.
- Sutherland William Francis. Cpl. (d.9th Apr 1917)
- Taylor Peter. Pte. (d.3rd March 1917)
- Third George. Pte.
- Topp William. L/Cpl.
- Valentine Henry. Pte.
All 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 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders from other sources.
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Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Pte. John Henderson "Johnny Dundee" Nicoll 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders John Nicoll was discharged on the 19th of January 1919, he had suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg.
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L/Cpl. Alexender Esson 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (d.11th April 1918) Alexander Esson was, or would have been, my great uncle. One of his sisters became my grandmother. I am currently researching my family history (most of whom came from Aberdeen), and discovered that Alex and his brother James Ross Esson serving as a driver with the Royal Field Artillery were killed in the Great War. James died of wounds on 20th of February 1917. With the death of Alex, the family lost both of their sons.
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Pte. William Murison 1/6th Btn. F Coy. Gordon Highlanders William Murison served with F Coy. 1/6 Btn. Gordon Highlanders.
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Pte. Robert Fentie 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders Robert Fentie's older brothers had joined up. So he lied about his age so he could join. He was in France in 1917.
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Pte. William Forbes Barnett DCM, MM. 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.11th Apr 1918) William Barnett was my paternal grandmother's brother. He won the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal for extreme bravery for repeatedly going out under heavy fire to rescue wounded comrades from the battlefield. He was a private and came from a crofting family background. He must have had great strength of character to behave as he did, finally paying with his life.
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L/Cpl John Murray 6th Btn Gordon Highlanders Lance Corporal John Murray served with the 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders in WW1
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Pte. Alexander Shanks 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders Alexander Shanks was my father.
He joined the army whilst under age. He arrived in France on 5th of September 1915 and spent around 290 days in various places in Northern France.
He occupied the French trenches at Neuville St Vaast near Vimy Ridge after the French troops moved out to defend Verdun. There he was wounded by shellfire, just before the Battle of the Somme.
He was found in no man's land by stretcher bearers who gave him a cigarette. He inhaled deeply but no smoke was exhaled. A look at his back revealed where the smoke was going. There was a huge hole in his back where one of his lungs used to be. He was invalided out.
He remembered lying on the beach at Boulogne when a medic walked up the line selecting those wounded who would be returned to the UK. He made a great effort to moan pretty loudly to show that he was going to live.
He was repatriated and survived. He was discharged from the army on 16th of December 1916.
He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.
Alexander seldom if ever mentioned the war and most of this brief history had to be researched, but once, in his cups, he recalled the lice, and how, in the trenches, he and his fellows held races chasing them along the pleats of their kilts by placing lighted candles at the hems.
He worked as a chauffeur and later mechanic, married and had 7 children of whom I am the youngest of three surviving.
His medals were sold to put food on the table during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
He died in the Insch, Aberdeenshire, War Memorial Hospital in 1972.
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Cpl. John McConnachie 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (d.10th June 1917) John McConnachie arrived in France on the 2nd of December 1915. He was captured at Arras after being shot in the leg and taken to Langensalza POW Camp in Germany where he died on 10th of June 1917.
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Pte. James Gilpin 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.11th Apr 1918) Herbert Gilpin joined 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders and died near Loos-en-Gohelle on 11th of April 1918.
My father never knew his father, my grandfather, whom we owe so much to as we live on because of his sacrifice.
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L/Cpl. William Gardiner 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.26th May 1917) William Gardiner enlisted at Keith aged 20, he died of wounds on the 26th of May 1917 and is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.
He was the elder son of William Gardiner (Shipbuilder) and Helen Jane (nee Slater) Gardiner of 42 Blantyre St. Cullen, Banffshire.
He was a Bank Clerk.
William's younger brother, Cpl John Slater Gardiner was killed in actionon the 21st of Mar 1918 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
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Cpl. John Slater Gardiner 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.21st March 1918) John Gardiner enlisted at Aberdeen aged 19.
He was killed in action on the 21st of March 1918 and is commemorated in the Arras Memorial.
He was the younger son of William Gardiner, Shipbuilder & Helen Jane (nee Slater) Gardiner, 42 Blantyre St. Cullen, Banffshire.
He was a Shipwright and Boatbuilder.
John's older brother L/Cpl William Gardiner died of wounds on the 26th May 1917, he is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.
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Pte. David Watt Clark D Coy. 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (d.11th Apr 1918) David Clark was born on the 22nd of October 189 at Millden, Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire. He married Margaret Gill when he was at 18 years old in October 1917. He died on the 11th of 1918 in Flanders.
Aberdeen Press and Journal reported on Friday 26th of September 1919, Previously reported missing on 11th of April 1918, now officially reported killed on that date or since, S/17184 Pte. David W Clark, D Coy. 6th Batt. Gordon Highlanders, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Clark, 78 Great Northern Road. Deeply mourned.
Did no one see my dear son fall,
As he fought the battlefield,
Or was he alone, I wonder.
As he passed to the great unseen.
Sleep on, dear son, in your lonely grave;
Your life for country you nobly gave.
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Pte. Henry Valentine 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders Henry Valentine was a loving father of three. He was a baker in the village of Knock, Banffshire, Scotland. He enlisted on 14th of July 1915 into the 6th (Banff and Donside) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
In the 1917 Battle of Arras, he was injured twice, once on April 9th at Rocincourt, and again on May 16th at the Chemical Works near Roeux.
He was discharged on 12th of November and passed away several years later, around 1944, from persistent complications due to injuries he sustained in war.
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Pte. George Third 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders George Third 11593 was my grandfather. He served in C Coy, 1/6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, in the Great War, He landed in France on the 10th of March 1915. He was wounded on the 16thth of May 1917.
He was born 25th April 1895 in Methlick, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and died in New Plymouth, New Zealand 1985 aged 90.
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Private William Albert Thow Duguid 1st/6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders Bertie Duguid served with the 6th Gordon Highlanders.
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L/Cpl. William Topp 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders William Topp was reported wounded in a casualty list of 16th of Oct 1915 which was published in a newspaper on 26th Oct 1915. He was discharged on 10th of Aug 1916.
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Pte. William Scatterty 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.5th March 1917) William Scatterty was killed in action and is remembered with honour at Roclincourt Valley Cemetery in France.
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WO1. Henry Davison MC, MM. 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders My grandfather Henry Davison was born on 8th May 1882 in Canterbury before the family moved to Faversham where he worked as a Printer Engineer for the local newspaper.
On the 8th May 1905 he joined the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in London with the army number of 6047. He was attached to the Lincolnshire Regiment and the Royal West Kents as a gymnastic instructor. This was just prior to the outbreak of WW1 and he held the rank of L/Sgt. Whilst in Maidstone with RWK he married Alice.
They prepared for war and on 1st June 1915 sailed for France. He served with 2nd Battalion until 17th January 1917 when he transferred to the 6th Gordon Highlanders with the number 2865546.
On 27th of October 1916 he was gazetted having been awarded the Military Medal and was gazetted on 1st of January 1917 having been awarded the Military Cross. He returned with his regiment to the UK on 23rd of March 1919 having served on the Western Front for 3 years and 296 days. In August 1918 he came home on leave to get divorced (I have a copy of his divorce papers from the High Court in London).
Upon returning to Glasgow with 2nd Battalion he met and married my grandmother and soon after my father was born. By this time he was RSM of the depot in Aberdeen. He retired on the 7th May 1926 having completed 21 years service. The family returned to Faversham where he worked at a local printers.
During WW2 he was the Senior ARP warden for Faversham. He passed away on 12th September 1953.
Two of his younger brothers both served, Alfred with South Lancashire Regiment and Frank with 332 Seige Battery RGA who died of wounds on 26th September 1917 and is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium. With my 2 sons and my youngest brother we went to his grave 100 years on from his death and shared a drink with him (well poured it over his grave).
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Pte. William James Campbell 1st/6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.31st July 1917) My paternal grandmother's younger brother, William Campbell, was posted missing, presumed killed after being wounded in both legs. His brother-in-law, Harry Merchant, was going up the line with the Cameron Highlanders, and saw Will being carried past on a stretcher. He called out, "I've got a Blighty" meaning he would be sent home to the UK for treatment. After that, said Harry, there was a heavy shelling, and Will was not seen alive again. He was 19 years old.
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Pte. William Middleton 6th Btn. Gordon Highlanders (d.9th April 1917) William Middleton, 6th Gordon Highlanders, was killed on the 9th of April 1917 on the first day of the Battle of Arras. Buried in the Highlander Cemetery at Rollincourt and his brother Pte John Middleton, 7th Gordon Highlanders, is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial. After only 47 days on French soil, John was killed in a road by the battlefield. They were my father's paternal cousins, from Tarland. Three of his maternal cousins, who were an Aboyne branch of Deeside Middletons, were also killed. Charles Middleton, Pte 422290, 8th Manitoba Regiment, born Birse, died 14th of June 1916, remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium . His father John of 'Alberta, Golf Road, Aboyne had 7 sons in WW1. 3 were killed.
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