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12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
| Want to know more about 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry ? There are:5423 items tagged 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry available in our Library
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 with12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry during the Great War 1914-1918. - Anderson VC William Herbert. Lt/Col. (d.25th March 1918)
- Armstrong William. Pte. (d.13th August 1916)
- Bayley Peter Ferguson. 2nd Lt. (d.23th March 1918)
- Blackadder Gilbert Brown Ritchie. Cpl (d.25th September 1915)
- Caldwell William Honeyford. Cpl. (d.26th Mar 1918)
- Campbell Archibald. Pte. (d.26th Apr 1916)
- Clarke John. L/Cpl. (d.19th Aug 1916)
- Ewan Joseph. Pte. (d.31st Jul 1917)
- Irving James. Pte. (d.27th Jul 1917)
- Kelly Edward. L/Cpl. (d.25th March 1918)
- Kelly Edward. L/Cpl. (d.25th March 1918)
- Kirkwood George Mitchell. Pte. (d.25th Sept 1915)
- Lapping Harry. Pte. (d.1st Aug 1917)
- Lewis Charles. Cpl. (d.11th Mar 1916)
- Lupton Jeffrey. Pte. (d.25th September 1915)
- McConnell Daniel. Pte.
- McLoy John Joseph. Pte. (d.11th Apr 1917)
- Miller Alexander. Pte. (d.1st January 1916)
- Monaghan James. Pte.
- Mortimer Arthur. Pte. (d.29th Sep 1918)
- Palmer Alexander. Pte. (d.26th Sep 1915)
- Phillips James Leonard. Pte. (d.25th Mar 1918)
- Plant Albert Edward. Pte. (d.14th July 1917)
- Readyhoof Richard. Pte.
- Rennie Thomas. Pte (d.19th Aug 1916)
- Robertson James. Pte. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Russell Alexander. Pte. (d.13th Sep 1916)
- Sludden Thomas. Pte (d.13th August 1916)
- Street Frederick. Pte. (d.23rd June 1917)
- Thomson David R. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1917)
- Thomson David R. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1917)
- Vance Thomas Condra. Pte. (d.15th November 1915)
- Warren Alexander. L/Cpl. (d.21st May 1916)
- Watson Thomas. Pte (d.24th April 1917)
- Willocks John Whyte. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1917)
- Workman DCM John. Pte. (d.2nd January 1917)
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 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry from other sources.
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Lt/Col. William Herbert Anderson VC 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.25th March 1918)  William Anderson was killed in action on 25th March 1918 aged 36 and is buried in the Peronne Road Cemetery in France.
He was the son of W. J. Anderson, C.B.E., of Strathairly, Largo, Fife, husband of Gertrude Campbell Anderson, of 23, Abingdon Court, Kensington, London.
An extract from the London Gazette,"dated 30th April, 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, determination, and gallant leading of his command. The enemy attacked on the right of the battalion frontage and succeeded in penetrating the wood held by our men. Owing to successive lines of the enemy following on closely there was the greatest danger that the flank of the whole position would be turned. Grasping the seriousness of the situation, Colonel Anderson made his way across the open in full view of the enemy now holding the wood on the right, and after much effort succeeded in gathering the remainder of the two right companies. He personally led the counter-attack and drove the enemy from the wood, capturing twelve machine guns and seventy prisoners, and restoring the original line. His conduct in leading the charge was quite fearless and his most splendid example was the means of rallying and inspiring the men during the most critical hour. Later on the same day, in another position, the enemy had penetrated to within three hundred yards of the village and were holding a timber yard in force. Colonel Anderson reorganised his men after they had been driven in and brought them forward to a position of readiness for a counter-attack. He led the attack in person and throughout showed the utmost disregard for his own safety. The counter-attack drove the enemy from his position, but resulted in this very gallant officer losing his life. He died fighting within the enemy's lines, setting a magnificent example to all who were privileged to serve under him."
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Pte. Alexander Russell 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.13th Sep 1916) Alexander Russell was killed in action on the 13th of September 1916 and is buried in the Flatiron Copse Cemetery in France.
He resided at Chapelhall and enlisted at Holytown, Lanarkshire
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Pte. Arthur Mortimer 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.29th Sep 1918) Arthur Mortimer's military photo was hung on the wall with poppies around it, but we don't know where this photo went.
He was killed in action France and Flanders in 1918. Just as the war was coming to an end.
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Cpl Gilbert Brown Ritchie Blackadder 12th Btn Highland Light Infantry (d.25th September 1915) Gilbert Blackadder served with the 12th Battalion Highland Light Infantry in WW1. He died 25th of September 1915 aged 26 years and is remembered on the Loos Memorial. Son of Mary B. R. Blackadder of Craigenterrie, Currie, Midlothian and the late William Blackadder.
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Pte. Albert Edward Plant 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.14th July 1917) Albert Plant volunteered 18th of January 1915 and was assigned to the 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 23rd of January 1915. After their training, they landed at Boulogne 10th of July 1915 and took part in Battle of Loos, September 1915.
Albert transferred to Q Special Company, Royal Engineers, around March 1916. He died of wounds 14th of July 1917 in 88th Field Ambulance Dressing Station, Canada Farm, just South West of Passchendaele.
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Pte. Joseph Ewan 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.31st Jul 1917) Joe Ewan was the son of George and Mary Ewan, husband to Janet Ewan and father to Joseph Ewan, born December 1917.
He was buried in Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery.
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Pte. John Whyte Willocks A Coy. 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.9th Apr 1917) My grandmother used to tell me stories of her younger brother, John Willocks who was killed on the opening day of the Battle of Arras in 1917.
From my research, I have come to the conclusion that he may have died in Battery Valley, as a memoir by Cuddeford (And All for What) describes the unit being hit by direct shellfire from German batteries and the terrible wounds inflicted.
My great-uncle has no known grave.
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Pte. James Monaghan 12th Battalion Highland Light Infantry James Monaghan joined up in the first quarter of 1915 at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow. He fought at the Battle of Loos, Huluch, Pozieres and Flers-Courcelette.
There is no further actions after this, presumed captured at Flers-Courcelette, and spent remainder of the war as a POW.
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Pte. Alexander Miller 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.1st January 1916) Alexander Miller was the son of Alexander and Jessie Donaldson Miller of 4 Ardenlea Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow and was my great uncle. He served with the 12th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry and died of wounds on 1st January 1916. Alexander is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. ‘There is a link death cannot sever, love and memory last forever.’
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Pte. Richard Readyhoof 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry My great uncle, Richard Readyhoof, was born in 1896 and served in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He later served in the 12th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry.
We know he survived the war and married in 1920. They had no children.
Sadly, we know he died in 1932. I recall my Grandmother telling me that he died because he didn't drink enough milk. (Maybe as a result of beg gassed in battle).
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L/Cpl. Edward Kelly 12th Btn Highland Light Infantry (d.25th March 1918) We have just recently been able to trace this relative, Edward Kelly, and his great great nephew has just recently been on a school trip to the 1st World War Graves and Battle Fields. He was able to pay his respect at Pozieres War Memorial
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Pte. Jeffrey Lupton 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.25th September 1915) Jeffrey Lupton has no known grave.
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Pte. Frederick Street 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.23rd June 1917) Frederick Street attested under the Derby Scheme and was mobilised on the 30th of March 1916, on the 4th of April 1916 he was posted to the 3rd South Staffordshire Regiment from which he was transferred on the 14th of April to the 2/5th KOSB and renumbered as private 5078.
On the 14th of January he was disembarked in France and on the 15th of January he was at the 21st Infantry Base in Etaples, France, on the 5th of February he transferred to the HLI and was renumbered as Private 41944 and posted to the 12th Battalion who on the 8th of April were in field, Frederick was wounded on the 9th at the beginning of the Arras Offensive at the First Battle of the Scarpe.
Frederick was sent to Govan Hospital where he died on the 23rd of June 1917 in the presence of his sister, he was buried with full military honours at Belper Cemetery.
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L/Cpl. John Clarke 12th Battalion Highland Light Infantry (d.19th Aug 1916) Just grateful that when Jack Clarke came back home on leave he told my Grandad to stop at home on the farm. Because he said he wouldn't be coming back... and he was right.
Jack was also a little bit annoyed that during the 1915 campaign he left the trenches in broad daylight and brought back a wounded mate. His commanding officer said he would recommend Jack for the Military Medal, but the next day a sniper killed the officer. So of course the citation died with him.
Pre-war Jack worked on the railways. He enlisted in Wigan, and was born in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, but joined a Scottish Regiment. I guess he enlisted with a mate, maybe I will find out the reason why he joined the H L I some day.
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2nd Lt. Peter Ferguson "Old Bill" Bayley 9th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.23th March 1918) Before becoming commissioned Peter Bayley served as a Corporal in the 12th Highland Light Infantry with the service number 4034. He became a temporary 2nd Lt on 26th June 1917. He joined his battalion in France on 5th December 1917.
Peter was wounded (gun shot, right thigh) at Passchendaele on 13th December 1917. He rejoined his battalion on 11th February 1918. He was reported as missing in action between 22nd and 24th March 1918 at Flavy-Le-Martel.
Later, because his father was in denial about his son's death, as it was presumed he was POW. However, having contacted his son's fellow comrades he found out his son was killed on 23rd March 1918 due to a wound to the leg. He had told his men not to wait with him as it was part of a retreat. Rest In peace. Brave soul.
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Pte. Harry Lapping 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.1st Aug 1917) Great Uncle Harry Lapping is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
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Pte. Alexander Palmer 12th Btn. Highlight Light Infantry (d.26th Sep 1915)  More than fifty years ago, my grandfather gave me Private Alexander Palmer's 1914-15 Star. Ashamedly, I lost the young soldier's service medal some years back, but the mystery of how my grandfather came to have it haunts me to this day. My Grandfather was William Cassidy and he served between 1919 and 1921 as a Rifleman with the Royal Irish Rifles in postwar Mesopotamia. (He received his General Service Medal for this service, in Hamilton, Scotland in 1924.)
By then, however, Alexander Palmer had been dead for almost a decade, killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 26th September 1915.
On that day, my grandfather would have been fifteen and a half, far short of the official age for joining the Army.
But family legend has it that William, eldest of thirteen children, lied about his age, enlisted with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, and had a glorious reputation as a runner in the trenches until a massive explosion left him deaf in one ear.
None of which is likely to have happened during his three years service in Mesopotamia, where there was little trench warfare and limited artillery barrage.
Grandpa did have two Army numbers, however: his regimental number and his post-1920 seven-digit new number. His earlier service records appear to have been destroyed in the 1940 London blitz. Did he and Alexander meet in France? A question I would love to be able to answer.
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Pte. Daniel McConnell 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry Daniel McConnell enlisted in the 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry at Hamilton on the 2nd of September 1914. He landed at Boulogne after training on 10th of July 1915. Unfortunately, on 28th of July 1915, only 18 days later Daniel lost a leg and his war was over. He was 21 years of age. Unfortunately, Daniel like so many of his brothers in arms, found it challenging to talk about the war and therefore no stories have been passed down through the generations to tell.
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Pte. John Workman DCM 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.2nd January 1917) John Workman was awarded the DCM and a field promotion to Corporal.
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Pte. John Joseph McLoy 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.11th Apr 1917) John McLoy was the son of the late James McLoy, of 73 College St., Dumbarton
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