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8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
8th (Service) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders was raised at Fort George in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and joined 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. They moved to Aldershot for training and in November moved to Petersfield, then to to Chisledon Camp on Salisbury Plain in February 1915, then to Tidworth for final training in May. They proceeded to France, landing at Boulogne in the second week of July 1915. They were in action in the The Battle of Loos in 1915. In spring 1916, they were involved in the German gas attacks near Hulluch and the defence of the Kink position. They were in action duringthe Battles of the Somme, including The Battle of Pozieres, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the capture of Martinpuich, The Battle of Le Transloy and the attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt. In 1917 they were in action in The First and Second Battle of the Scarpe, including the capture of Guemappe during the Arras Offensive. They then moved north to Flanders and were in action during the The Battle of Pilckem and The Battle of Langemark. In 1918 they fought in The First Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras, The Battle of the Soissonnais and the Ourcq taking part in the attack on Buzancy, and The Final Advance in Artois.
6th July 1915 Operational Order No.20.
25th Sep 1915 First to Reach Loos
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
7th Nov 1915 Reliefs 
13th November 1915 Billets in Noeuy Les Mines.
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
21st May 1916 Reliefs
5th July 1916 Mine exploded
6th July 1916 Reliefs
17th Aug 1916 Attack Made
11th September 1916 March Table
6th December 1916 Operation Orders
6th December 1916 March Table
Attack by French
3rd January 1917 March Table
12th January 1917 44th Brigade relieved 45th Brigade.
23rd January 1917 March Table
24th January 1917 Location Shelter Woods.
11th March 1917 March Table
9th Apr 1917 Assault Made
14th September 1917 location Middlesex Camp.
5th October 1917 Operational Orders
8th October 1917 Relief Table
8th October 1917 Operational Order
9th October 1917 Reliefs
4th December 1917 Company Training
22nd December 1917 Operational Orders
23rd December 1917 Reliefs
7th Mar 1918 Reliefs
14th Mar 1918 Reliefs
4th April 1918 Relief Table
8th April 1918 Operational Order No.10
8th April 1918 Table of Relief
8th April 1918 Reliefs
19th April 1918 Table of Relief
20th April 1918 Trench Raid
23rd May 1918 Operational Order No.25
24th May 1918 Reliefs
19th January 1919 Company drill and practice for Ceremonial Parade
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 with8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders during the Great War 1914-1918. - Alexander Kenneth. Pte. (d.27th August 1917)
- Allan Gordon Stephenson. L/Cpl. (d.25th September 1915)
- Allan Norman Dunstan. Pte. (d.23rd April 1917)
- Barclay Andrew. Pte. (d.23rd Apr 1917)
- Beaton Norman. Pte (d.24th Dec 1917)
- Begg George M.. Pte. (d.22nd August 1917)
- Bennett Thomas. Pte (d.13th Mar 1917)
- Bennett Thomas. L/Cpl. (d.13th March 1917)
- Bethune MM & Bar. George Gow. Sgt.
- Blair M.. Pte. (d.1st February 1916)
- Brown Robert. Pte (d.25th Sept 1915)
- Campbell Herbert. Pte. (d.22nd Aug 1917)
- Chessar Andrew Baxter. Pte. (d.25th April 1917)
- Clark MM. Andrew. L/Sgt.
- Clark MM. Andrew. Segt.
- Conti Florian. L/Cpl. (d.19th Mar 1916)
- Curtis Albert. L/Cpl. (d.22nd Jun 1916)
- Dalande Hector. Pte. (d.9th Mar 1918)
- Dick Richard. Pte (d.25th Sept 1915)
- Donaldson Robert. Pte. (d.12th Apr 1917)
- Doull James Mowat. Sgt.
- Dunnett George. Pte. (d.23rd Apr 1917)
- Foster Jesse Edwin. Pte.
- Frame John Wallace. Pte (d.7th May 1916)
- Fraser Norman. Pte. (d.31st Jul 1917)
- Gaskell Albert. Sgt. (d.9th Jun 1918)
- Gilmour David. Pte. (d.20th May 1918)
- Gilmour David. Pte. (d.20th May 1918)
- Goldie Robert. Pte. (d.19th Jan 1915)
- Goldie Robert. Pte. (d.19th Jan 1915)
- Grant Alexander. Pte (d.23rd April 1917)
- Hamilton William. Pte. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Hankinson Stephen. Pte. (d.13th October 1916)
- Hanson James. Pte. (d.25th September 1915)
- Harper George. Sgt (d.27th September 1918)
- Johnson John Thomas. Sgt. (d.22nd Aug 1917)
- Lambie John Major. Pte.
- Letters Joseph. Pte. (d.8th Feb 1918)
- Leys Patrick Collins. Pte. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Lovegrove Arthur Stephen Franklin. Pte. (d.10th Apr 1918)
- Macleod Alexander. L/Cpl. (d.26th Sep 1915)
- Manson John. Pte. (d.20th April 1918)
- McDill Robert Cecil. Pte. (d.15th Sep 1916)
- McIntosh John Durrant. Sgt. (d.3rd March 1918)
- Munro Allan. L/Cpl. (d.22nd August 1917)
- Reid James. L/Cpl. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Smith George. Pte. (d.28th July 1918)
- Stanford James Vesey. Lt. (d.25th September 1915)
- Stewart Norman McRea. L/Cpl. (d.28th July 1918)
- Sutherland Donald. Pte.
- Thrower Robert. Pte (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Turnbull MC Alan William. Lt.Col.
- Urquhart MM Lockhart. Cpl. (d.27 August 1917)
- Wards William Reid . Pte. (d.28th July 1918)
- Wilson William. Pte. (d.14th Oct 1918)
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 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders from other sources.
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Pte. John Manson 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.20th April 1918) John Manson is buried in France at the St. Venant-Robecq British Cemetery.
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Pte. Robert Cecil McDill 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.15th Sep 1916) Robert McDill served with the 8th Seaforth Highlanders.
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Pte. Jesse Edwin Foster 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Jesse Foster was born in the Hastings area of Sussex in 1892.
He moved to Scotland in his teens where he married and remained thereafter. He was a gardener, but joined the 8th Seaforths for the duration of WW1 being sent to France in 1916. He was captured after a fierce battle in Ypres on the 22nd August 1917, and was a POW first at Limburg, and then at Dulmen.
He was very proud to be a Scot (by marriage and residence) and looked fine in his kilt!
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Sgt. George Gow Bethune MM & Bar. 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders George Bethune was my uncle. He was awarded the Military Medal and Bar and for many years I have tried to ascertain the reason for these awards. It is still an ongoing task. He was wounded in WW1. However, he lived a full life until his death in 1976. He became a postman and walked many miles in winter to a hamlet far away from our village just so the folks there would get their letters. Of course as with many people we didn't get the full story from George of his war history.
His brother Donald served in WW1 with the Highland Light Infantry. Another brother William (my father) also served with the Seaforths and a fourth brother David was killed while serving with the Canadians in 1916.
I am so very proud of them all and will pass on all the information that I have to my grandchildren. Thank you.
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L/Cpl. Gordon Stephenson Allan 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.25th September 1915) Gordon Allan was born 6th of June 1894, the son of John Allan and Annie Hill Johnston of 14 Brisbane St., Greenock. His brother John died from wounds in 1916. Gordon Allan died on the first day of the Battle of Loos and is remembered on the Loos Memorial.
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Pte Richard Dick 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.25th Sept 1915) Richard Dick was from the Orkney Island of Sanday in the north of Scotland. He was the youngest of two brothers who enlisted during World War 1. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Loos. He was 20 years of age when he died. His brother James was killed in action on 5th of December 1915 whilst serving with the 15th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli.
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L/Cpl. Albert Curtis 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.22nd Jun 1916) Albert Curtis was the eldest son to John and Mercy Curtis of Bishop Burton, East Yorkshire. "One of the Best".
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L/Cpl. Florian Conti 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.19th Mar 1916) Little is known of Florian Conti's war time service, as his mother was bombed out during WW2 and most family papers were lost. But his death was written up in the War Diary. It seems he was a sniper and had done good work according to his CO. On the day he died he said he was moving further up the line to find a better spot and whilst doing so was hit in the back.
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Pte. James Hanson 8th Btn. A Coy. Seaforth Highlanders (d.25th September 1915) James Hanson born 22 January 1897 in Derby. Son of James Allen Hanson and Charlotte Hanson (nee Gregory Woolley) who married in 1895 in Derby. James attended St John Schoolm Derby from 1903
He was killed in action on the 25th of September 1915 and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France. He was single and living at the address of his parents 160 Stockbrook Street, Derby when he enlisted. His occupation was Coal Miner and he was employed by the Mapperley Colliery Company, Park Hall Lane, Mapperley in Derbyshire. James is named on the Mapperley Colliery Company's War Memorial, located at the Church Gates of St Wilfrid's Church, West Hallam, Derbyshire, next to the village War Memorial. He was one of the 66 men who died in the First World War employed by the Mapperley Colliery Company.
Roger Wood (West Hallam local Historian)
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Pte. George Smith 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.28th July 1918) The son of Mr and Mrs H. Smith of South Ockendon in Essex, George Smith enlisted at Southend and was transferred to the 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. An Englishman serving in a Scottish Regiment. During the 2nd Battle of the Marne, he served with the French 20th Army Corps as a member of the British 15th (Scottish) Division. George was killed in action on 28th of July 1918 he was 27 years old. His grave is in the British Military Cemetery at Buzancy.
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Pte. John Major Lambie 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders John Lambie was born in 1885. He joined the 8th Seaforth Highlanders at age 28 in late 1914. John was known as The Major, from his middle name. He saw action at Loos in Sept 1915, on the Somme in Sept 1916 at Pashendale in 1917
He was twice shot and was blown up at Hill 60 in 1917
He was discharged in 1919 and would never talk about it, too horrendous!
I wear the Seaforth Tartan in a heavy military weight kilt in his memory.
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Lt. James Vesey Stanford 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.25th September 1915) James Stanford was born in 1894 at Coleford in the Underberg district of Natal, South Africa. He was the only son of James and Mary Caroline (Hayden) Stanford. He had an older sister, Mary Adeline Stanford born 29 July 1892 also at Coleford. In 1897 his father took occupation of the farm Melissa. Melissa is the western neighbour of Coleford. The Ndwana River forms the southern boundary of both farms. James father was the dipping inspector at Ndwana Drift. The farm was thus also known as Stanfords Drift. James attended the Bulwer School, which is a primary school and his name appears on its Old Boys Roll of Honour. This can be seen in the Himeville Museum. His sister married Augustus (Alexandre) Vlasto in Durban, Natal on 30th of June 1913. Augustus Vlasto worked for Ralli Bros. Mary and Augustus lived in England.
James was a Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion of Seaforth Highlanders, when he was killed on 25th September 1915 at Loos, France. He was 21 years old. His name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Himeville, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. Himeville is a neighbouring village of Underberg. After his death his parents went to live in England. His father died in 1930.
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Pte. Joseph Letters 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.8th Feb 1918) Joseph Letters was born in Glasgow of Irish parents in 1886. Joseph married Catherine Cassidy in Glasgow in 1908. By the time Joseph left for the war in 1915, he and Catherine (Kate) had 4 children, Jane (Jeanie), Joseph, James and Elizabeth (Lizzie). After his death in 1918 Kate never sang again and remained a widow till her death in 1970. Lizzie was the only one of their children to stay in Scotland, Jeanie, Joe and James emigrated to the United States of America.
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L/Cpl. Thomas Bennett 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (d.13th March 1917) My Great Grandfather, Thomas Bennett, was killed in action on the 13th of March 1917. His grave is in a cemetery in France.
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Pte. M. Blair 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.1st February 1916) Private Blair died of wounds at No 16 Stationary Hospital, Le Treport, France on 1st February 1916, aged 21. He was the son of Matthew and Martha Blair of Springburn, Glasgow. Private Blair is buried in Le Treport Military Cemetery, Plot 2, Row K, Grave 5A.
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Pte. William Reid Wards 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.28th July 1918) William Wards was my great uncle who has no known grave but is commemorated on the Larecekirk War Memorial
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Sgt. John Durrant McIntosh 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.3rd March 1918) Sgt John Durrant McIntosh was my Great Uncle.
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Pte. Norman Dunstan Allan 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.23rd April 1917) Extract from the Morayshire Roll of Honour: "Allan, Norman Dustan. No. 8447, Pte., Seaforth Highlanders; born at Cullieshangan, Keith, 1892; residing at Braes of Enzie Bellie, for 2 years; joined at Elgin, April, 1915; served
in France; killed 23rd April, 1917. Son of Alexander and Anges Stewart Allan, Blinkbonny, Portgordon. Occupation, farm worker."
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Sgt. John Thomas Johnson 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.22nd Aug 1917) Jack Johnson was my great uncle, brother to my grandmother on my fathers side. He was born in June 1898 and believed to have joined the Seaforths as a fifteen year old, as recalled by my Gran. He was killed on 22nd of August 1917 aged 18/19 and is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
His body was identified by tag and was found at grid ref D26.a.30.40. I believe these figures refer to a British army trench map, and if anyone reads this and can shed light on the figures I would be obliged.
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Pte. Herbert Campbell 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.22nd Aug 1917) As a family we discovered in 2012 that our great-great uncle Herbert Campbell is remembered at Tyne Cot Cemetery. He was missing in action presumed dead on 22nd August 1917 aged 21 years. We are hoping to pay our respects and visit Tyne Cot for the Centenary in August 2017.
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