Alexander Smart, L/Cpl 578, 2nd Gordon Highlanders

On the anniversary of his death we remember the sacrifice of Alexander Smart, Lance Corporal 578 in the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders.  Alexander was 24 years of age when he died of his wounds on 3rd April 1917.  His mother, Mrs Isabella Grant  Findlay, lived at 12 North High Street in Portsoy.

Alexander is commemorated by a gravestone dedicated to him at Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, in the Somme area of France.

In memory of John C. Pirie

Today we remember John C. Pirie, Sgt 629434, 47th Battalion Canadian Infantry.  The son of John and Lily Pirie in Portsoy, he was 35 years of age when he fell in action on 11th November 1916.

A stone in Portsoy cemetery is dedicated to his memory.  He is also commemorated at the Albert Communal Cemetery Extension in France, where he was buried.

Sergeant William Murray

On the anniversary of his death, we remember the sacrifice of William Murray, Sgt 13342 of 5th Battalion Canadian Infantry, who died of wounds received during the conflict in France. He had lived at 41 Schoolhendry Street in Portsoy and had a sister there, Mrs I. Duncan.  

A headstone is dedicated to William Murray at Contay British Cemetery in the Somme département of France.   

In memory of James Duncan & Alexander Robertson

On the second anniversary of the outbreak of WW1, two Portsoy men became casualties of the conflict.

James Duncan, Pte 1467, 6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders fell in action on 4th August 1916 at the age of just eighteen.  James' mother, Mrs Isabella Duncan, lived at 13 Hill Street in Portsoy.  He is commemorated at the iconic Thiepval Memorial near Albert in France.

Alexander Robertson, Captain, 6th Bn. Gordon Highlanders, also lost his life on the same day.  A married man aged 31, he had lived at Dunalistair, Portsoy, with his wife Elsie Geddes.  The couple later settled in Edinburgh.  A headstone is dedicated to his memory at the Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 in Beaumont-Hamel, France.