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.

In memory of Pte James Main

James Main was the son of Mrs Jane Main, who lived at 24 Chapel Street in Portsoy.  He served at Pte 10/1901 in the Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was wounded while fighting at Gallipoli.  He died of his wounds in London on 22nd September 1915, aged 23 years.

James is commemorated by a marble Commonwealth War Graves Commission stone in Fordyce Old Kirkyard and on the Portsoy town war memorial.

Personal stories: sources and resources

Do you have a relative who played a part in the Great War?  Would you like to find out more about what they did?  Come along to the Salmon Bothy on Sunday 26th October at 2.30pm to discover what records exist and where to find them.