In memory of Alexander Mair

One hundred years on, we remember the young Portsoy soldier, Alexander Mair, Lance-Serjeant 912 in the 1st/6th Bn Gordon Highlanders.  Alexander was 21 years of age when he fell in action on 19th June 1916 and is commemorated by a gravestone at Maroeuil British Cemetery near Arras in France.  His parents, John and Ann Mair, lived at 55 Schoolhendry Street in Portsoy.

In memory of Frank Simpson

Today Portsoy remembers Frank Simpson, Pte 81798 10th Bn Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment), who fell in action on 14th June 1916.  He is commemorated at the Bedford House Cemetery, near Ypres in Belgium, as well as on the family gravestone in Portsoy.  Frank's parents were John and Jessie Simpson.

Remembering Hendry Angus

On this day we reflect on the sacrifice of Hendry Angus, Pte 3599, who served with the 7th Gordon Highlanders on the Western front.  He was killed in action on 13th June 1916 at the age of 31 and is commemorated by a stone at Aubigny Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.  His parents, Alexander and Mary Watson Angus, lived at 9 Cullen Street in Portsoy.

Remembering Portsoy's war casualties

On this day we remember two Portsoy soldiers who lost their lives on 30th April 1916.

Pte 76131 Martin Duncan was the son of John and Ellen Duncan who lived in Seafield Street, Portsoy.  He was serving in the 29th Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment) and is commemorated at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Pte 6616 James Morrison served in the 1st Bn Gordon Highlanders and was aged 38 when he fell in action.  His mother, Mary Morrison, lived in South High Street, Portsoy.   A headstone is dedicated to James at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium.

In memory of Andrew West

On this day we remember the sacrifice of  Pte S/13346 Andrew West, who served in the 2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders.  He was aged 21 when he was killed in action on 27th March 1916.  Andrew's parents were Henry and Margaret West, who had been residents of Portsoy before moving to Dennistoun, Glasgow.

He is commemorated by a headstone at the Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme.

 

Remembering the fallen: James Clark

Pte 240550 James Alexander Clark was serving on the Western Front with the 5th Bn Gordon Highlanders when he fell in action on 26th March 1916, aged 18.  He was the son of George and Elspet Jane Clark, who lived in Chapel Street, Portsoy.

James is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

James Johnston, watchmaker in Portsoy

We have been asked to investigate the family of James Johnston, who in 1841 was a watchmaker in Portsoy.  The census schedule for that year shows him  living at South Street in Portsoy, accompanied by his sons William (3) and James (1) and a female servant Isabel Fraser (20).  All were stated to be natives of Banffshire.  James' stated age of 35 suggests that he was born between 1800 and 1805, although no baptism record has been identified in the immediate area.  A gravestone in Portsoy is dedicated to James' wife Ann Brodie who died early in 1841.

James cannot be traced in the census for 1851 and a search through local newspapers reveals that he died in March 1846.  His sons William and James were found in 1851 as lodgers living in the household of Margaret Saunders, a lodging house keeper in the Square in Portsoy.  They were both scholars, i.e. attending school.  By 1861 William had moved to Urquhart, Moray, where he was an assistant teacher living in the household of William Bruce, the schoolmaster there.  His brother James junior was still fairly close to home, working as a railway clerk based in neighbouring Boyndie parish.  They cannot, however, be located in subsequent UK census records.  Did they leave the UK in search of better prospects overseas?

We would be very interested to hear from any living descendants.