Remembering Alexander Main

Today we remember the sacrifice of Alexander Main, Pte 12325, 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders.  Alexander's parents lived in Cullen Street in Portsoy.  He was killed in action on 23rd November 1916 and is commemorated on the imposing Thiepval Memorial near Albert in France.

In memory of Alexander Murray

On the anniversary of his death, we remember Alexander Murray, Pte 907, 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders.  Alexander, who was killed in action in France on 22nd November 1916, was the son of Mr James Murray, 26 South High Street in Portsoy.  A gravestone at  Mailly Wood Cemetery is dedicated to his memory.

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.   

James Topp, Pte 23679 Machine Gun Corps

On this day we remember the sacrifice of James Topp, who was serving in the 152nd Coy. Machine Gun Corps when he became a victim of the conflict on the Somme and died of wounds on 22nd October 1916.  He had previously served with the Gordon Highlanders and was the son of Alexander & Jane Topp, who lived at 8 South High Street in Portsoy.

James is named on the Portsoy town war memorial and was buried at the Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension in France where a headstone is dedicated to him.

In memory of Thomas Mair

On 13th October 1916, Thomas Mair, Pte 43137, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, became a victim of the conflict on the Western Front.  Thomas was the son of Helen Slater who had settled at Sinclair Road in Torry, Aberdeen, and was 23 years of age at the time of his death.

The impressive memorial at Thiepval in France bears a dedication to Thomas and over 70,000 of those who lost their lives during this period.  He is also commemorated on the Portsoy town memorial.

Portsoy remembers William Russell

On 16th September we remember William Russell, Pte 40326, 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, who was 22 years of age when he fell in action on the Western Front.  William's father James worked as a shoemaker and lived with his wife Mary at 9 Seafield Street in Portsoy.

William was buried and commemorated at the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, near Albert, France.