Private James GORDON (2739)
B Company 1/6th (Morayshire) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

Date of birth: 23rd January 1894
Date of death: 15th June 1915

Killed in action aged 21
Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial Panels 38 and 39
He was born at Garline Ballindalloch on the 23rd of January 1894 the son of the John and Jane Stewart Gordon of Mill Cottage at Ballintomb, Carron

He worked as a farm servant, living at Elchies, before enlisting at Forres on the 11th of November 1914 and training at Elgin.

He embarked with his battalion at Folkestone at 8.30pm on the 1st of May 1915 arriving at Boulogne in the early hours of the morning on the 2nd.

On the 15th of June 1915 the battalion were in support of an attack by a company of the 1/5th Seaforths as they attacked to the south of the La Bassee Canal.
The 1/6th Seaforths manned their parapet and poured rifle fire into the German front trench. British artillery bombarded the German trench all day but shortly before the attack went in the German artillery retaliated causing heavy casualties among the Scots. The 1/5th Seaforth attack failed with the company losing half its men. The supporting 1/6th Battalion had 140 casualties of which 29 were killed.

The family received a letter after his death from Lieutenant Fraser the commanding officer of B Company:-

"It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, Private James Gordon who fell in action the other night. Our battalion was taking part in an engagement with the enemy. We were subjected to very heavy shellfire under which your son, in the execution of his duty, met his death. I may say he did not suffer any pain, death being instantaneous. His own comrades buried him with every respect on the scene of action and it may be of some consolation to you to know that his grave was marked with a rough wooden cross and placed by them. On behalf of the officers, NCOs and men of the company, I beg to convey to you and your family their deepest sympathy in this your hour of great sorrow."

His grave was lost in the subsequent fighting.
Ballintomb

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