Cluny War Memorial
The Fallen of The First World War, 1914 - 1919
George W Barron. No service details yet found.
John Brown, Sergeant, 57776, 20th Bn The Canadian Infantry. Killed in action 1st October 1916, aged 37. Vimy France. Next of kin: Mrs. Brown, Cluny. Canadian Great War Project (CGWP). Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
John Christie, Lance Serjeant, 8493, 1st Bn The Gordon Highlanders. Died 13th November 1916, aged 31. Serre Road, France. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Christie, of Knockenbaird Croft, Insch; husband of Jeannie Christie, of Victoria Buildings, Alford. CWGC. Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM).
George Crichton, Lance Corporal, 27489, 17th Bn The Highland Light Infantry. Died 26th June 1917, aged 23. Son of John and Mary Barbara Crichton, of Woodend Croft, Cluny, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire. His elder brother William also fell. Photo on Kemnay War Memorial site. CWGC. SNWM.
William Crichton, Private, 27489, 2nd Bn The Scots Guards. Died 13th October 1917, aged 27. Tyne Cot, Belgium. Son of John and Mary Barbara Crichton, of Woodend Croft, Cluny, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire. His younger brother George also fell. Photo on Kemnay War Memorial site. CWGC. SNWM.
Charles Donaldson, Private, S/1026, 2nd Bn The Gordon Highlanders. Died 14th July 1916, aged 22. Thiepval Memorial, France. Photo on Skene War Memorial site. CWGC. SNWM.
John Donaldson, Private, S/8258, 2nd Bn The Gordon Highlanders. Died 4th Otober 1917, aged 20. Tyne Cot, Belgium. Photo on Skene War Memorial site. CWGC. SNWM.
Samuel Farquhar, Lance Corporal, 290213, 1st/7th Bn The Gordon Highlanders. Died 31st March 1917, aged 19. Aubigny, France. Son of William and Isabella Farquhar, of Tillycairn Cluny, Tillyfourie. Photo on Skene War Memorial site. CWGC. SNWM.
Charles W. Henry, Private, 4258, 4th Bn The Gordon Highlanders. Died 22nd July 1916, aged 20. Thiepval Memorial, France. Son of Charles and Jessie Henry, of Crofty Cluny, Tillyfourie, Aberdeenshire. CWGC. SNWM.
Joseph McDonald MM, Private, 15154, 1st Bn The Scots Guards. Died 15th October 1918, aged 23. St Vaast, France. Son of George and Ann McDonald, of Ordhill, Cluny, Tillyfourie. CWGC. SNWM.
Thomas McDonald, Private, 26654, 11th Bn The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Died 19th September 1918, aged 32. Doiran, Greece. Son of William and Margaret McDonald, of Backmoss, Tornaveen, Torphins, Aberdeenshire. Born Cluny. CWGC. SNWM.
George Minty Mitchell, Sergeant, 29400, 16th Bn The Canadian Scottish. Died between 18th and 22nd May 1915, aged 35. Vimy Memorial, France. A contemporary press cutting stated Canadian Scottish Regiment. Son of Mrs. Isabella Mitchell, of Aberdeen, Scotland; husband of Catherine Mitchell, of Hamilton, Ontario. The CWGC and Canadian Virtual War Memorial
both state 16th Bn Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment), then his Service Record states he was with the 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders (Image 5: The man standing to his immediate left is C/Sgt George Mitchell, who was KIA sometime between 18 and 22 May 1915 at Festubert. His body was never recovered) which embarked with the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) Service Record, Canada. “1915 February: Reverts from Colour Sergeant to ranks. Promoted Sergeant. Part II Orders”.
William Nicoll, Private, A/11105, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). Died 3rd February 1917, aged 27. Ecoivres, Mont-St. Eloi, France. Son of Wm. Nicoll, of Castle Fraser, Sauchen. CWGC.
David EFJC Robertson, Lance Corporal, 266998, 6th Bn The Gordon Highlanders. Died 24th September 1917, aged 31. Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Remembered by father, David, on Memorial in Cluny Churchyard. CWGC. SNWM.
Alexander Thain, Lance Corporal, 315718, 13th (Scottish Horse Yeomanry) Bn The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). Died 3rd October 1918, aged 29. Husband of Marjory Thain, of Roslyn Cottage, Kemnay. CWGC. SNWM.
Charles Thomson, Private
There are two local men of this name, both Private Soldiers. It has not so far been possible to determine which of them is commemorated at Cluny. One was born in Alford, the other at Tough. The one born in Alford is names on the Alford War Memorial, the other is not named on any other Memorial that we can find.
The Fallen of The Second World War, 1939 - 1945
Robert James Barron’ Sergeant, No 78 Squadron The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 21st November 1944, aged 27. Buried at Insch. Husband of Agnes Barron, of Sauchen. Husband of Agnes Barron, of Sauchen.
Sergeant Barron was the Flight Engineer on a Halifax III Bomber MZ810 which crashed on its landing approach to RAF Breighton on return from a mission to Sterkrade, Germany. CWGC. SNWM.
Elsmie Lawson, Third Officer, SS EMPIRE TOWER, The Merchant Navy. Died 5th March 1943, aged 21. Son of Patricia E. Lawson, of Liverpool, born Aberdeen. The SS EMPIRE TOWER, 4,378 GRT Built 1935 was in Convoy XK-2 from Gibraltar to Liverpool in February/March 1943 and was torpedoed by U-Boat U-130 on 5th March 1943. Of its crew of 46 only 6 survived. Medal Listing. CWGC. SNWM.
Alexander McAllan, Flight Sergeant, 525353, No 35 Squadron, The Royal Air Force. Died 25th July 1943, aged 26. Buried at Cluny. Son of William and Margaret McAllan, of Cluny.
Flight Sergeant McAllan was an Armourer with No 35 Squadron stationed at RAF Gravely. On 24th July 1943 a Halifax Bomber loaded with a 1,000 lb Long Delay Bomb had to abort take off and the undercarriage gave way. The Armourers extracted the Bomb and was taken to a remote spot. On the 25th July Flight Sergeant McAllan and the rest of “A” Team were working on a load of 500 lb bombs in the Fusing Shed when there was a large explosion, caused by the detonation of the 1,000 lb bomb. Seven Armourers were killed and four injured. CWGC. SNWM.
William Currie Reid, Serjeant, 3309075, 1st Bn The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment). Died between 26th and 27th May 1940, aged 31. Le Paradis, Lestrem, France. Son of William and Annie Reid, of Tillyfourie, Aberdeenshire.
In May 1940 The Royal Scots were in 4 Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division of the BEF. When the Germans attacked they moved forward to meet the invasion and they fought at Wavre, on the Escaut and on 25th May were ordered with The Royal Norfolks to hold the Line of La Bassée Canal at Le Paradis “to the last round and the last man”, an order given only twice in WW2. This was to allow the BEF to consolidate a defensive corridor that would lead eventually to the Dunkirk evacuation. By the last day of the fighting the forward Companies were barely platoon strength. The two Battalions fought hard as ordered and held up an SS Regiment for three days. Communications were lost with and within the Battalions and so few survived that the dates of death could not be determined with precision. CWGC. SNWM.
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.”
Laurence Binyon “For the Fallen”
Notes:
This is work in progress, and information is needed in respect of George W Barron and Charles Thomson commemorated at Cluny and correction. We have now found that the Charles Thomson who served with the 7th Bn The Gordon Highlanders was born in Aboyne, so we are left with the one born in Tough and the one born in Alford. It would be good to have photographs to add as they have done at Kemnay and Skene. Please get in touch to add to this page.
This Memorial records like a number of others “The Great War 1914-1919”. While the guns fell silent with the Armistice at 1100 hrs on the 11th November 1918 the War was not concluded formally until the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. British Forces were involved in the Russian Civil War and were in Archangel until 1919. The Royal Scots have the Battle Honour “Archangel” and a captured Russian gun, the “Archangel Gun” is on display by the Keep at Glencorse Barracks.
The First and Second Battalions of The Gordon Highlanders were Regular Army. Some of the Cluny Men enlisted at Banchory in the 7th (Deeside) Battalion. The 4th Battalion recruited in Aberdeen. Details of all the WWI Battalions.
The different spelling of serjeant and sergeant will be noted. The British Army retained the spelling serjeant until 1953.
The Rank Guardsman was adopted after WWI, having been awarded by King George V in on 22nd November 1918 to recognise their service.