The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

KevinStoke · . Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 175

Remembering all those who fell today 93 years ago on the First day of the "Battle of Loos"

Especially remembering

James Mochrie Gordon Highlanders
Matthew Mochrie Cameronians
Robert Mochrie Royal Scots Fusiliers

3 brothers died today 93 years ago all in different regiments

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

K

anne park · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject: William Simpson Thomson

Pte in 3/4th Gordon Highlanders died 25-9-1915 along with many others from the regiment they died in Sanctuary Wood. He was 17. He is a family member who is remembered today.

DerekR · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject:

Remembering L/Cpl James Crawford, no.4810, 9th Bn. Black Watch missing at Loos, 25th September 1915 and L/Cpl Andrew M.C Ferguson, no. 4806, 9th Bn. Black Watch kia Loos, 25th September 1915 and all others of K1.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

DerekR · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject:

Captain Stair Gillon of the kOSB wrote of Loos:

"The wonderful product of months of zeal, energy and patriotism was ‘knocked out’ without opportunity of doing more than set an example to posterity by their bravery’. "

Remembering L/Cpl James Crawford, no.4810, 9th Bn. Black Watch missing at Loos, 25th September 1915 and L/Cpl Andrew M.C Ferguson, no. 4806, 9th Bn. Black Watch kia Loos, 25th September 1915 and all others of K1.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

KevinStoke · . Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 175

A little of what these brave men went through.

6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers War Diary
25/09/1915
25th September. On the morning of the 25th September the 26th and the 28th Brigades occupied our front line trenches immediately west of HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT – the 26th Brigade on the right and the 28th on the left. The 27th Brigade were in reserve trenches east of ANNEQUIN about two miles from the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. The 7th Division was on our right.
The 6th R.S.F. left Bethune at 8 p.m. on the 24th for the reserve trenches at ANNEQUIN – these trenches were very wet and uncomfortable and none of us got much sleep. Our bombardment of the German trenches, which had gone on for the last four days was continued intermittently during the night. Orders to attack arrived at about 2 a.m. towards dawn the bombardment became intense and we could see the launching of the British gas attack from the front line trenches. We feared the wind was rather light to make the attack effectual. At 4 a.m. our leading company (D) commanded by Capt. Robertson, moved on to the tail of the 11/R.Scots, who were advancing up to the front line trenches vacated by the assaulting columns. We had to advance for four hours, through communication trenches and under a heavy fire, before we arrived at the front line trenches – a distance, as the crow flies, of about one and a half miles. These trenches we found absolutely choked with dead and wounded, so I immediately took over the portion of the front line I was in and held the same giving what assistance I could to clear away the dead and wounded. About 1 p.m. Capt. Lumsden - Staff Captain of the Brigade – brought me an urgent message from General Bruce, commanding the Brigade to come and see him immediately. It had now been pouring with rain for some time, and it was a case of wading through the trenches. When I reached the General he told me that part of the brigade had nearly got into HAISNES, and he had, had orders to organise an attack on that place. I thereupon sent my adjutant, Capt. Purves, back to bring along the battalion. I myself went on with the General in the direction of HAISNES. Half-way there we saw to our disgust that a battalion had broken and was streaming back, We did our best to stop them, and I was ordered to go back myself to bring up my own battalion at the double to save the situation. This I succeeded in doing, and the regiment eventually carried on and occupied the trench called FOSSE ALLEY, where I found Colonel MacKensie, commanding the 10/A & S Hldrs, and Colonel Locke, commanding the 12/R.Scots, with portions of their battalions.
In front of FOSSE ALLEY some 500 yards in the direction of HAISNES, Colonel Wright, Gordon Highlanders, and Colonel Dundas, 11/R.Scots, with small portions of their battalions were holding what is known as the PERKIN TRENCH. By this time the different battalions were very much mixed up. This PERKIN TRENCH was in a very far advanced position, but the General determined to hold on to it, and he ordered me to send up two companies in support. The two companies I sent up were “A” Coy. under Capt. Roxburgh, and “D” Coy. under Capt. Robertson. During the earlier part of the evening, about a couple of hours after my arrival there, this trench was found to be untenable and was evacuated by order of the C.O. of the Gordons. The trench was untenable mainly on account of the German bombers who worked down the communication trenches from the direction of HAISNED. Capt. Roxburgh, on rejoining the battalion in FOSSE ALLEY, after evacuating the PERKIN TRENCH, reported, I regret to say that Capt. Robertson and Lord Stuart had been killed, and Lieuts. Dingwall and Fowkes, wounded. Lieuts. Dingwall and Fowkes were able to walk, but he could not recover the bodies of Capts. Robertson and Lord Stuart on account of the pressure of the German bombing parties.
( A postcard came from Capt. Robertson later saying he was a prisoner unwounded having only been stunned by a bomb explosion).All this time our right flank in FOSSE ALLEY was absolutely in the air, and under machine-gun fire from the direction of St. ELIE. I did not at all like the situation (about 11 p.m.), so I went off with Colonel Locks and Capt. Purves to find the brigadier, who had made his headquarters in the quarry. Before we got there we heard fighting and bombing going on to our right rear. This appears to have been a German counter-attack on part of the line held by the 7th Division. Some steps had now to be taken immediately as we seemed to have the Germans on three sided of us, so, as the brigadier could not be found, it was determined to fall back, as we were losing heavily and were not supported on either side or behind. The Brigade then retired to our original front lines. Major Turnbull and two companies 6/R.S.F still holding German trenches south of HOHENSOLLERN. This party was relieved about 6.30 a.m. on the 26th. Headquarters of the 6/R.S.F. then went into the quarry just behind our front line to reorganise. Our lines were shelled unceasingly during this whole period.
About 10 a.m. I was sent for by Br.-General Ritchie, 26th Brigade, who told me my battalion had been lent to the 7th Division to co-operate in an attack on the quarried west of St. ELIE. These were the Quarries in which General Bruce had made his headquarters the day before and since when he hand not been heard of. I was to co-operate in the above attack by sending bombing parties up FOSSE ALLEY, and also by covering fire from any available position. The time this attack was to be delivered was not given to me at the time, but was eventually settled at 3.30 p.m. but I was not informed of it till too late to be much good, and I never actually heard the result of the attack. About 5 p.m. – not having had any orders from higher authority, I took my battalion to a position in reserve in the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT.
At 10.30 p.m. after having just settled down, I got a message to re-occupy FOSSE ALLEY, taking particular care to keep well in touch with the brigades on my right and left. I did not like the job as I did not know who was on my front or right or left. However we went out cautiously and eventually got into position in touch with the 10/ A & S.Hldrs on the left, by my right still in the air. We spent the night in improving the trench as far as possible, in spite of a terrific bombardment on our left rear with high explosive shells