S/6429 Private Leslie Buchan of the 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders was killed in action at the Battle of Loos on the 25th September 1915, ninety-nine years ago today. Over the years I have remembered a number of men killed at Loos and it is right to remember them. Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that 9661 men died on this day in 1915 and the vast majority of these casualties were at Loos.
Leslie was born at Longside, Aberdeenshire and he enlisted at Aberdeen on 7th October 1914 aged 27 years and 180 days. He was just over six feet tall, had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. He was given the number S/6429 and posted to the 9th Battalion on the 15th October. His medal index card (above, courtesy Ancestry) notes that he arrived in France on the 9th July 1915. The 9th Battalion arrived at Boulogne this month and so it would appear that Leslie was an original member of the battalion and landed with the battalion when it left England.
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, Leslie was one of 727 Gordon Highlanders who died on the 25th September 1915. Like many, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
His surviving service papers note that he had married Maggie Jane Andrews at Aberdeen on 13th October 1914 and that a son, Leslie, was born on 8th May 1915. That he at least saw his son before he was posted overseas must have been some small comfort to his widow in later years. Two addresses are given for his wife: 54 Erskine Street, Aberdeen (crossed out) and 34 Stafford Street, Aberdeen. His father was originally recorded as his next of kin and he was James Buchan of Woodside of Auchlee, Longside, Peterhead.
By 1919 when Maggie Buchan submitted Army Form W.5080 which listed a dead soldier's immediate family, she was living at 8 St John's Wood Road, London N8. No children are recorded which presumes that Leslie's infant son must have died. His father and mother (Margaret Buchan), three brothers and a sister are also recorded on this sad document.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Leslie's service record survives as a burnt document in WO 363. His signature, taken from his attestation paper is from the original image which is Crown Copyright, The National Archives.
6 comments:
Thank you for posting this information. Leslie Buchan is my great uncle and I have often wondered what he had to endure on the first day of the battle of Loos. His brother my great grandfather Alex Buchan also served and although wounded twice happily survived the war. He never spoke about it. My generation owes a great debt of gratitude to their generation.
I am very pleased to remember him. As you say, we owe a debt of gratitude to this generation. Thank you for commenting. Paul.
I am very grateful to you Paul for providing this information. Did you act on a request for information or was it by chance that you chose Leslie to write about him?
I have in my possession a picture dated 1900 of Leslie aged 12 together with his mother father two brothers and sister. It is a double tragedy that his son Leslie did not survive but infant mortality was extremely high during the war I believe. Thanks once again for providing my family with this information which will be treasured. Stuart Smith
Many thanks for this, I am Stuart's Uncle, Leslie Buchan was my Great Uncle, my Grandfather Alexander was older than Leslie and spoke of him only rarely but with obvious sorrow.He simply would not talk about his war experiences. Grandfather was married with three children when he volunteered. According to my mother he was running his tailoring business in a small English town when he heard the bagpipes leading a volenteer parade, which he joined and signed up.He was 38/9, the irony is he had a contract making kilts for the army so could have "reviewed" the situation. He died peacefully aged 83. Again ,thank you.
Stuart and Robin, thank you both very much for commenting.
I chose Leslie's name at random, as I do with all the names on this blog. I never know when I start out, just how much information I'll find and I was fortunate in Leslie's case that some papers do survive. For many men there is no documentation at all. I hope in a small way, that this blog commemorates all those who gave everything for their King and their country.
Paul
Thank you Paul. I agree this blog commemorates all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We are privileged that you happened to choose to write about Leslie. We plan to visit the Loos memorial next year to pay our respects. Best wishes Stuart
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