Casualties listed on Leslie War Memorial 1914 - 1919

GEORGE ALEXANDER SMITH (born Auchmar 1874, advocate in Aberdeen, landed France Feb 1915, Oct 1917 - July 1918 in command of 5th Gordons, KIA near Buzancy- shellfire), Lieutenant Colonel 4th Bn., Gordon Highlanders (T.F.), Awards: DSO, who died on Sunday 28 July 1918. Age 43. Son of Robert and Jessie Smith, of Auchmar, Leslie, Aberdeenshire. Solicitor, Aberdeen. Grave/Memorial Reference: IIIA. D. 10. Cemetery: Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire

HENRY TAILYOUR LUMSDEN (Harry T. on memorial, temp Major while in RFC, owner of Estate of Courtestown, Leslie, killed in flying accident at Brooklands Aerodrome, Surrey), Captain, Royal Flying Corps and Cameron Highlanders, who died on Monday 21 June 1915. Age 36. Son of the late William Harry Lumsden, of Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. His brothers, Capt. Bertie N. and Capt. Charles R., also fell. Grave/Memorial Reference: Balmedie family ground. Cemetery: Belhelvie Old Cemetery, Aberdeenshire.

REVEREND JOHN SPENCE GRANT (b Cairnie 1890, father farmer in Braehead, Leslie, KIA near Arras), Captain, 6th Bn., Gordon Highlanders (T.F.), Awards: MC, who died on Monday 9 April 1917. Age 27. Son of George and Mary Grant, of Hillbrae Culsalmond, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Native of Leslie, Insch. BD. Grave/Memorial Reference: I. A. 47. Cemetery: Highland Cemetery, Roclincourt, Pas-de-Calais, France.

WILLIAM MILNE (b Leslie, enlisted Insch, farm servant at Westfield, Duncanstone, KIA near Arras), Corporal, 265117, 'H' Coy.,1st/6th Bn., Gordon Highlanders, who died on Monday, 9th April 1917. Age 21. Son of George and Jane Milne, Bogend, Clatt, Aberdeenshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 3. Memorial: Roclincourt Valley Cemetery, Roclincourt, Pas-de-Calais, France.

JOHN LEITH (b Leslie, father farmer in Courtestown, farm servant at Tillyangus, Clatt, brother of James, MGC, DOW), Gunner, 103785, "B" Bty. 107th Bde., Royal Field Artillery, who died on Friday, 1st June 1917. Age 20. Son of John and Mrs. Jane Leith, of Piperwell, Duncanstone, Kennethmont. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. B. 9. Cemetery: Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Zillebeke, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

GEORGE DONALD THOMSON ( b Duncanstone, Leslie 31 Dec 1888, enlisted Aberdeen, res Duncanstone, father merchant there, formerly Gnr. 691 RFA (TF), d Home), 418594, Pioneer, "A" Signal Coy., Royal Engineers (Bedford), who died on Friday 19 January 1918. Age 29. Son of John and Mary Thomson, of Longside. Grave/Memorial Reference: 513. Cemetery: Longside Parish Churchyard, Longside, Aberdeenshire.

GEORGE WILLIAM BENZIE (b Leslie, e Aberdeen, draper's assistant in Fraserburgh, d Aberdeen of illness), S/17282, Private, 3rd Bn., Gordon Highlanders, who died on, Tuesday 27 March 1917. Age 19. Son of George and Annie Littlejohn Benzie, of Mains of Leslie, Insch, Aberdeen. Grave/Memorial Reference: North of Church. Cemetery: Leslie Parish Churchyard, Leslie, Aberdeenshire.

ALEXANDER DUNCAN (b Huntly, e Huntly, landed in France 4 Feb 1915, KIA), 11009, Private, 6th Bn., Gordon Highlanders, who died on Wednesday 2 June 1915. Age 22. Son of John Duncan and Mrs. Joanna Duncan, late of "Raplach", Leslie, Aberdeenshire, and Millburn, Ythanwells. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 39 to 41. Memorial: Le Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

ALEXANDER GORDON (b Leslie, enlisted Glasgow Sept 1914, occ blacksmith, 9th were pioneers in 15th Division, landed in France 8 July 1915, KIA), S/3809, Private, "G" Coy., 9th Bn., Gordon Highlanders, who died on, Saturday 25 September 1915. Age 24. Son of Alexander and Agnes Gordon, of Duncanstone, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 115 to 119. Memorial: Loos Memorial, Pas-de- Calais, France.

ALEXANDER JAMIESON (b Leslie 1897, res Leslie, father shoemaker at Holmsburn, f svt , e Nov 1915, landed France Feb 1916, KIA, brother of James - below), S/13318, Private, 8th/10th Bn., Gordon Highlanders, who died on Monday 14 August 1916. Age 19. Son of Alexander and Elsie Thain Jamieson of Holmsburn, Duncanstone, Aberdeenshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 15 B and 15 C. Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

JAMES TOCHER JAMIESON (b Leslie 1895, res Leslie, father shoemaker at Holmsburn, occ. shoemaker, enlisted Insch, to France early 1916, formerly 1280, DOW, brother of Alexander - above), 265242, Private, 1st/6th Bn., Gordon Highlanders. (T.F.), who died on Tuesday 10 April 1917. Age 21. Son of Alexander and Elsie Thain Jamieson of Holmsburn, Duncanstone, Aberdeenshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: B. 20. Cemetery: Haute- Avesnes British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

JOHN GRAY JOHNSTON (b Gushetneuk Oyne 25/2/1895, enlisted Insch, landed France 10 Nov 1914, brother of James in GH - below, KIA near Beaumont Hamel), 1222, Private, 1st/6th Bn., Gordon Highlanders (T.F.), who died on Wednesday 22 November 1916. Age 22. Son of Mary Ann Johnston (nee Gray), of Bridge of Leslie, Insch, Aberdeenshire, and William Ingram Johnston, blacksmith, Leslie. Native of Oyne, Aberdeenshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: I. K. 20. Memorial: Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet, Somme, France.

JAMES JOHNSTONE (b Gushetneuk, Oyne 14 July 1896, brother of John in GH (above), KIA near Arras), S/11774, Private, 2nd Bn., Gordon Highlanders, who died on Monday 2 April 1917. Age 20. Son of Mary Ann Johnston ms Gray, of Bridge of Leslie, Insch, Aberdeenshire, and William Ingram Johnston, blacksmith, Leslie. Native of Oyne, Aberdeenshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: Bays 8 and 9. Memorial: Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, Somme, France.

JAMES LEITH (b Leslie, farm servant at Newbigging, Leslie. e June 1916 to Gordon Hldrs transferred to MGC Feb 1917, formerly S/15919 3rd G. Hldrs, landed France 10 Aug 1917, brother of James Leith - RFA, KIA near St Quentin), 85861, Private, 24th Bn., Machine Gun Corps (Inf), who died on Thurssday 21 March 1918. Age 20. Son of John and Mrs. Jane Leith, of Piperwell, Duncanstone, Kennethmont. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 90 to 93. Memorial: Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.

JAMES MIDDLETON PETRIE (b 29/9/1880 at Towleys, Leslie, occ Teamster, res Winnipeg, to Canada 1905), 829750, Lance Corporal, 12th Bn., Canadian Railway Troops, who died on Saturday 29 December 1917. Age 37. Son of Charles and Isabella Petrie, of Auchleven, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 38. Memorial: Favreuil British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

FORBES TOUGH (b Fintray, e 15 Oct 1914 Keith, medical at Insch on same date, res Huntly, formerly 11334 1st/6th Gordon Hdrs., KIA), 528096, Private, 1st/14th Bn., London Regiment (London Scottish), who died on Friday 23 August 1918. Age 18. Son of John Forbes and Mary Tough (nee Aitken), 51 Old Road, Huntly later 104 Greenfield Street, Alloa. Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. H. 6. Cemetery: Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Pas de Calais, France.