Corporal, 7630, Robert Reid (34) – Killed in Action

1st Gordon Highlanders, 12th October 1914

Family Grave of Robert Reid at Boharm Old Churchyard Cemetery, Banffshire

Military

Robert Reid enlisted at Aberdeen on 2 January 1901, he had been employed as a Woodcutter. He served within the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, as number 7630 where he achieved the rank of Corporal. He served in the France / Belgium Campaign where his date of disembarkation is shown as 14 September 1914.

Robert was killed in action on 12 October 1914 aged 34 years and initially buried in the field before being reburied at Vieille-Chapelle New Cemetery, Lacoutre, Pas de Calais, France. It is reported on his family headstone that he was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium.

Gordon Highlanders Cap Badge, similar to the one which would have been worn by Robert Reid.

War Diary 12th October 1914

There is very little information about the activities of the 1st Gordons in their War Diary for the date of his death as in the main it appears to be missing. However, it does say that on that day two officers were wounded, namely Captain R.B. Campbell and Captain J.J.G MacWilliam and of the Other Ranks, 6 were killed and 19 wounded. The location is also absent for this date, the last location mentioned in the Diary was on the 2nd October 1914 at Ouchy (ed-Probably Ouchy-la-Ville, in the Aisne, Department of France).

Family

Robert Reid was born around 1880 at Boharm, Banffshire.

In the 1881 and 1891 Census his family was shown as:-

  • Mother – Mary Johnston or Reid, born c.1856.
  • Father – Robert Reid, born c.1851.
  • Step-Sister – Grace Helen Howie, born c.1877.
  • Sister – Mary Jane Reid, born c.1879.
  • Brother – Alexander J. Reid, born c.1883
  • Sister – Jessie J. Reid, born c.1885.
  • Sister – Georgina Reid, born c.1888
  • Sister – Catherine D. Reid, born c.1891
  • Uncle – Peter Johnston, born c.1854.

His father resided at Clachnayell until 1920 when he died.

Conflict of Information – The surname of his mother is shown on the family grave as Johnstone but in the census as Johnston.

Addresses

  • At the date of the 1881 Census his address was shown as Hill Lands, Auchmil, Boharm, Banffshire.
  • In the 1891 Census his address is shown as Clachnayell, Boharm, Banffshire.

Medals

Following his death, Robert Reid was awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, Victory and British War Medals.

Memorials

He is honoured and remembered on the Boharm War Memorial, Banffshire and Boharm Old Churchyard Memorial, Banffshire.

Links to Additional Information

References

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • Medal Index Card
  • Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
  • 1881 Census
  • 1891 Census
  • Register of Soldiers Effects
  • Gordon Highlanders Medal Roll – Victory and British War Medal.
  • Pension Record

Groups

Contributors :-

  • Vincent Stuart