2nd Seaforth Highlanders, 28 February 1921
Synopsis of Life and Military Service
Lachlan Bain was born on 27 February 1887 at Brae House, Fodderty, Ross-shire. His father was a shepherd so it is likely that he resided in a croft or farmhouse.
Little information is known about his early life but undoubtedly being the son of a shepherd he would have done some work on the farm.
It appears he was to join the army at a young age as the Ross-Shire Journal dated 20 September 1907 notes that he was a Lance Corporal and at that time was awarded a Good Conduct Badge while the regiment was based in Edinburgh.
By the time the First World War commenced on the 3 August 1914 Lachlan was already a Sergeant in the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders with the service number of S/9207 and was based at the time in Shorncliffe, Kent. On mobilisation his unit moved to the York area (including Darlington and Strensall) before moving to Harrow. He was to be one of the first to head to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force on the 23 August 1914.
On 21st October 1914 while engaged in the Battle of Aisne, Lachlan was in charge of a Maxim machine-gun when a German shell blew it to pieces and he was severely wounded in the thigh and wrist. Due to these injuries he was evacuated to hospital in Boulogne.
Following his recovery and return to the front, on 1 January 1915, New Year’s Day, Lachlan was again injured and returned to hospital in Boulogne although his injury is unspecified.
In November 1915, Lachlan is shown as being on leave in Dingwall.
At some point, Lachlan was promoted to Company Sergeant-Major, this may have been as an acting rank as later he was returned to being a Sergeant.
On 30 October 1918, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for an earlier action. The Citation reads :-
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the flank was held up in an advance this warrant officer gallantly led them forward to their objective, capturing a machine gun and team. During enemy bombardment on the captured position, lasting over 24 hours, he kept going round the company encouraging and cheering the men, to whom he set a splendid example of courage and coolness throughout the operations.”
On 17 June 1919, Lachlan is shown as Garrison Quarter Master Sergeant at Fort George Barracks, Highland when he married Annie Fraser at 10 Warden Street, Dingwall.
On the 14 July 1919 he was Gazetted to the award of the Medaille d’Honneur with Swords in Silver Guilt.
At some stage his unit was to head to India in defence of the North West Frontier.
In August 1920, the British Army changed their service numbers to seven digits and Lachlan was issued number 2809074.
It was while in India with his regiment his rank now shown as a Sergeant, that Lachlan Bain was to die of heart failure at Meerut, Nekha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, and was buried at the Catonment Cemetery there.
Highland News dated 14 November 1914
WOUNDED AT THE AISNE
We regret to learn that Sergt. Lachlan Bain, of the Seaforth Highlanders, a native of Dochcarty, has been badly wounded at the Battle of the Aisne. It appears that on 21st October Sergt. Bain was in charge of a Maxim gun when a German shell blew it to pieces. He was severely wounded in thigh and wrist, and now lies in hospital in Boulogne.
Highland News dated 23 January 1915
WOUNDED A SECOND TIME
His friends have received official information that Sergt. L. Bain, of the 2nd Seaforths, was wounded for the second time on New Years Day, and now lies in hospital at Boulogne, France. Sergt. Bain belongs to Docherty near Dingwall, where his parents reside.
(Boulogne was a major casualty centre in WW1 with numerous hospitals in various types of casualty centres, the above is an example of where Lachlan may have recovered.)
Battle Honours
Although it is unknown which battles Lachlan fought in, as he was part of the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders for the duration of the war it is possible that he was involved in the following battles along with his regiment .
- Battle of Le Cateau.
- Battle of the Marne.
- Battle of Aisne.
- Battle of Messines 1914.
- Battle of Albert.
- Battle of Le Transloy
- First and Third Battles of the Scarpe.
- Battle of Polygon Wood.
- Battle of Broodseine.
- Battle of Poelcapelle.
- First Battle of Passchendaele.
- First Battle of Arras 1918.
- Battle of Hazebrouck.
- Battle of Bethune.
- Advance in Flanders.
- Battle of Drocourt-Quueant.
- Battle of the Canal du Nord.
- Battle of Selle
- Battle of Valenciennes.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The bravery medals bestowed on Lachlan do not appear on his C.W.G.C. headstone in India. I have forwarded evidence to the Commission to request that this be rectified.
Family
Lachlan Bain was born on 27 February 1887 at Brae House, Fodderty, Ross-shire. The following family information is taken from the 1891 and 1901 Census.
His family is shown as follows :-
- Wife: Ann (Annie) Jane Fraser or Bain, born 12 August 1884 at Avoch, Ross-Shire. (Housekeeper)
- Father: John Bain, born c.1842 at Keith, Banffshire: (Shepherd).
- Mother: Elizabeth Mackenzie or Bain, born c.1850 at Keith, Banffshire.
- Step-Brother: James Mackenzie, born c.1876 at Fodderty, Ross-Shire.(Farm Worker)
- Sister: Annie, born c.1882 at Fodderty, Ross-Shire.
- Sister: Mary, born c.1884 at Fodderty, Ross-Shire.
- Brother: Henry, born c.1884 at Fodderty, Ross-Shire.
- Brother: Kenneth, born c.1891 (Died in Infancy).
Addresses
The following addresses have been ascertained for Lachlan Bain :-
- 1915: Docherty, near Dingwall, Ross-Shire.
- 1919: The Barracks, Fort George, Nairnshire, Scotland.
- 1921: 10 Warden Street, Dingwall.
Medals
Lachlan Bain was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal, Distinguished Conduct Medal and Medaille d’Honneur with Swords in Silver Guilt for his service in the Great War. His date of entry into the theatre of war in France was the 23 August 1914.
Memorials
Lachlan Bain is honoured and remembered on the following war memorials :-
- Strathpeffer and District War Memorial, Fodderty, Ross-Shire.
- Delhi 1914-1918 War Memorial, India.
He is also named on cenotaph family headstones at the following :-
Links to Additional Information
- Find a Grave website: Lachlan Bain – Meerut Cantonment Cemetery, India.
- A Street Near You website: Lachlan Bain.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Lachlan Bain.
- Lives of the First World War: Lachlan Bain.
References
- Medal Index Card (1).
- Medal Index Card (2).
- Ross-Shire Roll of Honour book.
- Seaforth Highlanders Medal Roll 1914 Star.
- Seaforth Highlanders Medal Roll Victory and British War Medals.
- Pension Cards.
- Register of Soldiers Effects
- 1891 Census.
- 1901 Census.
- Marriage Record.
- Birth Certificate.
- Find a Grave – Fodderty.
- Ross-Shire Journal dated 20 September 1907.
- Highland News dated 14 November 1914.
- Highland News Dated 23 January 1915.
- Highland News dated 6 November 1915.
Groups
Contributors:-
- Vincent Stuart.
WW1 LIVES 