1. Robin M. Stirling Robin, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, was nicknamed ‘Lord Roberts’ FAIRBURN ESTATE AND WORLD WAR ONE William A. Stirling James E. Stirling Duncan A. Stirling Marian L. & Charlotte I. Stirling John’s sisters led very social lives travelling around Great Britain and Ireland attending social gatherings culminating in Marian marrying Ewen Brodie of Lethen in 1911. Pre-war
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1.
Robin M. StirlingRobin, who was born with Down’s Syndrome,was nicknamed ‘Lord Roberts’
FAIRBURN ESTATEAND WORLD WAR ONE
William A. Stirling
James E. Stirling
Duncan A. Stirling
Marian L. & Charlotte I. StirlingJohn’s sisters led very social lives travelling around Great Britain and Ireland attendingsocial gatherings culminating in Marian marrying Ewen Brodie of Lethen in 1911.
Pre-war
2.
John StirlingJohn attended Stanmore Park and ElmfieldHouse, Harrow. He sat the Army EntranceExamination in June 1912 for the RoyalMilitary College, Sandhurst and wenton to Magdalen College, Oxford to take acourse in Military Studies.
Year 1 – 1914
Telegram to mobilise
3.
Capt William Aeneas Stirling‘D’ Coy, 2nd Bn, Seaforth Highlandersmissing, presumed killed 14-16 October 1916Les Boeufs, France (The Somme) aged 20
Capt John Stirling MBE (MiD)Lovat Scouts Yeomanry
enlists aged 21
Major Alexander Stirling of Strathgarve7th Bn, Seaforth Highlandersenlists aged 49
Capt Ewen James Brodie of Lethen1st Bn, Cameron Highlanders
killed 11 November 1914 Glencourse Woodnow Nonnebossen, France aged 36
STIRLING FAMILY& EXTENDED FAMILY WHO SERVE
4.
Capt The Hon Ian Leslie Melville ofGlenferness House, NairnLovat Scouts Yeomanryenlists aged 20
Capt Hector David Mackenzie of GairlochLovat Scouts Yeomanryenlists aged 21
2nd Lt Roderick Ian Mackenzie of Gairloch1st Bn, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
killed 11 April 1915, France, aged 19
Capt The Hon Ian Malcolm Campbell,DSO, MiD, Cawdor Castle
Lovat Scouts Yeomanryenlists aged 31
5.
Lt Col Cecil Claude Hugh Orby Gasgoine, DSO9th Bn, Seaforth Highlanders
Lt Col John Emilius Laurie, DSOCommander 6th (Morayshire) Bn, SeaforthHighlanders 1918-1919
Capt Clifton Charles Orby Gasgoine7th Bn, Seaforth Highlandersdangerously wounded 1915
Capt Hector Charles Seymour Munro,Munro of Foulis Castle2nd Bn, Seaforth Highlanderskilled 23 October 1918, aged 23
6.
MEN AND EMPLOYEES OF FAIRBURN ESTATEWHO SERVE
Seaforth Highlanders2nd Lt John S. MacGillivary, Muirton Mains and Canada also Sgt, Royal Scots Greys
1st Seaforth Highlanders9318 Sergeant John Forbes, Fairburn, Muir of Ord262 Piper James Macdonald, Arcan, Muir of Ord
1/4th Seaforth Highlanders1410 Corporal M. Chisholm, Fairburn Mains, Muir of Ord
2/4th Seaforth Highlanders‘A’ Company1531 Private J. Mackenzie, Wester Moy, Arcan, Muir of Ord
‘C’ Company1483 Private A. Duff, Groom, Muirton Mains, Muir of Ord1410 Private M. Chisholm, Van man, Muirton Mains Fairburn, Muir of Ord
‘H’Company1159 Private K. Duff, Farm Servant, Muirton Mains, Fairburn1546 Private J. Mackenzie, Labourer, Fairburn, Muir of Ord1511 Private D. Maclean, Farm Servant, Bridge Park, Fairburn1171 Private J. Macleay, Ghillie, Bridge Park, Fairburn1139 Private J. Sutherland, Gardener, Muir of Fairburn, Muir of Ord
3rd Seaforth Highlanders23115 Private Andrew Mackenzie, ‘A’ Coy, Hut 90, Muirton
4th Bn Seaforth Highlanders1410 Corporal M. Chisholm, Fairburn Mains, Muir of Ord5491 Private J. Mackenzie,13th September 1916, ¾ Seaforth Highlanders, Ward B,Military Hospital, Cromarty; 31st November stationed at North Camp, Ripon; 26 April1917 Newhouses, Green Hill Camp, Sheffield also 261966 – lives at Caberfeidh, Fairburn
1225 Private Alexander Macintosh
7.
4th Reserve Seaforth Highlanders202167 Private John Mackenzie, Hut 11, ‘D’ Company, North Camp, Ripon
5th Bn, Seaforth Highlanders240909, Private Donald Laurie Forbes died 28 July 1918
9th Seaforth Highlanders4816 Trooper D. Sinclair, Fairburn
Lovat Scouts4281 Private James Grant, Bridge Park, Muir of Ord4117 Private Roderick Grant, Bridge Park, Muir of Ord225445 Private Donald Macdonald, France 10 Platoon, ‘C’ Coy, Lovat Scouts, 10th CameronHighlanders, BEF; also 4279 L/Cpl, (3 Troop, E Squadron) Lovat Scouts, MonarTrooper Robert Macdonald, Monar4352 Trooper Alex Robertson, 2nd LS4346 Trooper Thomas Ross, Fairburn5202 Trooper George Sinclair, Fairburn
Australian Expeditionary Force1003 Private Duncan Forbes, Fairburn Muir of Ord, Mentioned in Despatches998 Finlay Forbes, Australian Infantry, 12th Bn, Fairburn, Muir of Ord
Canadian Expeditionary ForcePrivate Angus MacGillivary, 100th Grenadiers, Muirton Mains and Canada
ArtilleryBombadier W.S. MacGillivary, Muirton Mains and Canada
Royal Field Artillery42326 Private G.A. Macdonald, Arcan, Muir of Ord
Royal Garrison Artillery95266 Gunner R. A. Burns, No1 Company, B Hut, B Siege Dept, Cooden Camp, Bexhillon Sea; 30. 7. 1916 Kilroot Fort, Carrick Fergus, Co. Antrim; The Citadel, No.3 Depot,Plymouth; 169 Siege Battery, Section ‘3’, RGA, BEF, France 22.8.18 – RGA Base Depot, 12Camp, BEF, France – ended the war near Le Cateau having followed the valley of theSomme for a long distance, on by Peronne, crossed the Hindenburg Line where theSomme enters a tunnelGunner T. Fleming 326702, 368 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, Prees Heath,Whitchurch, Salop 10 March 1917; 365 Siege Battery, RGA, Cosham, nr Portsmouth17.6 1917; 422 Siege Battery, RGA, BEF, France 22.7.1917; 244 Siege Battery, RGA, BEF,France, 16.9.1917, 30.11.1917; D 27908 Private Thomas Fleming, Lovat Scouts,Sharpshooters, No.1 Group, B.E.F. 24.10.1918 Also: 128888, Gunner, Royal GarrisonArtillery, S/43620 Cameron Highlanders
Son of John Burns, Cononbridge wounded and hospitalised in France December 1916/January 1917 – James, John or William BurnsSons of Lily & Murdo Mackenzie, Lower Lodge, Fairburn serving in France – John orMurdo, 1917 Seaforth Highlanders; Andrew MackenzieDonald Macpherson, ex chauffeur is an army servantAlick Robertson, serves in Salonica possibly with the Lovat ScoutsColin RobertsonTom Ross
9.
SeptemberWilliam A. Stirling joins up at Aldershot. By November he is sent to France serving nearHazebrook, but in December he develops appendicitis and is sent home.
16 December 1914Following the German Naval bombardment of Hartlepool, West Harlepool, Whitby andScarborough John Stirling, Lovat Scouts, is based first in Huttoft, Lincolnshire, Skegness andthen Massingham, Norfolk
Lovat Scouts, John Stirling seated 4th from left
St James church, Dingwall
Year 2 – 1915
10.
Following her marriage to John and while he is away serving Kythe takes an active interest inrunning Fairburn estate, assisted by her father and the estate Factor, Mr William F. Gunn,Nutwood, Strathpeffer
Sir Kenneth J. Mackenzieof Gairloch, 7th Bt
Lady Mackenzie
Marjorie Kythe Stirling nee Mackenzie
11.
? – 28th August 1915Herewith List of Articles that should be taken abroad.
*Spurs*Underclothing of two thicknesses*Books AB153, Field Services Pocket Book
Field Services Regulations, Part I & IICap Comforter
*Compasses Prismatic*Protractor transparent of latest pattern showing squares*Periscope*Wire cutters*Field Dressing in pocket of coat*Glasses Binoculars or telescope or bothGrease VaselineCoat warm, BritishHoldallTowels
*WhistleCandles
*Candle Lamp collapsible*Electric Torch any pattern*Waterproof*Belt, Browne*Revolver and Lanyard service revolver recommendedMess Tin
12.
Remarks
*Ammunition Pouch*Water Bottle*HaversackSaddlery complete with bridle and neck strapWriting materialsShoes rubberHelmet mosquito net from Thresher & Glenny 4/6Pocket Medicines Savory & Moore, Bond Street, Patent
Pattern recommendedCanvas BucketSleeping Mosquito Net to cover head and shoulders when
Sleeping with loopsSmall bivvyTommy CookersMap caseSaddle bags are useful and have been taken by several officers
Pattern can be seen in Orderly Room
The Hon Ian Leslie Melville andMrs Charlotte Leslie Melville neeStirling marry26 August 1915
13.
SeptemberJohn serving with ½ Lovat Scouts Yeomanry, Highland Mounted Brigade sailed from Devonporton HMS “Andania”, via Malta to Gallipoli accompanied by his servant, Sandy
September and OctoberKythe Stirling and Charlotte Leslie Melville travel around their local area, Achiltibuie andDundonell visiting families of men (see below) serving with John Stirling and Hector Mackenziein the Dardanelles.
4181 L/Cpl A. Grant (serving in Hector Mackenzie’s troop), 989 L/Cpl Mackenzie, MurdochMackenzie, 4208 Pte R. Mackenzie, 4257 Peter Maclean, 4250 Pte J. McLeod (serving in JohnStirling’s troop), 4249 Pte H. McLeod, 4129 Pte A. Morrison, 4212 Pte Muir, John Munro
Kythe and Charlotte decide to travel to Egypt to meet up with their husbands accompanied bytheir maids Smith and Taylor and 25 pieces of luggage. They sail from Marseilles to Port Said onthe “Derbyshire”, then join the “Yarra” for Alexandria.
30 September 1915 – John Stirling to his wife
Field Post Office 1 OC 15 HY
We had some comic experiences since my last letter!Disembarking in the dark, carrying all our stuff on our backs for about a mile, except valises -
& then sleeping from 4.30-5.30 & digging nearly all day with occasional shrapnel about.Then at dark a sort of “late” began lasting for about 1 ½ hours & bullets fairly whistle about
us – only stray ones, but there seemed to be a lot of them; before it was over, our particular lot had tomarch up about ½ mile & dig for ourselves. Bullets were flying all night, but no-one was hit thoughwe’d some close shaves. Since then it’s all the same sort of thing. We live in the trenches, they snipe usat night & send an occasional shell along by day. One of the signallers was hit yesterday in the thigh& we’ve had 2 more slight wounds in the regiment, but none of our men. A shrapnel bullet puncturedmy coat which was lying on the ground about 6 yards away & bust my cigarette case, curse it.
John Stirling contracts dysentery and jaundice and on 1st December is evacuated on the RoyalMail Steam Packet “Essequito” to Alexandria, Egypt.
14.
In August-December, Alexandria, Kythe gets a voluntary job in Intelligencethrough Mrs Clive Davis.
John Stirling serves as ADC to Brigadier-General Archibald Stirling of Keir who’s commandingthe Highland Mounted Brigade and Australian Light Horse
DecemberWilliam A. Stirling joins an Entrenching Battalion in France
Kythe’s addresses while in Egypt: Summer Palace Hotel, Ramleh, then Villa Cecil, Ghezireh,Cairo; 8 Zamalek, Cairo; Savoy Palace Hotel, AlexandriaKythe goes to work in a Canteen; joins the Soldiers Entertainment Committee:
Year 3 – 1916
Colonel & The Hon Mrs Stirling of Keir and Lord Lovat
15.
14 January 1916 – William A. Stirling to his mother, Charlotte E. Stirling
We are now back in the same trenches we were in before. The weather while we were out was notgood. Very cold – v. windy with occasional sleety showers.
We had to supply working parties to help the people who were then in the trenches to put uplost wire & keep the trenches clear etc.
One very clear night I was out with a party – while crossing a small ridge alone, the Boschesspotted me – opened with M.Gun fire at me. Luckily they shot very high, as they usually do at night.The same night I had a bullet pass very close indeed to me & a Corporal I was speaking to. I do nottell you these things to horrify you, or to make you think they are always going on, because they arenot, but I write about them because they are really the only things of any interest to talk about!
I will try & describe to you our position & the general prevailing conditions of affairs; ourfiring trench runs along behind a small hedge of pollard willows & it is joined by numerouscommunication trenches with peculiar names such as “Excerra”, “Le Cateau”, “Jordan”, “Main St”,these trenches lead back through a small hollow & joins up with a perfect network of old & newtrenches about 200-500 yds behind the front trenches. These trenches also have curious names. Thehollow I mentioned is very useful as in it one is out of sight of the Germans in front; unfortunatelyhowever the line takes a slight bend to our left & the Bosches on the left can fire straight down thisvalley. It is however quite safe to walk along it even in day light because the Boche are about 1000 ydsaway & are very unlikely to hit you their first shot & the place is so full of shell holes, that one couldjump into one & at once be undercover. These shell holes are enormously large & vary in size fromgreat pits 30 feet across & about 12ft deep, to little things about four feet across & eighteen inchesdeep. Another thing which surprised me was the noise bullets & shells make. One always hears itdescribed as a whistle, but a bullet at close range passing close to you passes with an incredible sharp“swack” & one hears nothing more of it! It is only at long ranges that a bullet is heard “humming”!The same applies to shells: a shell coming towards you fast from a gun makes first of all a swack , butone can hear it going on with a sort of “whewing” noise. A shell going away from you, especiallyshells of heavy howitzers, sound exactly as if someone was tearing some cloth! A Howitzer shellcoming towards you, is really more unpleasant than a gun, because you first hear the report of thehowitzer (unless there was too much firing going on) & then you hear the shell slowly approachingyou. It always appears at first to be making straight for one, - ends by the sounds of the shell suddenlyrising to a “screech” following by the bursting of the shell.
Today I had two quite narrow escapes – the first was just about lunch time, & I was sittingabout our company headquarters dug out. The Bosches was shelling in front of us & I was standing infront of the doorway of the dugout watching the shells bursting, when suddenly there was a thud onthe roof beside me – a chunk of shell buried itself about four feet from my head! It was a good sizedpiece, weighing about half a pound, & had travelled fully 200 yds, so there wouldn’t have been muchleft had it been four feet nearer! It just shows the force of the explosion which can split a shell & sendthe pieces so far!
Another time this evening we were just working on the trench when four rifle grenades cameover from the Bosches. Luckily they burst over the parados of the trench, but were close enough toblow mud over us.
Well, this is showing up all the bad points, or nearly all of them, for I can add to the list ofhorrors the occasional discovery of a dead trench soldier when we are digging - the very coldestof weather.
16.
11 March 1916 – John Stirling to his wife
Sohag, Egypt
I’ve just got the revolver holster & a tin of baccy for which very many thanks. Also for yourinterrupted letter. Curse the old canteen! I was angry with it for making you stop, You’re a perfectdarling to write so often as you do. I’m afraid I missed yesterday as I was warned at 6 o’clock fordinner with the Mudir at 8 & had to run about like smoke to be ready in time! It wasn’t very exciting!Quite good food which was welcome, but nothing astounding like whole pigs or sheep! We had ninecourses, the best of which was the fish & turkey which came about no 6. We drank whisky with themeal & about 2 bottles of champagne between 15 afterwards to drink the King, the Sultan & theMudir, so it only ran to about ½ glass each. The General, Allhusen & Henderson went from ForceHdgrs to M. Brodie & I from Bde Hdgrs, the C.O. & 2nd in Command of each squadron & old swiveleye Mackenzie of the Field Ambulance.
We had the town band going all the time – not together! The brass one was worse than theAssouan one but the pipes were fairly good. They played the “Barren Rocks” & one other tune weknow, but I forget which it was. We fed for about 2 hours & then walked home. It wasn’t bad fun really& the Mudir is an old comic.
We had a route march this morning with nearly all the camels out – about 300 of them. It wasvery funny! A short column of men in front & then a huge long line of camels. We went out to the edgeof the desert & halted there for ½ hour in Brigade mass. When we moved on again it took 14 mins toget going which was pretty good!! The camels were great fun.
Yes I am still doing ADC & think I will go on doing so until we are joined up to the SW Bde.We have really got a very good command now. A.S. in charge of the show, then Willie
Macdonald with Brodie as Bde Major & one Weir – he used to go about with Gerald a lot. Alas – asstaff Capt – he’s a good chap too - & Kenny MacDonald, McNeill & Col Gilmour commands the regts& the adjts are all good creatures too, so if only they’d leave us as we are instead of joining us up tosomeone we should be very happy!
I’m going for a sail with Willie after tea & must go & see if he’s managed to get a boat. Hopefor a peaceful day tomorrow.
John & Kythe in Egypt
17.
8 October 1916 – William A. Stirling to his mother
I am writing you this short note in case I get killed!
I haven’t the time to write a long one, so can only send you a line.Well Mum I can only tell you that if I am killed there is no finer death one could die, than
dying at the head of one’s company. I only hope I may lead them as well as they deserve to be led. ThisI do know that there is not a man who will not follow me anywhere.
I am giving this to Danny Munro of Dingwall who will post it if necessary.The only thing I shall fret about will be the regiment as I should like to remain with it now, as
many of our new officers are not all they might be.Mum I know that I can trust in God to deal with us after our * but of his mercy, & I trust
in him.Well Mum my very best love is yours as you know & I cannot but feel how happy we all were
together since we were children in the old days.
Will add to this later.
11th – Well Mum darling we shall soon be in action now I think & as our troops have alreadyfailed twice at our objective I think it’s going to be a pretty tough job.
Well last night we had a communion & at the end as we said “Our Father” I could not helpthinking how often we had said it with you and darling Dad. Well Mum there is not much for me tosay really. If I am killed in this show it is not likely that I shall be buried but one can never tell & if Iam buried either Waldegrave the 10th Brigade chaplain or Kirk the regt chaplain or Munro ourquartermaster will likely be able to tell you where & then perhaps someday you would come to see mygrave. Well Mum this is a melancholy job but I think you may be happier if you do get this letter.
I know I have not had nearly such a good life as I should have considering the greatopportunities & splendid upbringing but I trust in God to forgive me my sins of which I do repent & ashe died to save us I feel that God will forgive us. Well Mum, I don’t think there’s much more to say. It israining now & I must stop, but can I say I have always tried to do my duty as a soldier & I thank you& all dear brothers & sisters for your love & our happiness & send my best love to you & all, Mouli,Chattie, John, Jim, Duncan & Robin also to Peter, Davie & Helen & Ian & Kythe & all Uncles &Aunts & cousins. Well Mum my darling good bye & if I am killed I die with a sure faith in God.
I have your photo & Dad’s in my pocket.With all my love & blessings from your very, very lovingWilliam Aeneas
P.S. I should like some of my money to be left for the good of the regiment!
3 days later William/Billy went missing presumed killed. His body was never recovered.
Further information on the Attacks on Dewdrop Trench can be viewed at the following website:http://bairdferguson.tripod.com/id12.html
18.
Year 4 – 1917
8 January – John Stirling sails on the “Reventagon” from Alexandria, Egypt to Salonika, Greece.Starts as a Company Commander of an Entrenching Battalion and then becomes joint ADC withCapt Hon David William Leslie-Melville, MBE, Lovat Scouts Yeomanry to Maj-Gen CharlesJames Briggs, KCMG, KCB who commands the XVI Corps.
Lt James Erskine StirlingSeaforth Highlandersenlists aged 19, leaves for France31st October
May 1917 – July 1918
19.
Drawing Room & Library Fairburn House
Dining Room Fairburn House
20.
Hospital requirements: A telephone is installed in Fairburn House and the estate also has aMarr & Weather & Jakeman Patent Steam Fire Engine on stand–by.
Some of the Nurses who worked at Fairburn Auxiliary Hospital
Elizabeth Anstruther – Cissie Beckwith-Smith – J. W Blackwood – Hecster Cameron (T.N.) –Margaret (?) Cameron – Dorothy M. Cash – M. Priscilla Cash, Matron – W.F. Foulston –Frances Mary Fraser – Sibyl Fraser – Alice Garrow – Maisie Hall – Charlotte Leslie Melville –Iona Macdonald – L Macdonald – C. Macgilvary – L. D Mackintosh – Nancy Mackintosh – W.E.Mackintosh – ? H. Mackintosh – Eila McLean – Winifred F. Macnab – Marjorie Maxwell –Philomena Mostyn – Grace ?Neesdell – Winifred R. Paterson – Mary Breton Post –Jean Ross – Bertara Wythes
21.
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FAIRBURN AUXILLARY HOSPITALLIST OF PATIENTS 1917–18
ACRES, 265922, Corporal, 4/5th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment284 Leigh Road, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton, Nr Bolton
ADLEM, 73522, Gunner Charles, Royal Garrison ArtilleryDurweston, Blandford, Dorset, England
AITKEN, 241639, Private William, 1/5th (Sutherland and Caithness) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders156 High Street, Newburgh , Fifeshire
ANDERSON, 60846, Bombadier, Royal Garrison Artillery16 College Street, St Andrews
ATKINS, 840588, Driver Fred, Royal Field Artillery(also 220674, Royal Garrison Artillery) (2/4 S.M.H. Bdy?)2 Herberts Row, Gulson Road, Coventry
ATKINSON, Private J.290 Hamilton Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne
ALLEN, 17585, Private Harry, 6th Bedfordshire RegimentPegsden, Nr Hitchin, Hertfordshire
B
BACON, 1108, Driver Albert Lewis, a/70 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery(40 Hammersmith Division, ammunition column)wounded Arras
BALDWIN, 49068, Private M.62 Cardwell Street, St George Hotel, Edge Hill, Liverpool
BANNISTER, 94189, Private Percy E., Royal Garrison Artillery15 Clara Street, Fartown, Huddersfield
24.
BARBOUR, 241469, Lance Corporal/Driver Charles, Army Service Corps(also: 2183, Army Service Corps, Territorial Force)35 Park Road, Aberdeen, Scotland
BARNES, 75266, Private Eric A., 17th (Service) Battalion (Empire), Royal Fusiliers(City of London Regiment) (also: 672647, Labour Corps)Kinsbourne Green, Luton, Bedfordshire
BARNETT, 276212, Private Charles F. 1/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment47 ? Street, Salford
BARTTEMAN, Private A., 13th Royal Scots Fusiliers38 Caledonian Crescent, Edinburgh
BATES, 1693, Private Harry, Middlesex Regiment23 Algarve Road, Earlsfield, London
BEARE, 38742, Gunner Arnold, Royal Garrison ArtilleryWeek St Mary, 11th Cornwall
BELDON, 7340, Driver George H., 6 Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment(also 595954, Labour Corps)19 Hawthorn Street, Heworth, York
BELL, Private A.164 Heaton Park Road, Heaton, Newcastle
BELL, 5448, Corporal Arthur, 10 Labour Company46 Summerfield, ?, Aberdeen
DRABBLE, 35873, Private Samuel D., 1/5 Battalion, King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)(also; 48431, West Yorkshire Regiment)130 Burgoyne Road, Sheffield
DUNN, 19992, Private, 1st Royal Warwickshire Regimentwounded at Ronox
Dyson, 50506, Private David H., Liverpool Regiment36 Bolton Road, Clifton, Nr Manchester
E
EMMERSON, 325666, Private Harry, Royal Scots7 New Market Street, Buxton
ENNERSON, 30473, W., A Company, 12th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment(possibly: Emmerson, Private George, 30273, Durham Light Infantry; 40062 West YorkshireRegiment) Wearhead, Durham
EVANS, 28931, Corporal William T., 8/91, Royal Field Artillery10 Pengam Road, Aberbargoed, Nr Cardiff, South Wales
29.
EVERITT, 252562, Private John, 2/3 Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)(also: 252562, Royal Fusiliers; G-21960, Royal West Kent Regiment)21 Arthur Road, Stoke Newington, London, N.
F
FALCON, 241400, Corporal Herbert L., 2/5 Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)11 Clement Street, Huddersfield
FALCONER, 200688, Private David, Gordon Highlanders (also: 2911, Gordon Highlanders;522371, 14th London Regiment)5 Stevenson Street, Aberdeen
FALCONER, 2nd Corporal, J., Royal Engineers88 Urquhart Road, Aberdeen
FINNEY, 12211, Lance Corporal, Joseph, 7th (Service) Battalion, Loyal North LancashireRegiment (also: 4041, Royal Irish Regiment)21 St Michael’s Road, Preston, Lancashire
FLAHERTY, 300055, Lance Corporal Thomas,Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)3 Sta? Square, off St James Road, Halifax
FLEMING, 199425, Private William, 47th Labour Group (also: 46909, Cheshire Regiment)No.1 Allerton Street, Burnley
FLETCHER, 349843, Private AlexSheader Mig, Isle of Skye
FOREMAN, 200743, Private Robert, 1/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (also: 2800)2 Mercer Street, off New Hall Lines, Preston, Lancashire
FOULSTON, 113372, Corporal Samuel V., No.3 Special Company, Royal Engineers(The RE Special Companies were engaged in deadly chemical warfare)Gothic Terrace, Hornsea, East Yorkshire, England
FOWLER, 305913, Private A., 9th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)11-1 Court ?, Mount Pleasant, Oldham
FRANCIS, 900341, Gunner R., Royal Garrison ArtilleryBuxton, Lamas, Norfolk
FRASER, 3449, Private, John C., 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow), (often known byits original title of the Glasgow Boys Brigade Battalion), Highland Light Infantry.
30.
FRIEL, 4667, Private Philip, Leinster Regiment (also: 40863, Royal Irish Regiment)No.35 Auchinstarry Rows Croy, By Glasgow
ICE, 1267, Private, R., 7th Buffs (East Kent Regiment)25 Fletcher Buildings, Bow Street, London, W.
INGHAM, 26633, Private Thomas H., Grenadier Guardswounded Tincourt. 28 Station Road, Clayton, West Bradford
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INGRAM, 264416, Private William, No.5 Labour Company (also: S/15218, Royal Highlanders;24640, Royal Scots; WR/332092, Royal Engineers)Mount Pleasant, Canal Street, Aberdeen
J
JACKSON, 203619, Private J. 4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
MAIDENS, 235100, Private William, ¼ Battalion, King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry),(also: 401572, Royal Army Medical Corps)28 Norman Crescent, Rossington, Doncaster
MAIN, 29992, Private G. (possibly George, Scottish Rifles)50 Victoria Street, Dunbar
NORTON, 3**890, Private W.16 Gordon Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
NOWELL, 330113, Private Richard H., 15th (Service) Battalion (2nd Birmingham),Royal Warwickshire Regiment5 Pleasant Terrace, Mary Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham
O
O’BRIEN, 2251040, Private J.Smith’s Lawn, Sunningdale, Berkshire, England
OLIVER, 321651, Gunner Charles F, Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery5 Coombs Lane, Truro
OLIVER, 348692, Private James, Army Service Corps68 Albert Road, Crosshill, Glasgow
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PALMER, 42826, Rifleman, Ernest Henry, 12th (Service) Battalion (Central Antrim),Royal Irish Rifles (also 137531, Royal Army Medical Corps)177 Lower Road, Belvedere, Kent
TIERNEY, 26435, Private Joseph, 2/7 Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)(also: 37938, Labour Corps)54 N. Woodside Road, Glasgow
41.
TOMLINSON, Gunner (Acting Sergeant) G.W., Royal Garrison Artillery, Royal Garrison Artillery,Royal Garrison Artillery,32 Norrey Street, off Lavile Street, East Sheffield
TUDOR, 4912, Joseph, 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment11 New Buildings, Flamstead, Birmingham
TUNNAH,42721, Private John S., A Company, 14th (Service) Battalion, Highland LightInfantry (also 30828, Royal Scots)Auchencrow, Reston, Berwickshire
U
UNDERHILL, William, North Staffordshire Regiment26 Duke Street
WRAY, 267055, Private H., 2/6 Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
WRIGHT, 306976, Private John W., 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire &Derbyshire Regiment)113 Worth Street, Newland, Hull
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YATES, 132682, Corporal Charlie, Royal Engineers14 Lord Duncan Street, Salford, Manchester
YOUNG, 146220, Sapper J. 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers
Z
43.
General Briggs and John Stirling visit the Mount Athos Peninsular, Greece August 1917
2nd Lt Duncan Alexander StirlingColdstream Guardsenlists aged 19
Year 5 – 1918
44.
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In November men of the Canadian Forestry Corps are based at Fairburn to fell trees.The officers, Major G.A. MacNaughton and Lt J. Mackay lived in the house and other ranksstayed at Muirton Mains. 11 October 1918 – They erect huts, stables, sawmills, and a forge, butfollowing the Armistice are returned first to their HQ in Forres and then to Canada before anywork is done at Fairburn.
25 November 1918 – Salonika, John Stirling to his wife
Had rather an interesting day yesterday: the C.C. and & went up past the w. side of DorianLake, intending to look at our old friendly hostile trenches in the region of Nikolic – the ones weattacked on Sept 18th
We began well by breaking a front spring near Dorian town, which took 1 ½ hours to mend: heand I improved the shining hour by walking up to have a look at our positions on that front: I won’tbore you with details, but the carnage that went on in the rocky mullah that we walked up – no morethan 2 ft wide at the bottom & 30 ft at the top, 20 yds above -- & in no-man’s land in theneighbourhood, was a revelation even to him. This mullah is full of sacks containing the remains ofmen who’s been killed in 1917 in the May offensive & not been able to collected, of Lewis gun *, stokesgun shells, bombs of all sorts, both ours & Bulgar, rifles, stokes guns, thousands of shell cases – thickenough to make a carpet all the way along & even dud shells were so thick that we had to be carefulnot to kick them in the face. We climbed out of that to our front line & then across to the Bulgar wire.Their wire seems to have been about 50 yds thick, & for about 300 yds in depth from where we wereto the top of the Petit Couronne, 700 yds or so distant, the whole ground was simply churned up, thewire not cut, but buried & the tracks absolutely obliterated. It gave one an idea of the power ofmodern artillery, & above all the absolute brutality of modern war..
Kythe Stirling travels to France to work with her uncle,(Frank) Francis Granville Mackenzie at
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The Enquiry Department for Wounded & Missing
2nd left John Stirling, right General Briggs
Year 6 – 1919
John sails on an ex-Russian boat run by the R.M.S.P. from Constantinople to Southern Russiaand is based at Ekaterinodar
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Right to left, General Romanovsky, General Deniken, General Briggs and his long dog,Colonel Keyes, Zvigintyov, Chapron de Sareet
13 May 1919 – John Stirling to his wife
We are just back from our trip this morning after the most interesting time anyone could wishto have. Ye gods, what a country! Flat as a pancake over most of it, and suddenly you find yourself upagainst the mountains – there are not any hills at all – the mountains might almost be a long line oflarch trees sticking out of a flat field.
Well we left here at 6.20 pm on Wednesday and travelled via Beslan which you will find nearVladikavhaz on any decent map to Grozny where we arrived at 7.15 pm the train originallyconsisting of Gen Denniken and his staff and my Gen with Keyes, the Russian Col. Zvigenintzeff andmyself, had grown bit by bit until at Gruzug it was huge. As soon as we arrived we were warned foran official dinner, but a long pow-wow kept us going till about nine while the town council grewhungrier and hungrier. Grezug is the third biggest oil centre in the world, and American being thebiggest and Baku the second, and there are quite a few British people there who are waiting to meetthe trains: some of them had a very thin time under the Bolchevist regime. We trekked off to dinnerabout 9.30 shook hands exactly 300 times and then moved in file into the feeding room where therewere three long tables in the shape of a l¬l: the short top layer consisting of Generals and at the top ofthe two side ones were Keyes and myself; the two men on my right, several on my left and all the onesopposite only spoke Russian so for the first part of the meal conversation was nix except for a fewwords with the third General on my right, later an Armenian who spoke English came; the dinner wasawful, first raw smoked fish, ham, bits of sausage and caviar as hors d’oeuvre, then a long gap duringwhich two men got a lot of pressure off their chests, then soup and more gas, and then turkey followedby an ice, all washed down with lots of vodka, wine and some champagne:
The only man who had anything to say worth saying was General Dennikien and although his speechwas in Russian, one could see that he wasn’t merely getting rid of hot air. We got back to our trainabout 2pm and had to be off again about 9 to chat with the Chechens, one of the numerous tribes inthe “North Caucasus Republic”, who were the cause of the visit. They are a fierce looking lot of devils,wonderful horsemen and are said to be certain shots at a running man from a galloping horse:
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The Terek Cossacks who are up against them look only a degree better. The latter by way of quietingthe Chechens, has just laid three of their towns level with the dust in smoke and ruins, so blood-feudswould seem assured for some time to come. The whole situation in the North Caucacus is almostimpossible of settlement: everyone hates and mistrusts everyone else: everyone is a robber and abandit, all are savages and for every rifle they surrender are supposed to have another one hidden. Thehistory of the North Caucacus is priceless, but would take too long to relate; roughly it is as follows:Chermoev, an oil magnate, I think, thought he would like to run a republic, so created the N.Caucacus one, nominated a ministry and there we are, Republic straight off: the mere fact that no onerecognised his show didn’t worry him in the least! On Friday a British Officer arrived bringing withhim a Daghestain: the latter has appointed himself Prime Minister of the Chechens and as near asnothing has his blood shed on the platform in front of our train: As he’d come in under our flag todiscuss peace terms it was just as well he wasn’t done in! Must continue later!
Macuck Front – photographed by John Stirling
Near Velikokujajeskaya – photographed by John Stirling
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FROM THE MEMORIALIN THE FAIRBURN
MEMORIAL HALL, MARYBANK1914 – 18
Captain William AE Stirling ‘D’ Company, 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders died 14-16 October 1916,Les Boeufs, France
S/12054 Lance Corporal Donald Forbes, 1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders died 14 July 1916 Persian Gulf998 Corporal Finlay Forbes ‘D’ Coy, 12th Bn, 3rd Brigade Australian Imperial Force killed 6 June1915 Dardanelles
1003 Corporal Duncan Forbes, ‘D’ Coy, 12th Bn, 3rd Brigade Australian Imperial Force killed 25May 1915 Dardanelles
82921 Private John Munro, Machine Gun Corps (also 5579 Seaforth Highlanders) killed 6 May 1917,Flanders, France
GS/9990 Private Alexander Munro 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons) killed24 March 1917
S/40262 Private John Mackenzie, 7th Bn, Seaforth Highlanders (also 1546) killed 17/18 August1917 – son of Donald Mackenzie, Black Dyke
S/40386 Private Colin Maclean, 1st Bn, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders killed 17 March 1918,Flanders, France
29501 Private James Tulloch, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, died 9 April 1917, Flanders, France
S/6330 Lance Corporal John Campbell, Seaforth Highlanders
10071 Guardsman David Murray, Scots Guards died 25 January 1915 Flanders, France
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To John, from his youngest brother
Ross shire Journal – Friday 11th July 1919
Captain John Stirling of Fairburn, MBE, Lovat Scouts, has returned from service in South Russia.On his arrival in Fairburn with Mrs Stirling, he was greeted by the employees on the Estate, whowere out in force to welcome him home. The main approach to Fairburn House, which wasspanned by a triumphant arch, was lined on both sides by employees and their friends. On theirarrival at the House, Mr Jackson, the oldest employee on the Estate expressed great delight inhaving Captain Stirling safe home.