A Collection of Medals to the 42nd Highlanders and 73rd Foot (Black Watch) 726
A Great War ‘V.C. action’ casualty group of four awarded to Corporal J. Beattie, 2nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders, killed in action at Aubers Ridge, 9 May 1915
1914 STAR, with copy clasp (822 Cpl. J. Beattie. 2/R. Highrs); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (822 Cpl. J. Beattie. R. Highrs.); DELHI DURBAR 1911 (822 L Cpl J. Beattie R.H.); MEMORIAL PLAQUE (John Beattie), last with card envelope off issue and enclosure, generally good very fine (5)
£200-240
John Beattie was born in Montrose, Forfarshire. He served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders in India, and was present for the Delhi Durbar 1911. Beattie served during the Great War with the Battalion in the French theatre of war from 12 October 1914. He was killed in action 9 May 1915. On the latter date the Battalion were engaged during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, the Regimental History gives the following:
‘The Battalion had a particularly trying part to play on May 9th, as it had to relieve in the front line, in daylight and under continuous shell fire, a unit which with heavy loss had failed to advance; and it had to renew the attack against an enemy, not only unshaken by the previous attack, but obviously reinforced and ready to meet a second attempt. But the attempt was made with a determination and courage worthy of the Regiment...
About noon the Battalion received orders to relieve the 2nd Gurkhas on the right of the Dehra Dun Brigade.... The Batttalion was formed for attack in two lines... the assault was timed for 4pm. By about 3.55pm the front lines issued from the trenches and lay down awaiting the signal to charge. Colonel Harvey remained on the right, and ordered Major Wauchope to watch and report progress on the left of our line. Large numbers of Germans could be seen issuing from communication trenches and filing along the front, unaffected by our very weak bombardment.
The attack was met by a very accurate and extremely heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from the moment it began. A wide stream full of water and mud ran across No Man’s Land (which was about 200 yards wide), on the right within a few yards of our trench, on the left rather nearer the German than the British line. Some thirty bridges were supposed to have been constructed on our front, but few were existing when the Battalion made its attack. The greater number of the casualties fell close to or into this obstacle....
In the brief period the assault lasted the losses of the Battalion were: killed, 3 officers and 69 other ranks; wounded, 5 officers and 157 other ranks; missing (practically all killed close to the German trenches) 36 other ranks; total, 270 out of 450 engaged, or 60 per cent. The wounded and unwounded lay out in the open under fire till darkness enabled them to regain the trenches.’
Lance Corporal David Findlay of the 2nd Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry during the above attack, whilst Corporal Ripley of the 1st Battalion was also awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on the same day a little further to the south.
Corporal Beattie is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.
727
A Great War ‘V.C. action’ casualty group of three awarded to Sergeant J. M. Burns, 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders, killed in action at Aubers Ridge, 9 May 1915
1914 STAR, with clasp (8530 Pte. (A. Cpl) J. M. Burns. R. Highrs); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (8530 A. Sjt. J. M. Burns. R. Highrs.) generally good very fine or better (3)
£180-220
James Meek Burns was born in Tranent, Haddintonshire, Scotland. He attested for the Royal Highlanders at Musselburgh, in January 1902. He transferred to the Army Reserve, only to re-engage for service as a Corporal with the 3rd Battalion at Nigg in September 1914. Burns transferred to the 1st Battalion, advanced to Acting Sergeant, and served with them in the French theatre of war from 7 November 1914.
Burns was killed in action 9 May 1915. On the latter date the Battalion were engaged during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, the Regimental History gives the following:
‘After an artillery bombardment of twenty minutes the Battalion advanced to the attack, and made one of the finest assaults it delivered during the war, distinguished by skilful leadership of officers and section commanders under the most adverse conditions, and great gallantry on the part of the men.... As in the original assault, the wire had not been sufficiently cut, nor had the German breastworks and machine guns been much damaged. Against them, A and B companies advanced over the open, followed by two platoons each from C and D companies...
The companies advanced to the sound of the pipes - for the last time - since gas helmets were shortly to muffle the pipers. It was not possible to recognise “Highland Laddie” in the noise of gunfire, but the pipes themselves could not be silenced, and there is no doubt that they raised the spirit of the attackers. As soon as our men topped the breastworks, they were met by a terrific rifle and machine gun fire, which seemed to come from every direction; machine guns were not only firing from the breastworks, but from tunnels cut underneath them.
The distance between the lines was about 300 yards, so that it did not take more than two minutes for the leading troops to reach the enemy wire. A few gaps existed, and into these the attacking platoons converged; then, forcing their way into the German line, they began to clear the trenches by hand-to-hand fighting. The advantage lay with the enemy from the first, since the platoons could only enter the breastworks on narrow fronts where the gaps existed; and though the Battalion established itself at various points, it was attacked from three sides, being bombed from both flanks, and fired into from the enemy’s rear line.’
A number of D.C.M.s were awarded to members of the 1st Battalion for the action, and Corporal John Ripley was awarded the Victoria Cross. Lance Corporal David Findlay of the 2nd Battalion was also awarded the Victoria Cross for the Battle of Aubers Ridge. The 1st Battalion suffered casualties of 14 officers and 461 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Only ‘8 officers and 354 other ranks could be assembled to march back on the 9th of May, and the next two days were needed for the reorganisation of the Battalion, which was carried out in Divisional Reserve at Beuvry and Béthune. On both these days H.R.H. the Prince of Wales paid a visit to the Battalion, and interviewed several non-commissioned officers and men who had actually been in the German trenches on the 9th.’ (Ibid)
Sergeant Burns is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.
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