In Memory of

Francis (Frank) SMITH

Private
12288
1st/6th Bn., Gordon Highlanders
who died on
Sunday, 2nd July 1916. Age 20.

Additional Information:

 

Son of George and Jane Smith of Seggieden, Kennethmont, They had five sons. Her parents farmed at Seggieden.
George Smith d 7/7/1926 age 67. Jane Sangster d 5/12/1943 Edderlick, Premnay age 87. Interred Kennethmont CY(Old). Headstone

Francis Smith was born at Seggieden on 2nd May 1896 and baptised there on 14th June 1897. Be started at Kennethmont School on 18/4/1901

War & Victory Medals

Army Casualty Returns: Died of Wounds at 30 CCS, France (30 CCS at Aubigny in 1916)

Frank Smith, Pte 6 GH, Seggieden. Enlisted at Huntly, died of wounds, served France & Flanders
SDGW, Frank Smith, 6GH, e Huntly, DoW, F&F

Frank Smith did not proceed to France in November 1914 with the BEF.


Frank died of wounds in 30 CCS in Aubigny. At the time of his death the 51st HD were in the line holding positions around Arras ( Vimy area) prior the Somme actions of 1st July. 6 GH moved to The Somme area on 20th July and were then involved in actions at Pozieres Ridge on 23rd July.

6 GH War Diary, July 1916
The unit's first time in the line since being transferred to Lines of Communications duties from 5th Jan to 1st June 1916. Companies at Dieppe, Le Havre, Abbeville and Rouen.
1-6 July - In trenches east of Neuville St Vaast ( Sector Left I) with 5 GH on right and 8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders on left. ( Near Arras)
7-12 July - In billets at St Eloy & Bois de Alleux.

 

1/4/1908 The original Volunteer Battalions was reorganised and the 4th became the 6th Batt ( Territorial Force) comprising 8 companies centred in the following areas;
'A' Coy - Banff
'B' Coy - Dufftown, Aberlour and Glenlivet
'C' Coy - Keith
'D' Coy - Buckie
'E' Coy - Inverurie
'F' Coy - Alford, Kildrummy and Strathdon
'G' Coy - Buckie
'H' Coy - Huntly

During 1914 the 8 Company system of the entire British army was changed to 4, usually 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D'
'H' Company became part of the new 'A' Company. This became the official designation in 1915. This did not prevent the men using the original lettering which related to their home areas.

Service notes
S 1/6th Gordons, 1/6th (6th) Banff and Donside Battalion Gordon Highlanders.

4/8/1914 at Keith: Gordon Brigade, Highland Division.
16/8/1914 arrived Bedford, part of Highland Territorial Brigade
9/11/1914 left Bedford by train to Southhampton, there boarded troopship " Cornishman" for France.
10/11/1914 Landed Havre ( Le Havre)
13/11/1914 Left Le Havre, travelled to St Omer, 4/12/1914 at Sailly.
5/12/1914 to 20th Brigade, 7th Division.
Was the 1st Btn of Highland Division to reach the Front.
6/12/1914 In trenches
5/1/1916 became Line of Communication Troops.
1/6/1916 to 152nd Brigade, 51st Highland Division.
6/10/1918 ammalgamated with 1/7th (Deeside) Gordons to form 6/7th Gordons
11/11/1918 in same near Thun l'Eveque, North of Cambrai.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery: AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Pas de Calais, France
Grave Reference/
Panel Number:		 I. D. 30.
Location: Aubigny-en-Artois is a village approximately 15 kilometres north-west of Arras on the road to St. Pol (N39). From the N39 turn onto the D75 towards the village of Aubigny-en-Artois. The Cemetery lies south on a road leading from the centre of the village, and the Extension is behind it.
Historical Information: Aubigny was, before March, 1916, in the area of the French Tenth Army, and 327 French soldiers were buried in the Extension to the West of what is now Plot IV. From March, 1916, to the Armistice, Aubigny was held by British troops, and the Extension became a large British Cemetery, in use until September, 1918. The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station buried in it during the whole period, the 30th in 1916 and 1917, the 24th and 1st Canadian in 1917 (during the capture of Vimy Ridge by the Canadian Corps), and the 57th in 1918. There are now nearly 3,000, 1914-18 and a small number of 1939-45, war casualties commemorated in this site. The Cemetery Extension covers an area of 6,545 square metres.