5th (Buchan and Formartin) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

The 5th (Buchan and Formartin) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders was a Territorial Force Battalion formed on 1st April 1908. It was the natural heir to the 2nd Volunteer Battalion and the 3rd (The Buchan) Volunteer Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and was headquartered at Peterhead. It was administered by the Aberdeenshire Association with companies and drill halls in the following locations:

A Company
Strichen; drill stations at New Pitsligo, New Aberdour, New Dear and Maud.
B Company
Peterhead; drill stations at Longside and St Fergus.
C Company
Peterhead; drill stations at Boddam and Hatton.
D Company
Turriff; drill stations at Fyvie and Cuminestown.
E Company
Ellon; drill stations at Auchnagatt, Methlick, Skilmafilly and Newburgh
F Company
Old Meldrum; drill stations at Tarves, Newmacher, and Pitmedden
G Company
Fraserburgh; drill station at Rosehearty
H Company
Fraserburgh; drill station at Lonmay

414 joined on 16th May 1908
506 joined on14th January 1909
1128 joined on 15th March 1910
1262 joined on 3rd February1911
1382 joined on 31st January 1912
1548 joined on 6th January 1913
1753 joined on 19th February 1914
1872 joined on 4th August 1914
2164 joined on 2nd September 1914

A 2/5th Battalion was formed at Peterhead in October 1914 and upon formation the 5th Battalion became the 1/5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders. The 2/5th Battalion used the same number sequence as the 1/5th.

2399 joined on 19th October 1914
2497 joined on 7th November 1914
2699 joined on 7th December 1914
2840 joined on 5th January 1915
3041 Joined on 6th February 1915
3070 joined on 4th March 1915
3101 joined on 3rd April 1915
3186 joined on 4th May 1915

A 3/5th Battalion was formed at the beginning of May 1915 and it too used the same number sequence as that being used by the 1/5th and 2/5th Battalions.

3251 joined on 8th June 1915
3289 joined on 5th July 1915
3357 joined on 3rd August 1915
3404 joined on 20th September 1915
3409 joined on 4th October 1915
3507 joined on 1st November 1915
3590 joined on 3rd December 1915
3662 joined on 1st February 1916
3722 joined on 15th March 1916
3890 joined on 20th April 1916
3956 joined on 29th May 1916
4157 joined on 7th July 1916
4361 joined on 15th September 1916
4379 joined on 5th October 1916

When the Territorial Force was re-numbered in 1917, men from the 5th Gordons were issued numbers in the range 240001 to 265000, the lowest number being issued to the man with the lowest number from the first series. For instance, 240139 was issued to George Bruce who had originally joined the battalion on the 21st March 1912 and whose original number, according to his surviving service record in WO 364 was 1466.

Carolyn Morrisey's excellent website devoted to the 5th Gordon Highlanders is well worth a visit and also includes useful information on the numbering in this battalion: The 5th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders. Map of Aberdeenshire (2012) courtesy Google.

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