S/7793 Private Andrew Geddes was
a patient at Beechland House in 1916 after being wounded during the Somme
battles. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album (heavily over-written in blue
biro in later years) reads:
S/7793 Pte A Geddes
1/7 Gordons
Wounded on the 9th Sept 1916
I’ll think of you by day
I’ll think of you by night
I’ll think of you when I’m in Scotland
So don’t forget to write
Bonnie, Bonnie Scotland
He shares this page with entries from fellow Scotsmen 18406 Private James Sweeney of the 13th Royal Scots and 7567 Private John Currie of the 10th Gordon Highlanders.
Andrew's entry is interesting as the number he gives
- S/7793 - belongs to a Gordon Highlanders service battalion and not the 1/7th (Deeside Highland) Battalion which was
a Territorial Force unit. His medal index card at the National Archives reveals two numbers: S/7793 and 292432,
and it is this second number which belongs to the 1/7th Gordon Highlanders. This battalion formed part of the 153rd
Brigade in the 51st Division.
Thanks
to information received from Stuart Wilson of Auchencairn, I can add further information about Andrew Geddes. He was
born on 29th November 1893 at Culnaightrie Cottage, Auchencairn (which is in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland). He was
the son of John and Mary Geddes (nee Jamieson) and his father's occupation was ploughman.
Andrew
enlisted with the 10th (Service) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders on 2nd December 1914 and served on the Western Front from 14th
October 1915. He fought and was wounded at Loos, and was wounded for a second time whilst serving with the 7th Gordon
Highlanders. It is likely that the four digit service number - 6269 - which he would have been issued with when he was posted
to the 7th Gordons, was probably issued on the day that he was wounded. This may well explain why he records his old
10th Battalion number in Nurse Oliver's album.
Andrew Geddes was discharged on
17th September 1918 as a consequence of his wounds. His medal index card notes the award of the 1914/15 Star, the British
War and Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.
Andrew Geddes is mentioned
on Stuart Wilson's excellent Sons of Galloway website.
Sources and Acknowledgements
- The National Archives: Medal Index Card
- Stuart Wilson of Auchencairn
