Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Great War memorial plaque issued in remembrance of Major J. A. Findlay, D.S.O., Highland Light Infantry, a veteran of the Gallipoli campaign who was killed in action in Palestine in November 1917

Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (John Alexander Findlay), contained in an old fitted, velvet-lined leather case, extremely fine £160-180

John Alexander Findlay was born in October 1883, the son of Joseph Findlay, a merchant, and Jessie B. Findlay of Clairmont, Kelvinside, Glasgow. A graduate of Glasgow University, he was admitted to serve as a law agent in Scotland in April 1912 and practised as a solicitor in Glasgow. Meanwhile, he had been commissioned in the Highland Light Infantry (Territorial Force), gaining advancement to Captain prior to the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.

Embarked for Egypt with the 1/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, Findlay and his comrades afterwards landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli on 1 July 1915; he was slightly wounded in the trenches at Twelve Tree Copse on the 5th but rejoined his unit a week later. Gallipoli aside, the 1/5th witnessed extensive action with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force 1916-17, and it was in that capacity that Findlay was killed in action in Palestine on 8 November 1917, on which date the battalion carried out a gallant night attack on enemy held heights near Hesi.

Findlay, who was buried in Gaza Cemetery, was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 18 March 1917, refers) and awarded the D.S.O. (London Gazette 1 January 1918). His Memorial Plaque was sent to his mother; sold with copied war diary extracts in respect of the 1/5th’s night attack on 8 November 1917.