The Julian Johnson Collection

Pair: Second Lieutenant, The Reverend C. Buchan, Lancashire Fusiliers, later Private, Gordon Highlanders, who died of wounds, 2 December 1917

British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. C. Buchan.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Buchan) last in card envelope of issue, with enclosure, plaque with solder marks to reverse, otherwise good very fine (3) £260-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Julian Johnson Collection.

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Charles Buchan, MA was born in Aberdeenshire, in September 1888. He was the son of a Skipper of a Steam Drifter, and was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School. Prior to his enlistment he was a Divinity Student at the University of Glasgow, United Free Church College. He served as a Private with the Machine Gun Section, ‘A’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders on the Western Front from March 1916. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers in July 1917. He was posted to the 1st Battalion, and then subsequently attached to the 15th Battalion. It was whilst serving with the 15th Battalion that he died of wounds, 2 December 1917. On the latter date the battalion were engaged in the night attack at Westroosebeke, Ypres. The Battalion suffered losses of 2 officers and 13 other ranks killed, 5 officers and 63 other ranks wounded and 17 men missing. Buchan was buried in the Ypres Resevoir Cemetery, Belgium, and is listed as being a Reverend in both the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and The Cross of Sacrifice. He was presumably ordained into one of the Scottish Free Churches.