4th Bn Gordon Highlanders

Hi Stu I was wondering if you had much on the Gordon Highlanders in the 51st highlanders. Trying to track the death of a soldier to see if it’s the correct soldier my grandfather spoke of.

 

Hi Fiona,

I would like to help you out. Your are being some-what vague. The more info you can provide would be a start.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Hi Stu the soldier I’m interested in is called James Milne Courage he was a warrant officer II and was in the 1st bn Gordon Highlanders. He was killed on 11th June 1940. His service number was 2869551. I would like to find out if there are any records of his death or a description/picture of him.
my grandfather spoke of a man , a big man who was a gentle giant ,who was with his group. He was well liked and they joked and called him cowardness because of his name and because he was the opposite of this. The man relieved my grandad and my great uncle off guard duty only to be attacked by tanks moments later and the man was killed. Shot in the head.
If it were not for the man my grandfather would not have made it home and we don’t even know his actual name. I am hoping that it is James Milne Courage but I need more info to be sure.

 

2869551 Courage was firstly reported missing, the date was between 10 May and 16 June 1940, he was subsequently reported as being KIA on 11 June 1940. You say that the man you are looking for was shot in the head whilst on guard duty, under theses circumstances don't think he would be reported as missing along with over 16 of his comrades
Casualty Details | CWGC
Unfortunately the links to documents on the CWGC site appear not to be working.

Edit. In fact dozens of the regiment were reported missing at the same time.

 

Thanks Tony can you tell me where you gathered this info as I’ve been on CWGC and all it gave me was a date of death and place. I could not find that he was missing.

 

Details are on British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945 | findmypast.co.uk.

Note that they do not give any further information, just a list of names of those who were reported missing, wounded, POW, KIA etc. In view of the large numbers it must have been a major incident so the war diaries might help if you can locate them or someone may be along with details.

 

Ah I have tried to avoid the sites that cost as previously I have not found any extra info on them.
Could you tell me what it says about A Mudie Black Watch 2750687.

 

Thanks for the responses. I am sorry i haven't been able to reply regularly due to work commitments but i will catch up soon enough (Hopefully)

 

Should have recognised the date, 1st Gordon Highlanders were in 153 Infantry Bde, part of the 51st Highland Division who made the stand at St Valery:
St. Valery, June 1940 | 51st Highland Division

 

Yes my grandfather was in the 4th/6th bn Black Watch and was captured at St Valerie. He was there the day that General Fourtune gave the orders to stand down. He spent the rest of the war in Stalag XXA and then XXB

 

Expeditionary Forces / France
Died of Wounds
The Black Watch
2750987 MUDIE L/Cpl A, 4 Bn, 13/5/40

 

Does the site list which PoW camps soldiers were in and where in the camps they were ?

 

FMP also has newspaper report and picture:
Albert Mudie, 257 Hilltown, Dundee, details of wife and children.

 

I know the details as he lived in the same town as my grandad and he saw his twin daughters grow up. Just interested to see how accurate the site is before I possibly sign up

 

Yes.
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/prisoners-of-war-1715-1945

 

Oh find my past what does R.O no stand for ?

 

Record Office Number, identity of UK office for documents.