Organisations > University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919

IN MEMORIAM.
At the outbreak of war Gordon was on fur-
lough. He at once entered the Special Reserve
of Officers, and received a commission in the
1 2th Royal Lancers. On 30 April 191 5 he
fell in action in France. His Indian record was
one of courage and character, and gave promise
of even greater distinction than he had already
achieved. The Lieutenant-Governor of the
Province, in a letter to the " Punjab Gazette,"
recalls the difficult and dangerous situations
which he had had to face in the pursuance of
his duty, and which he had always met with
intrepid coolness; and speaks of him as "a
gallant officer and a fearless gentleman ".
KNOWLES, JOHN FORBES: Private,
4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders ; son
of George Knowles,
Aberdeen ; born Aber-
deen, 26 February
1 89 1 ; educated at the
Grammar School;
graduated M. A., 1912 ;
entered the U.Fr Col-
lege in the same year
and continued his
studies there till the
outbreak of AVar.
In October 19 14 he
rejoined "U" Com-
pany, 4th Gordon
he had served in his
student days. Though his health was not robust,
Knowles stuck to soldiering and had just re-
joined the Battalion from hospital the day before
his death. He was the first of trie U.F.
College students to enlist and the first to fall,
being killed by a sniper's bullet in the neigh-
bourhood of Ypres oh 5 May 1915.
His genial sunny temperament made Knowles
a favourite with his fellow-students. His ex-
ceptional gifts as an elocutionist, combined with
his scholarship, pointed to a distinguished career
as a preacher. He was an active and successful
worker in the Mission carried on by the U.F.
students in the East end of Aberdeen.
CRICHTON, DAVID WOOD : Private, 4th
Battalion Gordon Highlanders ; son of
Edward J. Crichton, Banchory ; born Banchory,
10 October 1896; educated there and entered
Highlanders, in which
the University as a student in Agriculture, 1913.
His bright and
cheery nature was al-
ready making him very
popular among his fel-
low-students when, as
a member of " U "
Company, 4th Gor-
dons, he was mobilized
in August 1 9 14. In
February 19 15 he went
overseas with his unit,
one of the youngest
students in* the com-
pany. He was killed
in action on 7 May 1915 at Kemmel, Belgium,
and lies in the Gordon Cemetery there along
with many other members of " U " Company.
MACKINNON, DONALD DOUGALD :
Private, Cameron
Highlanders; son
of John MacKinnon,
Yachtsman; born
Applecross, 16 August
1895 ; educated H. G.
School, Kingussie ; ma-
triculated in agricul-
ture 1 91 3, and studied
for the University Dip-
loma in Agriculture.
At the outbreak of
AVar he joined the 4th
Cameron Highlanders,
later proceeded to France, and was killed at
Festubert, 18 May 1915.
SMITH, CHARLES
Lieutenant, 3rd
Dragoon Guards ;
son of Charles Smith,
merchant ; born Aber-
deen, 6 August 1883;
educated Aberdeen
Grammar School ; ma-
triculated in Agricul-
ture, 1900. After
spending a short time
in the Agricultural De-
partment he obtained
a commission in the
THEODORE: 2nd