Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Lieutenant J. F. Buchanan, Gordon Highlanders

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (200042 C.S. Mjr., 1/4 Gord. Hdrs.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (906 C.S. Mjr., Gord. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (200042 C.S. Mjr., 4/Gord. Highrs.) mounted court style for wear, some contact marks, very fine (5) £1100-1300

D.C.M. London Gazette 17 April 1918. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at all times. He has invariably displayed great courage and coolness in action, and set a fine example to those under his command’.

James Farquhar Buchanan was born in Midmar, Aberdeen. A Cabinet Maker by occupation, he attested for the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (T.F.) at Aberdeen on 4 November 1908, aged 19 years, 6 months. With the battalion he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 19 February 1915. Promotion came rapidly and in August 1915 he was successively promoted to Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant and then Company Sergeant-Major. He served in France, February 1915-September 1916 and March-September 1917. In the latter month he was posted to England to attend a Cadet School and on 30 April 1918 he was discharged to a commission with the Gordon Highlanders. For his services in the field, he was awarded the D.C.M. Returning to the Front in late 1918, he was wounded at Cambrai on 13/14 October 1918, taking a gunshot wound to the neck for which he was invalided to the U.K. In November 1919 he was promoted to Lieutenant whilst serving with the Army of Occupation. He resigned his commission on 22 April 1920. For a time he was employed as an instructor at a home for disabled ex-Servicemen at Shortley Bridge, Co. Durham, later by the Ministry of Defence (then the Ministry of War) at Catterick Camp, and Ashton-under-Lyne, as clerk-of-works until retiring at 70 in 1959. Buchanan died in Gloucestershire in 1974.

With copied m.i.c., service papers, and gazette extracts. Also with a copy of the typescript manuscript diary of service recorded by James Buchanan during the 1915 campaign in France and Flanders (the original is held in the Regimental Museum Archives in Aberdeen).