John MacLennan 1864 – 1916
John was a career soldier who served with 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders and is buried at the Springbank
Cemetery, Aberdeen. He was educated at Rothesay Academy and joined the army in the late 1800’s. He was a
keen sportsman and held many trophies. During his posting to India, he married Christina Wilson Watson
Forrest in Bombay and served in the operations on the North West Frontier of India and the Tirah Expedition for
which he was awarded the India medal. He served in the South African Wars between 1897 and 1902 and
received the Queens and Kings Medal. By this time he had become a lieutenant. He then spent time serving in
Ireland. At the outbreak of war he was a major and served with the Expeditionary Force in France and
Flanders and took part in the operations at Kemmel, Ypres and Hill 60. He was mentioned in despatches by Sir
John French for gallant and distinguished services in the field. Although in some records it states he died as a
result of a fall from a horse whilst serving in France, he did in fact die of cancer at a hospital in Aberdeen. In
1916. He is buried in Springbank Cemetery, Aberdeen. He was survived by his children Iain Donald Forrest
MacLennan, William Ross Forrest MacLennan, Roderick Ross Forrest and Christina Forrest MacLennan and his
wife Christina Wilson Watson Forrest MacLennan.
Iain Donald Forrest MacLennan 1897 - 1917
Iain was educated in Aberdeen and joined the 11th Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment, obtaining a
commission as lieutenant in 1915. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders during 1916
and was killed in action at Monchy-le-Preux, Arras in May 1917. His chaplain wrote ‘the sorrow of the battalion
is deep and keen. He was a son to be proud of, good wholesome and brave through and through and with a
charm of manner that made everyone his friend. A brother officer wrote ‘ I have never known in my life a
fellow with such a magnificent character. He was a fine sportsman and a splendid gentleman. I shall always
look back with the great pride and pleasure on our friendship. His servant wrote ‘ he was a spelndid solider and
a perfect geltleman, so good to everyone. ‘ On his gravestone in Arras his mother wrote ‘we thank God for
every remembrance of him’.
Christina Wilson Watson Forrest MacLennan
1895 - 1956
Christina Watson Forrest MacLennan joined the WRNS in 1918 and was an assistant principal decoder in the
WRNS, what a courageous lady she must have been. She served in both Aberdeen and London. She received
the Silver war medal.
William Ross Forrest Maclennan 1900 - 1964
William served as a Lance Corporal in the Highland Cycle Battalion in 1916 and then in the Black Watch
regiment. He completed his service in WW1 as a Lieutenant in the Gordon Higlanders and a member of the
Ryoal Air Force, he was demobbed in 1919. In the second world world he served in the Royal Army Service
Corps.
Roderick Ross Forrest MacLennan 1903 – 1986
Roderick, being the youngest of the boys , served in the Territorial Army in WW1 and was a second
lieutenant in the Royal Army Intelligence Corps in WW2. He was latterly known as Hamish.
Springbank cemetery, Aberdeen, Scotland
It seems as though John’s grave was the initial one and the larger gravestone behind was erected to encompass
other members of the family – Iain is buried at a war cemetery in France.