4th (City of Aberdeen) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

The 1st Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers were an infantry battalion of the British Army which participated in World War I and later World War II before being amalgamated with another Aberdeenshire volunteer unit in 1947. The corps were first formed, and one of the first in Aberdeenshire. The corps were later converted to a battalion of the Territorial Force where they participated in World War I and later World War II in the Territorial Army as an anti-aircraft unit of the Royal Artillery's AT branch.

Origins
From almost the very beginning of the Volunteer Movement the several rifle corps formed within the City of Aberdeen were consolidated into a single battalion. Other corps were to be included in one or other of the county's three administrative battalions, some (in 1876) transferring across the border to the military care of Kincardineshire. With the already consolidated 1st Corps, the merger of the three admin battalions in 1880 reduced the number of Aberdeenshire corps to four. There also existed for a very short period, two numbered (1st and 2nd) sub-divisions; these later to become the 3rd and 4th corps of the 1860-80 period.

Volunteer Force
The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs) composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need.

Independent Rifles
One of these new corps was the 1st Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteer Corps. The formation in the early months of 1860 of the several City of Aberdeen companies into the consolidated nine-company-strong 1st Corps saw former 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot officer Napier T Christie placed in command as lieutenant colonel commandant. His commission was dated 16 March 1860 and the amalgamation went as follows;


 * Corps Headquarters, City of Aberdeen
 * No.1 Company (late 6th Corps)
 * No.2 Company (late 7th Corps)
 * No.3 Company (late No.1 Company, 8th Corps)
 * No.4 Company (late No.2 Company, 8th Corps)
 * No.5 Company (late 9th Corps)
 * No.6 Company (late 11th Corps)
 * No.7 Company (late 13th Corps)
 * No.8 Company (late No.1 Company, 12th Corps)
 * No.9 Company (late No.2 Company, 12th Corps)

A new company was formed on 10 November 1860 and on 4 May 1861, Nos 1 and 2 were merged as No.1 Company. At the same time the companies from No.3 down took the next highest number, once again leaving the corps with nine companies numbered 1st to 9th. In 1860 the corps were granted a dark grey with black braid and four rows of black lace on the breast, grey caps with peak, and black patent-leather belts. A new No.10 Company was soon raised was soon raised, but in November 1861, following its refusal to adopt the uniform then being worn by the rest of the battalion, No.9 was disbanded. No.10 company was disbanded in 1862 for the same reason. In 1862 the corps were granted a new rifle green uniform with a hooked tunic with five rows of black lace on the breast and black braid on the cuffs, trousers with black braid stripe, rifle-green shakos with black ball-tuft, and black patent-leather belts. A new company was formed at Woodside, just outside Aberdeen, in 1870 and on 25 June 1880 the nine companies were lettered 'A' to 'I' along with a new 9th company being raised in Woodside just past the city boundary..

On 8 December 1879, authority was given to change the uniform of the corps to one of scarlet doublets with yellow facings, Gordon tartan trews, blue helmets, brown belts, and black leggings, the officers to wear shoulder-plaids, white sword belts, and dirks on white waist-belts.

Under the Gordons
Following the Cardwell Reforms in the 1880's, the corps was assigned to No.75 Regimental District and placed as 143rd in order of precedence. Under the 'Localisation of Forces' scheme introduced in 1872 by the Cardwell Reforms, the corps was placed under command of the local regiment, the famed Gordon Highlanders along with a number of the Aberdeenshire volunteers and local militia, amongst other units. The Stanhope Memorandum of December 1888 introduced a Mobilisation Scheme for Volunteer units, which would assemble in their own brigades at key points in case of war. In peacetime these brigades provided a structure for collective training. Under this scheme, the battalion was assigned to the Tay Brigade which commanded the 1st, 2nd, and 4th volunteer battalions of the same regiment. Eventually following Army order 207 in 1890, the brigades were expanded from 5 to 7 and the battalion was reassigned to the Aberdeen Brigade along with the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th volunteer battalions of the same regiment.

In 1884 following the former reforms, the Cardwell Reforms, the corps were redesignated as the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Gordon Highlanders; 'L' Company was formed in October 1895, 'H' co. disbanded in 1898, while at the same time the Aberdeen University raised a company lettered 'U' for 'University', and a cyclist section for the battalion was formed. In 1905 the battalion was reorganised with 'D' and 'I' to form 'D' Company and 'E' and 'L' Company were amalgamated to form 'M' Company. During this time the battalion also maintained a rifle range at Seaton Links just over two miles from Aberdeen. During this period, the battalion adopted to Gordon's uniform with the acception of no feather bonnet, instead having a glengarry with red, white, and blue diced border, with white belts, was authorised on 30 December 1895, but the change was carrier out gradually. When 'L' Company was formed, they were the first to be kilted, and by 1901 the entire battalion was re-clothed. Drab service doublets were authorised for undress on 9 July 1902, and sashes to be worn by serjeants in full dress.

In 1905 the battalion had a 11 company establishment, yet only had 8;


 * Battalion Headquarters, Aberdeen
 * A Company (former 6th and 7th Aberdeen corps)
 * B Company (former 1st Aberdeen Company, 8th Corps)
 * C Company (former 2nd Aberdeen Company, 8th Corps)
 * D Company (former 9th Aberdeen and Woodside Companies)
 * F Company (former 13th Aberdeen Corps)
 * G Company (former 1st Company, 12th Aberdeen Corps)
 * M Company (former 11th Company and L Company)
 * U Company (provided by the University of Aberdeen)

South African War
During the South African War also known as the Second Boer War, the British Army were able to use their volunteers effectively for the first time although wouldn't deploy them as full units, and rather as composite companies attached to their regular counterparts.

1st Volunteer Service Company
During this war, the battalion mustered 128 men to be send to the field with the first detachment with Captain J B Buchanan, Lieutenant F J O Mackinnon, and 57 other ranks. This unit became known as a Volunteer Service Company (VSC), later being designated as the 1st VSC. The company left Aberdeen on 16 February 1900, and served with the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, before arriving back in Aberdeen on 4 May 1901. The detachments distinguished itself in action during the following engagements; Battle of Doornkop, Battle of Leehoek, and the Battle of Komati Poort.

2nd Volunteer Service Company
On 18 May 1900 the battalion sent a draft which became known as the 2nd VSC to strengthen the company contributing Captain W O Duncan and 14 other ranks.

3rd Volunteer Service Company
On 15 March 1901 the 3rd VSC left Aberdeen and joined the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and returned on 6 July 1902. The battalion also later contributed a detachment under Lieutenant R A Henderson and 34 other ranks of whom one died of disease.

5th Volunteer Service Company
The 5th VSC left Aberdeen on 2 March 1902 under Lieutenant G A S Chedburn and 18 other ranks, and joined the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and returned to Aberdeen on 14 July 1902.

End of the Volunteer Force
Following their end of service during the Second Boer War, Captain J B Buchanan was mentioned in despatches for his services in South Africa. The battalion was also granted their first battle honour, "South Africa, 1900-02".

In 1902 the battalion was attached to the 34th Field Army Brigade, and trained in camp for thirteen clear days annually until 1906, when the brigade was broken up. The rifle-range of the battalion, up to 900 yards, was at Seaton Links, two and a half miles from Aberdeen.

Commanding Officers
Commanding officers of the battalion included;


 * 1860–1862 Lieutenant Colonel Napier Turner Christie
 * 1862–1870 Lieutenant Colonel Henry Knight-Erskine of Pittodire
 * 1870–1890 Honorary Colonel William Jopp
 * 1890–1900 Honorary Colonel Douglass Duncan, VD
 * 1900–1904 Honorary Colonel George Cruden, VD
 * 1904–1906 Honorary Colonel Lachlan Mackinnon, VD
 * 1906–???? Honorary Colonel D B D Stewart, VD