A name for the fallen: how the MOD's ‘war detectives’ identified two Scottish soldiers

More than 110 years after they fell during the First World War, two Scottish soldiers have finally been laid to rest with their names restored, thanks to the Ministry of Defence’s ‘war detectives’.

In a moving ceremony last month, Lieutenant James Grant Allan of the 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, and Lance Corporal Gordon McPherson of the 7th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, were buried with full military honours. The service, held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Loos British Cemetery in France, brought a profound sense of closure to the soldiers' families who were in attendance.

The identification is an example of the painstaking work carried out by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC). The JCCC is tasked with identifying the remains of British service personnel discovered on historical battlefields.

The journey to naming these soldiers began in 2020, when their remains, along with those of six other soldiers, were discovered during construction work for a new hospital near Lens, France. For the JCCC, the process of identification is a complex puzzle, piecing together historical records, genealogical research, and modern forensic science.

In the case of Lieutenant Allan, who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, artefacts found with the remains indicated he was an officer. This crucial clue allowed the JCCC to narrow their search to the 14 missing officers from his battalion. Genealogical research then traced living relatives, and a DNA test confirmed his identity. Lieutenant Allan had left his studies at Edinburgh University to enlist in 1914 alongside his brother. A fellow officer later wrote, “Jim's men thought the world of him”.

The identification of Lance Corporal McPherson was remarkable. Among his personal effects was a small set of buttons from the Newcastle Corporation Tramway. By studying the 1911 census, the ‘war detectives’ discovered that LCpl McPherson’s father had worked for the tramway. This vital connection led them to his family, and DNA provided the final confirmation. Known as “the life and soul of the section” for his imitations of Charlie Chaplin, LCpl McPherson was also killed at the Battle of Loos.

As one JCCC 'war detective' remarked, every identification is a huge achievement. The work provides closure for families and ensures that the dignity and memory of these soldiers are honoured.

To learn more about the soldiers and their identification:

BBC Scotland: Solving the 100-year-old mystery of two missing Scottish soldiers

To read about their reburial:

Ministry of Defence: Scottish soldiers buried in France on the 110th anniversary of their deaths