WW1 VICTORY MEDAL to Pte Joseph JORDAN who served with the 9/ROYAL SCOTS ('the Dandy Ninth') and was wounded in 1918

WW1 VICTORY MEDAL to Pte Joseph JORDAN who served with the 9/ROYAL SCOTS ('the Dandy Ninth') and was wounded in 1918. He enlisted twice, the first time underage (he was still under 17 when discharged), and came from Motherwell.

Joseph Jordan was born in Motherwell in 1899. He may be one and the same with "Joseph Jardine", who was recorded, aged 2, on the 1901 Scotland Census as the son of Patrick and Mary, born in Motherwell circa 1899, living with his parents and elder brother Francis at 115 Milton Street, Dalziel. He appears to have first joined-up underage; certainly there is a service record for a 3711 Joseph Jordan, residing at the same address as was later recorded for 59024 Joseph Jordan, attesting for the 3/6th Scottish Rifles at Hamilton on 21 December 1915 and giving his age as 19 years, 60 days and his occupation as 'miner'. He gave as his next of kin his father, Patrick. This man served for 138 days, with a good character, before being discharged from the 6th (Reserve) Battalion, Scottish Rifles under paragraph 392 vi(a) of King's Regulations on 6 May 1916. ((vi) Having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment: (a) Soldier under 17 years of age at date of application for discharge.) His Medical Inspection Report tellingly gave his 'apparent age' as 19 years and noted that he stood 5 feet 4 inches tall with a 34 1/2" chest, normal vision and good physical development.

Enlisting again on 10 June 1917, probably aged circa 18 1/2, he trained with the 55th Training Reserve Battalion under the Regimental number TR/2/13362 and also with an unknown unit under the number 54384. He then served as 59024 with the 9th Battalion, Royal Scots (Highlanders), a kilted/Highland battalion of the Royal Scots, nicknamed 'The Dandy Ninth', which was part of the Territorial Force. Mobilising on the outbreak of war, the battalion first formed part of the home defences of Scotland before splitting into a first line (overseas service) and second line (home service), and sending its first line (the 1/9th) overseas to France on 24 February 1915.

"1/9th Royal Scots

The first-line 'Service' battalion 1/9th Royal Scots deployed to France on 24 February 1915 and joined 27th Division in the Ypres Salient. When chlorine gas was employed in the Second Battle of Ypres, 9th Royal Scots helped fill the gap on 23 April 1915. In March 1916 they transferred to the 51st (Highland) Division and served with them at High Wood, Beaumont-Hamel, Arras, Third Ypres and Cambrai. They were sent to strengthen the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division in February 1918 and faced the German spring offensives at St Quentin (Operation Michael) and at the Lys. They moved again in June 1918, this time to the 15th (Scottish) Division, and served near Soissons, where the battalion suffered its heaviest loss of the war at Villemontoire on 1 August 1918. In the Hundred Days Offensive, the 1/9th Royal Scots captured Vendin-le-Vieil on 12 October 1918, and advanced into Belgium. They were serving with the division when the Armistice was signed."

His date of going overseas is not recorded but is likely to have been, given his age, some time in early 1918 and before 12 April, when his fellow Private, 59026 Thomas Black Forsyth, was killed in action, also whilst serving with the Ninth.

Pte Jordan was wounded, suffering from a Gun Shot Wound (any penetrating wound) to his Left Forearm. This was possibly around 11-12 April 1918 at Steenbecque, during the Battle of the Lys. If so, he would have been one of 135 other ranks who were wounded during the month of April, with a further 15 other ranks killed, 144 missing and 2 dead of wounds. Alternatively, the 9th Battalion spent the second half of April and the month of May alternating between the line and billets in the St Venant area, suffering three men killed and 21 wounded during May, and it is possible that Pte Jordan was one of the latter. He was listed as Wounded on War Office Daily List No.5593, Report Date 15 June 1918, being thereby entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of the 6th July 1916. This list confirmed his Next of Kin Address as Motherwell.

He was discharged under paragraph 392 xvi of King's Regulations, no longer physically fit due to wounds, on 11 February 1919. He was issued Silver War Badge Number B211912.

After the war he lived at 37 Crosshill Street, Motherwell, Scotland.