John Strathearn was born in 1850 in Paisley, Scotland. He was the oldest son of James Jamieson Strathearn and Mary Ritchie.
No record has been found of John’s birth or baptism, but we know he had the following siblings, born after the introduction of registration in Scotland in 1856:
- William (born 1857)
- Margaret (born 1858)
- Mary (b0rn 1861)
- James (born 1863)
- Janet (born 1866)
- William (born 1869)
For at least two generations prior to John’s birth, the Strathearn family had been working in the shawl weaving industry, which was the main industry in Paisley in the 19th century.
However, John broke the mould, leaving home at 16 years old to join the Army. According to his obituary, he first joined the 79th Cameronian Highlanders in 1867 and served in India for four years. On his return to England he was at one time part of the Guard of Honour for Her Majesty Queen Victoria at her residence, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight. In 1881 he transferred to the Gordon Highlands and served the remainder of his career with that regiment, reaching the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major.
In 1876, while stationed at Edinburgh Castle, he married Ellen Johnston, the daughter of James Johnston and Jessie McKenzie. Nothing is known of James’ family, but Jessie’s family seems to have several generations of service in the British Army behind them. John and Ellen lived in military barracks and most of their children were born in the barracks of the Gordon Highlanders of Aberdeen. Their family consisted of:
- James Jamieson (born 1877)
- Helen Crichton (born 1878, died 1883)
- An unnamed son (born and died in 1880)
- Jessie McKenzie (born 1881, died 1883)
- John Ritchie (born 1883)
- William (born 1885)
- Colin McKenzie Christie (born 1887)
- Gordon Cameron (born 1889)
- Ellen (born 1891)
John ended his career as a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Gordon Highlanders. In 1886, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. He retired on 31 July 1892 after 25 years and one month’s service. He and Ellen stayed in Aberdeen and John became a church warden of Greyfriars Church in the City of Aberdeen. He occupied that position for 26 years, retiring in 1919, when forced by ill-health. The 16th Century church was rebuilt during his time in that position, with the new building opening in 1903.
Ellen died in1907, and we believe John lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Ellen and Alex Morrison in Aberdeen.
With the outbreak of World War I, John, then aged 64, volunteered for service but was rejected. However, four of his sons saw active service. All survived, and two were mentioned in dispatches.
In 1926, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and an annuity of £10. The following newspaper article was printed on that occasion. Unfortunately, I do not know which paper the article was taken from.
Copy of article printed in Aberdeen newspaper c. 1926
R.S.M. STRATHEARN
HONOUR FOR A CITY ARMY VETERANIn recognition of his services with the colours, Regimental Sergt. Major John Strathearn, late of the Gordon Highlanders, who resides with his daughter, Mrs. Morrison, 134 King Street, Aberdeen, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and an annuity of (ten pounds). R.S.M. Strathearn has received the decoration privately, as, owing to infirmity, he is unable to bear the strain of a formal presentation.
R.S.M. Strathearn attested for the 79th Cameron Highlanders at Castlehill, Aberdeen, as far back as July 2nd, 1867, when he was 16 years of age. After undergoing his recruit training at Castlehill and Fort George, he was drafted out to the unit in India in November of the same year. An alert old man, he has still vivid recollections of the journey, which was made by sailing vessel round the cape. He was the youngest soldier in the contingent. Nearly four years later (in 1871) he returned with the battalion to its home station in the Isle of Wight, where he was promoted to the rank of corporal in 1873.
While Queen Victoria was in residence at Osborne in that year he acted as corporal of the guard of honour during Her Majesty’s sojourn there. A similar distinction fell to him on the occasion when the regiment received its designation as the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. He recalls the ceremony with singular clearness, even to the words used by Her Majesty. On presenting the regiment with new colours and receiving the colours that had been carried through many an arduous campaign, Queen Victoria said: “I will take these old colours for safe keeping to my dear old Highland home”:. He was also corporal of the guard of honour to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at windsor on their arrival after their marriage.
Transferred to Gordons: In 1874 he was promoted sergeant, and about five years later he received the rank of colour-sergeant. He was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders in 1881, and was made a Regimental Sergeant Major in 1886, in which year he was also awarded the Good Conduct Medal. Later he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders (Militia), from which he was discharged on pension on July 31, 1892, after 25 years and 1 month’s service.
On leaving the Army he was appointed Church Officer of Greyfriar’s Parish Church, Aberdeen, which position he occupied for 26 years, retiring in 1919. He is not in his 76th year. Two of his sons have also served in the Army. The eldest saw service with the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the Boer War, and was invalided home with enteric fever. On the outbreak of the late War he rejoined his old regiment and served in France and in the near East, being wounded in Macedonia. We went back to France with the Labour Battalion, and was again wounded on the day before the Armistice. Another son, Colin, was mentioned in dispatches. R.S.M. Strathearn offered his services on the outbreak of war, but as he was then 65 years of age he was not accepted.
John died on 4 September 1927 at the home of his daugher and son-in-law, 134 King Street, Aberdeen. The following obituary was published.
Copy of article printed in Scottish newspaper (Aberdeen) September 1927
EX-R.S.M. JOHN STRATHEARN
ABERDEENThe death occurred on Sunday at the residence of his son-in-law, 134 King Street, Aberdeen, of ex-Regimental Sergeant-Major John Strathearn, who was for 26 1/2 years Church Officer of Greyfriars Parish Church. He was 78 years of age, and had been an invalid for eight years.
A native of Paisley, Mr Strathearn joined the 79th Queen’;s Own Cameron Highlanders at the age of 18, and was immediately drafted to India. He returned after four years’f oreign service. In 1873 he was transferred to the Royal Aberdeenshire Highlanders (later the 3rd Gordon Highlanders) being promoted colour-sergeant the following year and warrant officer in 1886. He was discharged in 1892 after 25 years’s service, in possession of the medal for long service and good conduct. Two years ago he received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Until his ill-health eight years ago Mr Strathearn was Church Officer of Greyfriars Parish Church, where he was appointed in 1893.
Mr Strathearn was pre-deceased by his wife 20 years ago, and is survived by a family of four sons and one daughter.
