Donald Omand, from Wick, Scotland, served with the 5th Seaforth's in France from 15 April 1915, and was discharged on 12 March 1919.- Military Medal. GV 1st type (S-9339 Pte. D. Omand. 5/Sea: Highrs:)- 1914-15 Star (3682 Pte. D. Omand. Sea. Highrs.)- British War Medal. Silver issue (S-9339 Pte. D. Omand. Seaforth.)- Interallied Victory Medal (S-9339 Pte. D. Omand. Seaforth.)Military Medal: Award for acts of gallantry performed in France & Flanders while serving with 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (T.F.) between 12-29 October 1918 (recipients service papers refer). The award confirmed as published in the London Gazette of 23 July 1919 - and a confirmed award for the final '100 Days Campaign' during the 152nd Brigade's attack on a line at Avesnes de Sec and advance on Le Grand Bois & Bois de LentreFortuitously - and uncommonly - the published regimental history 'War Diary of the 5th Seaforth's 51st Highland Division' (D. Sutherland, 1920) contains the specific deeds performed on 12/13 October 1918, and for which he was specifically awarded the Military Medal:Quote,L/Corpl. Donald Omand, owing to heavy officer and N.C.O. casualties was left in charge of a platoon, and set such a splendid example, by moving freely among them under heavy fire, that he kept them advancing, and got them to establish posts, and even after being wounded he refused to go to the Aid Post, remaining on duty until being badly gassed the following day.Unquote.Twice Wounded-in-Action: No. 3682 Private Donald Omand of 5th (Sutherland and Caithness) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (T.F.) is first reported as wounded-in-action in May 1915 (he had only landed in France in April 1915), and repatriated to United Kingdom for hospital treatment in list of Scottish Casualties published in The Scotsman Newspaper issue of 20 May 1915, in which he is shown as arriving at the Springburn Hospital, Glasgow, on 19 May 1915Secondly Donald was wounded-in-action s S-9339 Private Donald Omand 5th (Sutherland and Caithness) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (reported to be Lance-Corporal) is confirmed being 'Wounded-in-Action in France on 12/13 October 1918 (the same date he is reported to have been awarded the MM). His extant service papers record 'Gas Shell Mustard' and 'Shell Shock'. At discharge his papers record. the effects of his wounds:Quote,Discharged as an invalid. Due to Shell Shock. Great depression and mental confusion. Very excitable and tremulous. Great improvement with rest and improvementUnquote.The local newspaper 'John O'Groat Journal' issue of 29 November refers to his MM and Wounds, quoted in full below:Quote,TWO MM'S IN WICK FAMILYLance-Corpl. Donald Oman, of the local Seaforths, second surviving son of Mr and Mrs Omand, Gladstone Place, Wick, has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in action. This is the second of this patriotic family to receive the medal. Sapper James Omand, the eldest son, having had it conferred upon him, as recorded some time ago, for distinguishing himself in a similar manner.Lance Corpl. Omand enlisted in September 1914, and crossed to France in May of the following year. After being there for a considerable time he returned and was subsequently drafted to Mesopotamia. For a period of about thirteen months he took part in that campaign, in the course of which he contracted malarial fever and was invalided home. After recovery he was drafted again to France, and was with his battalion there: until, on 12th October last, he was wounded. It is for gallantry displayed on that occasion that he has now received the medal. Lance-Corpl. Omand has received a very kind letter from the Captain of his company congratulating him on the honour- an expression in which his friends at home, and in the regiment will heartily join.Pte. Clarence Omand, youngest son, is serving with the Gordon Highlanders; and it will be remembered that Lieut. R.S. Omand, second son, died from wounds received in action in France in 1916.UnquoteThe recipients, Great War era service papers - a good set - are extant and accessible at The National ArchivesMedals Verification: In addition to his MM and 1914-15 trio the recipient was also awarded a Silver War Badge, and a single War Medal for WW2 service with the Seaforth's. All 5 x medals and badge, confirmed as entitled per the below following referenced published source & respective medal rolls- Military Medal: London Gazette 23 July 1919 (shown as S-9339 5th Seaforth enlistment Dingwall)- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2799. No. 3682. Embarked for France 01/05/1915, medal sent 03/04/1922- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1645. Shown with regimental number S/9339- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/1645. Shown with regimental number S/9339- War Medal: WW2 British Army MIC refers, No.2826021 C.Q.M.S.. Discharged January 1942.- Silver War Badge: WO 329/3067 No.B170398 (Sickness). Disch 12/03/19 age 22 years 2 monthsDonald Omand, third son of Donald Thomson Omand (a 'Tailor' of 7 Gladstone Place, Wick Caithness, Scotland) and Jane' Jessie' Omand (nee Stewart) was a native of, Wick, Caithness, Scotland, where he was born in 1896. By trade a 'Cooper' Donald first attested for service in the British Army, at his home-town of Wick, on 2 September 1914 on which date he was posted to his local infantry regiment the Seaforth Highlanders. Donald joined the Seaforth's Regimental Depot located at Fort George on 8 September 1914, and on the same date was posted to the embryonic 7th (Service) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. While serving with 7/Seaforth he held the regimental number S/3000. His initial service was brought short due to ill-health, and he was discharged from the British Army on 27 November 1914, having served 87 x days with 'The Colours'. During his service with 7/Seaforth he did not serve overseas. His sickness appears not to have been severe, as within weeks of taking that discharge, he had re-enlisted, with the local newspaper indicating he was serving with 5/Seaforth as of 11 December 1914. Private Ormand's service papers for the period November 1914 - 14 May 1915 (when he was 'first' serving with 5/Seaforth), are not extant, but from his medal rolls and medal index card, as well as published casualty lists, it is confirmed that Donald Omand first entered theatre of war 'France' when on 1 May 1915, he embarked at the English port of Folkestone, for destination France. In less then 2 x weeks after disembarking, Donald had been 'Wounded-in-Action' and evacuated to the United Kingdom for hospitalization and treatment and where he was hospitalized at Springburn Hospital, Glasgow on 15 May 1915. From the time he was repatriated to the United Kingdom, through to end of his military service, his locations / movements recorded in his service papers show:- Home: 15/07/1915 - 15/02/1916- Persian Gulf (his service included Mesopotamia & India): 16/02/1916 - 10/10/1916- Home: 11/10/1916 - 10/09/1917- France:11/09/1917 - 12/01/1918.- Home: 13/01/1918 - 05/09/1918- France: 06/09/1918 - 20/10/1918- Home: 21/10/1918 - 12/03/1919Donald was transferred and posted to 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, subsequently serving with 2/Seaforth in Mesopotamia, where he fought against the enemey forces of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. While in 'Mesopotamia' (now Iraq) he contracted Malarial Fever, his health deteriorating to such an extent that he was sent to British India for recovery, and where he was hospitalized and based at the great army cantonment located at Poona. After his service in Mesopotamia & India was later returned to his parent battalion 5th (Sutherland and Caithness) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders under higher formation of the legendary 51st Highland Division. During the early years of the Second World War, Donald Omand M.M. served with 'The Colours' on Home Service 1939-1942 (he took his final discharge in January 1942, for which services he received the War Medal only) and held the senior NCO rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant, with the Seaforth Highlanders. Donald Omand is recorded to have died in Scotland on 14 May 1976Condition: Mostly about GVF