Skene, Ian
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Regiment: 6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
Biography: Son of Alexander Skene of Avondow ; born Peterculter, 12 July 1891. He was educated at Robert Gordon's College, and in 1908 entered Aberdeen University as a student of medicine. He took a wholehearted part in the social—particularly the musical—and sporting life of his class. Apart from a love of books he was not a student by nature, and in 1912 he went to Ceylon, as a learner on a tea estate. There he found a wide and congenial field for his energies in his work as a planter, in athletics and as a member of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps and Motor Cycle Corps. As a student he had served for four years in "U" Company, 4th Gordons, and in the spring of 1917 he came home and enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders. He was sent to the Cadet Battalion at Gailes, and in October was commissioned and gazetted to the Lancashire Fusiliers. He joined the 1/6th Battalion of his Regiment in France a month later. He was one of those who at once adapted themselves to active service conditions ; in March 1918 the Divisional Commander wrote to his Brigadier : "Please congratulate 2nd Lieutenant Ian Skene on his patrolling. He has been doing a lot of good work lately." He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in leading trench raids on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of March. On the 22nd of that month he was wounded and taken prisoner. On 13 April 1918 he died in the German War Hospital at Valenciennes.
Honours: Military Cross
Date of Death: 13 April 1918
Burial Details: Buried at Valenciennes Communal Cemetery, Plot 5, Row D, Grave 28.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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