Charles Niven was born in 1889 in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire to Charles and Mary Ann Niven (nee Beattie). Charles was considered an exceptional athlete, especially at the high jump and the vault. He took part in many of the principal games in Scotland prior to the outbreak of war and his rivals said of him they “could not have wished for a finer sportsman or a more manly fellow than C J Niven”. He was posthumously mentioned in dispatches in May 1915 for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

Company Quartermaster Serjeant Charles John Niven was serving with the 6th Gordon Highlanders when he was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle on 13 March 1915 (age 27) and was previously commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. We now know that he is the unknown Staff Sergeant of the 6th Gordon Highlanders buried in a grave at Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery and is now marked by a CWGC headstone to be cared for in perpetuity.