The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[jamiemcginlay]

Halkirk - Caithness
UKNIWM Ref no. 5946

The Halkirk war memorial is in its style essentially a Victorian monument with a sandstone pedestal surmounted by a beautiful sculpture of a widow and child in white marble.
The monument stands next to the Ross Institute.

[ADP]

Memorial: Halkirk Parish, Caithness
Location: centre of Halkirk village (corner of Bridge Street [B874] and Crescent Street)
Grid Ref: ND129594
UKNIWM Ref: 5946
Count: WWI=63 , WWII=19, Other=1





















ADP

[spoons]

Name: SUTHERLAND, WILLIAM MUNRO
Initials: W M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Pay Corps
Age: 59
Date of Death: 28/01/1946
Service No: 125874
Additional information: Son of James and Catherine Sutherland; husband of Margaret Mackay Sutherland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. 1. Grave 17.
Cemetery: DORNOCH EAST CEMETERY

[Adam Brown]

Lt William Sutherland's grave in Dornoch can be see on the SWGP

http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=63&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=dornoch&start=0&mforum=scottishwargraves

He is also listed on the family headstone along with his son who died with the BAOR in 1957.

---------------------

There is a Northern Ireland casualty listed.

From the Armed Forces Database

NICHOLLS, Paul
Rank: Gdsm
Service: Army
Service Number: 24141336
Regiment/Corps: SCOTS GUARDS
Place of Birth/Home Town: Halkirk, Caithness
Date of Birth: 28 July 1953
Age: 18
Date of Death: 27 November 1971
Cemetery Name: Halkirk Cemetery
Included on Armed Forces Memorial: Yes
Included on Roll of Honour: Yes

[Adam Brown]

The inscription on the pedestal which is slighly worn is from the Robert Burns poem 'The Soldier's Return'

When wild war's deadly blast was blawn,
And gentle peace returning,
Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless,
And mony a widow mourning;
I left the lines and tented field,
Where lang I'd been a lodger,
My humble knapsack a' my wealth,
A poor and honest sodger.

A leal, light heart was in my breast,
My hand unstain'd wi' plunder;
And for fair Scotia hame again,
I cheery on did wander:
I thought upon the banks o' Coil,
I thought upon my Nancy,
I thought upon the witching smile
That caught my youthful fancy.

At length I reach'd the bonie glen,
Where early life I sported;
I pass'd the mill and trysting thorn,
Where Nancy aft I courted:
Wha spied I but my ain dear maid,
Down by her mother's dwelling!
And turn'd me round to hide the flood
That in my een was swelling.

Wi' alter'd voice, quoth I, "Sweet lass,
Sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom,
O! happy, happy may he be,
That's dearest to thy bosom:
My purse is light, I've far to gang,
And fain would be thy lodger;
I've serv'd my king and country lang-
Take pity on a sodger."

Sae wistfully she gaz'd on me,
And lovelier was than ever;
Quo' she, "A sodger ance I lo'ed,
Forget him shall I never:
Our humble cot, and hamely fare,
Ye freely shall partake it;
That gallant badge-the dear cockade,
Ye're welcome for the sake o't."

She gaz'd-she redden'd like a rose -
Syne pale like only lily;
She sank within my arms, and cried,
"Art thou my ain dear Willie?"
"By him who made yon sun and sky!
By whom true love's regarded,
I am the man; and thus may still
True lovers be rewarded.

"The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame,
And find thee still true-hearted;
Tho' poor in gear, we're rich in love,
And mair we'se ne'er be parted."
Quo' she, "My grandsire left me gowd,
A mailen plenish'd fairly;
And come, my faithfu' sodger lad,
Thou'rt welcome to it dearly!"

For gold the merchant ploughs the main,
The farmer ploughs the manor;
But glory is the sodger's prize,
The sodger's wealth is honor:
The brave poor sodger ne'er despise,
Nor count him as a stranger;
Remember he's his country's stay,
In day and hour of danger.

[DelBoy]

I couldn't find this highly decorated this man on this, the Wick or any other nearby town memorial.

D.C.M. Citation (Glasgow Herald 2nd of April 1915)
"6901 Company Sergeant-Major Sutherland, R.R. 1st Battalion Seaforths - For gallantry and good service rendered throughout the campaign in the handling of his platoon."

CWGC
SUTHERLAND, ROBERT ROSS
Rank: Company Serjeant Major
Service No: 6901
Date of Death: 09/05/1915
Age: 33
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders 1st Bn.
Awards: M C, D C M, Mentioned in Despatches
Panel Reference: Panel 38 and 39.
Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Helen Sutherland, of Honeysuckle Cottage, Halkirk, Caithness-shire, and the late George Sutherland.

SNWM
Surname: SUTHERLAND
Firstname: Robert Ross
Service Number: 6911
Date Death: 09/05/1915
Decoration: M.C., D.C.M.
Place of birth: Wick
Other: 1st Bn.

[A Beattie]

Halkirk War memorial was unveiled by Sir Archibald Sinclair Bart of Ulbster on 30th September 1922.

It was designed by Messrs Alexander Ross & Son, Architects, Inverness (who were represented at the unveiling by Major Ross), and was successfully carried out by Messrs David A Davidson, Sculptors, Inverness, (represented at the unveiling by Mr. W. R. Cumming). The steps and enclosing walls were executed by Mr George Mackay, Halkirk.

The design represents "Sorrow".

http://www.thisishalkirk.co.uk

Andrew.
_________________
Andrew.

[anne park]

Alexander James Gunn L/sjt 200189 MiD 4th Gordon Highlanders b Halkirk 05/02/1895 e Halkirk Age 21 Killed in Action F & F 23/07/1916 Son of Alexander & Margaret Gunn, Achalone, Halkirk, Caithness. City Roll of Honour. Roll of Service in the Great War : page 36 : photo. Aberdeen University Book of Remembrance. 1915 The Death of Innocence page 393. Serre Road Cemetery No 2, Beaumont-Hamel Fr 1890 Plot V Row F Grave 10 Aberdeen City & Halkirk
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

[Kenneth Morrison]

MACKAY, THOMAS.
Rank:Sergeant
Service No:NX71839
Date of Death:02/06/1945
Age:40
Regiment/Service:Australian Infantry A.I.F. 2/30 Bn.
Panel Reference:Panel 17.
Memorial:LABUAN MEMORIAL [Malaysia}
Additional Information:Son of Thomas and Mary Mackay, of Caithness, Scotland.
_________________
Ken

[anne park]

William John Taylor Capt 8th Seaforth Highlanders b Halkirk 14/09/1888 Age 28 Died Home 01/08/1917 Son of George Taylor, Huntly. City Roll of Honour. Occ: Teacher in Gordon School, Huntly. Resides in Church St; Roll of Service in the Great War : page 67 : photo. Aberdeen University Book of Remembrance. Halkirk Churchyard, Caithness U. K. Halkirk New Portion Grave 336 ADJ 03-05-17 Page 4: Officer Cas. EE 04-08-17 P 3 City Halkirk & Huntly
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

[Kenneth Morrison]

BLACK, GEORGE TAYLOR.
Rank:Civilian
Date of Death:29/09/1941
Age:20
Regiment/Service:Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority:EALING, MUNICIPAL BOROUGH
Additional Information:Son of William and Marjorie Bruce Black, of Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland. Died at 30 Niagara Avenue.
_________________
Ken

[A Beattie]

Spelling names &c., as publication.

The Glasgow Herald, Monday, 18th. February, 1918.
"Deaths on Service.
M'BEATH.- Died of wounds on the 4th February, Second Lieut. Arthur A. (sic) M'Beath, Canadian Forces, fifth son of the Rev. William M'Beath, M.A. late of Halkirk Caithness, and Mrs. M'Beath, Winnipeg and grandson of the late Rev. Professor Aitken, M.A. Mains Street Original Secession Church, Glasgow."

Same publication, Thursday, 21st February, 1918. "CASUALTIES, Notes on Officers. CANADIANS. Mr. ARTHUR A. (sic) M'BEATH.- Died of wounds. Lieutenant M'Beath who has died of wounds in France was one of five sons of the Rev. Wm. M'Beath, M.A., late of Halkirk, Caithness, who came over with the Canadian Forces. The deceased officer, a grandson of the late Professor Aitken of the Original Secession Church, while in the ranks, was twice mentioned in despatches and received the Military Medal."

CWGC - McBEATH, Arthur Groat
Rank: Lieutenant.
Date of Death: 04/02/1918. Age: 27. (Died of wounds.)
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry "C" Coy. 78th Bn. (Manitoba Regt.)
Awards: M M
Grave Reference: III. D. 8.
Cemetery: FOSSE NO.10 COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SAINS-EN-GOHELLE
Additional Information: Son of William and Jessie S. McBeath, of 552, Rathgar Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Native of Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland.
Enlisted Aug., 1914.

SNWM - no trace.
_________________
Andrew.

[Mike Morley]

Arthur Groat McBeath is also named on Bellahouston Academy War Memorial, Glasgow.