The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[Kenneth Morrison]

It's still a bit of a puzzle Mark. Why are they named here????
The other man is just as odd.
Simon/Stuart MacGregor's parents are named on a family grave in Portpatrick but their son isn't
Sacred to the memory of John MacGregor beloved husband of Annie Menzies Grant who died at Dunskey Main Lodge, Portpatrick 14th October 1930 aged 80 years. Also the above Annie Menzies Grant who died at Dunskey Lodge 25th December 1937. [From Mike Morley]
_________________
Ken

[dhubthaigh]

James McGregor enlisted for service with the A.I.F. on the 12th January, 1915. At this time he gave his place of birth as the Parish of Rattray, Perthshire.

He was a married man, his wife being Christina McGregor.

He had 12 years' previous service with the Black Watch "Home and Abroad".

The following letter was contained in his service record:

Australian List

A.I.F. 1st Battalion

McGregor Pte. J. 1992 11.8.15

McGregor was with witness in a charge at Lone Pine early in Aug. They were close to one another as they entered the Turkish Trenches. Suddenly McGregor called out that he was hit and loaned back in a corner of the trench they had taken. Witness thought McGregor was done for but has heard his mates say, since, that he is a prisoner in Constantinople. McGregor was a tall, thin man. He was a Sgt. when hit and had seen service in the S. African War.

Refer NCO: Pte. G. Berwick. 1922. A. Co. 1st Bn.
26 Gen. Hosp., Etaples. 12th May, 1916.

In his Australian RoH Circular (presumably completed by his wife), she stated he had been born in Perth, had served in the Black Watch - 8 years in India and 2 years in the South African War. She gave his father's address as Dunskey, Portpatrick, Scotland.

He originally attested in the Black Watch (No. 7924) at Perth on the 7th September, 1900. He was 19 years 4 months, a gamekeeper, and born in the Parish of Rattray. His height was 6 feet and one quarter inch.

He served in the South Africa War from 30.09.01 to 22.01.02 and held Queen's South Africa Medal with Clasps 'Orange Free State', 'Transvaal', 'South Africa 1901' and 'South Africa 1902'. He was then stationed in India from 23.10.02 to 22.10.08. (Approx 5 years' service at Home).

He gave his next of kin as his father John McGregor, Ballikinrain near Balfron, Stirling.

He subsequently married Christina McPhie at Glasgow on 5th February, 1910.

A Military History of Perthshire;

The Black Watch.

Pte. 7924. Pte. McGregor, James (Perth). Enlisted 1900. Served in South African War, 1899-1902 (Queen's Medal with Clasps "Orange Free State", "Transvaal", "South Africa 1901" and "South Africa 1902". Still serving

[Kenneth Morrison]

Having tracked the family history I can now say that all three McGregors are brothers.
Charles MacGregor (b.1877) and James Keith MacGregor (b.1881) were the sons of John MacGregor, Gamekeeper at Craighall, Rattray, Perthshire and of his first wife, Elizabeth Anderson.
Elizabeth died in 1885 and John re-married in 1886 to Annie Menzies Grant.
Simon Grant MacGregor was born in 1889 in Killearn, Stirlingshire
His father was Gamekeeper at Ballikinrain, Balfron, Killearn and the family were there in 1891, 1901 and 1911.
(It might be significant that Ballikinrain castle was burned-out in June 1913, the blaze being attributed to suffragettes, causing £100,000 of damage. It was rebuilt in 1916)
Update: The Orr-Ewing family own (and still run) the Dunskey Estate. The family also owned Ballikinrain but sold out in 1911 and the estate was broken-up - which explains the McGregors move to Dunskey.

On the 1915 Valuation Roll John is Gamekeeper at Dunskey, Portpatrick.
John and Annie died there in the 1930's and are buried in Portpatrick Cemetery, as is another of their sons, Peter F. MacGregor who died in 1970 aged 82.
_________________
Ken

[Kenneth Morrison]

Just to complete a little circle:
Simon Grant MacGregor served as Private 65691 Samuel McGregor in the 24th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. For most of 1918 the Battalion was commanded by Lt. Colonel William Hew Clark Kennedy who was born in Dunskey House in 1879.
Clark Kennedy was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 27/28 April 1918 during the battle of Arras.
_________________
Ken

[Kenneth Morrison]

Pte. Alexander McKenzie, R.S.F.

McKENZIE, ALEXANDER.
Rank:Private
Service No:240805
Date of Death:26/08/1918
Age:34
Regiment/Service:Royal Scots Fusiliers
"B" Coy. 1st/5th Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 6.
MemorialVIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Husband of Sarah McKenzie, of 13, Hill St., Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.

Place of birth Dumfries [SNWM]
Formerly Pte. 7990 RSF [MIC]


Additional info from Mike Morley.

Wigtownshire Free Press (12/9/1918): Mrs McKenzie, Hill Street, Portpatrick, has been informed that her husband, Private Alex McKenzie, Royal Scots Fusiliers, was killed on the 22nd ult in France. Private McKenzie was through the Dardanelles campaign, and also saw service in Egypt. He was only transferred to the Western Front this year. Pte McKenzie, who left a widow and two children, was bowman of the Portpatrick Lifeboat. This is the third official of the Portpatrick Lifeboat who has lost his life during the war.

[Kenneth Morrison]

Pte. Neil Shaw, Cheshire Regt.

SHAW, NEIL.
Rank:Private
Service No:74010
Date of Death:03/05/1918
Regiment/Service:Cheshire Regiment
11th Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 61 to 63.
MemorialTYNE COT MEMORIAL
Additional Information:

Place of birth Govan Lanarkshire [SNWM]
Formerly Pte. S4/064943 Army Service Corps [SNWM & MIC]

[Kenneth Morrison]

Stoker. John Smith, H.M.S. "Cressy".

SMITH, JOHN.
Rank: Stoker 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Cressy."
Age: 23
Date of Death: 22/09/1914
Service No: K/13677
Additional information: Son of James and Minnie Ann Smith, of 8, Hill St., Port Patrick, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 4.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
[see also Adam and John's posts on page 1]


Pte. John Smith, S.R.

SMITH, JOHN.
Rank:Private
Service No:12253
Date of Death:22/10/1915
Age:20
Regiment/Service:Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
9th Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 22.
MemorialYPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Mrs. Violet McGury (formerly Smith), of 9, Hill St., Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.


Pte. John Smith, R.S.F.

SMITH, JOHN.
Rank:Private
Service No:62601
Date of Death:28/05/1919
Age:18
Regiment/Service:Royal Scots Fusiliers
3rd Bn.
Grave ReferenceP. 3045.
CemeteryGLASGOW WESTERN NECROPOLIS
Additional Information:
Son of John and Mary Smith, of 6, Hill St., Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.

[Note that all three John Smiths were connected to Hill Street]

[Kenneth Morrison]

Pte. Gilbert Thomson, Canadian Regt.

???????


Pte. James Wither Tully, Scots Guards.

TULLY, JAMES WITHER.
Rank:Private
Service No:12382
Date of Death:27/03/1916
Age:21
Regiment/Service:Scots Guards
1st Bn.
Grave ReferenceA. 17.
CemeteryPOTIJZE CHATEAU WOOD CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of William and Agnes Jane Tully, of Colfin, Stranraer.

Place of birth Portpatrick Wigtown [SNWM]

Wigtownshire Free Press (13 April 1916) carried a photograph of Private Tully: Official intimation has been received by Mr Tully, Colfin, that his youngest son, Private James Tully, Scots Guards, has been killed on 27th March by a sniper while he was relieving a guard. Private Tully joined the Scots Guards in November 1914, and after undergoing a course of training at Caterham, he proceeded to France in October last. Previous to joining the Army he was serving his apprenticship in the Union Bank, Stranraer. [from Mike Morley]

James is named on Portpatrick and Stranraer War Memorials.

[Kenneth Morrison]

WW2.

Pte. R. Alexander, R.A.S.C.
Possibly
ALEXANDER, ROBERT.
Rank:Driver
Service No:T/131633
Date of Death:07/06/1940
Age:34
Regiment/Service:Royal Army Service Corps
Grave ReferenceBlock "S". Plot 4. Row S. Grave 17.
CemeteryST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
Additional Information:
Son of Robert and Elizabeth Alexander, of Glasgow; husband of Jane Alexander, of Glasgow.

[Kenneth Morrison]

Wing Cdr. D. Balsdon, R.A.F.

BALSDON, DENYS FINLAY.
Rank:Wing Commander
Trade:Pilot
Service No:34065
Date of Death:18/12/1941
Age:28
Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force (RAFO)
Awards:Mentioned in Despatches
Grave ReferenceSec. A. Grave 206.
CemeteryPORTPATRICK CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Percy Robert Balsdon and of Mabel Olive Balsdon (nee Finlay); husband of Phyllis Mary Balsdon (nee Adair), of Portpatrick. Service and International Hockey Player.

[Kenneth Morrison]

Major R. Boyle, M.C. B.W. (R.H.R.)

BOYLE, RICHARD.
Rank:Major
Service No:64612
Date of Death:24/03/1945
Regiment/Service:Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
1st Bn.
Awards:M C
Grave Reference52. E. 4.
CemeteryREICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:

Place of birth London [SNWM]
Military Cross - Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Richard Boyle (64612), The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) (Port Patrick).
[London Gazette 20 February 1942 Issue:35465 Page:894]

OBITUARY .
MAJOR RICHARD BOYLE
LONDON'. Wednesday.-Major Richard Boyle. M.C.. of the Black Watch a son of Air-Commodore J. D. Boyle was killed in action in the "Rhine crossing on March 24. He fought with the British in Somaliland, Abyssinia and Crete. He escaped from Crete five months after the British had withdrawn. He was later in the Tobruk siege, and was awarded the M.C. during the breakout from Tobruk, in November, 1941. He then went to Burma. He returned to England shortly before D-Day. After fighting in Normandy he attended a staff college in England. He rejoined his regiment shortly before the Rhine crossings.

It's odd that there is no family information on the CWGC register.
He was the son of Air Commondore The Honourable John David Boyle and the grandson of David Boyle (7th Earl of Glasgow) and Dorothea Hunter-Blair (whose family built the orginal Dunskey House, Portpatrick)

His brother Squadron Leader Patrick Norman Boyle, who had been a Prisoner of War in Germany in WW2, was killed in a flying accident on 30 April 1960 while commanding the Hull University Air Squadron.

Surname BOYLE
Forenames/Initials Peter Norman
Rank Sqn Ldr
Service Royal Air Force
Service Number 141683
Station RAF Hull

Date of Birth 15 July 1922
Age 37
Date of Death 30 April 1960
Cemetery Name Hailey Brae Cemetery
Cemetery Address Largs Scotland

Included on Armed Forces Memorial Yes
Included on Roll of Honour Yes

http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/scottishwargraves-ftopic595.html
_________________
Ken

[Kenneth Morrison]

C.P.O. J. Connor, R.N.

CONNOR, JOHN.
Rank:Petty Officer
Service No:C/J 112681
Date of Death:24/04/1940
Age:31
Regiment/Service:Royal Navy
H.M.S. Curacoa
Panel Reference34, 2.
MemorialCHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of John and Cathrine Connor; husband of Lily Connor, of Portchester, Hampshire.

Place of birth Portpatrick [SNWM]

HMS Curacoa served with the Home Fleet during the Norwegian Campaign in 1940, until, on 24 April, she sustained heavy damage from aerial bombing and suffered 30 casualties.
(In 1942 the Curacoa was sunk after a collision with the RMS Queen Mary)

[Kenneth Morrison]

L/Cpl. F. Goudy, R.E.

GOUDY, FRANCIS GERARD.
Rank:Lance Corporal
Service No:1881687
Date of Death:17/06/1940
Age:28
Regiment/Service:Royal Engineers
663 Artisan Works Coy.
Grave Reference1. F. 8.
CemeteryESCOUBLAC-LA-BAULE WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Patrick and Agnes Goudy, of Edinburgh.

Place of birth Perth [SNWM]

The cemetery is the burial place of a number of British servicemen whose bodies were washed ashore after the sinking of the troopship "Lancastria" in the Bay of Biscay on 17 June 1940.

[Kenneth Morrison]

Chief Engr. C. Kilpatrick, M.N.

KILPATRICK, CHARLES.
Rank:Chief Engineer Officer
Date of Death:04/03/1943
Age:39
Regiment/Service:Merchant Navy
M.V. California Star (London)
Panel ReferencePanel 22.
MemorialTOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of James and Sarah Kilpatrick; husband of Emily D. L. Patrick, of Stranraer, Wigtownshire.

From uboat.net
At 23.15 hours on 4 Mar, 1943, the unescorted California Star sailing from Wellington NZ via Panama to Liverpool was hit in the engine room by two torpedoes from U-515 about 335 miles northwest of Flores, Azores. Because both starboard lifeboats were destroyed the crew began to abandon ship on the port side, but when the second port boat was being launched another torpedo hit on the port side and the explosion destroyed the boat and killed all occupants. The remaining crew members had to abandon ship on rafts. The vessel sank by the bow a few minutes after being hit again on the port side. The U-boat surfaced to question the survivors and took the Second Officer George Cameron Smart as prisoner aboard.
At daybreak the survivors decided that the master should sail the only lifeboat to the nearest land to get help for the survivors left behind drifting on rafts. One boy died and was buried at sea before the boat with the master, 19 crew members and three passengers reached Flores after 11 days. A subsequent search for the rafts was unsuccessful, they were never seen again. 41 crew members, eight gunners and one passenger were lost.

[Kenneth Morrison]

Lieut. C. Milroy, R.N.R.
???