The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[David McNay]

I was going to put up an online map reference for this memorial, but every search sends me in the direction of North Ayrshire.

This is a strange memorial, as it looks like it used to be on the side of a building. It's almost in the middle of nowhere.

IMG_0322 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr
IMG_0323 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

[spoons]

Name: NELSON
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: "B" Coy. 10th Bn.
Age: 38
Date of Death: 30/10/1917
Service No: S/5430
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Mary Weir Nelson, of Auchentibber; husband of Elizabeth McDade Nelson, of Spring Park, Auchentibber, High Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 495.
Cemetery: KARASOULI MILITARY CEMETERY

[spoons]

Name: HAYBURN, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 08/09/1916
Service No: S/6777
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 A.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

[ADP]

Address: Parkneuk Road, Auchentibber
OS Grid Ref.: NS674549
See on map: click here
UKNIWM: 6002

ADP

[spoons]

I notice that it is spelt Auchentiber on the OS map (only one 'b').

The Boyle is probably this man

Name: BOYLE
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 25/09/1915
Service No: S/4905
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. G. 33.
Cemetery: PHILOSOPHE BRITISH CEMETERY, MAZINGARBE

first name Hugh born in Glasgow, no age available, nothing of any help on MIC,

The only other Hugh Boyle in the Black Watch listed on CWGC was age 34, born in Forfarshire and lived with his wife in Dundee.

but can anyone positively link this man with Auchentiber or the parish of Kilwinning? Newspaper article to confirm date of death for instance?

\Paul

[ADP]

[spoons]

thanks for that, my geography is rubbish north of Cumnock

\Paul

[spoons]

that did the trick, found him on Ancestry in Auchentibber 1901 age 5 so this is definitely the man (and not the 34 year old)

\Paul

[Adam Brown]

This is a strange design. Given the plaque is marble do you think this was originally erected in a church or public building which has now been demolished?

Adam

[mhomac]

POTTER, THOMAS
Rank: Private
Service No: 4249
Date of Death: 08/04/1918
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 20th Bn.
Grave Reference: I. H. 13.
Cemetery: HANGARD COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information: Son of Maggie Potter, of Brown's Land, Auchintibber, High Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and the late William Potter.
Born at Allanton, Lanarkshire.

[mhomac]

This is possibly the correct Thomas Brown given his parents address

BROWN, THOMAS (POSSIBLE)
Rank: Gunner
Service No: 192582
Date of Death: 13/10/1918
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery 57th Bde. Ammunition Col.
Grave Reference: V. G. 28.
Cemetery: DOIRAN MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of James and Maggie Brown, of 21, Auchinraith Rd., Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
Born in Hamilton.

[mhomac]

GILLESPIE, ALEXANDER
Rank: Private
Service No: S/17234
Date of Death: 06/09/1918
Age: 20
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders 1st/5th Bn.
Grave Reference: XI. C. 3.
Cemetery: BERLIN SOUTH-WESTERN CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Alexander and Sarah Cavanah Gillespie, of 19, Dykehead Rows, Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

[mhomac]

McLEOD, KENNETH
Rank: Driver
Service No: 104287
Date of Death: 21/03/1918
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery 177th Bde.
Panel Reference: Panel 7 to 10.
Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Born High Blantyre

[mhomac]

DICKSON, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Service No: M2/202820
Date of Death: 18/07/1917
Age: 39
Regiment/Service: Army Service Corps 962nd Mechanical Transport Coy.
Grave Reference: IV. E. 4.
Cemetery: BASRA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of John and Mary Dickson, of Newfield, High Blantyre.

[mhomac]

DUNCAN, ROBERT (POSSIBLE)
Rank: Gunner
Service No: 12899
Date of Death: 17/11/1915
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery 6th Div. Ammunition Col.
Memorial: HOLLYBROOK MEMORIAL, SOUTHAMPTON
Additional Information: Born in Blantyre, Lanarkshire