The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[IanA]

Note the different spelling - this church plaque says 'Swauney', the memorial says 'Swanney'. This is puzzling, as the family were hardly likely to be illiterate. 'Swanney' is the usual spelling but with a North Ron accent anything is possible!

[IanA]

[Adam Brown]

I think this may actually count as a church memorial rather than individual since neither man seem to have any connection with the other other than being part of the local UF Church congregation.

If you look at the UF Church roll of honour both men are listed amongst the fallen. Private Samuel Cutts of the RFA is listed on the Roll of Honour but not here. However he died of the flu in Manchester on 26th November 1918 and perhaps it was felt he didn't deserve a place on this memorial. He was included on the roll of honour and the North Ronaldsay Civic memorial though.

CWGC database has first man as Swanney, and he's actually MMR not RNR.

Name: SWANNEY, THOMAS
Rank: Skipper
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine Reserve
Unit Text: H.M. Trawler "Columba."
Age: 55
Date of Death: 10/03/1918
Additional information: Son of Mary Swanney, of Holm, North Ronaldshay, Orkney, and the late William Swanney; husband of Jemima Tulloch Swanney, of 7, Jessfield Terrace, Leith, Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 30.
Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

The boom defence vessel, H.M. Trawler Columba sank off the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth after hitting a mine.

Private Tulloch's details:

Name: TULLOCH, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Secondary Regiment: Seaforth Highlanders
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 2nd Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 08/05/1918
Service No: 039158
Additional information: Son of John and Sarah Tulloch, of Upper Linnay, North Ronaldshay, Orkney.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 8.
Cemetery: MONT-BERNANCHON BRITISH CEMETERY, GONNEHEM

Note that he was attached to the Seaforths and is listed as RAOC in the database.

Note also the spelling of Ronaldshay in both entries rather than Ronaldsay. I put it down to a scanning error at first but when both entries show it I take it that was an alternative spelling in the 1920's.

Adam

[Adam Brown]

The chap who is missing, Pte Cutts:

Name: CUTTS
Initials: S
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Unit Text: 5th Garrison Bn.
Secondary Regiment: Labour Corps
Secondary Unit Text: transf. to (250974) 416th Agricultural Coy.
Age: 43
Date of Death: 26/11/1918
Service No: 64384
Additional information: Son of the late Peter and Eliza Cutts, of Milldam, North Ronaldshay, Orkney.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: H. Diss. 690.
Cemetery: SALFORD (WEASTE) CEMETERY

The roll of honour lists him under another unit not mentioned above!

7th Reserve Battery, RFA. The Milldam reference means it is him though.

Adam

[stuartn]

WMR 7264