The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[David McNay]

I spent a week on holiday in North Berwick. This church had its doors open for visitors every day, thus giving me ample opportunity to take this photograph of their memorial plaque:

IMG_0888 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

[Adam Brown]

This is a former UF Church and it is now linked to Dirleton just outside North Berwick.

From the Church's own website

In 1782.. Associate Congregation (of the United Secession Church which had broken away from the Established Church of Scotland). It was known as the Church of the Martyrs. In 1847, the U.S.C. joined with the Relief Church to form the United Presbyterian Church and in 1900 united with the Free Church to become the United Free Church. This is when it adopted the title of Abbey Church, possibly because it is built on North Berwick Abbey Lands.

Not until 1929 did the United Free Church unite with the Established Church to form the present Church of Scotland.

also

Abbey Church has been in North Berwick since about 1769. The present Abbey building (which is on the High Street at the corner of Church Road, by the bus stop) was established in 1868, and is also linked with the Church of Scotland in the nearby village of Dirleton. Abbey Parish covers the south and west side of North Berwick (including the Law hill).

[Adam Brown]

A very early casualty leads this memorial's list

ARUNDEL, NORMAN McKAY
Rank: Leading Telegraphist
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Amphion."
Date of Death: 06/08/1914
Service No: 240182
Additional information: Son of John W. Arundel, of Marchmont House, North Berwick.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 2.
Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

And his brother

ARUNDEL, ROBERT
Rank: Sapper
Regiment/Service: Canadian Engineers
Unit Text: 1st Tunnelling Coy.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 08/11/1917
Service No: 503357
Additional information: Son of John Williamson Arundel, of Marchmont House, North Berwick, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. F. 24.
Cemetery: LA CLYTTE MILITARY CEMETERY

The next man was not a local but was a teacher in North Berwick. He is also listed on the North Queensferry War Memorial

DOW, JOHN MITCHELL
Initials: J M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 29/04/1916
Service No: S/11185
Additional information: Son of Agnes Dow, of Battery Rd., North Queensferry, Fife, and William Dow (Stepfather). Teacher, North Berwick School, East Lothian. Graduate (M.A.), Edinburgh University.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 7.
Cemetery: ST. MARY'S A.D.S. CEMETERY, HAISNES

And another early death here:

DURIE, GEORGE BROWN
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 27/08/1914
Service No: 1100
Additional information: Son of George and Catherine Durie, of 21, Victoria Rd., North Berwick.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL

FENDER, JOHN
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 5th/6th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 11/08/1918
Service No: 325548
Additional information: Son of Mrs. John Fender, of 32, High St., North Berwick, East Lothian.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 3.
Memorial: VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL

All five are also listed on the North Berwick War Memorial

[David McNay]

I have now posted the Second World War memorial for this church. The thread can be found here.