The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[john hendry]

This village is on Loch Long, part of Dunoon parish but has it's own WM in the village street. Rather difficult to photo so I didn't take one.

[jamiemcginlay]

Here are some photos taken today John.
Ardentinny - Argyll & Bute, Cowal District.



The photos below were taken in the mid 1990's. The memorial must have been cleaned just before they were taken.



The village is unusual in that there is a high ratio of WWII names suggesting the population of the village was growing between the wars. This often happens when villages became commuter sattelites to larger towns and cities but I can't see how this could be the case with Ardentinny, unless there was a regular steamer service to Helensburgh?



WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
AITKEN C. PRIVATE
AITKEN J. PRIVATE
MACKAY W. PRIVATE
MACKENZIE D. CORPORAL
MCLEISH A. PRIVATE
MCLEOD A. LIEUTENANT
STEVEN S.W.F. PRIVATE



WWII ROLL OF HONOUR:
MCINTYRE D. ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS PRIVATE
MCLEAN IAN ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS PRIVATE
RHODES THOMAS G. ROYAL AIR FORCE FLYING OFFICER
SOMERVILLE JOHN J.F. ROYAL NAVY L.R.M.

[chris.wight]

What a lovely job the village has done with their Memorial. It has a very warm, intimate feel about it.

[DerekR]

OS map ref approx: NS185875
UKNIWM ref no: not listed
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

[dhubthaigh]

WW2

Name: RHODES, THOMAS GERALD
Initials: T G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 14 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 04/12/1940
Service No: 41065
Additional information: Son of Thomas Imrie Rhodes and Christine H. Rhodes, of Ardentinny, Argyllshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 239.
Memorial: ALAMEIN MEMORIAL

Name: MacLEAN, IAN
Initials: I
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 09/03/1945
Service No: 2981643
Additional information: Son of Alexander and Catherine MacLean, of Ardentinny, Argyllshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. B. 6.
Cemetery: PRAGUE WAR CEMETERY

Name: MacINTYRE, DONALD
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 23/06/1940
Service No: 2981434
Additional information: Son of Mrs. E. MacIntyre, of Glen Finart, Argyllshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 9.
Cemetery: FRIVILLE-ESCARBOTIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Name: SOMERVILLE, JOHN JACK FLEMING
Initials: J J F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Leading Radio Mechanic
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Avenger
Age: 21
Date of Death: 15/11/1942
Service No: P/MX 116376
Additional information: Son of Thomas J. and Janet Scott Somerville, of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 69, Column 3.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

[Kenneth Morrison]

The first two names C&J AITKEN were brothers - sons of Charles and Margaret Aitken of Angle Cottage, Ardentinny.
CWGC has:
AITKEN, C (Charles)
Service Number Private 301640
Died 28/09/1918
1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
(His service record exists on Ancestry)

AITKEN, JAMES
Service Number Private 7448
Died 19/07/1915
Aged 25
1st/4th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
Son of Mrs. Margaret Aitken, of Sunny Bank, Ardentinny, Greenock.
(James died of wounds received during the battle at Achi Baba Nullah on 12 July)
SDGW gives his residence as Galashiels, Selkirkshire and I think he is on the Kirkhope Parish War Memorial in Ettrick Bridge.
_________________
Ken

[stuartn]

There was also a WW1 memorial in Ardentinny Church (church closed in 2019, now relocated to Strone Church)
see here- https://ardentinny.org/2019/06/17/planning-applications-ardentinny-church/
and at least two memorials to HMS Armadillo- one in the church, one beside the Loch, not on this forum, which I am posting to WMR tonight.

The Church memorial reads-
TO THE GLORY OF GOD/AND IN MEMORY OF/THE MEN OF ARDENTINNY/WHO FELL/IN THE GREAT WAR/
Major Henry D C Craig MC
Lieut Alexander McLeod
Sergt John P Muir
Cpl D MacKenzie
Pte James Aitken
Pte Charles Aitken
Pte William McKay
Pte Alexander Mcleish
Pte Peter McPhail
Pte Stanley W E Steven