The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:08 pm Post subject: ALYTH BOER WAR MEMORIAL

Situated opposite the Market Square in the town centre
Map Information Location:
Grid ref: NO245485
Web Address: www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=56.6224&lon=-3.2311&scale=5000&icon=x

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject:

The inscriptions were difficult to photograph but read;

TO THE MEMORY OF THREE BRAVE MEN

DAVID STANLEY WILLIAM
Ninth Earl of Airlie
Lieutenant Colonel 12th Royal Lancers
Killed in Action - as he had always desired to die
at Diamond Hill South Africa 11th June 1900
Aged 44

NIGEL NEIS RAMSAY
Younger of Bamff
Lieutenant 2nd Battalion Royal Highlanders
Killed in Action at Magersfontein
11th December 1899 aged 23

CHARLES JAMES WEDDERBURN OGILVY
Younger of Ruthven
Trooper of the Fife and Forfar Light Horse
20th Company IV
Who died at Sea 6th March 1900 aged 38

SOUTH AFRICAN HEROES

Erected by public subscription

David McNay · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject:

The last one is probably 20th IY, for Imperial Yeomanry, instead of IV.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:56 am Post subject:

Nigel Neis Ramsay

Born, 1876. Educated at Cargilfield School, Winchester College, and Royal Military College, Sandhurst (where he gained Sword of Honour).
Gazetted 2nd Lieut. The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1896.
Promoted Lieut., 1898. Served in South African War, 1899, with 2nd Batt. The Black Watch, and took part in the advance on Kimberley with the Relief Force under Lieutenant General Lord Methuen.
Killed in Action at Magersfontein, Dec. 11, 1899 (Queen's medal with clasp).

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject:

David William Stanley Ogilvy

Born 20 January 1856 Florence.
Educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, in 1874 he became a Lieutenant 1st Regiment, in 1875 joined the Scots Guards, in 1876 the 10th Hussars. He served in the Afghan War 1878-1879 and, in 1884, was in the Soudan Expedition and, in 1884-1885, the Nile Expedition. On 7 January 1885 he was slightly wounded at Abu Klea, then again at El Gubat. He was twice mentioned in Despatches.
On 10 December 1885 he became a Representative Peer and, on 19 January 1886 at St. George's, Hanover Square, he married Lady Mabel Gore, daughter of the 5th Ear of Arran.
In December 1897 he became Lieutenant Colonel 12th Lancers and, with his regiment, went to South Africa at the outbreak of the Boer War. He was specially mentioned in Despatches for gallantry at Modder River, and was again wounded near Brandfort. Eventually he was killed, 11 June 1900, at Diamond Hill in the Transvaal.
"After a splendid charge in which he saved the guns, he gave his last command, "files about - gallop" and fell to the ground with a bullet in his heart. He lies buried there as he desired, his last wish on leavving being expressed in the words, "Remember if I am killed in action, whatever memorial you put up for me, that you say on it, I had died as I had wished".
NOTE:
On the memorial he is given as the 9th Earl of Airlie, A Military History of Perthshire shows him the 8th, whilst some websites suggest the 6th.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

This was my initial research on the Alyth Boer War Memorial.
I have now discovered that David William Stanley's son - PATRICK JULIAN HARRY STANLEY OGILVY, Military Cross, Captain (The Honourable) Irish Guards 1st Battalion is on the Alyth WW1 Monument. Killed in Action, France & Flanders, Tuesday 9th October 1917. Buried: Grave XIII. D. 3 - Cement House Cemetery, Belgium.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:25 pm Post subject:

I beleive there is a photograph and detail of Charles Wedderburn-Ogilvy in the book - Muster Rolls of Angus 1899-1900. If anyone has this book and can provide this, it would be much appreciated.
Also, anyone with/knowledge of a photo of Patrick JHS Ogilvy, Irish Guards, this would be most welcome also.
regards,
Mark

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject:

The nephew of Nigel Neis Ramsay is commemorated on Alyth WW2 Memorial;

Name: RAMSAY, DAVID JAMES
Initials: D J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 79 (The Scottish Horse) Medium Regt.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 17/06/1944
Service No: 96294
Awards: MC
Additional information: Son of Sir James Douglas Ramsay, M.V.O., T.D., D.L., J.P., 11th Bt., and of Lady Ramsay (nee MacGregor), of Alyth, Perthshire; husband of Anne Ramsay, of Seaford, Sussex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIV. G. 1.
Cemetery: BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

David McNay · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:59 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:27 am Post subject:

Thanks David, that would be superb.

regards,
mark

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject:

Charles James Wedderburn-Ogilvy, eldest son of J.A. Wedderburn-Ogilvy of Ruthven. Enlisted as Trooper in 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Contingent, Imperial Yeomanry. Died on the voyage to South Africa from an attack of pneumonia, and was buried at sea.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject:

Mark

Thanks you for all the research on this memorial. All names identified and photographs of all those who fell as well. You've set the standard we all have to match!

Regards

Adam

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject:

Adam,
Thanks very much for your kind words, much appreciated.
As you are no doubt aware the site is one of special interest to me and I will continue to provide information whenever/wherever I can.

regards,
Mark

David McNay · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject:

Got this postcard from ebay the other day. The location appears to have changed a bit in the past 100 years.