The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[DerekR]

West Port U.F Church, Hawick, WW2 memorial rosebowl is now located within Hawick's Teviot Church.

From the "Hawick News" of Friday, 12th November, 2010:

60 YEARS AGO

At the morning service in West Port Church on Sunday a solid silver rosebowl was dedicated. It bears on one side the inscription:
"To the glory of God and in loving memory of the men of this congregation who fell in the Second World War 1939-1945".
On the other side are the names of the six young men commemorated:

Fusiler George Aitken, Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers
Cpl James Cairncross, Royal Engineers, att. Airborne
Guardsman Robert Harley, Grenadier Guards
1st Class Stoker George Hogg, Royal Navy
Piper Edward McLeod, A&S Highlanders
2nd Lt. George Thom, Black Watch.



_________________

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

[Kenneth Morrison]

Name: CAIRNCROSS, JAMES DOBSON
Initials: J D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
Unit Text: 9 (Airborne) Field Coy.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 19/11/1942
Service No: 2110314
Additional information: Son of Robert and Elizabeth Cairncross, of Hawick, Roxburghshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 5. Column 1.
Memorial: BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL

I found the reference to Brookwood curious until I found this

from http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part16.htm#raids

Vermork, Norway (Operation 'Freshman', 19 November 1942) - to destroy the hydroelectric power station at Vermork, in Telemark, where heavy water was produced for German atomic research. Two gliders and an aircraft engaged in the raid crashed in southern Norway. All those aboard, Royal Engineers of the 1st Airborne Division (9th Airborne Field and 261st Airborne Field Park Company, Royal Engineers) and members of the Commonwealth air forces, were either killed in the crash or died later, at the hands of their German captors. The heavy water plant was eventually destroyed by a party of six Norwegians dropped by parachute in 1943.
_________________
Ken

[DerekR]

Ken,

Thank you for the excellent info.
Very, very interesting.
_________________

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

[Adam Brown]

The Freshman operation has been posted on the forum before and there is a memorial in Caithness listing all the airborne and RAF men who died:

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=4658

Thanks

Adam

[DerekR]

_________________

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

[DerekR]

_________________

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

[stuartn]

WMR 74276