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Keir
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:47 pm    Post subject: Keir Reply with quote

WMR 57717
OS Map Ref NX 85866 93165

There is a separate listed memorial in Keir church (you can see the church in the background of the first photo).

The WW2 inscription is too badly worn to be readable in the photos. If I get the chance, I will go back with a pen and paper and try and transribe the 3 names unless someone else does it first.









Last edited by spoons on Tue Jan 29, 2019 9:39 am; edited 3 times in total
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've just popped back for another look and the WW2 panel is now almost weathered away. I reckon another year and it will not be decipherable and it will not photograph as it is, so preserved here for posterity is the transcription.

AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF
THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SECOND GREAT WAR 1939-1945
SGT AIR GNR ROBERT MILLAR RAF
PO WILLIAM YOUNG RAF (could be PO or FO)
DRIVER DONALD CARROLL RASC
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jamiemcginlay



Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 930
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

These photos were taken in 1992. Sorry to see the state of the WWI panel, you can see in these pics there was already a hairline crack which had been repaired. Also the WWII panel was just legible back then.


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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great to have the earlier pic when the WW2 panel was still legible, thanks for posting it.

\Paul
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sgt Millar is almost certainly this man.

Name: MILLAR, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 53 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 10/11/1942
Service No: 1057521
Additional information: Son of John and Margarate Millar, of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 1. Column 4.
Memorial: OTTAWA MEMORIAL

According to SNWM he died in USA, presumably whilst training.
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: YOUNG, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 626 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 05/04/1945
Service No: 154575
Additional information: Son of William and Marion Findlay Young, of Penpont, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 268.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

From the 'lost bombers' website

Lancaster PD295 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number PD295
Squadron 626
X1D UM-B2
Operation L_tzkendorf
Date 1 4th April 1945
Date 2 5th April 1945

Further Information
"Serial range PD198 - PD444 This aircraft was one of 200 Mk.1s ordered Apr43 from metro-Vick from Metro-Vick and delivered from Jun44 to dec44 with Merlin 24 engines. PD295 was delivered to 626 Sqdn Sep44 No operational history No record of total hours. PD295 was one of two 626 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: PB411 airborne 2101 2Apr45 from Wickenby to attack the Wintershall synthetic-oil plant. Presumed lost over the sea. Four are buried in France; Sgt Fletcher, found near Den Helder 18Jun45, is buried on Texel in Den Burg. F/L Eames and F/O Young are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/L K.H.Eames DFC KIA Sgt G.H.Fletcher KIA f/O A.D.Moore KIA F/O W.Young KIA P/O W.A.Mitcham KIA Sgt R.F.Clarke KIA Sgt G.Davies KIA "
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thomas McEwan Wilson also had a sister who died in the war. I know that some people are against anyone second guessing who should and should not have been on a memorial, but.....................

Jemima Wilson served in QMAAC, died in the war, is listed on CWGC, is commemorated on SNWM and her brother is listed here, so I think it a pity that she is not also commemorated here and on the church memorial. I know they were different times and I like to think that such an omission would not be acceptable in todays world.

Name: WILSON, JEMIMA
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Member
Regiment/Service: Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps
Unit Text: Gateshead Hostel
Age: 24
Date of Death: 02/12/1917
Service No: 3812
Additional information: Daughter of James and Margaret Wilson, of Ingleston Cottage, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Q. U. 364.
Cemetery: NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (ST. ANDREW'S AND JESMOND) CEMETERY
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Photos and information sent to UKNIWM 9 Jan 2008.

\Paul
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I visited this memorial today. The crack and the degradation of the WW2 panel are not significantly worse but neither has any work been done. I have reported this to the War Memorials Trust who will try and make contact with those responsible for the memorial to offer advice and include details of grants available.

\Paul
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know that the War Memorials Trust has been speaking to Dumfries and Galloway council about repairs needed to this memorial. I passed it on 28th September 2009 and took the attached pics. It is now fenced off but no work has yet been done to repair the vertical crack or the badly eroded WW2 panel.

\Paul



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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the memorial is now listed by UKNIWM and I have added the number to the original post.

The following information is from Gladys Cuttle's book 'Keir War Memorial and Parish Memories'.

We now know how the memorial committee came to decide on which names should or should not go on the memorial (for WW1). The parish maintained a roll of honour during the war (now lost) and this was used as the basis for sending comforts to the troops.

The Dumfries and Galloway Standard of 12 April 1919 refers to a memorial for 'the fallen soldiers of the parish roll of honour'. So that's it then, they had to have been on the roll of honour to qualify to be on the memorial.

On 17th June 1919 a meeting of parishioners decided to erect this memorial, a memorial brass in the parish church (now in the village hall - 2009) and an illuminated address to be presented to each of the returned soldiers. Although we do not have a WW1 example, here is an unused WW2 example from the Archives of Dumfries Museum.

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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 3:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The memorial is made of Doddington Freestone and was unveiled by Mrs Hunter-Arundell on 28th November 1920.

For more information about the memorial and the men I recommend the book by Gladys Cuttle previously mentioned. (send PM to Project member 'teddy').

\Paul
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teddy



Joined: 25 Oct 2008
Posts: 214
Location: Penpont, Dumfriesshire

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:02 pm    Post subject: Keir War Memorial Reply with quote

The War Memorial has been removed and off for repairs, today on 12/2/10 only have a pile of rubbish; I will be asking community council if going to have wee service for when memorial repaired and returned.
Will keep you informed on happenings.
Teddy
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

'teddy' has told me that the repaired memorial was replaced in late April. I hope to have some photos soon.

\Paul
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks to Gladys Cuttle (teddy) for the photos



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