The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

Straiton - Kyle & Carrick District
The Straiton war memorial is a slender 'tree-of-life' style granite cross standing on a base formed by four low steps. It stands at the south end of the village at the junction of the Newton Stewart Road and the Newton Stewart Old Road.

WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Alexander George Gordon Highlanders Private
Crombie Henry Aarmy Service Corps Private
George William K. Gloster Regiment Captain
Gracie John Scots Guards Private
Guthrie William Royal Scots Fusiliers Sergeant
Hunter Alexander F. Canadians Private Royal Canadian Regiment
MacMorland Robert J. Highland Light Infantry Lance Corporal
Macrae Robert S. Scottish Horse Corporal
McFadzean John Highland Light Infantry Private
McFadzean William Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Private
McGhee Samuel Royal Scots Private
McVey Hugh Cameron Highlanders Private
Pringle Robert Royal Scots Fusiliers Private
Robertson William Royal Scots Fusiliers Private
Smith Alexander Gordon Highlanders Lance Corporal
Smith Andrew Royal Scots Private
Smith John Gordon Highlanders Private

WWII ROLL OF HONOUR:
Blair David G. Hunter Blair David Straiton Kyle & carrick Royal Air Force Pilot Officer
Blair Gaspard P. Hunter Blair Gaspard Straiton Kyle & carrick Royal Navy Commander
McGowan Robert Straiton Kyle & carrick Highland Light Infantry Lance Sergeant
Walker Hugh Straiton Kyle & carrick Royal Army Medical Corps Private

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 1:02 am Post subject:

Jim

Robert MacRae is possibly a Corporal in the Scottish Horse.

It is difficult to make it out but it looks like Cpl SCt Hrse

Regards

Adam

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

Agreed, thanks again Adam, I think I need to go to specsavers.

spoons · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

I visited this memorial yesterday and noticed that the lettering is now very faded and well overdue for repainting. The names are barely legible, especially the WW2 names.

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

On comparing the details given on the UKNIWM website, this memorial seems to be the one they have listed as Straiton, Midlothian.

See http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.13417/fromUkniwmSearch/1

The OS Grid reference given is to Straiton, Midlothian - the embankment between the A701 and Ikea's car park. There's no sign of any memorial in Straiton, Midlothian - their war dead are probably listed in Loanhead.

Straiton, Ayrshire's OS Grid Ref should be NS382049.

I am hoping somebody here can verify this, and has contact with UKNIWM to offer them this correction.

Location: Straiton, Ayrshire
Address: junction of Newton Stewart Road and Newton Stewart Old Road
OS Grid Ref.: NS382049
See on map: click here
UKNIWM: 13417

ADP

jfurlong · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 9

Just stumbled across this post. I've checked our original record and for some unknown reason it was catalogued wrongly. I have now changed the record to reflect its proper location.

Thanks for pointing it out.

Jane
UKNIWM

spoons · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:26 pm Post subject:

thanks for picking it up Jane, I had it down to send you an email this weekend

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:55 pm Post subject:

Two members of a prominent family - there is a very large memorial (Hunter Blair monument) to an ancestor which overlooks Straiton.

Name: HUNTER BLAIR, DAVID GASPARD
Initials: D G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 242 Sqdn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 23/05/1942
Service No: 112767
Additional information: Son of Sir James Hunter Blair, 7th Bt., and Lady Hunter Blair, of Blairquhan.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: BLAIRQUHAN PRIVATE BURIAL GROUND, STRAITON

Name: HUNTER-BLAIR, GASPARD PATRICK
Initials: G P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Commander
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Calcutta
Age: 45
Date of Death: 01/06/1941
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Additional information: Son of Captain Sir Edward Hunter-Blair, Bart., R.N. (Retd.), and Cecilia Dora Hunter-Blair; husband of Sophie Hunter-Blair, of Straiton, Ayrshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 41, 1.
Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

On passage with HMS COVENTRY from Alexandria to provide additional AA protection for HMS PHOEBE and other ships returning with more troops from Sphakia. Under air attack by two Ju88. Hit by two bombs and sank in a few minutes. 255 of ship's company were rescued by HMS COVENTRY.

spoons · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:32 pm Post subject:

David Hunter Blair (see previous post) was a Spitfire pilot with 242 Sqn and was one of several pilots sent to provide top cover for the Queen Mary who was arriving laden with US soldiers. His plane was a spitfire Vb AD540 'Blue Peter'. He blacked out due to a fault with the oxygen but came to in time to bailout, unfortunately his parachute failed to open and he died close to where the plane crashed on Cairnsmore of Carsphairn, only 15 miles from the family home.

The aircraft wreckage was discovered and parts were recovered in 1993. The engine has subsequently been restored and is on display at the Dumfries and Galloway aviation museum. There is also a small memorial at the very remote crash site and I have yet to visit and photograph it.

Much more detail of the crash is on this excellent web page
http://members.lycos.co.uk/pwgrieve/newpage3.html

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject:

spoons · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:53 pm Post subject:

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject:

Paul

Sorry yes, I should have made it clearer what I meant. This man was actually on a patrol / mission (sorry I'm not up on RAF lingo) and not on a joyride.

Iolaire, yes they were lost near home but they were on a transport vessel lost whilst approaching their home.

I wouldn't count folk killed in traffic accidents either. I suppose I'd discount folk killed in the Clydebank Blitz too.

Off the top of my head I can think of another case. The torpedoeing of the SS 'Gretafield' off Caithness in WW2. A lot of the crew were from Caithness / Sutherland and were lost or washed ashore just a few miles from their homes.

I suppose it will mostly be Navy or Merchant Seamen who would be in this category. How about Orkney men on HMSs 'Royal Oak' or 'Hampshire'. Arran or Renfrewshire men on HMS 'Dasher' or Fife men lost in the 'Battle of the Isle of May'

Perhaps this discussion should be started again in another thread?

Adam

anne park · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:20 am Post subject: George Alexander

George Alexander Pte 310316 7th Gordon Highlanders b Stratton,Ayrshire? e Stirling Age 37 Died of Wounds F&F 01/12/1917 Son of Robert and Grace Alexander, of Straiton. Husband of Sarah Wilkins Alexander, of Straiton, Maybole, Ayrshire. 1881 Census: No 1 Craigbrae Cottage, Straiton 1891 Census: 7 Main St; Straiton. Father's Occ: Innkeeper. 1901 Census: 1 Kyle St; Ayr. Occ: Tailor (journeyman). Soldiers Effects: Widow: Sarah. Soldiers Will 1 page. Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension Fr 0177 Plot III Row J Grave 02
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:21 am Post subject: Alexander Smith

Alexander Smith Pte S/14967 7th Gordon Highlanders b Straiton, Ayrshire e Airdrie Age 28 Killed in Action F&F 23/04/1917 Son of Alexander and Catherine Smith, of Craiglure, Straiton, Maybole, Ayrshire. 1891 Census: Fallyminnoch, Straiton. 1901 Census: Craigmullock Lodge Or Keepers House (lock Doon). Father's Occ: Gamekeeper. Husband of Isabella Copeland Smith. Soldiers Effects: Widow: Isabella. Brown's Copse Cemetery, Rouex Fr 0604 Plot I Row A Grave 07
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:22 am Post subject: John Smith Pte GH

I have several that might fit but cannot find one with Straiton info.
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.