The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mike Morley · Last edited by Mike Morley on Sat Oct 08, 2022 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

John McKillops is named on Stranraer Burgh WM. He was born on 6 March 1892 at Glenluce.

The Register of Soldiers' Effects list him as follows. McKillops, John. 1/7th Bn Gordon Highlanders, Service Number 266994, Pte. Death 14-4 to 14-7-1918: death assumed. £21 9s paid to his mother, the sole legatee.

Medal Index Card for Pte John McKillops, Gordons, service number 14075 then 266994. Awarded British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Wigtownshire Free Press (23/5/1918): Mrs McKillops, 33 Harbour Street, Stranraer, has received official notice that her son, Private John McKillops, Gordon Highlanders, is reported missing as from April 9. Private McKillops, who enlisted early in 1915, went to France for the third time at the beginning of March. Before enlisting he was employed by Messrs Smith, Dundee Equitable, Inverurie.

I have searched CWGC on both service numbers to no effect. Only 4 McKillops named, none of them John.

David McNay · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 7:06 am Post subject:

Two men on CWGC with that service number, neither of them remotely close to your man.

There's a service return death for a John McKillop for 1918 on scotlandspeople, unfortunately I don't have any credits at the moment to check it.

I would order that, and if its your man you have enough supporting evidence to submit a case for inclusion.

You can find the form for submitting to the CWGC here: https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/amending-records

Mike Morley · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:18 am Post subject:

Thanks David but that man is John McKillop (no "s") who served with the Durham Light Infantry. He is recorded on CWGC.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:20 am Post subject:

Doesn't really help but.............

Aberdeen Press and Journal 18/5/1918 p.5
MISSING - Inverurie
Pte John McKillops, Gordons (missing) was before enlistment manager of the Inverurie branch of the Dundee Equitable. He belongs to Stranraer.

(I think the Dundee Equitable was a shoe company with shops all over Scotland)
_________________
Ken

anne park · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 7:49 pm Post subject: DE shoe shops

They are still around but yes finding info for is proving hard.
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

David McNay · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 4:15 pm Post subject:

Found a Pension Index Card for both John and William McKillops - states William was KIA and John was Missing.

PM me your email address and I'll send it on.

Mike Morley · Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks David, Pension card received. Forwarded to In From the Cold today. Terry has forwarded on for consideration: there is no Death Certificate for him but three other pieces of evidence that he was declared dead so that may be enough. We'll see.

Mike Morley · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 5:46 pm Post subject:

Added to the CWGC Register today 8 October 2022:

LANCE CORPORAL
John McKillops
Service Number: 266994
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Gordon Highlanders

1/7 Bn.

Date of Death
Died 13 April 1918

Buried or commemorated at
UNITED KINGDOM BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE