The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

THE STRATHEARN HERALD: 05.12.1914
CRIEFF SOLDIER'S DEATH
A COMFORTING LETTER

Mr and Mrs M'Donald, Academy Road, Crieff, who, as was recently reported in the 'Herald', received news of the death of their son, who was killed in action, have received a further letter from Mr E. E. Coote, Sheperton, enclosing a copy of a letter which he has had "fron John's chum". He further says:- "Colonel Grant Duff's kit came home on Saturday, and in it was John's big coat and pocket-book. Doubtless you will hear from the Hon. Mrs Grant Duff about these".
The letter referred to above is dated Nov. 25th, and is in the following terms:- "Dear Mrs Coote, - It is no trouble for me to let you know how 'Mac', as we called him, was killed. I should have written to his people should I have known his address, as being on the same job, and much together, we were very 'chummy'. It happened on the 6th inst. We were seated in a house some distance behind the trenches, when we were commenced to be heavily shelled. 'Mac' then said I'd better get my equipment; and we went from this house to another, a distance of about ten yards. When midway between the houses a high explosive shell burst, and killed him instantly. I took all his personal things (money and watch), to be sent to his people by the adjutant. I and some other of his chums buried him the same night when things became quiet - a very sorrowful task for all of us. We then erected a cross to mark the grave. I cannot name the place beacause of the censor. I wish I could speak to you and condole with you in your trouble, but I hope that the knowledge that he was always a good soldier and pal will soften your grief - D. Jamieson".

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:25 am Post subject:

Not apparent from the CWGC entries but other brothers on the memorial:

Name: RUSSELL, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st/9th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 08/04/1915
Service No: 1711
Additional information: Husband of Mary Crowner (formerly Russell), of 10, George St., Johnstone, Renfrewshire. Served in the South African Campaign. Delhi Durbar medal.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 42 and 44.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Name: RUSSELL, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 29/09/1915
Service No: S/7497
Additional information: Son of the late Alexander and Mary Russell, of Crieff.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 2. Row G. Grave 5.
Cemetery: LE TREPORT MILITARY CEMETERY

NOTE:
Mr and Mrs Russell gave another son, who died during the Boer War:

7386. Pte. RUSSELL, Peter (Crieff). Enlisted 1899. Served in the South African War (with Mtd. Iny.), 1901 (Queen's Medal, with clasps 'Cape Colony', 'Orange Free State', 'Transvaal', and 'South Africa, 1901'). Died at Kimberly, Oct. 19, 1901.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:34 am Post subject:

John McDonald's form for inclusion, submitted by his fether, for the Crieff War Memorial:

DerekR · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject:

That is excellent Mark. Fascinating.
_________________

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

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject:

Name: SANDEMAN, ROBERT LEARMOUTH
Initials: R L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 15/11/1916
Service No: 13194
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 7 D.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
BORN: STROWAN, PERTH
ENLISTED: HAMILTON
KILLED IN ACTION

THE STRATHEARN HERALD: 25.11.1916
CRIEFF GUARDSMAN KILLED THROUGH TREACHERY -
SHOT BY A GERMAN PRISONER

Information has been received this week by Mr William Sandeman, burgh roadsman, Ramsay Street, Crieff, that his eldest son, Lance-Sergeant Robert Sandeman, Scots Guards, was treacherously killed by one of a party of Germans whom he and other guardsmen were bringing in as prisoners of war after an attack upon the enemy trenches on 15th inst. The deceased had been in front of the party directing the way when he was shot from behind. He was a tall, well-built young man of 25, and prior to enlistment was a laundry vanman, employed for some years at Carluke, where his wife and child reside. He had been in the Army for nearly two years, but only proceeded to France about a month ago, having previously been retained in England as bombing instructor in one of the London training centres. Two younger brothers are also serving with the Colours.

* ALSO COMMEMORATED ON THE CARLUKE WAR MEMORIAL, LANARKSHIRE

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject:

Name: MacDONALD, CHARLES
Initials: C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 14/12/1914
Service No: S/2484
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles MacDonald, of The Star Hotel, East High St., Crieff, Perthshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 38.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

ENLISTED: HAMPSTEAD
KILLED IN ACTION

THE STRATHEARN HERALD: 01.01.1916
CRIEFF MAN'S BODY FOUND ON BATTLEFIELD -
BEEN MISSING OVER A YEAR

Mr Charles MacDonald, Star Hotel, Crieff, has received a letter from a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France, conveying the news that he and some others had recovered several bodies of soldiers lying behind the opposing trenches, among them being that of Mr MacDonald's son, Lance-Corporal Charles MacDonald, of the Gordon Highlanders, who had been missing since the heroic attack made by the Gordons on 14th December, 1914. The letter, which is dated 21st December, 1915, is in the following terms: "Dear Friend, - I beg to inform you of the finding of a body which I believe is your son - Lance-Corporal C. MacDonald, No. 2484, 1st Gordon Highlanders. I have handed his pay-book, containing his will, to my officer, who will see it handed over to the right quarter. Enclosed you will find a letter I found in his pocket. It may be of some interest to you. I did all I could for him, and put him in a decent grave. Along with him were others of his comrades. They were lying between our trenches and the Germans. How we came across him, the morning was very foggy, and, of course, made us invisible to the enemy, which gave us every opportunity to do what we had to do. To all appearance he died a painless death and also a true British hero, one that you and the rest of your family may well feel proud of".
The letter referred to as having been found in the deceased's pocket was from a comrade of his, also in the Army, and together with his regimental number, leaves no doubt that the body was that of Lance-Corporal MacDonald.
Lance-Corporal MacDonald was the only son of Mr and Mrs MacDonald, and was 21 years of age. A fishmonger by trade, he occupied a situation in London when he enlisted in the Gordons in September, 1914. He had not an opportunity of again being home in Crieff, but during his training in Aberdeen he was visited there by his parents; and proceeded to France on 4th December. Before and after his enlistment he wrote home regularly, and his letters were always bright and cheerful. The last word his parents had from him was a field postcard dated 12th December, 1914 and it was afterwards learned through the Red Cross Society that he was known to have been wounded two days later, since when he has been posted missing. Much sympathy is extended to Mr and Mrs MacDonald and other members of the family in their bereavement.

* I have just noticed that although the body was initially recovered Charles MacDonald is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing.
* SDGW records 121 1st Batt. Gordon Highlanders also died on 14 December 1914.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject:

This is the American Casualty. He does not appear on the American Battle Monuments Commission;

THE STRATHEARN HERALD: 07.12.1918

DEATHS ON SERVICE
CUNNINGHAM - Died of pneumonia, on 12th October, 1918, on board transport bound for France, Sergeant James Cunningham, Quartermasters Corps, Army of Michigan, U.S.A., third son of M. N. Cunningham, Cornton Place, Crieff.

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:11 am Post subject:

Adam,

Interesting stuff, a take on things which I wouldn't have appreciated.
I looked on SNWM and quite a few of the '1st Gordons' have S numbers. Also, apologies for moving slightly off topic here, there are also many starting with a 3 - e.g. ANDERSON: Edward 3/6575. What does the number 3 signify?

Mark

David McNay · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:22 am Post subject:

The "S" apparently denotes a wartime enlistment in a Highland regiment. That's what I was told anyway.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:01 am Post subject:

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:09 am Post subject:

One of the Second World War names.

Douglas Emslie, the Chaplain listed, was the former minister of Crieff's West Church.
It says of the 51st Highland Division on the plaque but it was actually to the Gordon Highlanders in the 51st Div.

From the Aberdeen University Roll of Honour

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/historic/mem_single.php?memid=420

Son of Revd. William Emslie, China Inland Mission, and of Jessie Douglas Emslie (nee Cuthbert); born China, 15 March 1899 ; educated in China. In the first world war he served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and won the M.M. Desiring to enter the church, he took the modified course in Arts and Divinity from 1930 to 1935, and subsequently became minister of the West Church, Crieff. At the outbreak of war he became a Chaplain to the Forces and was posted to the Gordon Highlanders. In May 1940 he was drafted to France when the fighting was at its height and died of wounds in an Advanced Dressing Station on 12 June 1940.

By 12th June the 51st Highland Division was pinned in St Valery-en-Caux and was about to surrender.

EMSLIE, The Rev. DOUGLAS
Rank: Chaplain 4th Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Chaplains' Department
Age: 41
Date of Death: 12/06/1940
Service No: 111056
Awards: M M, Mentioned in Despatches
Additional information: Son of the Revd. William Emslie and of Jessie Douglas Emslie (nee Cuthbert); husband of Anna Emslie (nee Nikolina) of Crieff, Perthshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: C, 33.
Cemetery: ST. VALERY-EN-CAUX FRANCO-BRITISH CEMETERY

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:13 am Post subject:

Just noticed the name next to him.

MacMILLAN, JAMES MCARA
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Palestine Police Force
Age: 31
Date of Death: 06/12/1942
Service No: 550
Additional information: Son of Mrs. A. MacMillan, of Crieff, Perthshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 7. Grave 15.
Cemetery: HAIFA (SHARON) BRITISH CIVIL CEMETERY

I wondered at first if he died after the war but it looks like he was killed accidentally in 1942.

http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Colonial_Police/Palestine/Palestine_Police_Roll.htm

Adam

DerekR · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 12:57 pm Post subject:

Charles David WIlson
6th Battalion Royal Highlanders. Born Dublin. Enlisted Perth.
Killed in action, France and Flanders, 24/10/1918.
Buried Thiant Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

_________________

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