The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject: Port William (Mochrum)

UKNIWM Ref: 44453

Location: in Maxwell Park, Port William overlooking the harbour at OS Map Ref NX 339 436.

This little plaque caught my eye, at the bottom of the steps leading up to the memorial.

spoons · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject:

A mail I got from Bill Heron (who I met in B&Q in Ayr) concerning 2 names on this memorial (one his namesake).

Name: HERON, WILLIAM JAMES
Initials: W J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 16/05/1915
Service No: 11933
Additional information: Son of Mrs. Margaret Heron, of High St., Port William, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 3 and 4.
Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL

Above should be the details of William Heron who appears on the Portwilliam memorial. He was born on 20th January 1888 to James Heron and Margaret McKie, the family lived at Near Fell Cothouse, Glasserton until his father died on 13th November 1890. His mother must have taken the family to Portwilliam where she lived until her death on 19th August 1927 at High Street Portwilliam. William James although single had a daughter Jamesina Heron born 5th July 1901 but died on 17th April 1902, he was my Grandmother's 2nd cousin.

the second person I have detail of is James Black who also appears on the Portwilliam memorial. He was born on 10th February 1889 at Portwilliam to Alexander Black and Jane Heron. He was a Coachman to Sir Herbert Maxwell of Monreith before enlisting at Kingston on Thames. James was a single person and my Grandfather's step brother.

Casualty: Private JAMES BLACK, S/21503
Served with: 6th Bn. Cameron Highlanders
Died: 24th April 1917
Commemorated: ARRAS MEMORIAL
Pas de Calais
France
Bay 9

spoons · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

From The Scotsman, Monday 6th September 1920

"Celtic Cross Unveiled at Port-William. The war memorial to men from Mochrum parish was unveiled at Port-William on Saturday afternoon by the Right Hon Sir H. E. Maxwell Bart. Lord Lieutenant of Wigtownshire. It is in the form of a Celtic cross and on a bronze tablet on the front are inscribed the names of the fifty-two men who were killed."

Note that the James Black listed was coachman to the man who unveiled the memorial.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:08 pm Post subject:

This memorial was C(S) listed on 11 Nov 1994.

The listing contains the following description of the memorial:

"Circa 1919. War memorial. Sandstone. Octagonal shaft, surmounted by cross; projecting dividing band, with thistle carvings; chamfered cross, with crocket detailing; embossed sword to W face of shaft. 2-tier pedestal, set on platform. W face of lower tier inscribed "lest we forget". Upper tier, with chamfered angles; copper panel to W face inscribed "In memory of the men of Mochrum who gave their lives for King and Country 1914-1918", with names; copper panel to S face inscribed "In memory of the men of Mochrum who gave their lives for
King and Country 1939-1945", with names. "

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject:

The first man on this list

MAXWELL, AYMER EDWARD
Initials: A E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Regiment/Service: Royal Marines
Unit Text: Temporarily commissioned to
Secondary Regiment: Lovat Scouts
Secondary Unit Text: (late Grenadier Guards), Cdg. Collingwood Bn. R.N. Div., Captain 1st
Age: 36
Date of Death: 09/10/1914
Additional information: Son of the Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell, 7th Bart., of Monreith, Wigtownshire, and Lady Maxwell; husband of Lady Mary Maxwell, of House of Elrig, Portwilliam, Wigtownshire. Served in the South African Campaign with Grenadier Guards.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot IIa, 69.
Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY

Also listed on a plaque in the Crichton Chapel, Dumfries

His father unveiled the Port William War Memorial. His CWGC entry lists three units. Royal Marines, Grenadier Guards and Lovat Scouts.

Was he a Captain in the Lovat Scouts, previously having served in the Grenadier Guards and was he promoted Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Marines when appointed Commanding Officer, Collingwood Bn. Royal Naval Divison?

Regards

Adam
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Scottish Monuments & Memorials