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Research for new website

 
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ianscales



Joined: 09 Oct 2007
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:46 pm    Post subject: Research for new website Reply with quote

I am in the final stages of completing a website for my wife's Uncle George who was killed in the 2nd World War. In addition to being buried in St Desir cemetery, France, he also has a small memorial to himself and his 3 comrades just outside Bourg Achard

http://georgehildred.co.uk/

This appears to be quite a knowledgeable site and I was wondering if anyone has any further information to add. I have already found a connection for Major Mirrielees on here.

I have not publicly announced the site to friends and family as yet, but hope to do so in time for the 11th November.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

Ian
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spoons



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

PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It looks to be an excellent site. 2 observations..........

1. You state that one officer, 4 ncos and 1 private were killed but the memorial lists 5 not 6 names. An explanation might be of interest (if you have one and I have not missed it) likewise the cemetary lists only 4 (not 5 or 6 names)

2. The cemetery page has a couple of links and IMHO you could usefully add links to the relevant records on CWGC site and SNWM.

Good luck and great effort.

\Paul
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dhubthaigh
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A fine tribute indeed.

Donald Mirrieless is commemorated on the Fortingall Memorial;
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=689

and in the Parish Church;
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=2353
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dhubthaigh
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

spoons wrote:
You state that one officer, 4 ncos and 1 private were killed but the memorial lists 5 not 6 names.
\Paul


I can only see 4 names Shocked
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spoons



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PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dhubthaigh wrote:
spoons wrote:
You state that one officer, 4 ncos and 1 private were killed but the memorial lists 5 not 6 names.
\Paul


I can only see 4 names Shocked


sorry, didn't have my specs on, 6 died, 4 on the memorial, same 4 in the cemetery page. Assuming that the missing 2 were also Black Watch, they are not listed on SNWM and you can't search on CWGC by date.

I then searched the cemetery and found that only 2 black watch died and were buried there the following day, 29th. These were Thomas Kirkcaldy and Harry Chapman and these were both NCOs which fits, so circumstantially I guess these were the other 2. Interestingly there was one black watch soldier who died on 30th (Robert Burke so not sure where he fits, if at all).

\Paul
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Adam Brown
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian

I hope you don't mind me making some constructive criticism about an otherwise excellent family site.

"A British soldier with the 5th Battalion, 51st Highland Division The Black Watch"

I would put "5th Battalion, The Black Watch, 51st Highland Division"

On the background page the first sentence on the second paragraph reads:

"Early on the morning of 29 Apr 1942 the family were shaken from their deds".

I take it that should be "beds"

"His name is also on the Highland Division's memorial in Edinburgh Castle".

It will be in the Black Watch Roll of Honour within the Scottish National War memorial

From Tom Renouf's article
"It sounded like a Smeizer". It's actually Schmeisser (In fact the MP40 was made by Erma) If this is Tom Renouf's words though I don't know if you'd want to change it.

I hope it doesn't look too petty pointing these out but I'm hoping you would rather we pointed these out before your family visits your site.

Regards

Adam
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Adam Brown
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian

I'm glad to see we're listed on your links page Smile

I'm going to move this thread to the queries and requests section which I feel is more appropriate.

Cheers

Adam
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ianscales



Joined: 09 Oct 2007
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you to one and all, I have made adjustments to the site to reflect your comments.

If you have anything further to add, or indeed anyone else has, then I would be glad to hear from you.

Thanks again.

Ian
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Roxy
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian,

Great site. The family should be impressed with your work.

PM sent.

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.
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Adam Brown
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

spoons wrote:
I then searched the cemetery and found that only 2 black watch died and were buried there the following day, 29th. These were Thomas Kirkcaldy and Harry Chapman and these were both NCOs which fits, so circumstantially I guess these were the other 2. Interestingly there was one black watch soldier who died on 30th (Robert Burke so not sure where he fits, if at all).Paul


Here are there CWGC and SNWM details

Name: KIRKCALDY, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 29/08/1944
Service No: 2759029
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. C. 13.
Cemetery: ST. DESIR WAR CEMETERY

Surname KIRKCALDY
Firstname Thomas
Service number 2759029
Date of death 29/08/1944
Place of birth Fife
SNWM roll THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT) and THE TYNESIDE SCOTTISH
Rank Sgt
Theatre of death Western Europe Campaign, 1944-45

Name: CHAPMAN, HARRY
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 29/08/1944
Service No: 3325134
Additional information: Son of George Thomas Chapman and Alice Chapman, of Hull.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. D. 5.
Cemetery: ST. DESIR WAR CEMETERY

Surname CHAPMAN
Firstname Harry
Service number 3325134
Date of death 29/08/1944
Place of birth Hull
SNWM roll THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT) and THE TYNESIDE SCOTTISH
Rank Cpl
Theatre of death Western Europe Campaign, 1944-45

Name: BURKE, ROBERT JOSEPH
Initials: R J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 30/08/1944
Service No: 2762241
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. D. 6.
Cemetery: ST. DESIR WAR CEMETERY

Surname BURKE
Firstname Robert J
Service number 2762241
Date of death 30/08/1944
Place of birth Bolton
SNWM roll THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT) and THE TYNESIDE SCOTTISH
Rank Pte
Theatre of death Western Europe Campaign, 1944-45

Note that out of the seven men we're discussing only Major Mirralees and Sergeant kirkcaldy were Scottish. It just shows you how many Englishmen were serving in the 51st Division by this stage of the war.

Adam
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ianscales



Joined: 09 Oct 2007
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This morning I have received photocopy of the article by Tom Renouf, which I had previously only an extract.

It gives a more detailed account and for anyone interested there is now an update to his article on the site.

Ian
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ianscales



Joined: 09 Oct 2007
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
"His name is also on the Highland Division's memorial in Edinburgh Castle and The Scottish National War Memorial"



I was told he was on the roll of honour and the memorial, can anyone tell me if these are one and the same?


Ian
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Adam Brown
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian

It must be the same thing. The only memorial to the 51st Div in Edinburgh Castle does not have any names (It is a stone version of the 'HD' Divisional badge on the outside of the National Memorial building).
As far as I know the only memorial in Edinburgh castle which has Second World War Black Watch names is the Scottish National War Memorial Roll of Honour.

Cheers

Adam
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ianscales



Joined: 09 Oct 2007
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thankyou Adam
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Adam Brown
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian

I think it was probably something from a spammer. We've removed them from the forum so you hopefully won't get any more like that.

Welcome back to the forum. I hope the website is going well.

Regards

Adam
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