The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons

Maybe I am slow and everyone got there ahead of me but I have only just thought about parish magazines as a research resource. If there was a parish magazine and if early copies have survived, this could be a very useful resource for researchers. For example, here are a few of extracts from Lochgoilhead parish magazine which I just found here. I wouldn't expect many to be online though.

December 1917
We were very glad to see recently, home on leave from France, Archibald Haggart, who has won the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry on the field – he repeatedly carried despatches through heavy “curtain fire”. His mother has good reason to be proud of him, and we offer them both our heartiest congratulations.

May 1918
We extend our hearty sympathy to Mr and Mrs David Maclachlan, Inveronich, about the safety of whose eldest son, Robert, the very gravest fears are being entertained.
The gallant lad, after recovering from wounds received at Delville Wood, returned to France on 10th December 1916. He has been posted as wounded and missing since 27th May of last year.

July 1918
Mr Galloway, Cairndow, has now heard from his son Winton, who is wounded and a prisoner in Germany.

Never seen anyone mention this resource on the forum.

\Paul

DerekR · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

I've never came across any in my research and I'm sure that many of the rural parishes will still have many of the older copies lying around.
_________________

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

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:03 am Post subject:

The gravest fears about Robert MacLachlan were justified I'm afraid

MACLACHLAN, ROBERT
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 5th/6th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 27/05/1917
Service No: 201582
Additional information: Son of David and Catherine Maclachan, of Inveronich, Lochgoilhead, Argyll.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 6.
Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

These look like good resources. The problem will be if documents like this are still available after all these years. No-one would throw something like this out now but 20, 30 40 years ago they may not have been so careful. Perhaps when contacting a church about war memorials it would be worth asking about parish magazines or other documents from the war periods?

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject:

Speaking from my own memories as a son of the manse, I know that the small magazine which was put together for my fathers church was fairly lightweight and was really designed to be read and then thrown away. It was fairly disposable.

However, I have seen others which at one point were fairly glossy and professional looking. I think it depends on the size of the church congregation.

I know that my fathers church never kept copies of any of them. Other churches may have been different, however.

If they can be found, then they might be extremely useful.

spoons · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject:

Feedback from GWF shows that a number have survived and others have used them as research resources. At least for anyone doing research, it is worth asking.

\Paul

john burnett · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 790 Location: Fife

Whilst researching names on Burntisland Memorial I was also doing my own family history. I contacted Liberton Kirk where my great uncle was minister. A Mr Rennie there sent me copies of parish magazine with articles by my great uncle who was serving as chaplain in Egypt. One of the magazines mentioned a George Wales who was one of the Burntisland names I was researching. From magazine I found out about his two brothers who were killed in action. George was born in Aberdeen, he lived in Inverkip, his mother was a parishioner of Liberton and his widow subsequently came to live in Burntisland. I would not have found out about his brothers without the magazines. So I think they are a great source of information!

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

I was in contact with a lady who carried out research on the various Blairgowrie & Rattray Churches for inclusion in a social history book a couple of years back.
She had the complete collection of church magazines for the former South U.F. Church. Fascinating stuff and a good many pieces on the men and women of the congregation during the world wars.