The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown

Newtongrange War Memorial, Midlothian
Location: In public park
OS Ref: NT 333 644
Memorial Type Stone
UKNIWM Ref: 53631

A relatively new memorial. It would be interesting to find out a bit more of the background to this memorial.

The names are clrearer on the original photos if anyone wants them.

Adam

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

If you are interested to find out more about the men on the memorial, you might like to visit my website Newbattle at War, which I currrently working on and updating.

It covers the men from Newtongrange and the rest of Newbattle Parish, the men who died and those who survived.

The address is

http://www.freewebs.com/eltoro1960/

The memorial only had the names put on in the past few years after a local campaign to shame the authorities, it rankled that for years it read 'Their name liveth for evermore' and there were no names on it.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject:

John

That is an excellent website. I like the way pages are pages of a book. have you posted you website in our Links section?

Thanks for the extra information on where the name panels came from.

Regards

Adam

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

Adam, thanks for the feedback regarding the website, I have literally (yesterday)came across another man who should be on the site.Here is the story.

Whilst researching the London Gazette I came across a MM for this man , giving his place of residence as Newtongrange. I later found in the LG that in 1918 he appears in a list of dead soldiers and his worldy goods were listed as unclaimed by next of kin, this appeared for several years thereafter and his money ,all £14 14/ 5d ,still lay unclaimed.

It appears that Vasiliy was a Lithuanian immigrant to Newtongrange and had no traceable next of kin, he was killed in action / died in May 1918, this from CWGC

Name: NIKITENKO, VASILIY
Initials: V
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery
Unit Text: 160th Siege Bty.
Date of Death: 28/05/1918
Service No: 129340
Awards: M M
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 22.
Cemetery: FRANVILLERS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Having no next of kin he was not put forward for inclusion on the War Memorial when the names were added a few years back. I intend contacting Midlothian Council to have his name added to the Roll of Honour and hopefully have enough evidence to persuade them to do so.

Malcolm · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 184 Location: Edinburgh

He is on the SNWM so that may help your case.
Details
Surname NIKITENKO
Firstname Vasily
Service Number 129340
Date Death 28/05/1918
Decoration M.M.
Place of birth Boltava Little Russia
Other
SNWM roll ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY
Rank Gnr
Theatre of death F.& F.

Aye
Malcolm

DerekR · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject:

John,
Congratulations on what is a cracking website - well done indeed.
_________________

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

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:51 am Post subject:

John

Hopefully you can get Gunner Nikitenko M.M. added to the memorial. It looks like there are already four Lithuanians / East Europeans listed:

Klemis Poliskis
Juozas Sanalitis
Stanislaw Skortolskis
Justinas Tutlis

Regards

Adam

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

Thank you for the support and kinds words regarding the website, it's still a work in progress yet, but getting there. I have sent away an e-mail to Wilma Chalmers the local councillor today so fingers crossed.

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

Got an e-mail back to day, very quick reply, the matter has been referred to the Community Council for their consideration, so fingers crossed. Wilma Chalmers made some positive noises supporting the idea, cash as always seems to be the crux of the matter.

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

It was a long, 'sare fecht' but....

Ukrainian soldier to join village's roll of honour
THE name of a Ukrainian soldier who lived and worked in Newtongrange is to be added to the village's war memorial — almost 90 years after he was killed in action in the First World War.
Gunner Vasiliy Nikitenko MM of the Royal Garrison Artillery, originally from Little Russia, was a volunteer soldier who lost his life fighting for his adoptive country just six months before the end of the Great War.

Vasiliy had emigrated to Scotland as a young man, and settled in Newtongrange after finding work at the Lothian Coal Company.

He had already had been decorated for gallantry with the award of a Military Medal for bravery in the field. Tragically, he was killed in the summer of 1918 as he fought in resistance to the German onslaught.

Social historian Dr Charles E. Sandbach said: “There is no doubt that Vasiliy was a brave man, forgotten simply because he had no next of kin to put forward his name for inclusion on his local war memorial.

“The sadness of the story is compounded by the facts that he left quite a sum of Army pay unclaimed and his gallantry and campaign medals never got issued, as there was no one to send them to.”

After a campaign backed by Midlothian Councillor Wilma Chalmers, Vasiliy’s name will finally be added to the memorial at Newtongrange Park.

Councillor Chalmers said: “Having read the information I was of the opinion that it was only right and fitting that a young man who lived in Newtongrange, and who was willing to put his life on the line along with his adopted countrymen, should be recognised on our memorial stones as part of our war dead.

“He paid the ultimate cost for his bravery and no matter whether you consider him to be a transient worker, or a resident of Newtongrange as evidence has proved, he chose to sign up for a Scottish regiment.

“His actions speak for themselves and I think that our actions in Newtongrange should reflect our appreciation of his efforts and eventual sacrifice in our name.”

David McNay · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject:

Fantastic news, well done.

Shame you never got a mention in that article though, after all if it hadn't been for you this man might still be "forgotten". Confused

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

It would have been nice but my reward will be seeing his name on the memorial, being honest I couldn't had doen it without the help of Charlie Sandbach, he knows how to push politicians buttons. Shocked

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

Just an update re Vasiliy Nikitenko, the stonemason turned up this week but unfortunately had the wrong stencil, all being well this time next week Vasiliy will join his comrades again after 90 years. He will appear at the foot of the first column, a tight squeeze but it seemed the best compromise rather than put him on the other stone.

John

Roxy · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:10 pm Post subject:

John,

Well done.

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.

john duncan · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 26

I am delighted to say folks that on checking today Vasiliy NIkitenko's name has been added to those of his comrades. It a very proud moment for me I must confess.

I dont know quite how ot post photographs here so possible best to nip along to my website where there is a photo of the updated stone. There is also a old grainy photo of the stone being unveiled in the 1930's minus the tablets.

http://www.freewebs.com/eltoro1960/forgottenheroes.htm

Thanks to every one who has supported this campaign, in particular Charles Sandbach, who would not let this go.

Cheers - John