The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:20 am Post subject:

PATERSON, JOHN. 8th K.O.S.B.
John Paterson – age 23 – Private (202156) 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
In 1901 John was living with his grandparents James and Elizabeth Paterson and his mother in Leith, Edinburgh. He enlisted as Private (376551) in the Royal Scots and he was amongst a group men of the 16th Battalion who were transferred to the 7th/8th KOSB in France. John died in the 44th Casualty Clearing Station in Lijssenthoek.
Born 1894 Coldingham. Son Margaret Black (Paterson) Swinton and step-son of George Swinton of 10 Fox Street, Leith who married in 1902 in Leith.
Died of Wounds on 22 August 1917 and buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

and his uncles

PATERSON, ROBERT S. R.A.M.C.
Robert Stothart Paterson – age 24 – Private (7771) 19th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Robert landed in France in August 1914.
Born 1894 in Coldingham. Son of James and Elizabeth (Stothart) Paterson of 226 Leith Walk, Leith who had married in 1874 in Coldingham.
Killed in Action on 5 June 1918 and buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium.

and

PATERSON, Wm. S. 7th R.S.
William Stothart Paterson – age 21 – Private (1138) 1/7th Battalion, Royal Scots.
William was killed when “A” and “D” Companies of his battalion were involved in a rail accident at Quintinshill near Gretna in Dumfriesshire while en-route from Larbert in Stirlingshire to Liverpool to take ship to Gallipoli. 210 men were killed and 224 injured, forming the majority of the 473 casualties of the worst disaster in British railway history.
Born 1893 in Coldingham. Son of James and Elizabeth (Stothart) Paterson of 226 Leith Walk, Leith who had married in 1874 in Coldingham.
Died on Service on 22 May 1915 and buried in Edinburgh (Rosebank) Cemetery Special Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:31 am Post subject:

PATTERSON, ALEXANDER. 2nd R.S.
Thought to be:
Alexander Patterson – age 30 – Private (24992) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Born 1885 in Cockburnspath, Berwickshire. Son of the late James Patterson (died 1916 in Coldingham) and Isabella (Shiel) Patterson of Lumsdain, Coldingham. Brother of George Shiel Patterson, of Northfield, St. Abbs, Coldingham.
Missing in Action on 3 May 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

PRINGLE, GEORGE. 78th CANADIANS
There seems to be some confusion about two brothers – George and Richard Pringle.
Richard Pringle married Margaret Blair in 1881 in Coldingham and by 1891 they were in Cockburnspath with their six children. In 1901 they were in Leith with ten children but in March 1909 with seven of their younger children they emigrated to Manitoba in Canada. The eldest child, George, did not go with them and he married in Coldingham in 1907.

Not listed by CWGC.
George Blair Pringle – age 43 – Private (235343) Yorkshire Regiment transferred as Private (623357) Labour Corps.
George was a woodcutter living at Bogan, Coldingham when he enlisted. He was discharged from the army in March 1919. George died of an intestinal illness in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Born 1878 in Bunkle & Preston, Berwickshire as George Blair. Son of Margaret Blair and step-son of the late Richard Pringle (died 1916 in Manitoba) Husband of Agnes (Fairlie) Pringle who he married in 1907 in Coldingham.
Died on 17 April 1921 and buried in Coldingham Priory Churchyard.

and his brother

Richard Pringle – age 21 – Private (148416) 78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry.
Richard and his family emigrated to Manitoba in Canada in March 1909 and they were farming at Willowview when Richard enlisted at Winnipeg in November 1915. He was a member of the local militia the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers. He sailed with his battalion from Halifax, Nova Scotia in May 1916 and after a short time in England they landed in France in August.
Born 1896 Cockburnspath, Berwickshire. Son of the late Richard Pringle (died 1916 in Manitoba) and Margaret (Blair) Pringle of Willowview.
Missing in Action on 9 April 1917 and named on the Vimy Memorial, France.
Richard is named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:39 am Post subject:

ROBERTSON, Wm. F.R. 173rd. S.B. R.G.A.
William Ross Fulton Robertson – age 36 – Gunner (87371) 173rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
William was a postman at Pencaitland, East Lothian when he enlisted in November 1915. He was mobilised in June 1916 and landed with his battery at Le Havre in October 1916.
Born 1881 in Coldingham. Son of the late Barbara Aikman (Paterson) Robertson (died 1902) and of John William Robertson of Post Office House, Coldingham. Husband of Christina Millar (Cairns) Robertson of Sea Cross, Coldingham and of 38 Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxburghshire who he married in 1915 in Edinburgh.
Killed in Action on 12 June 1917 and buried in Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, France.
His brother James Patterson Robertson was killed in July 1942 and is also named on this memorial.

RUTHERFORD, ROBERT J. 4th K.O.S.B.
Robert James Rutherford – age 21 – Private (4405) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
As a member of the Territorial 4th KOSB, Robert was mobilised in August 1914 and landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915. He seems to have come through the campaign but he became ill in Egypt and was admitted to the 19th General Hospital in Alexandria where he died suddenly.
Born 1895 in Bamburgh, Belford, Northumberland. Son of John and Mary (Weallmane) Rutherford of The Fleurs, Coldingham.
Died on Active Service on 13 April 1916 and buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military And War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

SCOTT, JAMES 2nd S.R.
James Scott – age 25 – Private (40858) 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
James was an assistant game-dealer with his grandfather at Reston, Coldingham when he enlisted. He was mobilised in February 1916 and as Private (22764) he was posted to the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers in France in September. James was transferred to the Scottish Rifles but became ill and died of pneumonia in the 48th Casualty Clearing Station at Bray-sur-Somme.
Born 1892 in Coldingham. Son of Peter and Jane Ann (Wightman) Scott of Comely Bank, Reston, Coldingham.
Died on Active Service on 17 April 1917 and buried in Bray Military Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:47 am Post subject:

SIMPSON, GEORGE. 1st CANADIANS
George Simpson – age 27 – Lance Corporal ( A/402 or 4402) 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry.
George had emigrated to Canada in 1913 and was farming when he enlisted at Windsor, Ontario in January 1915. He sailed from Montreal in June and joined his battalion in France in August. George died in the 8th Casualty Clearing Station in Bailleul.
Born 1888 in Spittal, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland. Son of the late John Simpson (died 1895) and of Magdalene (Laing) Simpson of the Blue House, Coldingham.
Died of Wounds on13 November 1915 and buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France.
Also named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

TAYLOR, JAMES M.M. 12th R.S.
James Taylor, Military Medal – age 40 – Sergeant (3384) 12th Battalion, Royal Scots.
James had previously served for 12 years with the Royal Scots when he enlisted in August 1914. He landed with his battalion in France in May 1915 and was wounded in December. He was awarded a M.M. as 3384 Sjt. J. Taylor, R..Scots (St. Abbs) in December 1917. James was killed at Kemmel Hill.
Born 1877 in Edinburgh. Son of the late William and Margaret (Daniels) Taylor of Edinburgh. Husband of Janet Cockburn (Crow) Taylor of Northfield and of Burnside Cottage, Coldingham who he married in December 1916 when he was a Sergeant in the 12th Royal Scots.
Missing in Action on 25 April 1918 and named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

THORBURN, CHRISTOPHER. 1st GORDON Hgrs.
Christopher Cowan Thorburn – age 23 – Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
Christopher was commissioned in January 1916 and joined his battalion in France in August.
Born 1894 in Partick, Glasgow. Son of Richard and Margaret Hume (Cowan) Thorburn of Bonaly Place, Edinburgh. Husband of Susan Purves (Allan) Thorburn of The Bow, Coldingham and of Addison Way, Golders Green, London who he married in June 1916 in Coldingham when he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th (Reserve) Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders based at Kinross.
Susan served in the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps from March 1918 to October 1919.
Missing in Action on 14 June 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:57 am Post subject:

THORBURN, JAMES. 43rd CANADIANS
James Thorburn – age 19 – Private (153315) 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Canadian Infantry.
James was farming and was a member of the local militia, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada, when he enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba in June 1915. He sailed from Canada in September and, after further training in England, he landed with his battalion in France in February 1916. James died in the 49th Casualty Clearing Station in Contay.
Born 1897 in Bogangreen, Coldingham. Son of James and Isabella (Chapman) Thorburn of Coldingham and of Hilton, Whitsome, Berwickshire.
Died of Wounds on 9 October 1916 and buried in Contay British Cemetery, Contay, France.
Also named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

and his brother

THORBURN, ROBERT C. 27th CANADIANS
Robert Chapman Thorburn – age 22 – Lance Corporal (71321) 27th Battalion (City of Winnipeg) Canadian Infantry.
Robert was a carpenter and was a member of the local militia, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada, when he enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba in October 1914. He sailed from Canada with his battalion in May 1915 and, after further training in England, they landed in France in September 1915.
Born 1893 in Scoutscroft, Coldingham. Son of James and Isabella (Chapman) Thorburn of Coldingham and of Hilton, Whitsome, Berwickshire.
Killed in Action on 6 April 1916 and buried in Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Also named on the Coldingham Priory Parish Church memorial.

WHYTE, DAVID. 1st CAMERON Hgrs.
David Whyte – age 20 – Private (S/15291) 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
David was living with his family at Upper Grove Place in Edinburgh and he was employed at the Caledonian Railway Company's Goods Station when he enlisted in November 1915. He joined his battalion in France in March 1915.
Born 1894 in Coldingham. Son Robert and Helen (Robertson) Whyte of Market Place, Coldingham and of Roseneath Terrace, Edinburgh.
Missing in Action on 28 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
Also named on the Caledonian Railway Company memorial in Glasgow Central Station.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 11:14 am Post subject:

WILSON, JOHN S.A. R.N.D.
John Steel Wilson – age 21 – Able Seaman (Tyneside Z/1511) Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
John was a fisherman when he enlisted in November 1914. He joined his battalion at Gallipoli in May 1915 and was evacuated due to illness in September. He returned in November and served until the withdrawal. The Division moved to France in May 1916 and John was killed on the Ancre during the battle of the Somme.
Born 1895 in St Abbs, Coldingham. Son of the late Elizabeth Alexander (Colven) Wilson (died 1901) and of Thomas Wilson of 12 Sea View Terrace, St Abbs.
Missing in Action on 13 November 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

WILSON, ROBERT. 4th K.O.S.B.
Robert Wilson – age 30 – Private (4203) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert was a slater and plasterer and had been a member of the Volunteers and the Territorials for 15 years. He had been mobilised in August 1914 and landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in early June 1915. Robert was wounded on 26 June but was able to rejoin his comrades in time for the battle at Ach Baba Nullah where he was killed.
Born 1885 in Coldingham as Robert Foster Wilson. Son of the late Robert Wilson (died 1911) and of Jane (Foster) Wilson of Rosebank, Coldingham.
Missing in Action on 12 July 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

WOOD, JOSEPH. H.M.S. SURPRISE.
Joseph Wood – age 19 – Able Seaman (J/32357) H.M.S. Surprise, Royal Navy.
Joseph was a farm servant, aged 18, when he enlisted in April 1916. He was rated as an Ordinary Seaman in August 1916 and AB in June 1917. He joined the destroyer “Surprise” in August 1917. The “Surprise” was part of the escort of a Netherlands-bound convoy on 22 December and the escort waited near the Maas Light Buoy for the return convoy but in the early hours of 23 December, the destroyers Surprise, Torrent, Tornado and Radiant ran into a German minefield, with Torrent striking a German mine. Surprise and Tornado went to rescue Torrent's crew, but Torrent set off a second mine and quickly sank. While she was attempting to rescue survivors and recover her boats, Surprise struck a mine and sank, while Tornado was sunk by two mines while trying to rejoin Radiant. Only Radiant was undamaged and picked up the survivors from the three ships.
Born 1898 in Coldingham. Son of the late Helen (Clyde) Wood (died 1907) and of George Thompson Wood, and step-son of Elizabeth (Robertson) Wood of Horndean, Ladykirk, Berwickshire and of Whitsome, Berwickshire who married George in 1909 in Coldingham.
Missing in Action/Lost at Sea on 23 December 1917 and named on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Also named on the Whitsome War Memorial and on the Ladykirk Parish Church Roll of Honour.

In July 1916 Joseph's father, George Thompson Wood, aged 44, was working as a stone mason at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada when he enlisted as Private (1081683) in the 1st Construction Battalion but he was found to be unfit for active service and was discharged 10 days later. He gave his wife's address as Horndean, Ladykirk, Berwickshire. Joseph's naval death record shows his next of kin as Elizabeth at Whitsome.

WOOD, PETER. H.M.S. OTWAY.
Peter Wood – age 24 – Seaman (8790A) H.M.S. Otway, Royal Naval Reserve.
Peter was a baker in Coldingham when he enlisted in December 1915. He was posted to the armed merchant auxiliary cruiser “Otway”. His ship was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UC-49 north of the Butt of Lewisin the Hebrides with the loss of 10 lives.
Born 1893 in Glasgow. Son of Joseph and Rachel (Wood) Wood of Townfoot, Coldingham.
Missing in Action/Lost at Sea on 22 July 1917 and named on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

WRIGHT, WILLIAM. 9th R.S.
William Wright – age 19 – Private (3365) 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots.
William was living in the Old Town, Ayton, Berwickshire when he enlisted in June 1915. He joined his battalion in France in October. William was accidentally shot by a comrade cleaning an officer's revolver and died of his wound in the 30th Casualty Clearing Station at Aubigny.
Born 1897 in Coldingham. Son of James and Isabella (Cowe) Wright of Temple Hall Lodge and of Abbey Park, Coldingham.
Died of Wounds on 24 July 1916 and buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 11:29 am Post subject:

1939 – 1945

ALEXANDER GIBSON, CAPTAIN, MERCHANT NAVY.
Alexander Gibson – age 54 – Master, S.S. Waterland (London) Merchant Navy.
Alexander had served in the both the merchant navy and the Royal Navy during the First World War and had qualified as a Master in 1921. The “Waterland” was in convoy from Sunderland to Cowes on the Isle of Wight with a cargo of coal when she struck a mine off Dungeness Point. Alexander and 6 of his crew were killed.
Born 1886 in St Abbs, Coldingham. Son of the late Alexander Gibson (died 1912) and of Euphemia (Cowe) Gibson. Husband of Elizabeth Anne (Hutcheson) Gibson of Braemar, Marine View, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland who he married in 1921 in Edinburgh.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 10 March 1941 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Also named on the Seaton Sluice War Memorial.

JOHN D. McGUIRE, L/SERGT. CAMERON Hrs.
John Devlin McGuire – age 35 – Lance Sergeant (2928418) 5th Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
Jack had been a motor lorry driver when he joined the army before the war. He served with the 2nd Battalion in Palestine from 1936 to 1939 and later he served in Egypt, Holland and Germany where he was killed at Adelheide as the battalion moved to take Bremen. He was re-interred in Becklingen in August 1946.
Born 1909 in Edinburgh. Son of the late Hugh Devlin McGuire (died 1919) and of Margaret Eleanor (Kyle) McGuire, from 1920 Mrs Robert Rutherford of Rose Cottage, Coldingham. Husband of Janet Cowan (Mathison) McGuire who he married in March 1943 in Cowdenbeath, Fife when he was a Corporal in the Cameron Highlanders
Killed in Action on 19 April 1945 and buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany.

JAMES P. ROBERTSON, CHIEF ENGINEER, MERCHANT NAVY.
James Patterson Robertson – age 54 – Chief Engineer Officer, S.S. Cortona, Merchant Navy.
James was educated at the Berwickshire High School in Duns.
The “Cortona” was sailing from Liverpool for Buenos Aires when she was torpedoed and sunk by two German submarines, U-116 and U-201. Three crew members were lost and one lifeboat in charge of the chief officer with 27 crew members and two gunners went missing. The master, 18 crew members and four gunners in a lifeboat were picked up after ten days.
Born 1888 in Coldingham. Son of the late Barbara Aikman (Patterson) Robertson (died 1902) and of John William Robertson of Post Office House, Coldingham. Husband of the late Mary Scott Forbes (Brown) Robertson (died 1920) of Greenock Renfrewshire who he married in 1919 in Glasgow. His daughter Isabella Robertson (born 1919) of the Post Office, Coldingham was named as his next of kin.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 14 July 1942 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Also named on the Berwickshire High School memorial.
His brother William Ross Fulton Robertson was killed in June 1917 and is also named on this memorial.

WILLIAM R. SWAN, RIFLEm. CAMERONIANS.
William Ralph Swan – age 24 – Rifleman (3191113) 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
The 1st Cameronioans had been in India at the outbreak of WW2 and it remained there until February 1942, when it deployed to Burma for over three years, serving with the Chindits in the 2nd Chindit Expedition of 1944.
Born 1920 in Glendale, Northumberland. Son of Robert and Margaret (Thomson) Swan, of South Falaknowe, Coldingham.
Missing in Action on 25 May 1944 and named on the Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar.

ROBERT T. WILSON, MERCHANT NAVY.
Robert Thorburn Wilson – age 20 – Able Seaman, M.V. Walmer Castle (London) Merchant Navy.
In June 1941 the “Walmer Castle” was converted into a convoy rescue ship. These ships were called Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries, had a Merchant Navy crew and flew the blue ensign. Her first deployment was with a convoy which left Liverpool on 12 September 1941 bound for Gibraltar and on 20 September she rescued the crews of two ships from the convoy which had been torpedoed and sunk. The following day she was attacked and sunk by a German Focke-Wulf Condor aircraft.
Born 1921 in St Abbs, Coldingham. Son Peter and Christina (Cunningham or Finlay) Wilson of Sulby House, St. Abbs, Coldingham.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 21 September 1941 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Also named on an individual memorial now in Coldingham Priory Parish Church.

JOHN WOOD, CORP. SEAFORTH Hrs.
John Wood – age 22 – Corporal (3058457) 4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
John was a bakery vanman in Coldingham and in Whitsome, Berwickshire when he enlisted. He landed with his battalion, as part of the 51st Highland Division, at Le Havre in January 1940 but by June the Division was being pushed back to the coast. Preparations to evacuate the Division from Dieppe could not be used so the decision was to use Le Havre. Eventually the main body of the Division arrived at St.Valery-en-Caux where it was forced to surrender. John was fatally wounded near Dieppe and he and seven comrades are buried at Arques-La-Bataille.
Born 1918 at Fishwick Mains, Hutton, Berwickshire. Son of Peter and Euphemia (Wilson) Wood of Chapel Hill, Cockburnspath and of Lintlaw, Berwickshire.
Died of Wounds on 9 June 1940 and buried in Arques-La-Bataille Communal Cemetery near Dieppe, France.
Also named on the Whitsome Parish War Memorial and on the Cockburnspath WW2 Memorial in St. Helen's Church.
_________________
Ken