The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject: Kirkcudbright Academy

UKNIWM Ref No 44414

OS Map Ref NX 679 509

Located in the entrance hall of Kirkcudbright Academy.

For anyone interested in knowing more about those listed on this memorial, the two volumes of Ian Devlin's book, 'We will remember them - Kirkcudbright's sons' are an absolute must.

spoons · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject:

Elma Wood worked for the NAAFI and is featured on the Dalry war memorial.

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject:

Would there be any particular reason why there were so many more Second World War names compared to the Great War?

Adam

spoons · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:17 pm Post subject:

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

If you compare the WW2 names against the Kirkcudbright Burgh memorial it looks like they had quite a few folk from out of town attending the Academy. Perhaps they accepted pupils from further away by the Second World War?

Burgh names

ANDERSON Andrew
BOYD Cecil R
BROWN Douglas
CLARK Ronald L
CLARK John
FORREST David
HAMILTON William R
HARRISON John B
LINDSAY James McK
MARTIN John
McCLYMONT William W
McCORMACK Jack W
McCRACKEN John
McGLASHAN A Neill
McGRATH John
McNEILLIE William
MIDDLETON David
MILROY George
MITCHELL George
MOTHERSILL Alan K
MULDOON James
ROBB Robert W
ROBISON Thomas W B
ROWAN Robert
SIMPSON Peter
SNEDDON John F
STRAITON Andrew
WEMYSS John J

spoons · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:40 pm Post subject:

The improvement in roads and introduction of motor vehicles would have made it possible for people in this very rural area to get to secondary schools in the 1920s and 30s whereas they would not have been able to travel to a secondary school prior to WW1. I suspect we may find this to be true in other rural communities but I guess we won't find many secondary schools with WW1 and WW2 names?

David McNay · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:49 pm Post subject: Re: Kirkcudbright Academy

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject:

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 1:13 pm Post subject:

I thought I'd look at the WW2 names in more detail.
Frustratingly there are three that I cannot yet identify and they do not seem to be on any Dumfries and Galloway civic memorials.

J. DESMOND BLACK
James Desmond Black – age 19 – Lieutenant (262193) 2 Special Air Service, Army Air Corps.
James was commissioned in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in February 1943 and transferred to the SAS in April 1944.
Born 1924 at Chorlton, Manchester. Son of John Mayes Black (Major, Indian Army) and of Mai Florence (Cowley) Black of Ellerslie, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Killed in Action between 20 and 21 September 1944 and buried in Durnbach War Cemetery, Bad Tolz, Bayen, Germany.
Also named on the Tongland Parish War Memorial.
2 SAS mounted Operation Loyton behind enemy lines in the Vosges area of eastern France.
James was wounded during one of the actions and captured as he tried to get back to the American lines. He was executed by the Gestapo near St. Die, France. After the war his grave, and those of about 30 others, was traced and they were re-interred in Durbach Cemetery.
(Source: specialoperations.com)

DOUGLAS BROWN.
(Sgt/AG Douglas Brown RAFVR on town memorial)
Douglas Brown – age 21 – Sergeant/Air Gunner (1004817) 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Douglas was employed by A.D. Brown, Grocer in Kirkcudbright and was the youngest of five brothers serving. He had already taken part in 19 raids when his Lancaster bomber took off from RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire for a raid on Essen. It is believed that the aircraft was hit by ground-fire. The crew were originally buried in Wulfen cemetery but were re-interred at Reichswald in April 1947.
Born 1921 in Maryhill, Kelvin, Glasgow. Son of David and Fanny (Rae) Brown, and nephew of Mrs. M. Carson, of 108 High Street, Kirkcudbright.
Killed in Action on 1 May 1943 and buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Also named on the Kirkcudbright War Memorial and on the St. Cuthbert's Church memorial.

ANGUS J. BURNS.
Angus John Burns – age 31 – Sergeant (640669) 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Angus had been an insurance agent in Dalbeattie when he married in 1931. He moved to Glasgow and joined the RAF in the summer of 1939. His Blenheim bomber took off from RAF Wyton in Cambridgshire to attack targets in north-west Germany but crashed into the North Sea.
Born 1909 in Twynholm, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of John and Edith (McCall) Burns of 5 Station Road, Dalbeattie and of Longwood Cottage, Dunjop, Castle Douglas. Husband of Elizabeth or Betty Clark (Gordon) Burns who he married in Dalbeattie in 1931.
Killed in Action on 2 September 1940 and named on the Runnymede Memorial, Windsor, Surrey.
Not named on any local war memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 1:19 pm Post subject:

JAMES CALDOW.
James Caldow – age 24 – Lance Corporal (3254367) 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
James was reported drowned during the assault on Walcheren Island in the Netherlands.
Born 1920 at Borgue, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of William and Jane Muir (White) Caldow of Kempleton, Twynholm and later of Borgue.
Killed in Action between 3 to 4 November 1944 and buried in Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Also named on the Twyholm Parish War Memorial and on the roll of honour in Twynholm Parish Church.
Walcheren was an island that dominated the the entrance to the River Scheldt, which the Germans fortified to prevent the allies gaining access to the vital deep water port at Antwerp. After a hard fought battle, that principally involved units from the 52nd (Lowland) Division (including the 6th Cameronians), the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the 4th Special Service Brigade, the island was secured on the 8th November 1944.

his brother also fell
Robert Caldow – age 26 – Ordinary Seaman (C/JX 352223) HMS Dasher, Royal Navy.
Killed on Active Service/Lost at Sea – 27 March 1943.

HUGH CAMPBELL.
Hugh Campbell, M.A. (Edinburgh) – age 23 – Sergeant (934900) 223 Battery, 32 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Hugh was educated at Dalbeattie High School, at Kirkcudbright Academy and at Edinburgh University from where he graduated in October 1939. He joined his unit in March 1940 and went overseas in July 1941.
Born 1918 in Dalbeattie. Son of George and Agnes R. Campbell of Southwick Road, Dalbeattie.
Killed in Action on 30 December 1941 and buried in Pembroke Military Cemetery, Malta.
Also named on the Dalbeattie War Memorial and on the Royal British Legion Roll of Honour now in Dalbeattie Parish Church.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 1:34 pm Post subject:

ALEXANDER CORSON.
Alexander Corson – age 24 – Corporal (3190799) 7th (Airborne) Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers (Galloway), 1st Airlanding Brigade.
Alexander joined the KOSB at the outbreak of war but while living under canvas he sustained a chill from which he never recovered. He died of tuberculosis at his home in Castle Douglas.
Born 1921 in Kelton Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Alexander and Mary (Clark) Corson of 158 King Street, Castle Douglas.
Died on 10 March 1945 and buried in Castle Douglas Cemetery, Kelton.
Also named on the Castle Douglas War Memorial and on the St. Andrews Church WW2 Memorial now in Castle Douglas Parish Church.

and his brother

E. CLARK CORSON.
Ebenezer Clark Corson – age 22 – Lieutenant (EC/11465) 4th Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles.
Clark was a Guardsman when he was commissioned in December 1943. He was drowned while leading a guerilla patrol crossing the Kun Chaung near Sittang Bend, Burma.
Born 1923 in Kelton Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Alexander and Mary (Clark) Corson of 158 King Street, Castle Douglas.
Killed in Action on 20 July 1945 and buried in Rangoon War Cemetery, Burma (Myanmar)
Also named on the Castle Douglas War Memorial and on the St. Andrews Church WW2 Memorial now in Castle Douglas Parish Church.

J. DESMOND CRAIG.
John Desmond Craig – age 19 – Sergeant/Air Gunner (3021187) 166 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Desmond was killed when his Lancaster bomber, which had taken off from RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire, crashed during a raid on Ludwigshafen.
Born 1925 at Twynholm, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of John Currie Craig and of Jamesina (Dalziel) Craig .
Killed in Action on 2 February 1945 and buried in Durnsbach War Cemetery, Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany.
Also named on the Twynholm Parish War Memorial and on the roll of honour in Twynholm Parish Church.
According to the inscription on the family grave, Sgt. Craig was interred in Leuterschausen Cemetery. He was re-interred in Durnsbach in November 1947.

JAMES A. CROSBIE.
James Aitken Crosbie – age 22 – Pilot Officer (101493) 94 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
James was employed at the Union Bank in Gatehouse when he enlisted. He was a local Scoutmaster and footballer. He was promoted from Flight Sergeant (1060538) to Flight Lieutenant May 1941.
Born 1920 in Gatehouse-of-Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Son of George and Jessie (Aitken) Crosbie of Creebridge Garage, Newton Stewart.
Died of Wounds on 4 April 1942 and buried in Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt.
Also named on the War Memorial in Gatehouse-of-Fleet, on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church and on the Union Bank memorial in Glasgow.
At the time of his death, 94 Squadron were flying Curtis P40 Kittyhawks on fighter patrols over the Western Desert. On 28 March 1942 they were escorting bombers of 12 Squadron, South African Air Force on a raid on Martuba airfield in Libya when they were attacked by German and Italian fighter aircraft. James was wounded and crashed landed. His aircraft was recovered and he was treated in a field ambulance but he later died in hospital.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 1:42 pm Post subject:

SAM R. GORDON.
Samuel Robertson Gordon – age 35 – Private (2932299) 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
Samuel enlisted in November 1939 and served in France in 1940.
Born 1909 in Kelton Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of the late Samuel Rutter Gordon and Elizabeth (Robertson) Gordon of 175 King Street, Castle Douglas.
Killed in Action on 4 September 1944 and buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the Castle Douglas War Memorial and on the St. Ringan's Church WW2 Memorial now in Castle Douglas Parish Church.

WILLIAM R. HAMILTON.
(Sgt. William R. Hamilton RAF on town memorial)
William Robert Hamilton – age 21 – Sergeant (553373) Royal Air Force.
William was killed whilst flying in Wellington bomber of 77 Operational Traing Unit which crashed at RAF Qastina on an overshoot.
Born 1923 in Kirkcudbright. Son of William and Grace Hamilton, of Kirkcudbright.
Killed on Active Service on 22 September 1944 and buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
Also named on the Kirkcudbright War Memorial and on the St. Cuthbert's Church memorial.

ROBERT T. HERRIES
I cannot trace this man.

JOHN W. McCORMACK.
(Ft/Sgt. Jack W. McCormack RAF on town memorial)
John William McCormack – age ?? – Flight Sergeant (550582) Royal Air Force.
Jack had escaped from Singapore but was made a prisoner of war on Java. He was one of many prisoners taken to the island of Ambon to build airfields. On their way back to Java they were killed when the Japanese ship Suez Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine “Bonefish”. Survivors of the sinking were killed by the crew of the escorting minesweeper W-12.
Born ????
Son of Mr.&Mrs. William McCormack of 5 Kilndale Terrace, Kirkcudbright.
Died on Service on 29 November 1943 and named on the Singapore Memorial.
Also named on the Kirkcudbright War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 1:52 pm Post subject:

JAMES McCREDIE.
I cannot trace this man but he is also named on the St. Cuthbert's Church memorial.

FRANCIS J. McGAW.
Francis James McGaw – age 19 – Sergeant Pilot (1052301) 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Francis and his mother returned to Auchencairn, Kirkcudbrightshire from Burma after his father's death there in 1922. He was educated at Auchencairn School and Kirkcudbright Academy and he became an apprentice at the Bank of Scotland in Moffat. His Wellington bomber had taken off from RAF Marham, Norfolk for a raid on Mannheim. On its return it was shot down by an enemy intruder and crashed near Martlesham Heath, Suffolk.
Born c.1922 in Burma. Son of the late Thomas Craig McGaw and of Agnes (Docherty) McGaw of Ashtree Cottage, Auchencairn.
Killed in Action on 30 August 1941 and buried in Auchencairn Cemetery. (CWG)
Also named on the Auchencairn War Memorial.

CAMERON MACGILL.
Cameron MacGill – age 26 – Lance Corporal (2878553) 1st Battalion, The London Scottish, Gordon Highlanders.
Born 1918 in Rerrick. Son of Cameron and Catherine (McDowall) MacGill of Kirkcarswell, Rerrick, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Killed in Action on 24 April 1945 and buried in Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Ferrara, Italy.
Also named on the Rerrick Parish War Memorial in Dundrennan Village.

A. NEILL McGLASHAN.
(Fl/Lt. A. Neill McGalshan 156 Sqn. RAFVR on town memorial)
Alexander Neill McGlashan – age 32 – Flight Lieutenant/Pilot (110887) 156 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Alexander was employed at the Royal Bank of Scotland branch in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. He was promoted from Sergeant (1124495) to Pilot Officer in November 1941 and to Flight Lieutenant in November 1943. His Lancaster bomber took off from RAF Warboys, Huntingdonshire for a raid on Berlin. He was orginally buried in Doberitz-Elsgrund Cemetery but was re-interred in Berlin in December 1946.
Born 1911 in Maxwelltown, Troqueer, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of the late Elizabeth MacMillan (Neill) McGlashan and of James McGlashan of Balinbreich, Kirkcudbright.
Killed in Action on 3 January 1944 and buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
Also named on the Kirkcudbright War Memorial and on the St. Cuthbert's Church memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 2:03 pm Post subject:

ALEXANDER M. McKNIGHT.
Alexander Mitchell MacKnight – age 24 – Bombardier (3191043) 124 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Born 1922 in Barrhill, Ayrshire. Son of William Callander MacKnight of High Street, New Galloway, Kells and of the late Julia (Mitchell) McKnight.
Died on 16 August 1946 in Hairmyers Hospital, East Kilbride of Osteogenic Sarcoma and buried in Barrhill Cemetery, Ayrshire.
Also named on the Barrhill War Memorial and on the Kells Parish War Memorial in New Galloway.

ALEXANDER McMILLAN
Alexander (Alec) McMillan – age 31 – Petty Officer (P/SSX 23746) His Majesty's Motor Launch 466, Royal Navy.
Born 1914 in Southend. Argyllshire. Son of Son of James and Jessie (Craig) McMillan of Burnside Cottage, Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire.
Husband of ?????? (cannot trace) who he married in 1944. (Source: Galloway Gazette 31/3/1945 p. 2e)
Killed in Action on 25 March 1945 and buried in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Also named on the Kirkcown War Memorial.
H.M.M.L. 466 hit a mine and sank with all hands off Walcheren Island, Netherlands.

His brother also fell
Robert McMillan – age 35 – Private (3192086) 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Killed in Action – 26 February 1945.

GEORGE F. McMINN
George Franklin McMinn – age 22 – Signalman (2334724) 18th Division Signals, Royal Corps of Signals.
Born 1920 in Kelton Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Robert and Georgina McMinn of Laurel Bank House, Castle Douglas.
Died on Service on 22 July 1943 in POW Camp No.1, Thailand and buried in Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand.
Also named on the Castle Douglas War Memorial.
The 18th Infantry Division landed at Singapore a few weeks before the fall of the island. Its units went into Japanese POW camps.
Chungkai was one of the base camps on the notorious Burma-Siam railway.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 2:12 pm Post subject:

WILLIAM McNEILLIE
(AB. William McNeillie HMT Kelt RNVR on town memorial)
William McNeillie – age 20 – Seaman (LT/JX 207466) HM Trawler “Kelt” Royal Naval Patrol Service.
William was employed by a baker in Kirkcudbright when he enlisted in 1939. The “Kelt” was operating off the west coast Africa on escort and anti-submarine duties. She was severely damaged in December 1942 in Lagos Harbour when a tanker exploded destroying 3 other trawlers.
Born 1922 in Kirkcudbright. Son of William and Nellie (McNeil) McNeillie, of Millflats, Kirkcudbright.
Killed on Active Service on 5 December 1942 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.
Also named on the Kirkcudbright War Memorial and on the St. Cuthbert's Church memorial.

DAVID MENZIES
David Menzies – age 19 – Sergeant/Flight Engineer (3020036) 78 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force.
David's Halifax bomber took off from RAF Breighton, near Selby in Yorkshire, for a raid on the synthetic oil plants at Scholven-Buer near Gelsenkirchen. It was hit by anti-aircraft flak and crashed at Gahlen near Scermbeck. All of the crew were killed and were buried in Kirchhellen Cemetery but were re-interred in Reichswald in May 1947.
Born 1925 in Rerrick, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of John Carson Menzies and of Grace Blacklock (Young) Menzies of Knockbrex, Kirkcudbright and of Annan, Dumfriesshire.
Killed in Action on 6 October 1944 and buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Also named on the Rerrick Parish War Memorial in Dundrennan Village.

GEORGE MILROY
(Gnr. George Milroy RA on town memorial)
George Milroy – age 20 – Gunner (918384) Royal Artillery.
George was a butcher at Castle Street in Kirkcudbright and a footballer with St Cuthbert Wanderers when he enlisted pre-war in the Kirkcudbrightshire Battery of the R.A. He was transferred to a section of the Salvage Corps and served in France and Belgium. He was reported missing prior to the Dunkirk evacuation.
Born 1919 in Kirkcudbright as William George Milroy. Son of Mrs. Milroy of 15 Union Street, Kirkcudbright.
Missing in Action between 27 and 28 May 1940 and named on the Dunkirk Memorial, France.
Also named on the Kirkcudbright War Memorial.