The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

One of my casualties is a Civilian Nurse. CWGC details:-
Name: DOWALL, MARY O'NEILL
Initials: M O
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 26
Date of Death: 09/10/1940
Additional information: Nurse. Died at St. Matthew's Hospital.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: SHOREDITCH, METROPOLITAN BOROUGH

Her Death Certificate states cause of death “Due to war operations” suggesting due to an air raid. Her address is quoted as 1a Shepherdess Walk, N.1; confirmed as Shoreditch, London. She is commemorated on the Blairgowrie & Rattray War Memorial, Perthshire as a Nursing Sister. Photo by ‘dhubthaigh’ held

Before I start digging around to ascertain if she is buried in the London area would anybody have any information regarding a possible burial in Scotland?

Grateful for any assistance including any other personal details

Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Tony

I have a means to check burials in Perthshire, but it may take a wee while. Will let you know. Mark might be able to provide other personal details of her / family.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

Cheers Jim

Will wait patiently but forgive my ignorance how do I identify Mark?

Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.

David McNay · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 3:34 pm Post subject:

Mark is dhubthaigh.

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

Thanks David

If he doesn't appear I will PM him

Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:29 am Post subject:

Tony,

I'm not sure of burial details. I seem to recall she is 'mentioned' on a stone in Blairgowrie Cemetery. I'm not sure if that was friends or family or whether she is there.

Here is some other detail:

BORN: 14th October 1913 at 13 Thistle Street, Glasgow.
Daughter of Robert Dowall (Rivetter) and Agnes Whyte.

BLAIRGOWRIE ADVERTISER: 18.10.40

Mrs Norman Hay, Carsie, Blairgowrie, has received intimation that her sister, Mary O’Neill Dowall, who was a nurse in a London hospital, was killed in a recent air raid.
Nurse “Scottie” Dowall, who was 26 years of age, was a Glasgow native. Along with her sister, she spent her girlhood in Rattray, where she was well known.
She had been in the nursing service in London for six years. About five weeks ago she spent a short period of leave with her relatives at Carsie.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:22 pm Post subject:

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

Mark

May I sincerely apologise for not acknowledging your posts of 12th November. How I missed them I don't know but I have just found them as a result of receiving a response from Hackney Council, London and reviewing my previous posts, etc.

It would appear from the Death Report that St. Matthews Hospital, where she was a Nurse, was the target will have to check) and the cause of death quoted as 'Falling Masonry' and she was identified by a Sister Humphrey a Ward Sister at the hospital.

There is no official indication as to the location of death only a note written across the Death Report "Buried by Relatives" that would suggest to me that she is buried in Blairgowrie Cemetery".

When I email to check if the hospital was the target do you have any objections if I include your photograph of the grave?

Regards, Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject:

Hi Tony,

No probs. Please feel free to use the photo as you wish. I agree with you it does appear that Mary is buried in Blairgowrie, along with her sister and brother-in-law ? It looks like this gravestone was replaced but when doing my research I could find no family to source a photo of Mary. It may be that Norman and Annie had children but, if so, their whereabouts are not known to me.

At the time I did not check for any report of a funeral as this had not occurred to me.

rgds.,
Mark

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

Cheers Mark

Will let you know if I receive any further info.

Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject:

Jim,

Thanks for that info.

Mark

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

Jim and Mark

Thanks for your efforts but as Annie Hay was Mary's sister I have to believe that is where Mary is buried.

Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.