The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

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

The name of Pte. Theodore Byrne Gracie was added to the CWGC Debt of Honour register today.

Name: GRACIE, THEODORE BYRNE
Initials: T B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Fusiliers
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 16/02/1918
Service No: 15814
Additional information: Son of Robert and Mary Gracie; husband of Annie Gracie of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.
N.B.: Recent research has shown that Private Gracie is buried here.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Section 229 Lair 72. Compartment 1
Cemetery: OLD MONKLAND CEMETERY

MISSING NO MORE
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

David McNay · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:36 am Post subject:

That's excellent news.

mhomac · Joined: 15 May 2010 Posts: 779 Location: South Lanarkshire

I am delighted that Theodore Gracie has been accepted by CWGC. It makes all the searching worth while and one more "in from the cold.
Thanks to everyone for their help.
Morag.

mhomac · Joined: 15 May 2010 Posts: 779 Location: South Lanarkshire

North Lanarkshire Council plan to add his name to the Coatbridge Civic Memorial.

mhomac · Joined: 15 May 2010 Posts: 779 Location: South Lanarkshire

I checked the Monument last night and the name of Theodore B. Gracie has now been added.
Another brave man recognised and remembered.
Morag.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:21 pm Post subject:

Great news that North Lanarkshire have now added this name.

Thanks

Adam

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

I understand CWGC are to erect a war grave headstone and this is on order along with a number of others for use in Scotland.

Hopefully it may be in place before the end of the year. Of course, Theodore has waited 93 years already.
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

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

Theodore Gracie's headstone is now in place.

Family members (daughters and widow) buried with him are included on the stone.

Grace Gracie 11/5/1920
Mary Gracie 18/8/1926
Annie Cahill 10/11/1967
RIP
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

mhomac · Joined: 15 May 2010 Posts: 779 Location: South Lanarkshire

So pleased to see that at last "my" man has been recognised and his CWGC headstone has been erected. It's been a long time coming but finally it's there for all to see.
Morag

David McNay · Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:33 pm Post subject:

We visited the grave today and left a small posy of holly and flowers.

Here's a photo for those who would prefer it without the watermark.

David McNay · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:55 pm Post subject:

Having looked into this, it appears that Gracie was not 36 at the time of his death, but actually 37 or 38. His service record states he was 34 in 1914, and his date of birth was in 1880.

The death certificate states 6 - is this the record the CWGC would use, or would they be able to correct it if evidence was there to support the correct age?

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

CWGC used the details I submitted to them and taken from his death certificate - an official record. Right or wrong ( it should be the former), it is the age taken from an official source.

The information was provided by his wife whom one would expect would be aware of his true age. It is not unusual for a man'a age to be lower on a service file. He may have knocked some time off when he enlisted in order to get in.
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

David McNay · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:13 pm Post subject:

I thought it would have been taken from the official record i.e. his death certificate, I have that record here and I believe is the one I sent to you. What about a birth certificate though? Would that have any bearing on the matter?

Not trying to ruffle any official feathers here, but I've seen death certificates with incorrect information on them - my own fathers being a prime example. It all depends on how much information the informant knew at the time.

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

David
Not sure about your differing DC info query. The DC I have / submitted clearly gives his age as 36 and is where the info was taken from.
The informant was his wife, who one would assume, knew his true age.
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

David McNay · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:31 am Post subject:

What I'm saying is that I have seen death certificates with incorrect information, such as this one. His year of birth was 1880 and this is borne out by his age given on enlistment.