The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 10:50 am Post subject:

SERGT. C. GALLAGHER. KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
Cornelius Gallagher – age 27 – Sergeant (3192832) 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
2nd KOSB had been in the East since 1923. Until November 1942 they were at Razmak when they left for Peshawar. After tough training they sailed with the 7th (Indian) Division to Burma in September 1943.
Born 1917 in Haddington. Son of the late Esther (Ferris) Gallagher (died 1924) and of Cornelius Gallagher of Haddington. Husband of Mary (Bonnar) Gallagher of Blantyre, Lanarkshire who he married in 1938 in Blantyre.
Died on Active Service on 15 October 1944 and buried in Karachi War Cemetery, Pakistan.

H. GILLIES. ROYAL SCOTS
Possibly:
Harry Gillies – age 24 – Lance Corporal (3060022) 8th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Harry was resident in East Lothian when he enlisted.
Born 1917 in Edinburgh as Harold Bloor Gillies. Son of the late James Kerr Gillies (died 1919) and of Marion Cranston (Tervit) Gillies who married Henry Rose Dobbie in 1927 in Glasgow.
Died on Service on 13 June 1941 and buried in Lowestoft (Normanston Drive) Cemetery, Suffolk.
His death was registered at Lowthingland, Suffolk.

SERGT. (E) R.J. GRACEY. ROYAL AIR FORCE
Robert Johnstone Gracey – age 21 – Sergeant (1345468) 463 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Robert was the Flight Engineer on his Lancaster bomber which had taken off from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire for a raid on Mailly-le-Camp but the aircraft crashed at Poivres after being shot down on its bombing run.
Born 1923 in Haddington. Possibly son of William and Elizabeth (Snowie) Gracey who married in 1921 in Haddington.
Killed in Action on 4 May 1944 and buried in Poivres Churchyard, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 10:59 am Post subject:

JOHN GRANT. ROYAL SCOTS
John Grant – age 21 – Private (3056953) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots.
1st Royal Scots arrived in India in June 1942 and in March 1943 they were in Burma to try and clear the Japanese positions. They failed to do so and, by April, were at risk of being cut off . Slowly they withdrew north from position to position with many fierce fights leading to considerable casualties.
In late May the Battalion withdrew into India.
Born 1922 in Haddington. Son of Patrick and Mary (Marrs) Grant of Spotlands Crescent, Haddington.
Missing in Action on 4 May 1943 and named on the Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar.

WILLIAM C.B. HOGG. ROYAL SCOTS
William Carlyle Black Hogg – age 26 – Private (3059821) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots.
At the end of January 1944 the 1st Royal Scots moved to the central Ganges plain where it was possible to undertake intensive jungle training. Their subsequent deployment to counter the major Japanese offensive westward towards Kohima and Imphal and in particular the Battalion’s role in the holding of Kohima led to the subsequent defeat of the Japanese there.
Born 1918 in Haddington. Son of Robert and Annie (Herriot) Hogg of Haddington.
Killed in Action on 9 June 1944 and buried in Kohima War Cemetery, India.
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

GUNR. ALEXANDER KENNEDY. ROYAL ARTILLERY
Alexander Kennedy – age 32 – Gunner (926343) 106 (The Lancashire Hussars) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
106 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (TA) was converted in March 1941 from 106 Royal Horse Artillery. They served in North Africa, Greece and Crete and in April 1941 it was part of the 1st Australian Corps at Larissa, Greece.
Born 1909 in Aston, Birmingham. Son of Alexander and Amelia (McKinley) Kennedy of Knox Place, Haddington.
Missing in Action between 26 and 27 April 1941 and named on the Athens Memorial, Greece.
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:04 am Post subject:

SERGT. A.J. MACDONALD. R.E.&M. ENGINEERS
Angus John Macdonald – age 30 – Sergeant (909629) Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Angus was cycling to his home in Bodicote, Banbury, Oxfordshire when he was hit and killed by a US Army lorry.
Born 1914 in Haddington. Son of Lachlan and Jemima (Lawrie) Macdonald of Letham Mains, Haddington. Husband of Barbara Jessie Myrtle (Simpson) Macdonald of 7 Council Houses, Bodicote who he married in 1943 in Bodicote.
Died on Service on 24 October 1944 and buried in Haddington (St. Martin's) New Burial Ground. (CWG)
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

SERGT. O. McALPINE. ROYAL SCOTS
Owen McAlpine – age 41 – Sergeant (3044401) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots.
Owen was captured by the Japanese at the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941. He died of malarial fever and was buried in the Bowen Road cemetery. He was re-interred in February 1946.
Born 1898 in Haddington. Son of the late Thomas McAlpine (died 1910) and of Rebecca (Mahon) McAlpine of Spotlands Crescent, Haddington.
Died on Service on 10 February 1943 and buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, China.

L/CPL. GEORGE McKENZIE. HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
George Brown McGowan McKenzie – age 20 – Lance Corporal (14400878) 5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
The 5th HLI landed in Ostend, Belgium in October 1944 and then took part in the capture of the Dutch island of Walcheren. Thereafter it fought throughout Southern Holland and into Germany, with their final action resulting in the capture of Bremen in April 1945. George was killed at Vilsen near Bremen and was re-interred in October 1946.
Born 1924 in Haddington. Son of William and Catherine McKenzie of Haddington.
Killed in Action on 15 April 1945 and buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:20 am Post subject:

SERGT. (E) R. McLAREN. ROYAL AIR FORCE
Robert McGuire McLaren – age 28 – Sergeant (1893585) 76 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Robert was the flight engineer on his Halifax Bomber which had taken off from RAF Holme-On-Spalding Moor, Yorkshire for a raid on the Opel Factory at Russelsheim but the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter near Hamm. The crew were buried there until an American unit moved them to St. Avold US Military Cemetery after the end of hostilities and they were re-interred in Choloy in February 1948.
Born 1916 in Haddington. Son of John and Mary (McGuire) McLaren of Haddington.
Killed in Action on 13 August 1944 and buried in Choloy War Cemetery, France.
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

SEC. LIEUT. F.T. McLEOD. R.I.A. SERVICE CORPS
Frank Turner McLeod – age 30 – Second Lieutenant. Royal Indian Army Service Corps
Frank was commissioned in the Indian Army from Lance Bombardier in October 1941.
Born 1912 in Troqueer, Kirkcudbrightshire. William and Agnes Gibb (Gladstone) Mcleod of Knox House, Newton Port, Haddington.
Died on Service on 7 June 1942 at Shillong in northeastern India and buried in Gauhati War Cemetery, India.

L/CPL. A. MOFFAT. ROYAL SCOTS
Alexander Moffat – age 25 – Lance Corporal (3058776) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots.
At the end of January 1944 the 1st Royal Scots moved to the central Ganges plain where it was possible to undertake intensive jungle training. Their subsequent deployment to counter the major Japanese offensive westward towards Kohima and Imphal and in particular the Battalion’s role in the holding of Kohima led to the subsequent defeat of the Japanese there.
Born 1918 in Ratho, Midlothian. Son of Alexander Moffat and of Mary (McDonald) Moffat of Hawthornbank, Haddington. Husband of Christina Thomson W. (Primrose) Moffat of Portobello, Midlothian who he married in 1937 in Portobello.
Missing in Action on 28 May 1944 and named on the Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:29 am Post subject:

SERGT. THOMAS PURVES. M.M. A. & S. HIGHLANDERS
Thomas Purves, Military Medal – age 36 – Sergeant (2974492) 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
The Japanese had invaded Malaya in December 1941 and the 2nd Argylls as part of the 12th Indian Infantry Brigade fought throughout the Malayan Campaign before going into captivity with the Fall of Singapore in February 1942. George was awarded a MM for his actions in Malaya. He was wounded and was reportedly evacuated from Johor Bahru on 30 January but was never heard of again.
Born 1905 in Stenton, East Lothian. Son of George Hay Purves and of Marion (Cunningham or Smith) Purves of Florabank Road, Haddington. Husband of Edith (Hewer) Purves, of 21 Hendon Park Row, Golders Green, Middlesex who he married in 1934 in Hendon, Middlesex.
Missing in Action on 4 February 1942 and named on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

TR. D. REILLY. ROYAL TANK REGIMENT
Daniel Reilly – age 28 – Trooper (7893427) 40th (7th Battalion, The Kings Regiment [Liverpool]) Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.
The regiment served with the 23rd Armoured Brigade in Egypt and Libya and into Tunisia. It later served in the Italian Campaign.
Born 1915 in Haddington. Son of Daniel and Edith (Morrison) Reilly of Haddington. Husband of Joan Smith (Middleton) Reilly of Haddington who he married in 1936 in Newbattle, Midlothian.
Killed in Action on 25 December 1943 and buried in Minturno War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

TELEGRAPHIST T.M. ROSS. ROYAL NAVY
Thomas Miller Ross – age 19 – Ordinary Telegraphist (P/JX 162917) H.M.S. Fleur de Lys, Royal Navy.
The corvette “Fleur du Lys” was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-206 west of Gibraltar.
Born 1922 in Haddington. Son of Robert and Annie (Sanderson) Ross of Haddington.
Killed in Action/Lost at Sea on 14 October 1941 and named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:51 am Post subject:

A.P. SLIGO. CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
Served as:
Andrew Pryde – age 26 – Private (2928831) 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
The 2nd Camerons opening engagement of the Second World War was in Sudan in January 1941. It then moved to Egypt and Libya, eventually being captured at Tobruk in June 1942.
Born 1914 in Glasgow as Andrew Pryde. Son of Annie Arnot Elizabeth (Pryde) Sligo and step-son of John Malcolm Sligo of Hawthornbank Road, Haddington who married in 1917 in Glasgow.
Missing in Action on 15 June 1941 and named on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.

F/LT. G.A. SPARK D.F.C. ROYAL AIR FORCE
George Aytoun Spark, Distinguished Flying Cross – age 28 – Flight Lieutenant (155494) 625 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
George was commissioned from Flight Sergeant (1365262) in July 1943 and was promoted to Flying Officer in January 1944. His was awarded a DFC for his actions during a raid on Kassel in October 1943. George was the pilot of his Lancaster bomber which had taken off from RAF Kelstern in Lincolnshire for a raid on Berlin but the aircraft was lost without a trace.
Born 1916 in Haddington. Son of George and Lilias Ayton (McLean) Spark of Haddington.
Missing in Action on 29 January 1944 and named on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

L/CPL. M. STANTON. ROYAL SCOTS
Michael Stanton – age 22 – Corporal (2991778) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots.
At the end of January 1944 the 1st Royal Scots moved to the central Ganges plain where it was possible to undertake intensive jungle training. Their subsequent deployment to counter the major Japanese offensive westward towards Kohima and Imphal and in particular the Battalion’s role in the holding of Kohima led to the subsequent defeat of the Japanese there. Michael was killed in Kubvuma Village and was re-interred in December 1944.
Born 1921 in Haddington. Son of John and Catherine (Gannon) Stanton of Haddington.
Killed in Action on 20 April 1944 and buried in Kohima War Cemetery, India.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:51 am Post subject:

GUNR. A. STEWART. MARINE A.A. ROYAL ARTILLERY
Andrew Stewart – age 37 – Gunner (1784443) 1 Battery. 1 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Born 1904 in Haddington as Andrew Swan Stewart. Son of William Polwarth Stewart and Agnes (Thomson) Stewart, of Haddington.
Died at sea on Active Service on 13 January 1942 and buried in Haddington (St. Martin's) New Burial Ground.
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

SQD. LDR. ALFRED SUDDEN D.F.M. ROYAL AIR FORCE
Alfred Sudden, Distinguished Flying Medal – age 29 – Squadron Leader (114771) 614 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Alfred was quantity surveyor when he enlisted in August 1939 as a wireless-operator and air gunner. He became a navigator and bomb-aimer and he was awarded a DFM for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations while serving as Sergeant (913307) with 148 Squadron which was flying Wellington bombers from Malta. He was commissioned in December 1941, promoted to Flying Officer in October 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant in December 1943.
614 Squadron was formed in Italy in February 1944 to carry out bombing raids over Italy and the Balkans and operate supply drops to partisans. Alfred's Halifax bomber had taken off from Stornara in south-east Italy for a raid on Feuersbrunn Airfield in the Austrian Tyrol but the aircraft was shot down at Innerhalbach. The crew were re-interred at Klagenfurt in 1945.
Born 1915 in Edinburgh. He was baptised at Bulford, Wiltshire in May 1916 where his father was serving in the Army. Son of the late Alfred Sudden (died February 1944) and of Helen Lothian (Pringle) Sudden of Meadow Park, Haddington.
Killed in Action on 6 July 1944 and buried in Klagenfurt War Cemetery, Austria
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

C.Q.M.S. A. TAYLOR. ROYAL SCOTS
Alexander Taylor – age 32 – Colour Sergeant (3051885) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots.
Alexander age 26 was a Corporal in the 2nd Royal Scots when he married in 1937 in Haddington.
The 2nd Royal Scots had been in Hong Kong since January1938. Alexander was captured by the Japanese at the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941.
Born c.1911 in Edinburgh. Son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Taylor of Haddington. Husband of Mary (Roden) Taylor of 51 Sprotland Crescent, Haddington who he married in 1937 in Haddington.
Died on Service on 5 December 1943 and buried in Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 4:28 pm Post subject:

A.E. TROY. ROYAL SCOTS
Albert Edward Troy – age 30 – Private (3055705) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots.
At the end of January 1944 the 1st Royal Scots moved to the central Ganges plain where it was possible to undertake intensive jungle training. Their subsequent deployment to counter the major Japanese offensive westward towards Kohima and Imphal and in particular the Battalion’s role in the holding of Kohima led to the subsequent defeat of the Japanese there.
Born 1914 in Yester or Gifford, East Lothian. Son of the late Alfred John Troy (died 1941) and Elizabeth Jane (Cain) Troy of Haddington.
Killed in Action on 9 June 1944 and buried in Kohima War Cemetery, India.

SERGT. THOMAS VEITCH. ROYAL AIR FORCE
Thomas Veitch – age 20 – Sergeant (1822858) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Thomas was a wireless-operator and air gunner on his Liberator bomber of 1675 Heavy Conversion Unit based at Abu Sueir, Egypt. During a training exercise the aircraft caught fire in the air and crashed when attempting a forced landing near Abu Sueir.
Born 1925 in East Linton, Prestonkirk, East Lothian. Son of William and Margaret (Pearson) Veitch of Haddington.
Died on Service on 27 July 1945 and buried in Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt.

ACTING A.B. JOHN WHITE. ROYAL NAVY
John White – age 19 – Able Seaman (C/JX 312380) H.M.S. President III (M.V. San Delfino) Royal Navy.
HMS President III was an administrative unit for men serving on Defensive Equipped Merchant Ships.
John was a gunner on the tanker “San Delfino” sailing from Houston, Texas for Halifax, Nova Scotia and then for Hull with a cargo of aviation fuel when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-203 off the coast of North Carolina. 24 crew members and four gunners were lost.
Born 1913 in Haddington. Son of Christopher William and Elizabeth Melrose (Henry) White of Haddington.
Missing in Action/Lost at Sea on 9 April 1942 and named on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Also named on the St. Mary's Church memorial in Haddington.

L/SERGT. D. YOUNG. SCOTS GUARDS
Daniel Young – age 26 – Lance Sergeant (2695366) Scots Guards.
In 1936 Daniel was with the 2nd Battalion when they deployed to Palestine, which was experiencing violent troubles during the Arab Revolt. They moved to Egypt in 1939 but for some reason Daniel stayed in Palestine. He suffered a fractured skull in a road accident.
Born 1916 in Dunbar, East Lothian. Son of Daniel and Annie (McGarry) Young of Haddington.
Died on Active Service on 18 November 1942 and buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
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Ken