The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

A.N.Other · Joined: 29 Aug 2012 Posts: 46

There were three brothers from Paisley who died in WW1 but only two are commemorated.The brothers concerned were :-Pte.Alexander McNab,
235318,6th bn.G.H.,d.07/10/1918,Pte.James McNab,7016,2nd bn. Q.O.C. H.,d.23/04/1915 & Pte.William McNab,2nd bn.G.H.,d.29/10/1914.
William is the one not commemorated.On page 50 of "Paisley's fallen in the War 1914-1918" quoted "mother 11 Springbank Rd.,butcher,joined
Gordons 1911,came from Egypt killed 29th Oct.1914.
(Brothers James & Alexander reported killed in this list.)"
The three brothers' names are on their parents headstone in Hawk -head Cemetery,Paisley.
All the details plus photos of the parents headstone were sent to the CWGC.The usual reply from that august body was the order of The Rubber Ear.
Has anyone any Info that might resolve the issue.
P.S. His name is not on the pre-1914 Army Lists.

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

Am looking into it.

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

I suspect that William McNab is commemorated, but not under his real name.

A check of the Medal Index Cards returns no one of that name serving with the Gordon Highlanders, suggesting that he enlisted and served under an alias. This is not uncommon in pre-WW1 regular soldiers. One of the men from my village served under his grandmother's maiden name (mis-spelt) which made finding him in a relatively small list of Seaforth Highlanders killed at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 much trickier than it should have been.

Quite often men serving under an alias still used their own first name, but with a change of surname. It is worth compiling a list of other family surnames (maiden names of mothers/grandmothers,married names of sisters etc) and checking against the names of the Gordon Highlanders killed on 29 Oct 1914. For example, one possible may be Private 1031 William Duncan - no additional information to eliminate him.

In case you don't know, the online index to the Evening Times shows that there is a report concerning William McNab in the issue of 17 May 1915, p3, stating he was from Paisley and had been killed on 29 Oct 1914.

All the best in your search.

Stuart
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Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Having had a search, I would suggest Private 691 James Green as a good candidate.

The Scotsman 16 Apr 1915:
Mrs M'Nab, 11 Springfield Road, Paisley, has received official notification from the War Office that her son, Private Wm. M'Nab, 2nd Gordon Highlanders, was killed in action on October 29. Private M'Nab, who was 21 years of age, enlisted four years ago. He sailed for Egypt on March 13, 1913, and shortly after the outbreak of the war they went to France. In the fighting at Ypres he was fatally wounded. Prior to enlisting he was an assistant butcher in Paisley.

Take away four years from 1915 and the service numbers for Gordons enlisting about this period are #647 joined on 22 Feb 1911 and #686 joined on 24 Apr 1911. So, #691 is in the correct ball park. Added to that, SDGW states that Private 691 James Green, kia 29 Oct 1914 was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

Best wishes,

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

anne park

Born St Helen's, Lanarkshire Enlisted Glasgow

anne park · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 6:31 am Post subject: 1901 Census of William McNab

Name: Wm Mcnab
Age: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1894
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: James Mcnab
Mother's Name: Isabella Mcnab
Gender: Male
Where born: Paisley, Renfrewshire
Registration Number: 573/1
Registration district: Paisley
Civil parish: Paisley
County: Renfrewshire
Address: 4 Pattison St
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 49
Household schedule number: 133
Line: 23
Roll: CSSCT1901_207
Household Members: Name Age
James Mcnab 40
Isabella Mcnab 36
James Mcnab 16
Agnes Mcnab 14
Alexander Mcnab 11
Wm Mcnab 7
Margaret Mcnab 10 Months

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Hi Anne,

I used William Duncan on a first look of the men who died on 29 Oct 1914 as an example of a possible alias using his own first name. Then, having had more time to search properly and with further details (place of birth, date of enlistment), I proposed John Green as a more likely candidate.

Based on the census details, he was most probably underage when he enlisted. His brother James was a regular soldier, so perhaps William was following in his brother's footsteps.

Private 7016 James M'Nab, 2nd Cameron Highlanders

The Scotsman, May 1915:
PAISLEY WOMAN LOSES TWO SONS
Notification from the War Office has been received by Mrs M'Nab, 11 Springbank Road, Paisley, that her son, Private James M'Nab, 2nd Cameron Highlanders, was killed in action on 23rd April. He enlisted eleven years ago, ans, having served his time with the colours, entered the Reserve. On August 5 he was called up, and proceeded to France. He was wounded on October 23, and got home on sick leave; returning to France on April 2. He was an engineer, 29 years of age, and unmarried. Another son of Mrs M'Nab, Private William M'Nab, 2nd Gordon Highlanders, was killed on 29th October.

Stuart
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A.N.Other · Joined: 29 Aug 2012 Posts: 46

More Info regarding William McNab :-
b.09/08/1893 at 4 Pattison St.,Paisley,f.James McNab,engine fitter, journeyman,m.Isabella MS Marshall,married Paisley,31/12/1886.
William McNab's paternal grandparents :-Alexander McNab & Jacobina Mitchell,maternal grandparents :-William Marshall & Agnes Graham,
paternal great grandparents :- John McNab & Agnes Stewart,James Mitchell & Margaret Hutcheson.Maternal great grandparents :- William Marshall & Isabella Pealeanquall,Thomas Graham & Margaret Gemmell.
There were 7 Ptes. with the christian name of William who had no known n.o.k.on the CWGC Site and died on 29/10/1914 with the 2nd bn.G.H.They were :-
Bruce,William,3/4626,Pte.,b.Peterhead,D1914 117/AF 131(38 yrs.)
Duncan,William,1031,Pte.,b.St.Helens,Lanarkshire,not on AF returns.
Harvey,William,9675,Pte.,b.Inch,Wigtowns.,D1914 117/AF 148(32 yrs.)
Hendry,William,10502,Pte.,b.Aberdeen,D1914 117/AF 149(27 yrs.)
Hutcheon,William,10357,Pte.,b.Rathen,D1914 117/AF 149(25 yrs.)
McPherson,William,3/4330,Pte.,b.Aberdeen,D1914 117/AF 158(36 yrs.)
Smith,William,671,Pte.,b.Glasgow,D1914 117/AF 175(27 yrs.)
The outstanding candidate for the alias :-
Green,James,691,Pte.,b.Paisley,D1914 117/AF 144(23 yrs.) is not on the pre-1914 Army Lists.

A.N.Other.

DelBoy · Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: Pte.William McNab,2nd bn.G.H.

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:50 pm Post subject:

Given more material has been released online in recent years is it possible to connect Pte Green to Pte McNab?

Thanks

Adam

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 6:44 pm Post subject:

The Army Register of Soldiers Effects (or ****) has GREEN, JAMES (or McNab) Private 691, 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders KiA 29/10/1914
Mother and Sole Leg. Isabella McNab.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 6:54 pm Post subject:

GREEN, JAMES
Rank: Private
Service No: 691
Date of Death: 29/10/1914
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders 2nd Bn.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
_________________
Ken

anne park · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:53 pm Post subject: James Green GH update

James Green Private 691 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders b Paisley,Renfrew e Devonport Age 24 Killed in Action West-Vlaanderen, Belgium 29/10/1914 Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres M. R. 29 Panel 38 Dundee Courier 09-01-15 Page 4

Will have a wee look around to see what else turns up...
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:58 pm Post subject: Soldiers Effects on Ancestry

Has the answer....Or McNab Mo Isabella McNab
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.