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KIRKCALDY, WW1
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Derek P



Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 13
Location: Fife

PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote





DJP, 29 August 2008

KIRKCALDY MEMORIAL.
LORD WESTER WEMYSS AND POST-WAR PROBLEMS.
"THE MENTAL REVOLUTION."


The flags on all the principal buildings in Kirkcaldy flew at half-mast on Saturday until a signal flag from the roof of the new Art Gallery was fully hoisted to denote that the town's war memorial had been unveiled. The unveiling of the memorial by Admiral Lord Wester Weymss took place in the presence of large crowds which thronged the Abbotshall and Bennochy Roads, at the junction of which stand the entrance pillars to the gardens in front of the Art Gallery. Here the ceremony took place from a temporary platform, the purple cloth which screened the Wall of Honour, in the centre of which stands the memorial stone, which also bears a tribute to those who fought, falling at the touch of a button pressed about a hundred yards away. The effect was impressive.

The wall, which is the town's memorial, erected by public subscription, forms a balcony in front of the Art Gallery and Museum. At opposite ends of it are the dates "1914 " and " 1918." Between these dates are the tablets bearing the names of the fallen. The memorial stone bears designs in relief, and projects above the level of the wall.

The ceremony was remarkable for the number of men and women who fainted, whistles blowing every few minutes for ambulance men and nurses. The reason for this was perhaps the lengthy wait which the crowd had before the ceremony commenced, every available space being occupied long before the proceedings were timed to start. The day, though fine, was not particularly hot. It was a busy Saturday for Kirkcaldy, for the unveiling of the memorial synchronised with the conference of the British Legion in the town, with the second opening of the Raith House fete, and with important tennis and bowling meetings. For two hours all the shops in Kirkcaldy were closed.

Naval, military, and Air Force detachments and members of semi-military organisations lined the streets or were present at the ceremony. The British Legion delegates attended with Lord Glentanar at their head, and, like the relatives of the fallen, who occupied a special station near the platform, laid a wreath at the foot of the memorial. For fully half an hour the crowds filed past in procession.

WAR-TIME AIRS.

The Provost and members of the Town Council, in their new robes of office, with their guests, marched to the ceremony, headed by a band playing war-time airs. A massed choir, under the Corporation organist, Mr James Gray, led the choral parts of the service. A special prayer was given by the Rev. Dr Fairweather, while the prayer of dedication was delivered by the Rev. Dr Campbell, minister of Kirkcaldy Parish Church. Black Watch pipers played a lament after the dedication, and buglers sounded "The Last Post," after which a two-minutes' silence was observed, followed by the "Reveille." The proceedings concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. A tree was afterwards planted by Lord Wester Wemyss.

Among those on the platform were Sir Ralph Anstruther, Sir Robert C. Lockhart, Sheriff Dudley Stuart, Sheriff Fleming, Colonel St Clair Oswald, Mr T. Kennedy, M.P., and Mr W. L. Macindoe, Town-Clerk. A body of ex-Service men marched from Port Brae.

Provost Kilgour said that he felt that Kirkcaldy had realised to the full one of its finest dreams. They had waited long, but he claimed that the result had justified the waiting. By the erection of the Gallery and Wall of Dedication and the laying out of the grounds they had enhanced, in no small measure, the beauty of their town and increased the pride of those who wore striving for her welfare. For many future generations it was hoped that the Museum and Art Gallery would be a centre of inspiration and knowledge, while the grounds would, he trusted, be preserved as a place of beauty for all time. That was all to the good, but was quite subsidiary to the main object in view. The primary object was a war memorial. Inscribed on the Wall of Dedication were the names of nearly 1000 citizens.

LORD WESTER WEMYSS'S SPEECH.

Lord Wester Wemyss, who was in naval uniform, said that the unveiling of a war memorial was a ceremony which could not help but profoundly move all those who assisted in it, for it recalled those four blood-stained years of war. The people of Kirkcaldy, in raising the memorial, were giving tangible expression to their desire to do honour to the memory of those of their fellow-citizens who had died, and, in doing so, they were also paying a tribute to that great virtue – performance of duty.

The time was not far distant when their places would be taken by those to whom the Great War would no longer be an experience and remembrance, but a period of past history, and they must embue their children and grandchildren with their feelings, for thus would be created one more of those noble traditions which had helped to make this country. And while they were honouring the dead they should not forget the living, some of whom had lost their all, who through shattered health were unable to earn their living. They owed them a deep debt of gratitude which was difficult to pay, but he could not help thinking that if everybody there would form the resolution never to let the opportunity pass of showing them sympathy, it would, indeed, be a worthy coping stone to the monument to their dead comrades.

The years which followed the war had been a time when pledges had been unredeemed and hopes unfulfilled – a time of universal difficulty, which had not been made any easier by the mental revolution, through which the whole world was passing. Standards which had served them for generations were being swept aside. Moral foundations which they had ever looked upon as sound were showing signs of quivering, and in that atmosphere moral forces had been let loose which were too dimly, if at all, understood, and of which no man could conceive the end, and which no man had yet learned how to govern, much less how to control. They entered the war with high ideals, convinced of the justice of their cause, and believing that victory would bring them peace and security, but experience had taught them that a victory in arms, although it was an essential step in that direction, was not, in itself, sufficient to gain their ends, and they found themselves still fighting, not against the enemy of the other day, but against a combination of hostile circumstances, which, in their way, were as dangerous as ever were German bombs or shells.

NATION'S FUTURE DESTINY.

There was the reaction which naturally enough set in after four years of unprecedented strain and stress – a reaction which helped rather to sap our energies and to undermine our self-confidence. The trade on which our welfare so greatly depended had been entirely dislocated by the worldwide upheaval. Many remedies had been proposed and many attempts made, but so far with little success, and there was a real danger that we might turn towards schemes which in truth were impracticable, illusory, and idealistic. Ideals were great things, but unless they were based on realities they were like a Will-o'-the-Wisp, and would lead those who were seeking safety into danger. They had to ask themselves whether their ideals were based on realities, for on the correct answer to that question lay, in a great degree, their future destiny. The Scotsman, Monday, 29 June 1925, 9.
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Derek P



Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 13
Location: Fife

PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote



3-2689 Sgt. George Alexander, 1st Royal Highlanders

Born Springfield, Cupar, Fifeshire, 3 December 1878. Enlisted Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire. Disembarked, 19 September 1914. Died of wounds, France and Flanders, 29 October 1914, aged 37. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 37. Son of John and Catherine Alexander, Rosslyn Street, Gallatown, Kirkcaldy. Husband of Elizabeth Christie Alexander, 2 Rossend Terrace, Pathhead, Kirkcaldy.

GRAND RECORD OF A PATHHEAD
SERGEANT
WHO IS RUMOURED KILLED.


Writing home from the base to his wife in Kirkcaldy, Private John Fraser, of the Black Watch, states that Sergeant George Alexander, 2 Rossend Terrace, Nether Street, Kirkcaldy, has been killed by the bursting of a shrapnel shell. Mrs Alexander has had no confirmation of this from the War Office, and while greatly distressed is happy that better news may be forthcoming. Sergeant Alexander who is a native of Dysart, had seen twelve years’ meritorious service with the Gordon Highlanders, attaining the rank of Sergeant, and when the National Reserve was formed he enrolled. When the present war broke out, and Lord Kitchener called for his new army, ex-Sergeant Alexander promptly responded and was drafted into the Black Watch, being given his old rank of Sergeant. Proceeding to the Continent with the Black Watch, he has been through all the fierce fighting that has ensued, and it will be a matter of deep regret if he has fallen. While he was in the Gordons, Sergeant Alexander served with the 1st Battalion under Colonel Mathias on the North Western frontier of India, receiving the Indian Medal with clasps for North Western Frontier and Tirah 1897-98. When the 1st Battalion came home to Edinburgh Castle in 1898, Sereant Alexander remained behind to join the 2nd Battalion at Umballa. The following year he went with the regiment to South Africa, and fought through the whole of the Boer War without a scratch. He was one of the defenders of Ladysmith, and received the Queen’s South African Medal, with four clasps for Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Lang’s Nek, and Belfast, also the King’s Medal with two clasps. After the war he returned with his regiment to India, and took part in the Delhi Durbar war of 1902. Sergeant Alexander was well known in sporting circles, and represented the Gordons at the Army Championship Sports at Calcutta in 1903, winning the 1000 yards and being second in the 600 yards. During his period of service with the 1st Battalion he was the leading “kyndd,” or cross-country runner, and his equal was hard to find. Sergeant Alexander’s portrait will appear in the “Fifeshire Advertiser” gratis war album on Saturday. The Fifeshire Advertiser, Saturday, 28 November 1914, 2.

ANOTHER KIRKCALDY VETERAN
REPORTED KILLED.


Mrs Alexander, 2 Rossend Terrace, Nether Street, Kirkcaldy, has received the official printed notice from the War Office that her husband, Sergeant George Alexander, Black Watch, has been unofficially reported killed in action, also including the printed letter of sympathy from Lord Kitchener. Mrs Alexander has also had her widow’s pension papers sent to her, and a communication from the Record Office requesting her to apply to the War Office for her husband’s effects. Sergeant Alexander, who was a native of Dysart, was twelve years with the Gordon Highlanders, and held medals and clasps for active service in India and South Africa. He and Private Menzies nobly responded to Lord Kitchener’s call to arms, and they were drafted into the Black Watch together. Sergeant Alexander has been missing since 29th October, and some time ago another Kirkcaldy soldier reported that he had been killed on that date. For over three months Mrs Alexander has been in great suspense, and has been in frequent communication with the War Office and other probable sources of information. During his service with the Gordon Highlanders, the deceased was a noted Army athlete, an was a splendid specimen of the British soldier. General sympathy is extended to Mrs Alexander and her young daughter. The Fifeshire Advertiser, Saturday, 13 February 1915, 5.



KIRKCALDY VETERAN PRE-
SUMED KILLED.


The War Office has now given up hope of Sergt. George Alexander, of the 1st Black Watch, who has been missing since 29th Oct. His widow and daughter reside at Rossend Terrace, Nether Street. Sergt. Alexander was a National Reservist when war broke out, and at once enlisted on the call to arms. He had been through the Chitral Campaign, and was at the storming of the Heights of Dargai. He also served in the South Africa Campaign, and held three medals – one for Chitral and two for South Africa. The Fifeshire Advertiser, Saturday, 29 January 1916, 5.
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does anyone know who was responsible for the three sets of relief panels round the central column?

It looks like Royal Navy and Merchant Marine on one side, Airships and RAF on another and trenches and tanks on the third. Bellshill in Lanarkshire has something similar and I wonder if the same artist was responsible?

I'd be interested to know who the heads are too?

Adam
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john burnett



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 790
Location: Fife

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:49 pm    Post subject: Kirkcaldy Reply with quote

I looked ar the Souvenir Opening Ceremony Programme - but no mention of architect.
I can confirm the panels on side and back represent Navy, Army and Air Force.
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john burnett



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 790
Location: Fife

PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:39 pm    Post subject: Kirkcaldy Reply with quote

Thanks to Mrs Aase Goldsmith for taking this up and to Jane Freel from Kirkcaldy Museum for the following.
"From the essay on 'The Development of Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery' in our 'Catalogue of the Fine Art Collection', I found the following information. Originally the town was going to build a War memorial in the grounds of Balsusney House in Kirkcaldy. However following the donation by an 'anonymous' donor (later revealed to be John Nairn) it was decided to build an art gallery and memorial. Therefore Balsusney House was razed to the ground and the new art gallery built. The architects for the building & memorial was J S McKay of Heiton & McKay of Perth and Glasgow. The bronze panels on the memorial were designed by Paulin's of Glasgow.

I typed 'Paulin's of Glasgow' into google and it came up with George Henry Paulin, a sculpture working in Glasgow between 1917-25. During this time he produced sculpture for war memorials at Dollar Academy and Kirkcudbright. It seems likely that this is the person who designed the bronze panels on the Kirkcaldy War Memorial but I am not 100% sure."
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chris.wight



Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Lakewood, Colorado, USA

PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:01 pm    Post subject: Lt. William Darling Deas, A. & S.H. Reply with quote

I spotted this in the October 25, 1915 edition of the Montreal Gazette (Quebec, Canada):

Quote:
Well known in Montreal was William Deas, lieutenant in the 11th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, whose death in action occurred on September 26th, at Hill 70, Northern France. He was the only son of Mrs. William Deas, of Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Previous to the outbreak of war, Lieutenant Deas was in the employ of McFarlane, Son and Hodgson, wholesale stationers, for whom he was Ontario traveller for four years, leaving their employ to go to the front. He was well known in sporting circles here having been captain of the Montreal Scottish Rugby Club.

Lieutenant Deas was educated at Kirkcaldy High School, and George Watson's College, Edinburgh and commenced his business career at the Bank of Scotland, later going to London, and then coming to Canada.

In a letter written to his mother just previous to his death, Lieutenant Deas wrote: "While writing, I hear a battalion of kilted men going past, and they are all singing at the top of their voices. This is the spirit here, everyone fit, and ready and cheery."

The C.W.G.C. entry for him, link, gives his parents as William and Thirza D. Deas, of "Tabernacle," Brown's Town, Jamaica, British West Indies.
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

446937 Sapper James Alexander on this memorial is also on the Barry memorial. He is listed in the Arbroath RoH book too.

The following are all on Arbroath War Memorial & Roll of Honour book.

7755 Corp James Brown Q.O.C.H.

1057 Sgt Norman McLeod Brown of the London Scottish

S/3193 L/Sgt John Christie of the Black Watch


Last edited by DelBoy on Fri Dec 31, 2010 2:03 am; edited 1 time in total
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A Morris



Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1209
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Film of the unveiling of the memorial (new link from one previously posted by Adam):

http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=1728

Rgds,
Alex
_________________
Remembering my Great Uncle - 963 Private Charles Lockhart 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders - KIA 29/10/1914
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john burnett



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 790
Location: Fife

PostPosted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:06 pm    Post subject: Kirkcaldy Reply with quote

Thanks to Mrs Aase Goldsmith for these additional photos.


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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:01 pm    Post subject: Pte. Alexander Henry McIntosh Reply with quote

WW1
LONDON SCOTTISH
Alexander H. McIntosh, Pte.

(Glasgow Herald 27th November 1914)
"At Boulogne, on 22nd November, the result of wounds received in action. Alexander Henry McIntosh, of the London Scottish, aged 21 years, eldest son of Thomas Wishart McIntosh, London of A.H. McIntosh & Co. Ltd, furniture manufacturers , Kirkcaldy."

An unusual case in that his body was repatriated back for burial.

CWGC
Name: McINTOSH, ALEXANDER HENRY
Initials: A H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: London Regiment (London Scottish)
Unit Text: 14th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 22/11/1914
Service No: 1963
Additional information: Son of Thomas Wishart McIntosh and Catherine McIntosh, of 2, Ravenslea Rd., Wandsworth Common, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Q. 102.
Cemetery: KIRKCALDY (BENNOCHY) CEMETERY

SNWM
Surname: McINTOSH
Firstname: Alexander Henry
Service Number: 1963
Date Death: 22/11/1914
Place of birth: London
SNWM roll: LONDON SCOTTISH
Rank: Pte
Theatre of death: F.& F.


Last edited by DelBoy on Thu Jul 25, 2013 5:25 am; edited 3 times in total
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john burnett



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 790
Location: Fife

PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:58 pm    Post subject: Kirkcaldy Reply with quote

Thanks to Mrs Aase Goldsmith for photographs.
When doing work on adding plaque for other conflicts they started to "clean up" some of other plaques. Work has stopped I believe as it was felt they looked better untouched.

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themanse



Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 2
Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:00 pm    Post subject: 3-2689 Sgt. George Alexander, 1st Royal Highlanders Reply with quote

George ALEXANDER was my great uncle,
(Honorary Burgess Of Dysart 4th February 1902 Dysart Town Council Minutes 7th January 1902 decision to admit 13 Volunteers to Fight in South Africa Boer War.)
George also lost 2 brothers and a brother in law (my grandfather) in the WWI, another brother John ALEXANDER survived the war.

David ALEXANDER L/Cpl 13115 KOSB (7th) "D" Coy, 13th Pln. 11.05.16

James Philp ALEXANDER Private 628950 CEF 2nd Division. 6th Brigade. 29th Infantry Battalion (British Columbia Regt.)(Tobin's Tigers) 09.08.18

Robert MANSON Private 13162 7th Bn., King's Own Scottish Borderers 25.09.15. My grandfather was born in Thurso, Caithness, moved down to Carnwath then moved to Dysart.

Our family remembers them.
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:44 am    Post subject: Cpl. Edward Gillespie Reply with quote

WW1
K.O.S.B.
Edward Gillespie, Cpl.

(Glasgow Herald 17th Dec 1914)
"Up to the present the list of Kirkcaldy soldiers killed in action numbers 30; 1 sailor has been drowned while engaged in mine sweeping, and a Navy man drowned; 83 soldiers have been wounded, while 5 have been posted as missing.
Intimation has been received by his relatives that Corporal Edward Gillespie, King's Own Scottish Borderers, Links Street, Kirkcaldy, has been killed in action.
"

CWGC
Name: GILLESPIE, EDWARD
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 11305
Date of Death: 28/10/1914
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers 2nd Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 15.
Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname: GILLESPIE
Firstname: Edward
Service Number: 11305
Date Death: 28/10/1914
Place of birth: Kirkcaldy Fife
Other: 2nd Bn.
SNWM roll: THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
Rank: Cpl


Last edited by DelBoy on Thu Jul 25, 2013 5:26 am; edited 1 time in total
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A Morris



Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1209
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2012 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: Robert McLaren
Rank: Gunner
Service Number: 344397
Unit: 221st Siege Battery
Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Birth: 1887 - Inverkeithing
Date of Death: 1st November 1917
Resident of Kirkcaldy
Buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery


_________________
Remembering my Great Uncle - 963 Private Charles Lockhart 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders - KIA 29/10/1914
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Sat May 12, 2012 4:42 pm    Post subject: Pte. Robert Mavor Reply with quote

WW1
SCOTS GUARDS
Robert Mavor, Gds.

(Glasgow Herald 13th of Feb 1915)
"The relatives of Private Robert Mavor, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, have received notification that he was reported missing on January 25 last. Private Mavor, who is a reservist, came from Australia with the Commonwealth Contingent about Christmas Time. He was drafted to the front early last month, and very heavy fighting took place shortly afterwards. Writing to his mother in Kirkcaldy on January 21 Private Mavor mentioned that he was going into the trenches that night for the first time, and, as it afterwards turned out, his regiment was in the thick of the fighting the following morning."

CWGC
MAVOR, ROBERT
Rank: Private
Service No: 5163
Date of Death: 25/01/1915
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards 1st Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 3 and 4.
Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname: MAVOR
Firstname: Robert
Service Number: 5163
Date Death: 25/01/1915
Place of birth: Dysart Fife
SNWM roll: SCOTS GUARDS
Rank: Gdsn


Last edited by DelBoy on Thu Jul 25, 2013 5:28 am; edited 1 time in total
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