The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject: Keir

This is the civic memorial in Keir and it is not listed on UKNIWM.

There is a separate listed memorial in Keir church (you can see the church in the background of the first photo).

The WW2 inscription is too badly worn to be readable in the photos. If I get the chance, I will go back with a pen and paper and try and transribe the 3 names unless someone else does it first.

OS Map Ref: NX 858 932

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject:

I've just popped back for another look and the WW2 panel is now almost weathered away. I reckon another year and it will not be decipherable and it will not photograph as it is, so preserved here for posterity is the transcription.

AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF
THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SECOND GREAT WAR 1939-1945
SGT AIR GNR ROBERT MILLAR RAF
PO WILLIAM YOUNG RAF (could be PO or FO)
DRIVER DONALD CARROLL RASC

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 897 Location: Glasgow

These photos were taken in 1992. Sorry to see the state of the WWI panel, you can see in these pics there was already a hairline crack which had been repaired. Also the WWII panel was just legible back then.

spoons · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:07 pm Post subject:

Great to have the earlier pic when the WW2 panel was still legible, thanks for posting it.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject:

Sgt Millar is almost certainly this man.

Name: MILLAR, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 53 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 10/11/1942
Service No: 1057521
Additional information: Son of John and Margarate Millar, of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 1. Column 4.
Memorial: OTTAWA MEMORIAL

According to SNWM he died in USA, presumably whilst training.

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

Name: YOUNG, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 626 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 05/04/1945
Service No: 154575
Additional information: Son of William and Marion Findlay Young, of Penpont, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 268.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

From the 'lost bombers' website

Lancaster PD295 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number PD295
Squadron 626
X1D UM-B2
Operation L_tzkendorf
Date 1 4th April 1945
Date 2 5th April 1945

Further Information
"Serial range PD198 - PD444 This aircraft was one of 200 Mk.1s ordered Apr43 from metro-Vick from Metro-Vick and delivered from Jun44 to dec44 with Merlin 24 engines. PD295 was delivered to 626 Sqdn Sep44 No operational history No record of total hours. PD295 was one of two 626 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: PB411 airborne 2101 2Apr45 from Wickenby to attack the Wintershall synthetic-oil plant. Presumed lost over the sea. Four are buried in France; Sgt Fletcher, found near Den Helder 18Jun45, is buried on Texel in Den Burg. F/L Eames and F/O Young are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/L K.H.Eames DFC KIA Sgt G.H.Fletcher KIA f/O A.D.Moore KIA F/O W.Young KIA P/O W.A.Mitcham KIA Sgt R.F.Clarke KIA Sgt G.Davies KIA "

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

Thomas McEwan Wilson also had a sister who died in the war. I know that some people are against anyone second guessing who should and should not have been on a memorial, but.....................

Jemima Wilson served in QMAAC, died in the war, is listed on CWGC, is commemorated on SNWM and her brother is listed here, so I think it a pity that she is not also commemorated here and on the church memorial. I know they were different times and I like to think that such an omission would not be acceptable in todays world.

Name: WILSON, JEMIMA
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Member
Regiment/Service: Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps
Unit Text: Gateshead Hostel
Age: 24
Date of Death: 02/12/1917
Service No: 3812
Additional information: Daughter of James and Margaret Wilson, of Ingleston Cottage, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Q. U. 364.
Cemetery: NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (ST. ANDREW'S AND JESMOND) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject:

Photos and information sent to UKNIWM 9 Jan 2008.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject:

I visited this memorial today. The crack and the degradation of the WW2 panel are not significantly worse but neither has any work been done. I have reported this to the War Memorials Trust who will try and make contact with those responsible for the memorial to offer advice and include details of grants available.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:23 am Post subject:

I know that the War Memorials Trust has been speaking to Dumfries and Galloway council about repairs needed to this memorial. I passed it on 28th September 2009 and took the attached pics. It is now fenced off but no work has yet been done to repair the vertical crack or the badly eroded WW2 panel.

\Paul