The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:31 pm Post subject:

HUGH EDGAR.
Hugh Edgar, Military Medal – age 38 – Corporal (K/15798) Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.
Hugh had joined the Shanghai Municipal Police in 1929 and served there for 12 years gaining an award for bravery. He was a policeman with the British Columbia Electric Railway at Lake Buntzen, B.C. when he enlisted in Vancouver in October 1942 and he was posted as a Gunner to the 28th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He arrived in England in May 1944 and joined the 1st Rocky Mountain Rangers but when he landed in France in September he was transferred to the motorised LSR. He was awarded a M.M. just before he died. Hugh was killed near Friesoythe in Germany but was re-interred in Holton in March 1946.
Born 1906 at Bilboa, Penpont. Son of the late Margaret Jane (Douglas) Edgar and of the late Samuel Edgar of Penilee, Glasgow. Brother of Mrs Catherine Graham 134 Curzon Street, Ruchill, Glasgow.
In 1911 the family were living in Penpont where Samuel was a carter and carrier.
Killed in Action on 22 April 1945 and buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Also named on the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) Memorial located in Hillcrest Park, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

WILLIAM FISHER.
William Fisher – age 31 – Aircraftman 1st Class (1365456) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
William was a salesman with Nestle's Milk Products Ltd. in Glasgow when he enlisted early in the war. He was taken prisoner in February 1942 and died of disease onboard a Japanese transport ship.
Born 1911 in Penpont. Son of William and Mary (Wilson) Fisher of Beachbank, Penpont.
Died on Service on 28 November 1942 and named on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:37 pm Post subject:

FRANCIS A. J. LAIDLAW.
Francis Angus James Laidlaw, M.A., B.Sc. (Glasgow) – age 32 – Pilot Officer/Observer (120035) 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Francis was educated at Ecclefechan school and at Dumfries Academy before he attended Glasgow University and graduated B.Sc. in 1932. He went on to teacher training at Jordanhill College and obtained his M.A. He taught at Lockerbie and at Wallace Hall Academy in Thornhill before becoming head teacher at Penpont school. He joined the Royal Artillery in 1940 but transferred to the RAF where he was promoted from Leading Aircraftman (657877) to Pilot Officer in May 1942.
Francis's Wellington bomber had taken off from RAF Marham in Norfolk for a raid on Nuremberg but the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Eich, south of Frankfurt. The crew were buried in Mannheim Cemetery but were re-interred in Durnbach in October 1947.
Born 1910 in Hoddom, Dumfriesshire. Son of James and Mary C. (Cameron) Laidlaw. Husband of Janet J. (Johnstone) Laidlaw of the schoolhouse, Penpont and of Edinburgh, who he married in 1935 in Carlisle.
Killed in Action on 29 August 1942 and buried in Durnbach War Cemetery, Bayern, Germany.

ROBERT McCORMACK.
Robert McCormack – age 27 – Private (3053676) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots.
The 2nd Royal Scots were based in Hong Kong when the Japanese attacked in December 1941.
Born 1914 in Gordon, Berwickshire. Son of Edward and Jessie (Kemp) McCormack of Main Street, Penpont.
Missing in Action on 20 December 1941 and named on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong, China.

JOHN McCREADIE.
John McCreadie – age 24 – Flight Sergeant/Flight Engineer (638686) 166 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force.
John had worked with his father at Auchenbainzie Dairy, Penpont before he joined the RAF in 1938. He had taken part in many operations including during the Battle of Britain and had joined 166 Squadron just a month before he was killed. John's Lancaster bomber had taken off from RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire for a raid on Chemnitz west of Dresden but the aircraft was shot down by night-fighter and crashed at Culitzsch. The crew were buried in the local cemetery but were re-interred in Berlin in December 1948.
Born 1921 in Glasgow. Son of James and Annie McCreadie of Newton Cottage, Gatelawbridge, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. Husband of Marjorie (Booth) McCreadie of 12 Shaftsbury Avenue, Doncaster and of Hexthorpe, Yorkshire who he married in 1943 in Doncaster.
Killed in Action on 15 February 1945 and buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:41 pm Post subject:

ROBERT McKAY.
Robert McKay – age 25 – Sergeant (T/120847) No.4 Petrol Tin Factory Operating Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
Robert had served his apprenticeship as a draper in Thornhill before taking a post in a large department store in London. He enlisted early in the war and served with the RASC in France, in Egypt and in the North African campaign where he was in charge of a large petrol filling installation. He became ill in Algiers and was evacuated home to the Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow where he died.
Born 1919 in Penpont. Son of John and Janet Johnstone (Gourlay) McKay of Hallscaur Farm and of Mael Mhor, Penpont who had married in 1909 in Tynron, Dumfriesshire.
Died on Service on 18 March 1944 and buried in Penpont Parish Churchyard. (CWG)
Also named on the Tynron Parish War Memorial and on an individual memorial in Penpont Church.

ROBERT RICHARDSON McLEAN.
Robert Richardson McLean – age 21 – Lance Corporal (3197865) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert was employed by Messrs Kirkpatrick and Son in Thornhill when he enlisted. The 6th KOSB landed on the Normandy beaches on 15 June 1944. Robert died two weeks later.
Born 1923 in Penpont. Son of the late Police Sergeant George McLean (died 1934) and Mary Jane (Richardson) McLean of Briarbank, Penpont.
Died of Wounds on 29 June 1944 and buried in Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville, Calvados, France.
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Ken