The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mike Morley

I'm researching the 54 names on Wigtown War Memorial who died in the Great War. One of the handful I'm having problems with is John Flynn. The only clue I have is a suggestion in Wigtownshire War Memorials that he is:

Private 10048, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, killed in action 11 November 1914. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial. Born Dumfries, resident of Newton Stewart and enlisted there.

I'll have another trawl through the Galloway Gazette to see if he is in the obits. By the date is it likely that he fell at the First Battle of Ypres?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be gratefully received.

Mike

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

Mike

SDGW has this man residing in Wishaw, b Dumfries, e Newton Stewart.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 9:37 am Post subject:

Mike - the 1st RSF were in action on 11/11/1914 at the battle of Nonne Bosschen.
There is a detailed review of the action at
http://www.battlefieldreview.com/NonneBosschen.asp
_________________
Ken

Mike Morley · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 11:19 am Post subject:

Thanks Jim and Ken, that's really helpful.

That leaves me with three mystery men. I'll start new threads on these when I get further on with my investigations.

Mike

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

Mike

I would caution against stating 100% he is the correct man, although I suspect he is.

10048 was a pre war Regular who was stationed at Gosport when war was declared. He landed at Le Havre, France on 14th August 1914 to later become one of The Old Contemptibles.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Mike Morley · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 2:29 pm Post subject:

Indeed, Jim. I still haven't absolutely linked him to Wigtown. Maybe he had close family here or may have worked here.

spoons · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 4:22 pm Post subject:

Not listed on any church memorial that I have found, but I think there may still be some to be turned up.

He is not listed on the Ewart school memorial so I guess he may have been educated at a now closed school in Wigtown. Local schools (Ewart and Kirkcudbright) have memorials so there may be one yet to be discovered.

Local papers would be my choice for further info, not just obits but perhaps also going away to war. His death may well have been reported a few weeks or even months after the date.

\Paul

Theletterwriter · Joined: 25 Nov 2010 Posts: 45 Location: East Kilbride

Mike

Pte. John Flynn 10048 aged 23 is recorded as being killed on 11/11/1914 at Ypres on the returns of warrant officcers, NCO's and men of 1st. Battalion RSF via Scotlands People.

Based on the assumption that his age was recorded correctly, the Scottish Records have a John Flynn who was born on 2 June 1891 at 72 Arthur Street, Newton Stewart. Son of John Flynn and Sarah Flynn m.s. Holmes who were married on 25/12/1882 in Portsmouth. A John Flynn was also recorded as living in Newton Stewart in 1915 via the Valuation Rolls.

There was a John James Flynn born in Dumfries on 25 February 1891. Mother's name Jane but no record of father's name.

Douglas

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:57 pm Post subject:

Just to resurrect this one. I've never been able to link the Newton Stewart John Flynn with Wigtown. By chance I have come across a John Flynn who, according to the 1901 census was living in Wigtown. I think he may be the Dumries-born John James Flynn. The census shows a 9 year old John Flynn, born Dumfries, living at 14 Bank Street, Wigtown, along with is sister, Mary A Flynn: they were boarders with the Gilmour family. No other Flynns were there so I need to see if there is any familial link with the Gilmours.

In addition the Register of Soldiers Effects provides some interesting new info on John Flynn. It states: Flynn, John (alias Thomson). Royal Scots Fusiliers, Pte 10048. Died 11/11/1914 in action. Enlisted Dumfries 6/12/09, farm servant. £3 1s was paid on 15/4/15 to his widow, Jessie Marshall Thomson, with a £5 war gratuity paid to her on 6/9/19.

So I may be getting to the bottom of this at long last ...

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 2:40 pm Post subject:

Another alias tracked down using the soldiers' effects cards. A very useful resource it has turned out to be.

Thanks

Adam