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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7779
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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 Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:53 pm Post subject: Kenneth C. Blair |
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Listed on the Ewart High School WW1 Memorial in Newton Stewart
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic5393.html
is CORP. KENNETH C. BLAIR 43rd CH CEF.
but I cannot trace him anywhere - any ideas, please?
The 43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry was also known as the Cameron Highlanders of Canada.
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jrah60
Administrator
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
Posts: 1915
Location: East Kilbride
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| Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Ken,
The only one recorded on scotlandspeople between 1914 - 1921 is the following.
1 1919 BLAIR KENNETH CAMPBEL M 60 BOTHWELL /LANARK 625/01 0259
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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| Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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I've tried a few things but no luck, sorry
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Mike Morley
Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8668
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:51 am Post subject: Kenneth Blair |
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This may help:
Wigtownshire Free Press 29 June 1916 carries a report on the Ewart High School annual distribution of prizes. In his speech the headmaster mentions five who have died for the country including Kenneth C Blair, 79th Camerson Highlanders.
Wigtownshire Free Press 27 January 1916 - Births, Marriages & Deaths: At Kelowna, British Columbia, on the 20th inst, Kenneth Campbell Blair, aged 27 years (79th Cameron Highlanders), son of John W Blair, Winnipeg, formerly of Griff House, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and grandson of the late Alexander McCaig, Kilhilt. |
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Mike, found him.........
BLAIR, H. KENNETH E.
Rank:SergeantService No:32819Date of Death:20/01/1916Age:20Regiment/Service:Canadian Army Medical CorpsGrave ReferenceEast half of Lot 677. Row 39.CemeteryST. JOHN (CEDAR HILL) CEMETERY, SAINT JOHN COUNTY
Additional Information:
Son of George A. and Ida E. Blair, of 55, City Rd., Saint John, New Brunswick.
However his initials, rank, age and parents are wrong so must be doubtful if it is the same man or some confusion.
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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7779
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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Mike - that helps a lot 
Kenneth's grave is in Kelowna Municipal Cemetery
Okanagan-Similkameen Region, British Columbia. The photo is here:
http://www.canadianheadstones.com/bc/view.php?id=23201
John Watson Blair married Agnes Neilson McCaig in 1886 in Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.
Kenneth Campbell Blair was born in December Q 1888 in Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire and the family were still there in 1891.
In 1901 they were in Nuneaton.
There is no trace of them in 1911 so I assume they were in Canada.
On 1 February 1910 the militia regiment, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada came into existence. This, Western Canada's first highland regiment, was the result of persistent efforts by Winnipeg’s Scottish community.
Initially, at the outbreak of war, the regiment supplied men to the 16th CIF (Canadian Scottish) and the to the 27th CIF (City of Winnipeg)
The first complete Cameron battalion was formed on 18 December 1914. The 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlander of Canada) CEF spent the winter of 1914-1915 training in Winnipeg. At Montreal they embarked for England on 1 June 1915 with a complement of 39 officers and 1020 other ranks. The 43rd provided two reinforcement drafts for the 16th Battalion, after which the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada Overseas Drafting Detachment in Winnipeg brought up the 43rd to strength. Eventually the 43rd were given a place in the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division. They proceeded to France on 21 February 1916.
( http://thequeensowncameronhighlandersofcanada.net/regiment/the_great_war.html )
It looks as though Kenneth died in Canada before he joined the 43rd Bn. but there is no sign of attestation papers for him so I guess he doesn't qualify for war death status?
I assumed that at some stage he attended the Ewart before going to Canada.
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Mike Morley
Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8668
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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| I guess you may be right that he died before active service, Ken. Maybe the headmaster of the Ewart was being generous when he said Kenneth Blair "died for [his] country. He also mentioned Marshal T Alan (RSF), Wm C Axon (KOSB), Alexander Keachie (KOSB) and Peter F Stewart (Gordons). Mind you, after a quick check I don't seem to be able to find any mention of the others on the CWGC site. |
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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7779
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Mike - they are there, well nearly. 
Marshall Thomson ALLAN (2x"L"'s) 6th RSF 26 to 29 /9/1915
William Charles AXON 1st RSF (not KOSB) 27/10/1914
Peter (No "F") STEWART 9th Gordons 25/9/1915 on Penninghame WM with his brothers.
Alexander KEACHIE - I can't find him but he is on Whithorn WM. He's shown as 1/5th KOSB so "Stewartry" (Stuart) will know him - but he's on holiday at the moment.
There are a number of "your" Wigtown men here:
Lt John Black, Pte Ernest McClelland, L/Cpl George E Todd and Capt William Walker
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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7779
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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I've just checked Stuart's "sonsofgalloway" site and there is an Alexander McKeachie of Whithorn there
http://www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk/kosb/shiremen.shtml
CWGC has:
McKEACHIE, A
Rank:Private
Service No:1220
Date of Death:04/08/1915
Age:23
Regiment/Service:King's Own Scottish Borderers
1st/5th Bn.
Grave ReferenceK. 54.
CemeteryALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Andrew and Margaret McKeachie, of 81, George St., Whithorn, Wigtonshire.
This looks like our man - another case of the "Mc" getting lost?
Pte. ALEX. KEACHIE 1/5th KOSB on the Ewart High School Memorial
ALEX. KEACHIE on the Whithorn WM
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kinnethmont
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1649
Location: Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:27 pm Post subject: Kenneth C. Blair |
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| Quote: | | It looks as though Kenneth died in Canada before he joined the 43rd Bn. but there is no sign of attestation papers for him so I guess he doesn't qualify for war death status? |
He may have been a member of the " territorials " but if not embodied at his death he remains a civilian and so cannot qualify as a war death commemorated by CWGC.
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Jim
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
www.kinnethmont.co.uk |
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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7779
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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| Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: Kenneth C. Blair |
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| kinnethmont wrote: | | Quote: | | It looks as though Kenneth died in Canada before he joined the 43rd Bn. but there is no sign of attestation papers for him so I guess he doesn't qualify for war death status? |
He may have been a member of the " territorials " but if not embodied at his death he remains a civilian and so cannot qualify as a war death commemorated by CWGC. |
A pal in B.C. has confirmed that Kenneth C Blair died on 17 January 1916 (same date as on gravestone)
She is going to try to find the cause of death.
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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7779
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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| Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:38 am Post subject: |
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From the Manitoba Morning Free Press 19 Jan 1916:
Kenneth Blair Dead - News was received in Winnipeg yesterday of the death of Kenneth Blair, son of J. W. Blair. The death occurred at Kelowna B.C., to which place the deceased had been sent for the benefit of his health. Kenneth Blair was well known and popular as an athlete when he attended Manitoba college and the news of his death will be learned by many with deep regret.
We have also established that the Blair family moved to Canada in 1906.
Kenneth's younger brother John McCaig Blair (born 1896 in Nuneaton) enlisted in Winnipeg in April 1916 as Private 551814 and survived the war.
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kinnethmont
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1649
Location: Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:54 am Post subject: Kenneth C. Blair |
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| Quote: | | The death occurred at Kelowna B.C., to which place the deceased had been sent for the benefit of his health. |
Sounds a bit like a case of TB
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Jim
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
www.kinnethmont.co.uk |
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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7779
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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| Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 8:34 am Post subject: Re: Kenneth C. Blair |
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| kinnethmont wrote: | | Quote: | | The death occurred at Kelowna B.C., to which place the deceased had been sent for the benefit of his health. |
Sounds a bit like a case of TB |
Correct, Jim.
I've just received death details from Canada which shows that he had been diagnosed with Pulmonary TB a year earlier and had been in Keloma for two and a half months when he died on 17 January 1916.
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