The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

petermcdonagh · Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Posts: 5

[quote="columba"]STEWART, JOHN B.
Rank: Private
Service No: 4/8388
Date of Death: 25/09/1915
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Bn.
Panel Reference Panel 125 to 127.
Memorial LOOS MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
CWGC

John's parents were William Allan Stewart draper’s assistant and Clementina Stewart MS Beattie who were married 1869 June 11 Forfar
John was born in 1876, one of 14 children born to the couple. He married Janet Innes, a widow in 1910 and they had one daughter Clementina

Stirling Observer October 24th 1916
Stirling Woman Loses Husband and Son
Mrs Stewart, 24 Bow Street, Stirling has been notified that her husband, Sergeant(sic) John Stewart, A&S Highlanders who had been reported missing since the battle of Loos in September of last year, is now presumed to have been killed at that time. Sergeant Stewart was a time-expired soldier, having fought through the South African War with the Black Watch but at the outbreak of hostilities in August of 1914, he left his employment as a miner at Carnock Colliery and joined the Argylls. Private William McQueen of the 7th A&SH, Mrs Stewart’s son by a former marriage, died while on service in February of last year. Two other sons are still serving, while Mrs Stewart’s brother and four of her nephews are also in the Army, worthily upholding the record of her great, great grandfather who fought at Waterloo.
Also commemorated on the Forfar memorial (Balmashanner) as are his brothers Donald and George.
John Beattie Stewart was my grand father he was killed when my mother was only 5 years of age, I have a very extensive family history and tree but have no idea if there is an intrest or how to post it if there is ???

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Wow Peter, you are the first descendant to be found of any man on the church war memorial!! I think it is quite sad that none of the current members of the congregation have any links to those who fell - a sign of a "lost" generation plus general movement of the population in latter years.

I don't know about posting more info here; I'm sure someone else will be able to answer that but I'm just so excited that you have posted at all, thank you!!

Sandra

petermcdonagh · Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Posts: 5

To Sandra
No problems, it was more of a surprise to me to see his name on the web.
This is the first information I have seen about him other than graveyard details, could it be that he attended St columbas and perhaps even got married there ?
How do I access the church records to investigate further ?
regards
Peter

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 6:55 pm Post subject:

Peter - you can access the marriage register at scotlandspeople and it should show where John and Janet married.
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
The marriage was registered in 1910 in Stirling
1 1910 STEWART JOHN BEATTIE INNES JANET STIRLING /STIRLING 490/00 0037
_________________
Ken

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Peter
John and Janet were married at home (quite typical of the times) according to the forms of the United Free Church and the minister was John Chalmers who was one of the ministers at the North United Free Church (which became St Columba's in 1929 when it returned to the Church of Scotland - church history is complicated!!)

The communion roll of 1911-1919 shows that John Stewart was admitted to membership in 1910 and Mrs John Stewart was admitted in 1911; she seems to have left when she remarried after John's death.

Name Address Admitted Left
Stewart, John 24 Baker Street
13 Broad Street
24 Bow Street 1910 June Killed in war 25 September 1915

Stewart, Mrs John 24 Broad Street
13 Broad Street
24 Bow Street 1911 September Married MW Jefford

The church records are stored at Stirling Archives in Borrowmeadow Road and are available to view free of charge Monday to Thursday.

Sandra

Edit: the details look great in tabular form on this screen but when they go on the forum, they're not so easy to read, sorry!

petermcdonagh · Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Posts: 5

Sandra

Thanks a lot for your post, another little piece of history is in place, glad I joined the group, thanks again

Peter

petermcdonagh · Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Posts: 5

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Yes, Peter, thanks.

Janet had 9 children over 16 years with her first husband, William McQueen; he died at 38 when the youngest child, Flora, was less than 2 years old. She married John Stewart 2 years later and then gave birth to Clementina (called after John's mother).

After John was killed, she married William Jefford in 1919 and died in 1927. (He had also been married twice before)

petermcdonagh · Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Posts: 5

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

As of 1st April 2020, St Columba's Church united with Allan Park South Church to form Stirling Park Church, worshipping in the St Columba's (Peter Memorial) building. I have been assured that moving the war memorials is "in hand" but due to the current lockdown goodness knows when that will happen. When the restrictions ease, I'll bring the matter up - again!

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

The three war memorials from Allan Park Church and the South Church have now been moved to the basement of Park Church, (formerly St Columba's Church). Once restrictions allow, a decision will be made as to where they will be displayed.