The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:22 am Post subject:

Interesting, I can't find this chap on CWGC.

SNWM doesn't give a unit but does show that it was a pre-1st April 1918 air unit because he is in the RAF roll.

What would a UK based unit which would later be incorporated into the RAF be that would have initials MRFG?

Something to do with barrage balloons or training?

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:23 pm Post subject:

I think you have identified the right man. I found a document concerning the Sanquhar Public School memorial here http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=2815&highlight=sanquhar. I have yet to trace the actual memorial. He is listed as RAF in the document in the Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:47 pm Post subject:

Doh! It will be MRFC, not MRFG. Something Royal Flying Corps.

Thanks Mark and Paul for finding the man, now to work out what 'M' is

Cheers

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject:

MRFC - How about Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps?

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 1:53 pm Post subject:

Well I would say it is definately a G on the memorial, not C and Military Wing doesn't make a lot of sense to me I'm afraid.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject:

I agree it looks like a G but if he was an airman then RFC would make sense.

I got Military Wing from several pages on the internet. This is from Wikipedia

...a flying corps be formed and that it consist of a naval wing, a military wing, a central flying school and an aircraft factory...
The Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers became the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps a month later on 13 May 1912

Cheers

Adam

Jim · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 195

spoons · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:18 pm Post subject:

That's a crazy price. Without a name it is little more than printers waste and I wouldn't value it at a tenner. There's plenty of similary in the museums around these parts.

\Paul

teddy · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:47 am Post subject: Sanquhar Welcome Home Plaque

This plaque was given to 'Douglas T Forrest' in thanks from the Parish; his name is recorded - on the fifth line of the Plaque
Teddy

spoons · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:55 am Post subject:

Yes that is the one I posted. Jim was referring to a similar one but blank (no name).

\Paul

DelBoy · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:54 am Post subject: Pte. Herman Tofern

A unique surname in the CWGC database.

CWGC
Name: TOFERN, HERMAN
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn.
Date of Death: 11/07/1915
Service No: 1846
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 84 to 92 or 220 to 222.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname: TOFERN
Firstname: Herman
Service Number: 1846
Date Death: 12/07/1915
Place of birth: Bethnal Green London
Other: 1/5th Bn.
SNWM roll: THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
Rank: Pte

Herman Tofern on the Helles Memorial.

Derek.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:44 am Post subject:

Well spotted Derek, I'd missed that name.
Robert Tofern, age 22, and Hermann, age 21, both appear on the 1911 census for Sanquhar. They are the only two on the census.
Hermann Julius Tofern was born March Q 1890 at Bethnal Green but I can't find Robert yet.

Hermann is also listed on the New Cumnock WM
See http://www.newcumnock-parishchurch.org.uk/ncwm%20website/index.html

And info on the database there states "came from Walthamstow in 1890 to stay with his uncle William Reid at Pathhead"
_________________
Ken

DelBoy

Ken, any guesses what country of origin the surname Tofern derives from?

WW2
Alexr. C. McMillan, Glider Pilot Regiment.

(Glasgow Herald 19th September 1945)
"Mr & Mrs McMillan, 19 Queens Road Sanquhar, have received official information from the war office that their son 6296502 Staff Sergeant A.C. McMillan, Glider Pilot Regiment, previously reported missing at Arnhem, on 25th September 1944, is now presumed to have been killed in action on that date."

CWGC
Name: McMILLAN, ALEXANDER CRAWFORD
Initials: A C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Staff Serjeant
Regiment/Service: The Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 25/09/1944
Service No: 6296502
Additional information: Son of Archibald and Grace Malcolm McMillan, of Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 8.
Memorial: GROESBEEK MEMORIAL

Surname: McMILLAN
Firstname: Alexander C
Service number: 6296502
Date of death: 25/09/1944
Place of birth: Dumfriesshire
Other: Glider Pilot Regiment.
SNWM roll: SCOTSMEN IN VARIOUS UNITS
Rank: S/Sgt

Derek.

spoons · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject:

Not originally listed by UKNIWM, but I note that it is now listed so I will amend the original post.

\Paul

dhubthaigh