The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

David McNay · Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 am Post subject: BONNYBRIDGE, WW1

From this thread in the forum, with Anne's permission I've split the photos into separate topics for each one.

apanderson · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

Listings for both WW1 & WW2, Bonnybridge.

apanderson · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:06 pm Post subject:

Bonnybridge WW1 memorial.

alasdair · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 41 Location: Edinburgh

There are 2 brothers named on this memorial who also appear on skerray War Memorial in the Highlands.
3771 Private Alexander Mackay 5th Seaforths
S/6048 Private Murdo Mackay 11th Argylls
They are named on Skerray War Memorial as they had an Aunt there who they visited in 1915 after her husband Robert was lost at sea.
Another brother James (1404 Private James Mackay 5th Royal Scots) killed in action on the 29th of June 1915 at Achi Baba Ridge Galliploi is not named on Skerray War Memorial and appears to be missing from Bonnybridge Memorial where he should appear beside the names of his brothers.
There was also a cousin (6529 Private William Mackay 11th Argylls) who was killed in action on the same day as Murdo Mackay on the Somme.
If anyone would like any more data on this family I have a lot about them.
Thanks
Alasdair
_________________
Ali Sutherland

alasdair · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 41 Location: Edinburgh

I have just spotted a James Mackay under Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Alasdair
_________________
Ali Sutherland

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:16 am Post subject:

apanderson · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:02 am Post subject:

Sorry about the error folks - now fixed!

Anne

apanderson · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:13 am Post subject:

All 3 Mackay Brothers are listed on one of the two War memorials in Bonnybridge St. Helen's Parish Church.

I haven't posted photos of these - they are on my list to go back and try to get photos which are at least legible enough to transcribe properly.

When I spoke to the Minister, he was unsure which Memorial belonged to the original Bonnybridge Parish Church (the one in which they are both now housed) and which one belonged to St. Helen's.

Alasdair - I'd love anything you have on these brothers, Bonnybridge is 'ma hame toon'.

Anne

alasdair · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 41 Location: Edinburgh

No problems Anne. The info is in my book 'Never More' if I pm you my e-mail can you send me yours and I will e-mail you the relevant pages. I may have a photograph of some of the brothers I'm not sure.
Did you know that Murdo Mackay won his DCM on the Somme for attempting to rescue a wounded man. His cousin William was in the same battalion and died on the same day. I wonder if Murdo was trying to rescue William.
A number of men from my home village of Tongue also served beside them in the 11th Argylls. James Mackay died in Gallipoli my new book (at publishers at the moment) 'Awake for Morning' tells the story of a machine gunner in the Royal Scots at that time and the fighting in Gallipoli
Ali
_________________
Ali Sutherland

apanderson · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:35 am Post subject:

I've been doing a wee bit of checking up on some of the names on the WW1 Memorial and I noticed that I'd wrongly transcribed one of them. I've transcribed him as Mw Devlin instead of Wm Devlin (Hussars).

Is the following from CWGC the correct one, even though the surname has an 'e' at the end?

Name: DEVLINE, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
Age: 28
Date of Death: 25/02/1915
Service No: 5954
Additional information: Son of Hugh and Isabella Devline.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 5.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

And from SNWM:

Surname DEVLINE
Firstname William
Service Number 5954
Date Death 25/02/1915
Decoration
Place of birth Edinburgh
Other 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars.
SNWM roll COMMANDS AND STAFF; CAVALRY (EXCLUDING GREYS AND SCOTTISH YEOMANRY)
Rank L/Cpl
Theatre of death F.& F.

Anne

apanderson · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject:

LEITH Brothers

Two of the men listed on this memorial are brothers Duncan Campbell Leith and Peter Leith.

Name: LEITH, DUNCAN CAMPBELL
Initials: D C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 21/06/1916
Service No: 7568
Additional information: Son of Peter and Catherine Campbell Leith, of Unitas Terrace, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. E. 55.
Cemetery: BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY

and

Name: LEITH
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Glasgow Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal)
Date of Death: 05/08/1916
Service No: 3367
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Old ground.
Cemetery: KILSYTH CEMETERY

Both brothers are also listed on Kilsyth Civic Memorial.

Peter, who was a member of Kilsyth Public Band is listed on the Kilsyth Bandstand Memorial Plaque, located on the Bandstand in Burngreen Park, adjacent to the Civic Memorial and is buried in Kilsyth Churchyard (listed on CWGC as Kilsyth Old).
See: http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=215&highlight=leith&mforum=scottishwargraves

Anne

DelBoy · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:24 am Post subject: Capt. John Andrew Ure

WW1
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Ure, John Andrew. Captain

(Glasgow Herald 11th Dec 1914)
"Considerable anxiety is being expressed in Bonnybridge for the safety of Captain John Andrew Ure, 3rd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, who was officially reported as missing on October 21. It is thought he is a prisoner of war in Germany. Captain Ure is a son of Mr George R. Ure, Hopepark, Bonnybridge."

CWGC
Name: URE, JOHN ANDREW
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 21/10/1914
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 3rd Bn. attd. 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference: J. 13.
Cemetery: LE TROU AID POST CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX
Additional Information: Son of George Reid Ure and Harriet Dudley Smith Ure, of Hopepark, Bonnybridge.

SNWM
Surname: URE
Firstname: John Andrew
Date Death: 21/10/1914
SNWM roll: THE ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS
Rank: Capt

DelBoy · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:33 am Post subject: Pte. William Gentles

WW1
ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS
Pte. Wm. Gentles

The memorial lists him as in the Irish Fusiliers when it should be the Inniskilling/Enniskillen Fusiliers.
The war return puts him in the 2nd Btn. Inniskilling Fusiliers aged 33 and his M.I.C. also puts him in the Royal Munster Rifles.

(Glasgow Herald 17th Dec 1914)
"Mr Adam Gentles, Barleyhill, Bonnybridge, has received official information that his son, Private William Gentles, 1st Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers, has been killed in action in France. Private Gentles who was 33 years of age, was a reservist, having served four years with the colours. He went through the South African War. A Moulder to trade, he was employed for a considerable period in Bonnybridge Foundry (messrs Smith and Wellstood Ltd.), where he served his apprenticeship, but prior to the outbreak of war was employed in a Birmingham Foundry. He was a native of Falkirk, and leaves a wife and three of a family."

CWGC
Name: GENTLES, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Service No: 6445
Date of Death: 07/11/1914
Regiment/Service: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 5.
Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname: GENTLES
Firstname: William
Service Number: 6445
Date Death: 07/11/1914
Place of birth: Falkirk
Other: 2nd Bn.
SNWM roll: SCOTTISH CASUALTIES EXTRACTED FROM IRISH REGIMENTS
Rank: Pte

DelBoy · Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 10:46 pm Post subject: Pte. Alexander Durham

WW1
BLACK WATCH
Pte. Alex. Durham

(Glasgow Herald 8th of Feb 1915)
"Mrs Kane, High Bonnybridge, has received a letter from her husband, Private Peter Kane, of C company 1st Black Watch, in which he states that Private Alexander Durham, a Bonnybridge man in the same regiment, had been killed in action at La Basse. Private Durham was a reservist, and prior to the outbreak of war had been employed for about five years by Messrs James Dougall and sons (Limited) Bonnyside, Firebrick works, Bonnybridge. He was 40 years of age, unmarried, and a native of Edinburgh. During his 16 years' connection with the Army he had seen much service. He went through the entire South African campaign, and was also for a time stationed in India and Egypt."

CWGC
DURHAM, ALEXANDER
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 3/3091
Date of Death: 25/01/1915
Age: 40
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 1st Bn.
Panel Reference: Panels 24 to 26.
Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Alexander Durham.

SNWM
Surname: DURHAM
Firstname: Alexander
Service Number: 3/3091
Date Death: 25/01/1915
Place of birth: Edinburgh
Other: 1st Bn.
SNWM roll: THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
Rank: L/Cpl

DelBoy · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:23 pm Post subject: L.Cpl. William Devline