The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 8:51 am Post subject:

Pte. JOHN GIBSON, 4th K.O.S.B.
John Gibson – age 26 – Private (40073) 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
In 1901 the Gibson family were in Earlston, Berwickshire and in 1911 in Eccles, Berwickshire. John enlisted in October 1915 and joined his battalion's machine gun section in France in September 1916.
Born 1891 in Eyemouth, Berwickshire. Son of John and Agnes (Robertson) Gibson of Swinton Bridge End and of Ninewells Cottage, Chirnside, Berwickshire.
Died of Wounds on 3 July 1917 and buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Bunkle & Preston Parish War Memorial as "Private John Gibson, 2nd K.O.S.B. Died 3rd July 1917. Aged 26 Years", and on the Bunkle Parish Church memorial.

Pte. THOMAS GRAHAM, 1st Black Watch.
Thomas Graham – age 30 – Private (S/7361) 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Thomas was a road-man when he enlisted in October 1914. He joined his battalion in France in April 1915 but he was killed five months later during the battle of Loos.
Born 1885 in Maxton, Roxburghshire. Son of John and Margaret (Stenhouse) Graham of Swinton. Husband of Jane (Tait) Graham of Swinton and of Whiterig, Ayton, Berwickshire who he married in 1905 in Coldingham, Berwickshire.
Missing in Action on 26 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
Also named on the Swinton Parish Church Roll of Honour.

Pte. ROBERT HALLIDAY, 6th K.O.S.B.
Robert Halliday – age 20 – Private (23844) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert was brought up by his grandmother at Mordington and at Swinton and had been in France for just under six weeks when he was killed.
Born 1896 in England (probably Berwick-on-Tweed)
Son of ?
Grandson of Elizabeth (Lang) Halliday of Butterlaw and of Simprim, Swinton.
Killed in Action on 27 November 1916 and buried in Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:02 am Post subject:

Mjr. WALTER G. HOME, 6th Dragoon Gds.
Walter Gabriel Home – age 41 – Major, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers)
Walter spent his early life with his grandparents, Walter and Mary Home, at Polworth Manse in Berwickshire and ten years later he was an Army student, aged 18, at Rockhampton in Putney, London in 1891. He joined the Carabiniers in 1896, was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1897. to Captain in July 1900 and served in the South African War as a Brevet Major. He was made a Major in 1905 and was still in South Africa in 1911 but at the outbreak of war he was living with his wife and family in Officers Married Quarters at Summerhill in Harbledown in Kent.
Born 1872 in The Manse, Swinton. Son of the late Rev. Robert Home, Minister of Swinton Parish Church (died 1877) and Annie Lydia Keith (Swinton) Home (died 1875). Husband of Helen Gordon (Davidson) Home of "Avondale," Chesterfield Road, Eastbourne who he married in 1910 in Toronto, Canada.
Missing in Action on 31 October 1914 and named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Harbledown War Memorial.

Pte. JOHN S. JAMIESON, 7th Cameron H'rs.
John Scott Jamieson – age 22 – Private (S/14051) 7th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
John landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915 but he was killed two months later during the battle of Loos.
Born c.1893 in Canada. Son of the late Peter Jamieson of Edrom, Berwickshire (died 1914) and of Betsy (Scott) Jamieson of Swinton.
Missing in Action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.

Pte. ROBERT JAMIESON, 7th A.& S. H'rs.
Robert Jamieson – age 32 – Private (9545) 1/7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Born 1885 at Kirkhill, Legerwood, Berwickshire as Robert Galbraith or Spence. Son of Sophia Galbraith and of John Spence.
Grandson of the late Charles Jamieson (died 1900) and of Margaret (Galbraith) Jamieson of Ryslaw, Duns (died 1915)
On the 1891/1901 census and by CWGC he is listed as the son of Charles and Margaret.
Died of Wounds on 22 April 1918 and buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:07 am Post subject:

Cpl. WILLIAM Y. LANDELS, R.F.A.
William Young Landels – age 29 – Shoeing Smith Corporal (144298) 33rd Reserve Battery, Royal Field Artillery.
William was brought up from childhood by his aunt and uncle Isabella and James Forrest in Swinton and he served his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Swinton before setting up his own business there. He was transferred from the Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry to the RFA and had been based at Piershill in Glasgow for about 4 years when he became ill with a perforated ulcer. William died in the 3rd Scottish General Hospital at Stobhill in Glasgow.
Born 1886 in Jedburgh, Roxburghshire. Son of the late Annie (Young) Landels (died 1888) and of George Landels, gamekeeper, of Springwood Park, Kelso, Roxburghshire, and step-son of Ellen Gray Scott (Stevenson) Landels who married George in 1890 in Selkirk.
Died on Service on 5 March 1917 and buried in Swinton Parish Churchyard. (CWG)

Gnr. DANIEL S. McKENZIE, R.F.A.
Daniel Stewart McKenzie – age 35 – Gunner (40615) 109th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Daniel had for a number of years been a fireman at the Chirnside Bridge Paper Mills and was a carter at Leith when he enlisted in the Army Reserve in October 1914. He had previously served in Fincastle's Horse Yeomanry during the South African War. He was mobilised in November 1914 and joined the 106th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery in France in August 1915. It was reorganised as the 109th Brigade in May 1916. Daniel died in the 23rd Field Ambulance.
Born c.1881 in Campbelltown, Argyllshire. (but I cannot trace on GROS)
Son of the late Flora (McLeod) McKenzie (died 1892 in Inverary) and of John McKenzie who both worked at the Argyll Arms Hotel in Inveraray when they married in December 1880 in Glasgow. John died in 1925 in Campbelltown.
Husband of Margaret Jane (Dunse) of 5 Waddell Place, Leith, of Simprim Farm and of Greenriggs, Swinton who he married in 1905 in Edrom, Berwickshire.
Died of Wounds on 30 August 1916 and buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:16 am Post subject:

Pte. ALEXANDER PAXTON, 11th A.& S. H'rs.
Thought to be:
Alexander Paxton – age 24 – Private (S/7010) 1/8th (Argyllshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Alexander enlisted in 1914 and landed at Boulogne with the 11th Battalion, A&SH in July 1915. He had been at the front for three years and was serving as a battalion runner in the 1/8th Argylls when he was fatally wounded.
Born 1894 at Oxnam Neuk in Oxnam, Roxburghshire as Alexander Murdie. Son of Martha Murdie.
In 1901 he was living as Alexander Paxton, aged 8, at Linton, Roxburghshire with his uncle James Paxton and with James's mother Janet (Murdie) Paxton, sister of Martha. He named his sister Janet Paxton who lived at Crailing Hall, Oxnam as his next of kin and legatee.
Died of Wounds on 29 July 1918 and buried in Senlis French National Cemetery, Oise, France.
Also named on the Oxnam Parish War Memorial and on the Trinity Church memorial in Jedburgh Old and Trinity Church.

Pte. ANDREW PAXTON, 6th K.O.S.B.
Andrew Paxton – age 21 – Private (20730) 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Andrew enlisted with his brother William (20727) in July 1915 and he joined the 8th KOSB in France in December 1915.
Born 1894 in Swinton. Son of Andrew and Grace (Cockburn) Paxton of Mountfair, Swinton and of Hilton, Chirnside, Berwickshire,
Missing in Action on 18 August 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.
Also named on the Edrom Parish and on the Whitsome Parish War Memorials.

Andrew's younger brother William (born 1898) joined the 6th KOSB in France in October 1915. He was awarded a Military Medal in 1916 and a Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1919 as 20727 Pte. (L./C.). W. C. Paxton, M.M., 1st Bn., K.O.S.B. (Chirnside)
“For marked gallantry and devotion to duty. On 3rd October, 1918, near Gheluwe, he was in charge of his company stretcher bearers, and under close range machine-gun fire and accurate sniping fire succeeded in bringing in three men; and, though he was wounded in doing so, he refused to leave the line until his company was relieved. Throughout the whole action his courage saved the lives of many of his comrades.”
He was demobilised in April 1919.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:23 am Post subject:

Gnr. ALEXANDER Wm. ROSS, R.G.A.
Alexander William Ross – age 23 – Gunner (145121) 10th Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Alexander enlisted in March 1917 and went out to Egypt with his Battery in September. He served in Palestine at Gaza, Jericho and Jerusalem but contracted malaria and he was evacuated to hospital in Cairo and then to Alexandria where he died.
Born 1895 in Swinton. Son of Alexander and Sophia (Simpson) Ross of Swinton.
Died on Active Service on 21 October 1918 and buried in Haifa War Cemetery, Israel.

Pte. PETER SIMPSON, 13th Royal Scots.
Peter Simpson – age 30 – Private (38661) 13th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Peter was a rabbit catcher in Swinton when he enlisted. He died of his wounds as a prisoner of war in hospital in Stettin, Germany and was re-interred in Berlin in 1924/25.
Born 1888 in Edrom, Berwickshire. Son of the late John Simpson (died 1914) and of Elizabeth (Ross) Simpson of Swinton.
Died of Wounds on 15 July 1918 and buried in Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Germany.

Pte. KENWARD J. THYNE, 7th Seaforth H'rs.
Note all military record have Kenneth Thyne.
Kenneth Thyne – age 17 – Private (S/3843) 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
Kenward resided with the Rev. D.D.F. Macdonald at Swinton Manse when he enlisted in 1914. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915.
Born 1899 in Stockbridge, Edinburgh as Kenward John Thyne, Son of the late Kenward Thyne of Pentland Mains, Loanhead, Midlothian (died 1899) and the late Joanna Euphemia (Veitch) Thyme (died 1907), and step-son of George Bird who married Joanna in 1904 in Morningside, Edinburgh.
Missing in Action on 14 July 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:33 am Post subject:

Pte. Wm. McINTOSH TROTTER, 1st Canadians.
William McIntosh Trotter – age 35 – Private (18695) 3rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry.
William had been a coal miner in Scremerston, Northumberland before he emigrated to Canada in July 1911 and he was a coal miner when he enlisted in 101st Regiment (Edmonton Fusiliers) in Alberta in August 1914. The Regiment was renamed as the 9th Battalion at Valcartier Camp in Quebec in September and they sailed in October 1914 but William was posted to the 3rd Battalion in England.
Born c.1880 in Scotland. (but I cannot trace on GROS)
Son of ?
Husband of Grace (Patterson) Trotter of Scremerston, of Swinton and of Grindon, Norham-on-Tweed, Northumberland who he married in 1899 in Berwick-on-Tweed.
Missing in Action on 3 June 1915 and named on the Vimy Memorial, France.

Pte. THOMAS TURNBULL, 4th K.O.S.B.
Thomas Turnbull – age 21 – Private (7402) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Thomas was a farm servant at Greenriggs, Swinton when he enlisted. He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915 but he was killed a month later during the battle at Achi Baba Nullah.
Born 1894 at Rumbleton, Gordon, Berwickshire. Son of David and Janet (Chalmers) Turnbull of Auchencrow, Reston, Berwickshire.
Missing in Action on 12 July 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Also named on the Swinton Parish Church Roll of Honour.

Pte. GEORGE WATSON, 4th K.O.S.B.
George Watson – age 22 – Private (200269) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
George as Private (4429) was a member of the Territorial 4th KOSB and although he was mobilised in August 1914 he was not posted to the 1/4th Battalion in Egypt until 1916. He then served in Palestine where he was killed at Gaza.
Born 1894 in Swinton. Son of the late Alexander Watson (died 1915) and of Jane (Millar) Watson of West End, Swinton.
Killed in Action on 19 April 1917 and buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine.

Cpl. JOHN WILSON, 1st London Scottish.
John Wilson – age 25 – Corporal (1857) 1/14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish)
John was educated at Berwickshire High School in Duns before serving his apprenticeship in the Royal Bank of Scotland in Duns. He was promoted to the London branch of the bank and later accepted the post of assistant secretary to Messrs Balfour, Beattie & Co. Electrical Engineers. He was a member of the Territorial London Scottish and landed with his battalion at Le Havre in September 1914. John was killed when a grenade he was preparing exploded prematurely.
Born 1889 in Swinton. Son of William and Annie (McGilvray) Wilson of Laws Cottage, Whitsome, Berwickshire.
Died on Active Service on 13 June 1915 and buried in Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France
Also named on the Swinton Parish Church Roll of Honour, on the Berwickshire High School memorial and on the Whitsome Parish War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:42 am Post subject:

1939 – 1945

L/Cpl. HENRY GRAHAM DEARDEN, Commando.
Henry Graham Dearden – age 25 – Private (3191706) King's Own Scottish Borderers and No. 1 Commando.
Henry was a quarryman when he enlisted. He was a Private in No.1 Commando when he married in July 1942. The Commando went out to India in January 1944 and moved to Burma in September. Henry's remains were recovered from the battlefield cemetery at Akyab and he was re-interred in May 1952.
Born 1919 in Bowden, Roxburghshire. Son of Henry Graham Dearden and of the late Margaret (Burns) Dearden (died 1928) of Cherrytrees, Yetholm, Roxburghshire. Husband of Josephine (McGarry) Dearden of Glasgow who he married in 1942 in Rothesay, Bute.
Killed in Action on 31 January 1945 and buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.

Sgt. ROBERT PATERSON, R.E.M.E.
Robert Paterson – age 25 – Sergeant (104876) Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Robert served his apprenticeship as a motor engineer in Swinton and later worked in Leitholm, Berwickshire before he joined the army. He was evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940 and went out to India in 1942 but had to have a leg amputated. Robert was transferred to hospital in the Oribi area near Pietermaritzburg, South Africa where he died.
Born 1918 at Newbigging Walls, Lauder, Berwickshire. Son of the late Thomas Paterson, Private (49753) 23rd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (died 1918) and of Jessie (Baikie) Paterson of Swinton.
Died on Service on 26 December 1943 and buried in Pietermaritzburg (Fort Napier) Cemetery, South Africa.

Robert's father Thomas is named on the Lauder Burgh and Parish War Memorial and on the Westruther Parish War Memorial.
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Ken