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Kirkmichael Church WW2

 
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:51 pm    Post subject: Kirkmichael Church WW2 Reply with quote

UKNIWM Ref 44336

Location is inside Kirkmichael Parish church, Parkgate at OS Map Ref: NY 004 883

UKNIWM describes the church location as Townhead but it is in fact in Parkgate. In this area, Townhead is a term used to describe the top end of the village (in height or furthest from the main road) and Townfoot is the lower end. There are lots of Townheads and Townfoots (and Lochhead and Lochfoot). But the village name here is Parkgate.

Names:
PTE J B BELL
SGT R CAMPBELL
ACI J J DOUGLAS
P/O G H HANNAN
FUS A McFADZEAN
PTE A McNEISH
PTE J MUIRHEAD
P/O J L SHIELLS DFM





One name caught my eye so I went off on a piece of research.

Name: SHIELLS, JAMES LAUDER
Initials: J L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 15 Sqdn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 16/04/1943
Service No: 143451
Awards: D F M
Additional information: Son of James Alexander and Agnes Robson Butler Shiells; husband of Margaret Elizabeth Shiells, of Dumfries.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: D. Coll. grave 13-20.
Cemetery: ST. ERME COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

also listed on Kirkmichael civic memorial at Nethermill

and from http://lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=10796

Stirling BF474 Information
Type Stirling
Serial Number BF474
Squadron 15
X1D LS-H
Operation Mannheim
Date 1 16th April 1943
Date 2 17th April 1943

Further Information
"Serial range BF455 - BF483. 29 Stirling Mk.111. Part of a batch of 200 Short S.29 Stirling Mk.1/111/1V. BF309- BF358; BF372-BF416; BF434-BF454 (116) Mk.1; BF455-BF483; BF500- BF534; BF561-BF580 (84) Mk.111; BF464; BF468; BF532; BF575; BF580 were converted to Mk.1V. Delivered by Short & Harland between Jan43 and Apr43. Contract No.774677/38. Delivered to No.15 Sqdn 15Mar43. BF474 was one of two 15 Sqdn Stirlings lost on this operation. See: BK691. Airborne 2146 16Apr43 from Mildenhall. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at St-Erme-Outre-et-Ramecourt (Aisne), 20 km ESE of Laon, France. All are buried in St-Erme Communal Cemetery Extension. P/O Shiells DFM was Gazetted 1Jun45. F/S Perring's brother, John Derek Perring, also died on Active Service, and F/S Pich_ was the adopted son of Alfred and Arlina Pich_ of Lake Linden, Michigan. P/O J.L.Shiells DFM KIA P/O K.M.Pich_ RCAF KIA Sgt J.P.Lacy KIA F/S C.B.Perring KIA Sgt L.A.James KIA Sgt J.Gould KIA Sgt B.J.A.Bessette RCAF KIA Sgt D.J.A.Hyde KIA 'Battle of the Ruhr', A.Cooper, spells P/O Shiells as Shields. "
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stuartn



Joined: 13 Dec 2016
Posts: 2551

PostPosted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks,

UKNIWM/WMR have now corrected the location.
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Kenneth Morrison



Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7749
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2018 3:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PTE. J. B. BELL, BLACK WATCH.
James Burgess Bell – age 31 – Private (1719884) 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
James was employed at Heathhall in Dumfries when he enlisted. His battalion had crossed the Rhine near Rees when James was killed at the village of Esserden. He was buried there but was re-interred at Reichswald in September 1946.
Born 1913 in Kirkmichael. Son of John and Janet (Burgess) Bell of Nethermill, Parkgate, Kirkmichael. Husband of Barbara Turner (Edgar or McVittie) Bell of Meikleholm Cottage Courance, Kirkmichael who he married in 1940 in Kirkmichael.
Killed in Action between 23 and 24 March 1945 and buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.


SERG. RODERICK CAMPBELL, R.A.F.V.R.
Roderick Campbell – age 19? – Sergeant/Air Gunner (1820283) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Roderick's Lancaster bomber from 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF Wigsley, near Lincoln, was on a night exercise practice bombing when it was attacked by a German Ju88 night fighter and crashed at Sookholme, near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
Born 1928 in Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire. (So aged 17 +)
Son of Hugh and Janet Campbell of Lambholm Cottages, Parkgate, Dumfriesshire.
Killed by enemy action on 4 March 1945 and buried in Gamerig Cemetery, Kirkmichael. (CWG)
Also named on the Royal Four Towns War Memorial in Hightae, Dumfriesshire.


AC1 J. J.DOUGLAS, R.A.F.
John James Douglas – age 22 – Aircraftman 1st Class (1562716) 2744 Squadron, RAF Regiment, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
John worked at Newtonairds Home Farm, Holywood when he enlisted. 2744 Squadron arrived in Italy in December 1943, initially based in the Naples area. Although their primary role was airfield defence, they later operated alongside Army units as infantry support at Monte Cassino on the Gothic Line. John was buried in a battlefield grave but was re-interred in Assisi in August 1946.
Born 1922 in Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire as John James Lori.....Son of Mr. & Mrs. Douglas of Craigshields, Parkgate, Kirkmichael.
Killed in Action on 30 June 1944 and buried in Assisi War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the Closeburn Parish War Memorial and on the Holywood Parish WW2 memorial.


P/O G. H. HANNAN, R.A.F.V.R.
George Henry Hannan – age 30 – Pilot Officer/Air Gunner (79237) 236 Squadron, Coastal Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Harry was a member of the Dumfries county clerk’s staff before joining the Forces. An amateur footballer with Nithside Juveniles, he was also an assistant secretary for South-East Scotland in connection with the Government’s physical training and recreation scheme. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in May 1940 and fought with his squadron during the Battle of Britain as a Coastal Command squadron, where it was used for a mix of reconnaissance and long range fighter duties. Harry's Bristol Blenheim had taken of from RAF St. Eval in Cornwall for a reconnaisance sortie to Brest but it failed to return and it was not until early 1944 that a Frenchman, who had reached England, reported that the aircraft had been shot down near his village. The three crewmen were buried in Plouguin, Finistere, north of Brest, and were re-interred in Bayeux in July 1948.
Born 1910 in Terregles, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Henry Beattie Hannan and of Jean (Macmillan) Hannah of Kirkmichael and of 80 High Street, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
Killed in Action on 21 December 1940 and buried in Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France.


FUS. ADAM McFADZEAN, R.S.F.
Adam McFadzean – age 35 – Fusilier (3127436) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Adam had been a quarry worker and had been a prisoner of war in Germany. He died of tuberculosis at his home in Ecclefechan.
Born December 1910 at Millpool in Kirkpatrick Durham, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Son of John and Mary (Johnstone) McFadzean of Auchenskew, Courance, Kirkmichael. Husband of Mary Roddick (Quirk) McFadzean, of Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire who he married in 1939 in Kirkpatrick Juxta, Dumfriesshire.
Died on 18 December 1944 and buried in Hoddom New Parish Churchyard in Ecclefechan. (CWG)


PTE. ALEX. F. T. McNEISH, R.A.S.C.
Alexander Fraser Taylor McNeish – age 34 – Driver (T/14780583) Royal Army Service Corps.
Born 1910 in Kirkmichael as Alexander Fraser Taylor. Son of Margaret Jane (Taylor) McNeish of Parkgate, Kirkmichael and step-son of George Little McNeish who had married in 1912 in Kirkmichael. Husband of Margaret (Polland) McNeish of The Cottage, Newbridge, Dumfries who he married in 1940 in Kirkmichael.
Died on Active Service on 20 May 1945 and buried in Fayid War Cemetery, Egypt.
Also listed on the Terregles Parish War Memorial in Kirkcudbrightshire.
George's son from his first marriage, James McNeish, Private (5025) Machine Gun Corps, died on 29 October 1918 and is buried in Kirkmichael Churchyard.


PTE. JOHN MUIRHEAD, K.O.S.B.
John Muirhead – age 23 – Private (3188119) 5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
John had been a farm worker at Parkgate, Kirkmichael when he enlisted. He was one of six men of 5th KOSB who were killed when a mine they were guarding on the beach between Dunbar and North Berwick in East Lothian exploded. John died in the Vert Memorial Hospital in Haddington, East Lothian.
Born 1918 in Kirkgunzeon, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Elizabeth Muirhead, later Mrs. John Robertson. They married in 1932 at Auchencairn, Rerrick, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Died of Wounds on 21 April 1941 and buried in Gamerig Cemetery, Kirkmichael. (CWG)
The CWGC register shows him to be the son of Rebecca Muirhead, of Carswadda, Lockenhead.(sic)
This was actually his aunt, Rebecca Bowman Muirhead, born 1891 in Kirkmichael, who lived at Carswadda, Lochanhead, Lochrutton, Kirkcudbrightshire and who was a resident of Lochfoot Village, Lochrutton when she died in Dumfries Infirmary on 24 April 1944. I assume Rebecca raised John as her son and they are buried together in Gamerig Cemetery
.


P/O JAS. L. SHIELLS, D.F.M. R.A.F.V.R.
James Lauder Shiells, Distinguished Flying Medal – age 31 – Pilot Officer/Pilot (143451) 15 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
James was commissioned from Flight Sergeant (1052462) in March 1943 and was awarded a DFM as “1052462 James Lauder SHIELLS (later Pilot Officer), R.A.F.V.R., 15 Sqn., with effect from 15th April, 1943 (since deceased)”.
His Stirling bomber had taken off from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk for a raid on Mannheim but the aircraft crashed at St-Erme-Soutre-et-Ramecourt, north of Reims.
Born 1911 in Annan, Dumfriesshire. Son of James Alexander Shiells and Agnes Robson Butler (Lauder) Shiells of The Barony Lodge, Parkgate, Kirkmichael and of The Bungalow, Bemersyde, St. Boswells, Melrose, Roxburghshire. Husband of “Reta” Margaret Elizabeth (Bradshaw) Shiells (Third Officer W.R.N.S.) of 9 Lauderdale Street, Edinburgh who he married in 1942 in Edinburgh.
Killed in Action on 16 April 1943 and buried in St. Erme Communal Cemetery Extension, Aisne, France.
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Ken
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