The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: Sanquhar Waird Memorial

UKNIWM Ref 57706

OS Map Ref: NS 774 107, it is to the north end of town, just off the A76 but not visible from the main road, however it is signposted (small sign) from the main road.

This is up there amongst my favourite memorials, not least because it is in beautiful condition and obviously well cared for. The surroundings are great and it is a lovely place to just sit and be.........even in dreich January.

I don't think that the naked girl (bronze) is part of the memorial, but I like to think that the lads on the memorial would have approved. Very Happy

and the lass who 'looks after' the memorial

I thought it worth adding in, this is the view from the memorial (nice spot for a picnic)

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject:

Spoons

This is a very strange memorial. What is the small cairn behind it with a cross? It looks to me like this a 'modern' wall and the plaques have been somewhere else before.

The curvature of the Second World War plaques don't make sense unless they were on something like a flagpole before perhaps?

I haven't seen Borneo name on a memorial before but I know of at least one other Scot in the Parachute Regiment who died there a few weeks after Pte Murray.

MacLEOD, Archibald Walker Crosthwaite
Rank: Private
Number: 23549282
Unit: The Parachute Regiment
Died: Killed in action 16.5.1965 Sarawak
Born: Lairg

Although born in Sutherland he is not listed on any Sutherland memorial

Adam

spoons · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:42 pm Post subject:

I have seen an entry for Borneo before, but down in England somewhere I think.

The small cairn with a cross is just that - I took it to be a design feature of the memorial because it fits so well with the curved wall. Having seen it up close, I agree that it actually looks new(ish) and not just refurbished - If I were to guess, I would say last 5 years. I don't have any contacts in the area and rarely pass it. The only thing I could find on the web is a statement that it was 'award winning' but they did not say what award.

Yes I had noticed the odd curve of the WW2 memorials but a flagpole would be too small, they have a similar radius to memorials in St Michael's church, Dumfries (waiting to be posted) where they conform to a pillar. Therefore I would guess that all of the plaques were removed from a church that is no longer used (there is a large one nearby) and the new memorial built especially to hold them.

Note that this memorial was vandalised in November 2006 but last week there was absolutely no sign - good repair job.

Glaschu · Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 16

Hello there,

I visited this memorial in around 1988 while walking the Southern Upland Way and it was very different then. The statue on the bench was in the middle of a grassy area, no landscaping ,overlooking the water ( have a photo). If my memory serves me correctly the memorial was a sort of round pillar with the plaques mounted on it. I thought I had taken a picture of it
Spoons ,I know I said that my Milligans were on this memorial but perhaps it was another one although I am mystified!

Anyway, perhaps this explains the curvature of the plaques.
Glaschu

spoons · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:48 am Post subject:

I would be very interested to see any older pictures if you could post them? This is known as as the Sanquhar Waird memorial (waird being an old scots word for duck pond - as far as I can find out). The fact they have to qualify the name implies there is (or was) more than one name. I think a curved plaque is more difficult to make so I still think they came from a church pillar originally. I think the photo you have is of some interim state of the memorial. Must find out more.

Glaschu · Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 16

Hi,
Sorry it has taken so long to reply but I was trying to find the photo and contact my friend who was with me. No luck I am afraid. All I can tell you is that there was a long white building, looks like a factory or warehouse behind the statue on the bench. I am not sure whether this was a previous location or a totally different memorial altogether.

Hope this helps a wee bit!

Glaschu

spoons · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject:

Just found some info by phoning a very helpful man at the Sanquhar Tolbooth museum. Apparently the original Sanquhar memorial was a building (believed to be called the Memorial Institute). It was a few hundred yards north of the current memorial's location, past the police station on the left. The plaques were fixed to the outside of this building.

The building was demolished sometime in the 1970s or 1980s. It is quite possible that Glaschu saw an interim version of the current memorial.

The Sanquhar Tolbooth museum has details in newspaper clippings somewhere. Unfortunately I do not have time to research this further in the foreseeable future and of course the museum staff do not have the time either, but at least we have managed to fill in some of the gaps and point any future researcher in the right direction.

It does seem odd that with all this activity, the memorial was never registered on UKNIWM in any of its forms.

One further item to note is that the Tolbooth Museum is only open

April-September
Tuesday-Saturday 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm

spoons · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject:

Name: FORREST, DOUGLAS THOMAS
Initials: D T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 622 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 12/09/1944
Service No: 1826053
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 7.
Cemetery: SESSENHEIM COMMUNAL CEMETERY

and this from the 'Lost Bombers' website:
Lancaster NF965 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number NF965
Squadron 622
X1D GI-S
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 12th September 1944
Date 2 13th September 1944

Further Information
"Serial Range NF906 - NG503 This aircraft was one of 400 Lancaster Mk.1s ordered from Armstrong whitworth Aircraft (Baginton) and delivered from Jul44 to Feb45 mainly with 24 engines from Baginton and Bitteswell. NF965 was delivered to 622 Sqdn 24Aug44. Lost on its first Key Operation. When lost this aircraft had a total of 36 hours. NF965 was one of two 622 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: LM291 Airborne 1827 12Sep44 from Mildenhall. Collided in the air with a 625 Sqdn Lancaster (LM512), both Lancasters crashing 2250 on the W bank of the Rhine between Stattmatten and Roeschwoog (Bas-Rhin), 16 km E from Haguenau, France. Apart from F/O Tofield, whose grave is in Belgium at Hotton War Cemetery, both crews are buried together in Sessenheim Communal Cemetery. F/O G.W.Owen KIA Sgt W.A.Drewett KIA F/O J.R.U.Jamieson RAAF KIA F/O P.J.Tofield KIA F/s C.A.Vieritz RAAF KIA Sgt S.Minnis KIA Sgt D.T.Forrest KIA "

And this certificate is now held in Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum. Most parishes in this region seem to have had similar certificates in both the Great War and WW2. Each parish had a different design and the wording was in two forms, one for the families of those who died and one for those who survived.

spoons · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:12 pm Post subject:

I have been able to track down the origin of these plaques (and the reason for their unusual shape). They were originally on the outside of the Memorial Institute (now demolished) and full details are posted here http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=2796

spoons · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject:

Private Andrew Williamson's medals are on display in the Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum.

spoons · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:33 pm Post subject:

S Bryden is also listed on the 2 Durisdeer memorials, the Mennock and the Mennock school memorials, details available here http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=554

\Paul

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

Does anyone have any idea what unit MRFG would be against Private Edward Watson's name?

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:45 am Post subject:

I scanned down all the E Watsons in CWGC looking for inspiration and eliminated (by location) all with Regiments containing M. Sorry.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:00 am Post subject:

Paul

Thanks for Looking, I'd tried CWGC as well but couldn't find a suitable unit. I don't know if 'R' is regiment or 'G' is Guards?

Perhaps it is a colonial unit?

I'll keep looking.

Cheers

Adam

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:05 am Post subject:

This chap perhaps ?

Surname WATSON
Firstname Edward
Service Number 119615
Date Death 27/01/1918
Decoration
Place of birth Dumfries
Other Reserve Sect. R.D.
SNWM roll THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
Rank Air Mechanic 2nd Class
Theatre of death England.