The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

apanderson

Here we go again!!

Your opinions please.

On Bonnybridge Masonic Lodge's Roll of Honour, Harry Stirling is listed as having died in WW1. There are no ranks or regiments listed on the roll.

On Longcroft Civic Memorial, an H. M. Stirling is listed under Canadians. There are no H. Stirlings to be found on the CEF, CWGC or SNWM.

However, trying other options, I found this man on CWGC & SNWM:

Henry M. Stirling
Private
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 11th Bn.,
No. S/11521
Date of Death: 16th September 1916
Age 32
Son of Mrs. Isabella Stirling, 129 Whitehill Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow. (SNWW lists place of birth as Barony, Lanarkshire)

I downloaded the Service Return: Henry Maxwell Stirling, Private, No. S/11521, 11th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Killed in action in France, 15th September 1916.

Yet again, I can't find any connection to Bonnybridge (district) for this man.

I tried looking in 1911 Census Returns and can't find any Henry (+variants) Stirling anywhere near the district. (There 13 in the whole of Scotland but none of the correct'ish age).

There is however, a Harry Stirling, born c1889 at Haggs (just along the road from Bonnybridge) in the 1891 and 1901 Censuses (Ancestry's versions). This one was the son of John and Jane Stirling, nee Morrison, died 19th April 1918 age 30 and is listed on a family stone in Denny Cemetery.

This Henry/Harry doesn't seem to be listed as living in Scotland in 1911 (S.P. Index) or in England or Wales in 1911 (Ancestry).

I checked S.P's Statutory Death Index and there are no H. Stirling deaths anywhere in Scotland between 1914 - 1919 (ages 25-35). The only one is the Service Return for the Harry Maxwell above.

Anne Confused