The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

Me again! I'm really stuck with this one. Robert Aitken is named on the Plean war memorial, but I can't find out what regiment he was in, or anything else about him.
I do know that in the 1911 census, there was an 18 year-old Robert Aitken living in Plean, but born in Denny. I think it likely that this is the man I'm looking for, but how do I link him to a regiment? If it's him, his parents were James Aitken and Mary Yeardley and he was born in April 1892...
There's a Gordon Highlander S/7570 who might fit the bill, but there are 14 or so Robert Aitkens on SNWM and he could be any of them, so how do I narrow it down?
Please help!
Tanya

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 5:47 pm Post subject:

Tanya - your Gordon Highlander was Robert Henderson Aitken. He married Ellen McDermid in Stirling in 1908.

CWGC has
Rank:Private Service No:S/7570
Date of Death:06/12/1917
Age:32
Regiment/Service:Gordon Highlanders 1st Bn.
Grave Reference:II. D. 9.
Cemetery:FAVREUIL BRITISH CEMETERY
Additional Information:Son of William and Ann Aitken; husband of Ellen Aitken, of 7, East Thomas St., Edinburgh.

Hope that helps (a bit)
The Marriage Register might give a home address in Plean for one of them. (or Not)

Ken

ps Hope you are well away from all the hoo-haa.

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

Hi Ken,
every little helps even if it's not obvious at the time....
Well, I had a look at the marriage certificate, but both were resident in Stirling, so no joy there. However, he was a coal-miner, so maybe he worked in Plean Colliery?
On the other hand, his father's William and not James.... so I've still no idea if he's the right one.
Thanks for the pointer.
Tanya

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

RH Aitken of the Gordons is on the Stirling war memorial - address is Winchel Place, Stirling (presumably his parents' address). That doesn't preclude him from being on the Plean memorial as well, of course!

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

Samuel Cuthbert is on both, I know, and there may be others.... but is it him or a different Robert Aitken?
Tanya

anne park · Last edited by anne park on Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:16 pm; edited 1 time in total

Robert H Aitken Pte S/7570 1st Gordon Highlanders b Stirling e Stirling Age 32 Killed in Action F&F 06/12/1917 Son of William and Ann Aitken; Winchel Place, Stirling. Husband of Ellen Aitken, of 7, East Thomas St., Edinburgh. Occ: was previous to enlisting, miner in Millhall pit. Soldiers Will 4 pages. Favreuil British Cemetery Fr 0563 Plot I Row D Grave 09 Stirling Observer 12-01-18 Page 3 Stirling Memorial
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:07 pm Post subject: Scotland's People Will

In the 4 pages you should get something but there are costs......
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

Well that puts the tin hat on, if he was at Milhall he wasn't a miner at Plean! So that eliminates the Gordon for me Confused

Any other ideas? Anne if you want his will and marriage certificate, I can send them on as they're no use to me now!
Tanya
PS the will says NOK is his sister in Edinburgh....