The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 1:16 pm Post subject:

Sergt. John R. Nelson, 1915.
John Rae Nelson – age 26 – Sergeant (10425) 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
John had been in the army before he joined the Sunderland Police Force and he enlisted from there at the outbreak of war. He was already a Sergeant when he landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915 but he was killed three months later and he was buried in the Indian Village Graveyard at Richebourg-l'Avoue. John was re-interred in the 1920's.
Born 1888 in Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland. Son of John and Christina (Rae) Nelson of Brewery Cottage, Chirnside.
Killed in Action on 16 August 1915 and buried in Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France.
Also named on the Sunderland Borough Police War Memorial.

Pte. James Oliver, 1918.
James Oliver – age 19 – Private (351378) 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots.
James was employed in the Chirnside Paper Mill when he enlisted although he was underage. He served initially as Private (3965) in the 1/9th Battalion but was attached to the 5th/6th Royal Scots after they had merged in June 1916. Later he returned to the 1/9th Battalion. His remains were identified on the battlefield and reported to the Red Cross by a German officer who found letters from his sister but his burial place was lost.
Born 1899 in Chirnside. Son of John and Elizabeth (Willis) Oliver of East End, Chimside.
Killed in Action on 25 March 1918 and named on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

Cpl. James Robertson, 1916.
James Robertson – age 23 – Lance Corporal (13315) 1st Battalion, Scots Guards.
James was the Secretary of the Chirnside Branch of the Red Cross Society and of the West United Free Church Band of Hope. He was employed as a farm servant when he enlisted in January 1915 and he joined his battalion in France in October 1915.
Born 1893 in Chirnside. Son of the late George Robertson (died 1895) and of Alice (Lunn) Robertson of Ninewells Mains, Chirnside and of Gunsgreen Hill, Ayton, Berwickshire.
Missing in Action on 30 March 1916 and named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 1:23 pm Post subject:

Pte. James Scott, 1918.
James Scott – age 18 – Private (TR2/43858) 53rd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
James was called up in July 1918 and was in training near Kirkcaldy in Fife when he contracted pneumonia. He was taken to the Craigleith Military Hospital in Edinburgh but he died.
Born 1900 in Duns, Berwickshire. Son of Alexander and Helen (Patterson) Scott of Brewery Buildings, Chirnside.
Died on Service on 26 October 1918 and buried in Chirnside Parish Churchyard. (CWG)

and his brother

Pte. William Scott, 1918.
William Scott – age 20 – Private (98136) 20th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps.
William was a tailor in Allanton in Edrom, Berwickshire when he enlisted as Private (21902) in the Highland Light Infantry, He was posted to the MGC in France and he had just returned from leave in Chirnside when he was killed.
Born 1898 in Duns, Berwickshire. Son of Alexander and Helen (Patterson) Scott of Brewery Buildings, Chirnside.
Killed in Action on 24 March 1918 and buried in Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, France.

Pte. James Shiell, 1917.
James Shiell – age 20 – Private (351119) 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots.
James was at Nethermains, Chirnside when he enlisted as Private (3566) in July 1915 when he was aged just 17 and 6 months. He joined his battalion in France in February 1916.
Born 1898 in Duns, Berwickshire as Patrick James Sheill. Son of George Sutherland Shiell and of Isabella (O'Donell) of Nethermains, Chirnside and of Swinton Quarter, Berwickshire.
Missing in Action on 24 March 1918 and named on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

Pte. John Shiell, 1915.
John Shiell – age 28 – Private (14244) 8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
John served his apprenticeship as a tailor with his father in Chirnside and he enlisted from there in September 1914. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915 but he was killed two months later during the battle of Loos. He was re-interred in Bully-Grenay after the war.
Born December 1882 in Chirnside as John Shiell Ferguson. Son of Alexander and Grace (Ferguson) Shiell of Gladstone Terrace, Chirnside.
Killed in Action on 25 September 1915 and buried in Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 1:29 pm Post subject:

Pte. Alex. Spence, 1918.
Alexander Spence – age 30 – Private (45977) 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Alexander was a baker in Chirnside when he enlisted in mid-1918. He was in training in Ireland when he became ill and he died in the Military Hospital at the Curragh Camp near Dublin.
Born 1888 in Bunkle & Preston, Berwickshire. Son of Alexander and Agnes (Moffat) Spence of East End, Chirnside. Husband of Agnes Anne (Paxton) Spence of East End, Chirnside who he married in 1910 in Edinburgh.
Died on Service on 13 November 1918 and buried in Chirnside Parish Churchyard. (CWG)

Pte. Robert Spence, 1917.
Robert Spence – age 31 – Private (41197) 9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Robert was employed at Whitehall, Chirnside when he enlisted in June 1916. He joined his battalion in France in December but he was badly wounded less than two months later and had to have an arm amputated. Robert contracted blood poisoning and died in the 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport.
Born 1884 in Bunkle & Preston, Berwickshire. Son of Robert and Mary (Jeffrey) Spence, of West Foulden Mains, Berwickshire. Husband of Margaret B. (Wight) Spence of Whitehall, Chirnside who he married in 1913 in Foulden, Berwickshire.
Died of Wounds on 10 February 1917 and buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France.
His brother Peter Spence, Private (23530) 2nd KOSB, was killed on 3 September 1916 and is named on the Foulden Parish War Memorial.

Sergt. William Turnbull, 1917.
William Turnbull – age 23 – Sergeant (351383) 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots.
William and his mother were in business as traction engine proprietors in Chirnside. He enlisted in late 1914 and as Corporal (3971) he joined the 1/9th Royal Scots in France in early 1916.
Born 1894 in Chirnside. Son of the late John Turnbull (died 1912) and of Fanny Purves (Brunton) Turnbull of Westfield, Chirnside.
Killed in Action on 21 May 1917 and buried in Roeux British Cemetery, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 1:37 pm Post subject:

Pte. James Turner, 1916.
James Turner – age 35 – Private (S/13426) 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
James enlisted as Private (8439) in the Seaforths in October 1900 and served in India and Egypt. At the end of his engagement he returned to Billie Mains Farm near Chirnside, joined the Post Office and began working from Chirnside as a postman in August 1909. He re-enlisted in June 1916 and joined his battalion in France in August but he was killed two months later on the Somme.
Born 1881 in Coldingham, Berwickshire. Son of Mary Turner. Husband of Marion Blair Maconochie (Dewar) Turner of Rosebank Chirnside who he married in 1914 in Chirnside.
Missing in Action on 12 October 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

Pte. Thomas Veir, 1918.
Thomas Veir – age 44 – Private (134) Army Service Corps transferred as Private (403837) to the Labour Corps.
Thomas had been working as a paper maker in Hong Kong and he arrived back at the Chirnside Paper Mill in October 1914. He enlisted in the ASC but was posted as Private (39641) to the Essex Regiment in France before being transferred to the Labour Corps. He became ill with malarial fever and was evacuated to the Edinburgh War Hospital at Bangour in West Lothian where he died.
Born 1874 in Leith as Thomas Arklie Veir. Son of the late Jane Elizabeth (Caldwell) Veir (died 1891) and of Thomas Veir of Edinburgh. Husband of Mary Jane (McLean) Veir of Chirnside Bridge, Edrom and of Image Row, Chirnside who he married in 1902 in Edrom.
Died on Service on 10 June 1918 and buried in Chirnside Parish Churchyard. (CWG)

Cpl. W. Alex. Watson, 1915.
William Alexander Watson – age 21 – Corporal (13695) 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
William was educated at Berwickshire High School in Duns before serving for 5 years in the office at Chirnside Mill. He was working in a woollen mill in Alloa, Clackmannanshire and he enlisted from there. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915 but he was killed two months later during the battle of Loos.
Born 1894 in Chirnside. Son of George and Elizabeth (Hogg) Watson of Windsor Cottage, Chirnside.
Missing in Action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
Also named on the Berwickshire High School memorial.

WW2 names are at http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic8113.html
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Ken