The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

IanA · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 949

A weathered brown stone set against the gable of the rather battered kirk, this stone is difficult to read even kneeling three feet from it. I will transcribe the names in a later post.

IanA · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 949

IanA · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 949

IanA · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 949

The rather attractive panel at the base of the stone showing crossed rifles and swords.

IanA · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 949

The stone, as I said, is very worn and some words cannot be deciphered but here are the names as far as can be made out. I have included some details from CWGC/ SDGW.

Lt Col Robert Horn, DSO, MC. 7th Bn Seaforth Highlanders. 18/4/18.
Cpl J Broomfield. Scots Greys. 10/6/17.
L/Cpl William Raeburn. 1st/7th Scottish Rifles. 23/11/17.
Gunner James Barbour. A Bty, 4th Bde RFA. 27/3/18.
Pte David Hunter. 5th Bn Cameron Highlanders. 25/9/15.
Pte J Mestyn
Pte A D Renwick 5th/6th Royal Scots. 11/8/18.
Pte W Watt. Royal ??
Pte William White. 5th Bn Cameron Highlanders. 17/7/16.

Despite the weathering, Mestyn is clearly a correct transcription but, as far as I can see, the name does not exist. Substituting 'Mostyn' doesn't help much.

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:17 am Post subject:

Details of some of those listed

HORN, Robert DSO & Bar, MC
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 18/04/1918
Awards: D S O and Bar, M C
Additional information: Son of William and Myra Horn, of Woodcote, Midlothian. Previous service entirely with the 1st Seaforths. Adjutant, 1913-1915.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XXVII. G. 21.
Cemetery: LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY

BROOMFIELD, John
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)
Age: 22
Date of Death: 10/06/1917
Service No: GS/6871
Additional information: Son of Robert and Grace Broomfield, of Kedzlie, Earlston, Berwickshire. Native of Blackshields, Midlothian.
Place of birth: Blackshiels Midlothian
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. H. 8.
Cemetery: UNICORN CEMETERY, VEND'HUILE

RAEBURN, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 1st/7th Bn.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 23/11/1917
Service No: 266555
Additional information: Son of William and Isabella Raeburn; husband of Marion Meston (formerly Raeburn), of Slateford, Haddington, East Lothian. Native of Fala, Blackshiels, Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 56.
Cemetery: JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, Israel

BARBOUR, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text: "A" Bty. 4th Bde.
Date of Death: 27/03/1918
Service No: 144237
Place of birth: Crichton Midlothian
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 7 to 10.
Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL

Pte J Mestyn - In SNWM / CWGC as Meston

MESTON, John
Rank:Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 28/10/1917
Service No: 351540
Place of birth: Humbie, East Lothian
Formerly: 4341 Seaforth Highlanders
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 47.
Cemetery: WANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY

WHITE, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Date of Death: 17/07/1916
Service No: S/11646
Place of birth: Dalhousie Midlothian
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 15 B.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Not commemorated but with a Fala connection

FRASER, ARCHIBALD
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 2nd/5th Bn.
Age: 38
Date of Death: 08/07/1921
Service No: 291410
Additional information: Son of Mrs. J. Fraser, of 77, McDonald Rd., Edinburgh, and the late Rev. William Fraser, M.A. Born at Fala, Blackshiels, Midlothian.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: H. 66.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (NORTH MERCHISTON) CEMETERY [/b]

Nikonbob · Joined: 25 Mar 2014 Posts: 64 Location: Gorebridge

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:26 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting this Bob. The sandstone lettering is getting quite worn but the detail on the crossed Lee Enfield Rifles, broadsword and helmet still seems quite sharp.

Adam

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:26 pm Post subject:

The second last name - Private W. WATT, Otago Inf. NZ
would seem to be this man:
WATT, P. (Peter)
Rank:Private
Service No:41681
Date of Death:02/04/1918
Age:26
Regiment/Service:Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. 1st Bn.
Grave Reference:I. K. 33.
Cemetery:MAILLY WOOD CEMETERY, MAILLY-MAILLET
Additional Information:Son of Jessie Watt, of Hangingshaw Farm, Heriot, Midlothian; husband of J. G. Brown (formerly Watt).

See also http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/16535.detail?Ordinal=4&c_surname_search=watt&c_firstname_search=p&c_warconflict_search=%22world+war+i,+1914-1918%22
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:50 am Post subject:

L/Cpl William Raeburn. 1st/7th Scottish Rifles. 23/11/17.

Named on the Haddington War Memorial in East Lothian as:

L.Cpl. W. RAEBURN. SCOTTISH RIFLES – CAMERONIANS
William Raeburn – age 36 – Private (266555) 1/7th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
In 1901 the family were at Fala South Mains Cottage in Midlothian and William's parent were still in Fala in 1911.
Born 1887 in Saltoun, Haddingtonshire/East Lothian. Son of William and Isabella (Cameron) Raeburn of Humbie, Haddingtonshire/East Lothian. Husband of Marion (Meston) Raeburn of Slateford, Haddington who he married in 1914 in Haddington.
Died of Wounds on 23 November 1917 and buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel.
_________________
Ken