The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

Leuchars - Fife
Leuchars war memorial is a small rustic freestone bellcote type structure with the dedication and names of the dead on a bronze panel set into the face. The monument stands on a rise south of the cemetery, adjacent to St. Michael's Golf Course. Sorry about the quality of the photographs.

WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Adam Andrew Private
Anderson Daniel Sergeant Military Medal
Anderson Fulton Corporal
Angus Matthew Lance Corporal
Armitt David Private
Bannerman James Captain
Bell Thomas Private
Bett George D. Private
Bissett John Private
Boyd William C. Sergeant
Broom Cyril T. Lieutenant
Brown James Private
Brown Peter Lance Corporal
Brown Thomas Lance Corporal
Carswell Duncan Private
Christie John Lance Corporal
Corlett W. Private
Cowans Reg. N.S. Sergeant Military Medal & Bar
Croll Andrew Private
Cunningham Henry J. Private
David Bisset Private
Duffus Charles Sergeant Military Medal & Bar
Duncan John A.S. Private
Falconer David Chief Engineer
Ferguson Frank Sergeant
Finlay David Sergeant Victoria Cross
Grant Alexander Private
Gray Clunie Private
Gray David Private
Guthrie Alfred Private
Hampton Alfred Private
Harvey James Private
Henderson John Corporal
Henderson Robert Captain
Henderson Robert Private
Jack Andrew H. Private
Kirkcaldy David Private
Law Duncan H. Private
Martin Alexander Private
McDonald James Private
McGillivray Robert Private
McGregor Robert C. Private
McKenzie Colin Piper
Miller Archibald Private
Morrison James Private
Mowbray C.R.L. Trooper
Mussett John Seaman
Myles Andrew Private Military Medal
Myles James Private
Myles Robert Private
Ogilvie William Private
Rait Douglas Private
Richardson David Lance Corporal D.C.M.
Robertson Fred T. Private
Robertson George Sergeant
Rooke Gordon Private
Ross Hugh Private
Ross John Sergeant
Sime Thomas M. Private
Simmers Andrew Private
Smith James Private
Stark William Private
Stewart Duncan Private
Turnbull James Private
Walker James Corporal
Wallace Alexander L/Sergeant
Wallace Andrew Sergeant
Wallace Charles Private
Watson Thomas Private
Williams H.M. Captain

WWII ROLL OF HONOUR:
Adam James Guardsman
Burke Sidney Sergeant / Gunner
Christie Alexander Sergeant
Clark John W. Leading Stoker
Davidson Walter Private
Douglas James W. Gunner
Gordon Ramsay Sergeant
Grogan Ronald Private
Hannay Richard Guardsman
Kennedy James A.C.
McKay Andrew J. Flight Sergeant
Mitchell David Radio Officer
Rennie James Captain Military Cross
Robertson Peter G. Gunner
Simpson John Sergeant
Suttie Walter Driver
Sword Robert Petty Officer
Thomson Stanley Trooper

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject:

Carved into the stonework of the monument.

1914 - IN MEMORIAM - 1919
MEN OF LEUCHARS PARISH

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:42 pm Post subject:

Name: FINLAY, DAVID
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 21/01/1916
Service No: 1780
Awards: V C
Additional information: Husband of Mrs. F. Finlay (now Mrs. Wilson), of The Anchorage, St. Abb's, Coldingham, Berwickshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 25 and 63.
Memorial: BASRA MEMORIAL
Citation: An extract from the "London Gazette", dated 29th June, 1915, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 9th May, 1915, near Rue du Bois, when he led a bombing party of twelve men with the greatest gallantry in the attack until ten of them had fallen. Lance-Corporal Finlay then ordered the two survivors to crawl back, and he himself went to the assistance of a wounded man and carried him over a distance of 100 yards of fire-swept ground into cover, quite regardless of his own personal safety."

flagstare · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 2

Although Sgt Finlay is listed on the Leuchars memorial he hails from Guardbridge I have always wondered why this should be so. The only reason I can think of is that he may have lived and worked on a farm within the Leuchars Parish at the time of his enlistment. Guardbridge it's self has a small memorial in a quiet secluded piece of parkland originally it was in the local church until it's sale then moved to it's present position.

TOM

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject:

Hello Tom,

According to the following source Guardbridge was in Leuchars Parish. I noted that other men from Guardbridge are on the Leuchars War Memorial;

Guardbridge, vil. with ry. sta. (Guard Bridge), Leuchars par., Fife, at mouth of river Eden, 4 miles NW. of St Andrews; P.O.; has brickworks. The bridge over the Eden at this place dates from 1420.
(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Just as the memorial you mention when churches closed the WM plaques etc. were relocated - usually to another church but not always. Another church memorial that was placed in the open is at Ardler, Perthshire.

Thanks for the information, thats what the forum is all about. Hopefully a picture of the memorial will be posted soon.

rgds.,
Mark

flagstare · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 2

the church in Guardbridge was / is a very small one and was sold around 2000 the memorial was originally fixed to the inside wall, the plaque is made of bronze and has quite a number of names that are still recognisable today in the area. The local paper mill placed a plot of land aside to be landscaped as a public park and within a small garden of rememberance the job of placing the plaque was given to the local TA Royal Engineer Squadron at RAF Leuchars. They placed the plaque on a purpose built plynth and to its rear added an arched wall that was originally in the church, i think the paper mill and the local community council donated a bench each. the Guardbridge memorial is now in a splended spot that is both fitting (as the majority of men on the memorial probably worked at the mill) and tranquil. I will organise some photographs when the weather changes for the better.

TOM

john burnett · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 790 Location: Fife

Thanks to Mr and Mrs Goldsmith for photos

From the cemetery with memorial on hill.

From memorial looking down to cemetery with Cross of Sacrifice.

dalblair · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Posts: 564 Location: coupar angus

Designed by Mills&Shepherd,Dundee c.1920

anne park · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:47 am Post subject: David Armitt

Name: David Armitt
Birth Place: Leuchars, Fifeshire
Death Date: 17 Apr 1918
Death Place: France and Flanders
Enlistment Place: Cupar, Fifeshire
Rank: Private
Regiment: Gordon Highlanders
Battalion: 1st Battalion
Regimental Number: S/21391
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
1901 Census: 18 Mill's Buildings, Leuchars.
Mother Janet Helen Armitt.
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 3:45 pm Post subject:

PTE. WILLIAM OGILVIE.

I think that this is the same man named on the Lilliesleaf Parish War Memorial in Roxburghshire as:

WILLIAM OGILVIE Pte. GORDON HIGHrs.
William Ogilvie – age 20 – Private (S/3192) 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
William enlisted in Kirkcaldy in Fife and landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915 but was killed two months later during the battle of Loos.
Born 1895 in Tranent, Haddington, East Lothian. Son of William Ogilvie and of Jane Elliot (Glendinning) Ogilvie of Greycrook, St. Boswells, Roxburghshire.
William senior had been a coachman and in 1901 the family were in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, in 1911 at Leuchars in Fife, and from 1914 he was a chauffeur, living at South Lodge, Linthill, Lilliesleaf.
Missing in Action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
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Ken