The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

craobhan · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Kirkcudbrightshire

Dalbeattie War Memorial was unveiled on Sunday 4th September 1921 by a local war hero, Mr. William Alexander who was blinded by through wounds received in action while serving with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. The address was given by Mr W.J.H. Maxwell of Munches, two of whose sons are listed on the memorial.

The memorial is in the centre of Colliston Park which is alongside the A711

The following physical description of the memorial is a précis of a (very!!) long article in the Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser of 9th September 1921.

An adaptation of a traditional mercat cross, constructed in Dalbeattie granite. It consists of a hexagonal pillar surmounted by a Galloway lion in bronze, rising from a hexagonal die on a stepped base. The steps and base are rustic hammered on face with the projections and mouldings fine-axed. The die is framed by six moulded pilasters, with six deeply recessed panels between. The panels are highly polished with a fine-axed margin round the edges. The die is surmounted by a richly moulded cornice.
The front panel bears the inscription IN MEMORIAM – OUR GLORIOUS DEAD – 1914-1918. in large, slightly raised, leaded letters, with a bronze panel holding the burgh coat of arms underneath. The remaining five panels contain the names of the fallen, also in leaded letters.
The design was adopted under the advice of Mr. W.S. McGeorge R.S.A. and Mr. E.A. Hornel, artists of Kirkcudbright.

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There additions for WWII
Below the front panel is a wedge set block with a square panel highly polished in the same style as the original panels with the inscription 1939 - 1945 - "THEIR NAMES LIVETH FOREVER"
To the left and right of this panel are two other identical panels bearing the names of the fallen.

The names of the fallen in WWI are in alphabetical order but strangely do not start on either of the panels immediately to the left and right of the front panel. The list begins on the second panel to the left of the front panel and works its way round to the right. The name of Gunner Alex J.L. Matthewson is out of alphabetical order and appears at the end of the list.

Hugh Botts and J. Glancey are also listed on St. Peter's RC Church memorial but there the spellings are Hugh Bott and J. Clancey. All other WWI and WWII names that are also on St. Peter's memorial are spelled the same on both memorials.

The link to photos is
http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4750310

DerekR · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject:

OS Ref NX 8348 6152 (by GPS)

edited by spoons
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:47 pm Post subject:

UKNIWM Ref: 5881

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:05 am Post subject:

Here are the details of one of those listed. Staff Nurse Paterson

PATERSON, Jessie Jane
Rank: Staff Nurse
Regiment/Service: Territorial Force Nursing Service
Age: 34
Date of Death: 29/09/1916 Salonika
Additional information: Daughter of Marion Isabella Paterson, of 3, Craignair St., Dalbeattie, and the late James Paterson.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1555.
Cemetery: Mikra British Cemetery,Kalamaria, Greece
Listed on the Dalbeattie War Memorial
Listed on the Scottish Nurses Memorial, St Giles High Kirk, Edinburgh
Listed on the Scottish Women's Roll, SNWM as Patterson

Staff Nurse Paterson's surname is incorrectly spelled in the SNWM database but is correct on the St Giles Memorial.

Adam

DerekR · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject:

Surname BELL
Firstname Thomas
Service Number 241032
Date Death 19/04/1917
Decoration
Place of birth Dalbeattie Kirkcudbright
Other 1/5th Bn.
SNWM roll THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
Rank Pte
Theatre of death Egypt.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

The unveiling:

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www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject:

Name: WRIGHT, JEANNIE TURNBULL
Initials: J T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Worker
Regiment/Service: Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps
Age: 20
Date of Death: 29/10/1918
Service No: 46868
Additional information: Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, of The Galla, Dalbeattie.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 4A. 1st Extn. 23.
Cemetery: DALBEATTIE CEMETERY

Also on Perth Congregational Church Memorial;
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=3724

spoons · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

I saw a short item in the local paper that this memorial had just won a best kept memorial award. Unfortunately I don't have the item so cannot give the details.

Just found an alternative description of this memorial on the Dalbeattie heritage website.

It was erected in 1921 and unveiled by local man Mr William Duncan Alexander* who was blinded at a very young age during the first world war whilst serving at Vimy Ridge in France . The first Remembrance Day service was held at the Memorial in November 1921. It is made of local grey granite, an octagonal base supporting a column topped by the Lion Rampant of Galloway. It is a simplified version of the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh. Poppy Wreaths are still laid there today by various local groups on Remembrance Sunday.

* Despite his blindness, Mr Alexander or "Old Duncan" as he was known, married, raised a family and kept poultry until a ripe old age. Old Duncan was a very well known and loved character in the town. After his wife, Jenny, died suddenly in the 50's, old Duncan was cared for by his daughter, Nancy.

spoons · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

Stunning pics added by spoons, I must say.

spoons · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject:

a few odd nationalities/regiments caught my eye so I thought I would do some stats on the WW1 names - no Australians or NZ but

96 Scottish Regiments
12 English Regiments
18 other British Corps/Services
2 Irish Regiments
12 Canadian
3 South African
2 American
1 unidentified
146 WW1 names total

\Paul

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Josiah F. Broadfoot
Corporal, U.S. Army
326th Tank Battalion, Tank Corps
Entered the Service from: Rhode Island
Died: September 28, 1918
Buried at: Plot H Row 17 Grave 18
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
Romagne, France

Robert Blackwood
Private, U.S. Army
308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division
Entered the Service from: Minnesota
Died: December 9, 1918
Buried at: Plot D Row 15 Grave 13
Oise-Aisne American Cemetery
Fere-en-Tardenois, France

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

Although Dalbeattie is my local town (about 6 miles away) I haven't paid much attention to the War Memorial. I'm still trying to sort out a few people on my local parish memorials.
Viewing these latest photos, I've just noticed the overlaps. On one panel alone there are 4 names (McVinnie, Paisley, Park & Pool) who also appear on the Colvend Memorial - and none of these have any obvious connection with Dalbeattie.
Another - David Gowans - was born in Dalbeattie but married a Colvend girl so its no surprise that he is on both.
Is this unusual or is being named on the local town as well as the local parish memorials common?
Kenneth
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Ken

spoons · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject:

We have seen it quite a lot, some are listed on half a dozen memorials or more. Two men from Moniaive are listed on the Moniave memorial where they came from and also on the Dalry Roll of Honour - where they worked locally as shepherds. Place of birth, where they were brought up, where their parents lived and where their wife lived are all candidates plus of course school, college and church.

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison

A bit more info. about the 2 Americans.

ROBERT BLACKWOOD was born 1893 at Kirkgunzeon near Dalbeattie.

JOSIAH F BROADFOOT was born 1889 at Westerly Town, Washington County, Rhode Island. His parents Thomas and Annie were from Dalbeattie - they married there in 1887.
He served in the 326th Tank Battalion and I've just found this snippet with a familiar name:
The 1st Light Tank Battalion, using French Renault light tanks, was organized at Bourg on April 28, 1918, with Captain George Patton in command. By the first week of June, however, officers and men had been assigned to him in sufficient numbers to organize a second battalion. At about the same time, the two battalions were redesignated the 326th and 327th Tank Battalions. (Source: worldwar1.com/dbc/tanks.htm)
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Ken