The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Gregh · Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 3

Hi all,

My great-grandfather was James Andrew McKinnon, born about 1874-75, who came from Ayrshire to New Zealand around the turn of the century. I believe his family may have been McKinnons living around Dalry at this time, father James (born 1843) and mother Magaret (also born 1843). If so he had brothers named James (1897) and Robert (1879).

James the younger brother would probably have been too young to sign up for WWI, but I wonder whether the "Robert McKinnon" on this memorial is my g-grandfather's brother? Does anyone who this Robert's parents were? Were they called James and Margaret?

This is relevant because I'll be visiting Dalry in June and want to know if I have a special reason to visit the war memorial.

Greg Hills.

David McNay · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:32 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Greg.

I'm moving this to the "Queries and Requests" section of the forum, as it belongs there.

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

Unless anyone knows differently, I think this is the man.
Name: McKINNON
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Age: 41
Date of Death: 18/03/1919
Service No: 121371
Additional information: Son of the late James and Margaret McKinnon; husband of Janet Robb McKinnon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: S. 337.
Cemetery: DALRY CEMETERY

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

The names and age match so it must be pretty safe to assume this is the same man.

Note he’s buried in Dalry cemetery so apart from visiting the war memorial you can visit his grave too.

James would have been eighteen in 1915 so he may well have served in the First World War

Adam

Gregh · Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks all for quick reply - sorry for posting in the wrong place, I just put the question where I found the information that prompted it!

That definitely sounds like the right Robert.

I've just received some info from other relatives that confuse matters by saying yes, our ancestors lived in Dalry but James's mother (or grandmother) was Isabella not Margaret and originally they all came from Ireland. However, that info may have been garbled in transmission. Until I figure out otherwise, Robert is my great-granduncle and I'll definitely visit both the memorial and his grave while I'm in Dalry.

And yes, put that way, James could also have served in WWI and could be the "James McKinnon" on the memorial.

My grandfather on my mother's side (Reginald Percy Parnell) promoted his age by a year to get recruited in New Zealand. A stretcher bearer, he lost a lung to mustard gas about 13th October at the First Battle of Passchendaele. Fortunately he survived. Not so lucky, a granduncle on my father's side (a nephew-in-law, so to speak, of Robert McKinnon), also born in New Zealand, died at Le Quesnoy in 1918.

suzebain · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 39

Greg, I did a search for you and James parents were indeed James and Margaret. I will send you a private message with more details.

Gregh · Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 3

Hi all,

To save further genealogical posts, I now know my lineage.

I am indeed related to Robert McKinnon, but a generation further back than expected. Robert was the son of James, but my line descends through James's brother John. Robert McKinnon is my great-granduncle, once removed - and I will visit the Memorial.

John and wfe Isabella emigrated to New Zealand in 1879, thus they (and their son James Andrew McKinnon, 1874, my geat-grandfather) do not appear in the Scottish Census. Hence my confusion.

So Robert is settled, but I'm still interested in finding out about the James McKinnon on this monument. Since I now know neither brother of Robert was my ancestor, he could be either James (1874) or James (1897). Any clues?

Greg.