The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:27 am Post subject: West Calder, West Lothian

West Calder War Memorial

An unusual but effective colour scheme for this memorial.

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:30 am Post subject:

This cross was below one of the plaques

It is this man

Name: BOYD, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 03/08/1916
Service No: 18976
Additional information: Son of James and Jane Boyd, of 50, Front St., Mossend, West Calder, Midlothian. Former Heart of Midlothian Football Club player.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 D and 7 D.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

This is the cairn at Contalmaison mentioned.

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:15 am Post subject:

That's an...interesting colour scheme.... Confused

spoons · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:30 am Post subject:

David McNay · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:52 am Post subject:

it is at least easy to read and photograph....

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:16 am Post subject:

Check the links page, it doesn't seem it was always that colour.

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1895

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject:

KevinStoke · . Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 175

Some checks needed please

On the 4th photo we have
McLAGAN
McLINDEN
McNALY????????
McNULTY
NEASY

my question is what comes after McLINDEN

Again on the 4th photo was do we have after Thorntons name, its R.F. something but I cant make that out

THOMPSON
THOMPSON
THORNTON
TURNER
WATSON

many thanks for everyones help in these searches

Kevin

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Kevin,

I suggest O McNally (the second "L" looks as if it was sneaked in later, and doesn't quite fit). I don't see a good match on the CWGC or SNWM websites.

W THORNTON . . . R F FRONTRSMEN

The best match I can find for him on both websites died in East Africa.

CWGC
Name: THORNTON
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Fusiliers
Unit Text: 25th Bn.
Date of Death: 05/01/1917
Service No: 13045
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. E. 6.
Cemetery: MOROGORO CEMETERY

SNWM
Surname THORNTON
Firstname William
Service Number 13045
Date Death 05/01/1917
Decoration
Place of birth Whitburn
Other 25th Bn.
SNWM roll SCOTTISH CASUALTIES EXTRACTED FROM ENGLISH REGIMENTS
Rank Pte
Theatre of death East Africa.

The CWGC website tells us that Morogoro is in Tanzania nowadays, or part of German East Africa at the time of WWI.

ADP

apanderson · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:54 am Post subject:

Have a wee look at the link Marc posted above:
http://www.btinternet.com/~james.fanning/thefront/page123.html

It takes you to a West Calder Site which gives the following information (presumably from CWGC):

O McINALLY

Private
41547
6th Bn., Leicestershire Regiment
who died on
Saturday, 24th August 1918.

Additional Information: Son of Owen and Mary McInally, of 28, Muirhall, West Calder, Midlothian.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery: FIENVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY, Somme, France
Grave Reference/Panel Number: A. 30.

Anne

apanderson · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:57 am Post subject:

And from SNWM:

Surname McINALLY
Firstname Owen
Service Number 41547
Date Death 24/08/1918
Place of birth West Calder Midlothian
Other 6th Bn.
SNWM roll SCOTTISH CASUALTIES EXTRACTED FROM ENGLISH REGIMENTS
Rank Pte
Theatre of death F.& F.

milmor_1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Ireland

LAFFEY, Joseph Private 411 6th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Born: West Calder, West Lothian Enlisted: Lochgelly, Fife.
Date of Death: 09/08/1915 Cause: Killed in action.
Grave/Memorial: Panel 190 to 196. Helles Memorial.
Irish War Memorial Records: Volume V, Page 44.

milmor_1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Ireland

I believe this is the soldier listed as W J Bellingham on the memorial.
Can anyone confirm the situation regarding the 8th Bn HLI NOt travellling overseas.?

BELLINGHAM, John Private 7451 8th Bn Highland Light Infantry
Born: Ballymoney, Co Antrim Resided: West Calder, West Lothian Enlisted: Wood Muir, Midlothian.
Age: 21 Date of Death: 28/06/1915 Cause: Killed in action (Initially reported as missing)
Family Notes: Son of John and Rose Bellingham, of 6 Forth Street, West Calder, West Lothian.
Religion: Presbyterian.
Other Notes: Private Bellingham’s Medal Index Card shows him as entering the Gallipoli Theatre of Operations on 12/6/1915; the Card also shows him as “Presumed Dead”. The 8th Bn HLI did NOT travel overseas as a unit, it is believed that Pte Bellingham served with another Scottish unit (possibly Royal Scots Fusiliers). He was killed in action in an attempt to take Gully Ravine. His brother David also enlisted and fought at Galipolli; David served with the HLI (No. 7283), the Royal Scots (No. 30297) and the KOSB (No. 38714), his Medal Index Card shows him as entering the Gallipoli Theatre of Operations on 3/9/1915.
Census notes: The 1901 Census of Ireland shows John (aged Cool

residing with his mother, Rose (aged 35) at, Cubbindall, Stranocum, Co. Antrim, also present were his sisters and brothers, Elizabeth (aged 12), Mary Anne (aged 10), David (aged 5) and Alexander (aged 4 months).
Grave/Memorial: Panel 173 to 177. Helles Memorial.
Other Memorials: Private Bellingham is named in the Scottish Roll of Honour in the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh; he is also commemorated on the West Calder War Memorial,
IWM Records Page No: Volume I, Page 131.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:38 pm Post subject:

1914-1918.net shows this:

8th (Lanark) Battalion
August 1914 : at Lanark. Part of the Lothian Brigade, unattached to a Division and on Scottish Coast Defences. Seems to have been disbanded by May 1916.

And this old thread on the GWF shows an 8th HLI man who died at Antwerp in 1915

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=120511

Name: John McNeil
Birth Place: Carluke, Lanarkshire
Residence: Carluke
Death Date: 30 Dec 1915
Rank: Private
Regiment: Highland Light Infantry
Battalion: 8th (Lanark) Battalion (Territorial).
Number: 6992
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theater of War: Antwerp

Looking up CWGC shows this information which doesn't match place of death, but does confirm he was 8th HLI and seconded to 1st Royal Scots.

McNEIL, JOHN SAMMIE
Initials: J S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry
Unit Text: "D" Coy. 8th Bn
Secondary Regiment: Royal Scots
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 1st Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 30/12/1915
Service No: 6992
Additional information: Son of Samuel and Jane McNeil, of 47, Milton Cottages, Shieldhill Rd., Carluke, Lanarkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: J. 75.
Cemetery: LANCASHIRE LANDING CEMETERY

I'm sure a couple of 8th HLI men died in the Gretna train crash whilst on their way to Gallipoli with the 7th RS.

Doesn't narrow down which unit your man was serving in but at least shows there was another 8th HLI man at Gallipoli.

Cheers

Adam

milmor_1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Ireland

Many thanks for this, it appears that the 8th Bn was a bit of a mystery alright.

Mal