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LondonScot
Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Essex
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject: A New Recruit. |
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Hello,
Stumbled across this site in error and am very glad I did. It looks splendid and I have already revisited Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead via its pages.
An abiding interest of mine is Scottish military history, specialising in the Highland infantry regiments of the British Army. To this end, I have amassed a considerable library, including every published battalion and regimental history for WWI and II to the Highland regiments, plus diaries, biographies etc. Other Scottish unites are also covered and I have scores of "Roll of Honour" and "In Memoriam" volumes. I am happy to pass on any information that the collection contains to fellow members.
If, in the future, you consider compiling a bibliography of published "Rolls of Honour" I shall pass on the listings that I have - just give me time to get them up to date.
Regards,
LondonScot |
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 4991 Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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Wow that sounds fascinating, I would love to see such a list published here. I am almost salivating just thinking about it
Whereabouts in Essex are you? My mother and brother live in Harlow.
While I think about it, have you seen the memorial to the KOSB in Theydon Bois? My brother photographed it and it's on the forum at http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=2590
\Paul |
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dhubthaigh Our first ever 1000-poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 5071 Location: Blairgowrie, Perthshire
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome LondonScot. Look forward to hearing from you. |
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Adam Brown Curator
Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 7312 Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:28 am Post subject: |
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LondonScot
Welcome to the forum, I'm glad you stumbled across us. I hope you've found our other war grave forum too
http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/
Kind regards
Adam |
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David McNay Administrator
Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 11425 Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to the forum, hope you find lots to interest you.
Your library soudns like the sort of place I'd spend ages in! I'd like to do some sort of book list or "virtual library" on this site, showing what's available and where it can be found.
Can I ask - do you use any kind of cataloging software? I had thought of using an Excel spreadsheet but I'm always open to better suggestions.
If you like to contact me off-forum to discuss this further my email is david_mcnay@btinternet.com
Regards,
David |
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LondonScot
Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Essex
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your welcome.
Here in Witham we have a dubious memorial to a Scottish Officer. A plaque on the wall of Newbury House commemorates an incident that took place during 1916 when it was the home of the Congregational Minister David Picton. An unnamed Scottish Officer was billeted there and thought it a good idea to demonstrate to his host the workings of a hand grenade. In the ensuing explosion the clergyman and the officer were both killed and members of the family were injured.
The officer is not commemorated on the Witham War Memorial.
The 2/9th Royal Scots were based in the area at the time and it is possible that the Scotsman was a member of the "Dandy" 9th. |
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 4991 Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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This just gets better! Do you have the name and/or date of death of the officer? A photo of the memorial perhaps?
\Paul |
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LondonScot
Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Essex
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:30 pm Post subject: Witham's finest. |
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I can take a photograph of the plaque within the next few days but I do not have the officer's name. I have searched the WWI history of the Royal Scots but it does not include Rolls of Honour and the service of 2/9th Royal Scots is covered in one page. I shall check with my branch of the Western Front Association. |
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LondonScot
Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Essex
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:51 pm Post subject: Death of Scottish Officer, Witham, Essex |
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This was the subject of an article by Mr Foster Summerson in the Newsletter of The Western Front Association, Essex Branch. Published in September 2003, it quotes extensively from local newspapers.
Lt James McLagan killed himself and his host, Rev. David Marsden Picton, by demonstrating the capabilities of a hand grenade inside Witham Manse (Newbury House). Not only were the two men killed but the Rev. Picton's wife and child were badly injured.
Lt. James McLagan, 22, of the 3rd/1st Highland Field Co. attached to the 65th Lowland Division Field Co., R.E. had entire charge of the grenades for the division and held a first class certificate for bombing. A military board of enquiry could not decide how it was that the officer had a live bomb in his possession, or why he took it home to his billet. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned at the Inquest.
After the inquest the body of Lt. McLagan was conveyed from the Manse to Witham Railway Station from where it was despatched to Glasgow, where the Lieutenant's father was a Presbyterian minister. On the route to the railway station the body was accompanied by the band of the 2/9th Royal Scots and officers from the Division
James McLagan is commemorated on a special memorial in Glasgow (Eastwood) Cemetery. The entry in the CWGC Debt of Honour Register also records "Alternative Commemoration - buried in Glasgow (Sighthill) Cemetery". It appears that McLagan was buried here and when the graves could no longer be maintained, the headstones were removed to Eastwood where they have been formed into a memorial which has been placed in a small Garden of Remembrance. |
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apanderson Administrator
Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 2571 Location: Stirlingshire
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