The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons

Not listed on UKNIWM

Location in St Cuthbert's Old churchyard, Kirkcudbright. OS Map Ref NX 692 513.

Not sure whether to post this in SWGP or here so on balance I thought it best to post in both.

Erected by public subscription in memory of
Sergt A W Pankhurst 16008 SLY
Corpl C Withington 29495 328th Coy RDC
Pte H S Jones 22578 21st Lancers att RWS
Pte C J Hitchcock D 18893 att Carr Staf RE
Pte C Kenny 555637 att 448 Agric Coy
from the wreck of MS Leinster sunk without warning by German action
in the Irish channel Octr 10th 1918 their bodies washed ashore were
interred here with military honours
Till Reveille

(edit - additional text from Ken Morrison)
This group of memorial stones are just inside the main entrance to the graveyard.
The five men here are only a few of the over 500 casualties resulting from the sinking of the Royal Mail Ship Leinster which was torpedoed in the Irish Sea on 10 October 1918.
There are other CWGs at Kirkbean (1), Kirkandrews (1), Sorbie (1), Whithorn (1) and Portpatrick (1).

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:41 am Post subject:

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:16 pm Post subject:

Charles E. Withington is listed on the Arbroath War Memorial and St Mary's Church memorial.

Below is his entry in the Roll of Honour for the town and an article relating to his death from the Arbroath Herald.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject:

Just to round-off Derek's good work

WITHINGTON, CHARLES EDWARD

Corporal (20495) 456th Company, Royal Defence Corps.
Buried at Kirkcudbright (St. Cuthbert) Old Churchyard (CWGC)
Formerly (23761) Liverpool Regiment (SDGW)

Extract from Death Register, Parish of Borgue, Kircudbrightshire
Charles Edward Withington. Corporal, Royal Defence Corps. Printer. Married.
1918 November Twenty second. Found dead in Ross Bay of the Solway Firth.
Usual Residence Ross Cottage, Scarisbrick, Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Age 46 or 47. Father Edward Withington, Carpenter. Mother Margaret Holgarth.

More Soldiers' Bodies washed Ashore
Two bodies of soldiers were washed ashore on Friday afternoon (22/11) at Borgue parish, Kirkcudbright…..An assistant byreman at Ross farm saw a body floating in the water at Ross Bay and pulled it out. He got assistance from another man, and had the body removed to Ross farm, and reported the matter to the police. On the clothes were found a pass to No. 29495 Corporal C. Wethington, (sic) Royal Defence Corps, besides a watch and some money.....
(Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Wednesday 27 November 1918 Page 5b)

…....The funeral of Corporal Withington took place on Tuesday afternoon (26/11) at St. Cuthbert's Churchyard, when there was a fair attendance of mourners, including the widow, besides a representation from the local company of Volunteers under Lieutenant Livingston, with a firing party under Acting Sergt. Major W M Haugh. The coffin, wrapped in the Union Jack, having been lowered into the grave, the religious service was conducted by the Rev. William Barclay and the Rev. G J Jeffrey, after which three volleys were fired, followed by the sounding of the “Last Post” by Lieut. Livingston.......
(Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser, Friday 29 November 1918 Page 4d)

More Hun Victims
…..The bodies of the Corporal (Withington) and Sergeant (Pankhurst) which were washed ashore, as already reported, were buried with military honours on Tuesday and Wednesday (26/11 and 27/11) in Kirkcudbright churchyard. Besides the local Volunteers, the seven American soldiers in town attended. Lieutenant Livingston commanded. There was a service in the Episcopal Church on Wednesday.
(Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Saturday 30 November 1918 Page 4g)
_________________
Ken