The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Last edited by spoons on Wed Jul 12, 2017 10:13 am; edited 4 times in total

Not listed on UKNIWM

Location - in storage at the former Tarff Parish Church (originally Tarff United Free Church), now a private house. OS Map Ref NX 683 562.

For a long time I believed this memorial to be lost but was relieved to find that it still exists.

Tarff church was closed in 1988 and the WW2 wooden plaque memorial was moved to Twynholm church which is now the parish church for the area. At least two local people separately told me that the WW1 memorial used to be a window, it was no longer in the church and was removed by the church of Scotland to Edinburgh prior to the church being sold.

I contacted the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh who checked their records and told me they have no record of any windows being removed prior to sale and furthermore there was no storage or suitable place in Edinburgh for them to be moved to. They were unlikely to have moved such a memorial out of its area.

I then visited the former Tarff Church (now private residence) and knocked on the door with fingers firmly crossed. I was met by the very helpful lady of the house who told me that she and her husband were the second owners of the church since its sale and she believed that two small windows were removed by the church, a third larger window was essentially destroyed and had to be disposed of but the WW1 memorial was almost entirely intact. It was necessary to remove the window to make the property watertight. She and her husband had removed the four panels and had them in storage in a temporary workshop pending a decision on what to do with them (and awaiting funds). At significant inconvenience to herself, she allowed me to take each panel into the light to photograph them (unfortunately with a doorframe casting partial shadows).

I have done my best with the photos I took and put them together in an attempt to give some idea of the overall effect. I neglected to take measurements but the total window must be in the order of eight feet high. The owners current thoughts are that they might reassemble the window and install it in a light box for display in their hallway but that would not be for some time.

The window was created by Tina Adamson in 1920. (edit - this should be Una Adamson)

Now for the bad news, there is one pane missing and this had two of the four surnames on it and I have not yet found a record of the names. The names which are present are Alexander McColm and Charles R Murray. The missing names are David M????? and William ?????. The first two are listed on the Ringford/Tongland civic memorial and if the other two are also listed on the same civic memorial (a big assumption) then they would be either David Murdoch or David McLelland and either William Simpson or William McQueen. I intend to continue searching the local newspaper archives in hope of finding a record of the unveiling and failing that an appeal in the local paper to see if anyone has a record of the missing names. Any other thoughts?

spoons · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

Name: McCOLM, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 09/07/1916
Service No: S/6551
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 10 A.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Name: MURRAY
Initials: C R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 9th Bn. attd. 7th/8th Bn.
Date of Death: 18/09/1916
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 4 A and 4 D.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Kelsa · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject:

The artist is actually Una Adamson, who trained at Glasgow School of Art. This is the first window I have come across by her - great that you found it.

spoons · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject:

Looking again, I agree it is Una Adamson.

If you would like hi-res photos, please PM me your email and I will be glad to send them.

If there are any records that have survived of Una's work, could you see if there is any record of the names?

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Info sent to Church of Scotland and UKNIWM (with photos).

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 2:28 pm Post subject:

Paul.
I've just run across details of this church at:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/64011/photographs/tarff+free+church+and+burial+ground/
The site of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
There is reference to two windows.
One with the names Alexander McColm, Charles Murray and DAVID MURDOCH.
Oddly no reference to a fourth name.
The other had the names - James Armstrong, John Carnochay (sic), Adam Hastings and Joseph Ireland.

Also there is reference to a burial ground.
_________________
Ken

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 2:38 pm Post subject:

That's great to confirm David Murdoch but frustrating that it doesn't give details of the fourth name and it means another window is missing!

Thanks

Adam

JMB · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 29

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:33 pm Post subject:

spoons · Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:35 pm Post subject:

I have sent to RCAHMS for copies of the photos of 2 windows but have not yet heard anything back.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject:

A photo of the missing memorial can be seen at http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/64011/details/tarff+free+church+and+burial+ground/

I don't see any point in purchasing it as the license won't let me post it here but at least you can see what it looked like before it was lost.

\Paul

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

This memorial was entered onto the WMR/UKNIWM database on 26/10/2015 as memorial 69512.
I have cleaned up that report today.

There was a technical issue with the photographs, and I have asked the office whether that is resolved.

spoons · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 10:16 am Post subject:

photos replaced

\Paul