The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

Dunlop - Kilmarnock & Louden District

The Dunlop war memorial is a grey granite cross with boss and wheel-head and celtic style patterns carved in relief on the face of the cross-head. The cross stands on a tapering pedestal which rests on a low base, both constructed of rustic granite blocks. The commemoration is on a bronze panel on the face of the cross-shaft, and the names of the dead of both wars are listed on the bronze panel on the face of the pedestal. I believe that the monument was by the monumental sculptors McLachlan of Beith.
The monument stands in an area recessed into the wall of the graveyard behind the kirk.

Its notable that four of the men listed among the WWI losses served with both the Ayrshire Imperial Yeomanry and the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Presumably this was some kind of transfer involving several men from the village and I don't think I've seen this on any other memorials.

WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Armour Alexander Royal Field Artillery
Brown Hugh Canadians
Brown Hugh Seaforth Highlanders
Brown Thomas Cameron Highlanders
Bruce Alexander Canadians
Carnochan James Royal Scots Fusiliers
Clark George S. Ayrshire Yeomanry Ayrshire Yeomanry & Royal Scots Fusiliers
Currie Thomas Y. Highland Light Infantry
Frew David Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Fulton William W. Machine Gun Corps
Galloway Robert Canadians
Howie William Royal Scots Fusiliers
Jamieson John Ayrshire Yeomanry Ayrshire Yeomanry & Royal Scots Fusiliers
McClellan Alexander Scottish Rifles
McIntosh Matthew Seaforth Highlanders
McNaughton Allan Seaforth Highlanders
Milligan Frederick Cheshires
Sandilands John Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Smith Harry Royal Scots Fusiliers
Steel William Ayrshire Yeomanry
Strain Thomas Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Sturdie William King's Own Scottish Borderers
Walker George W. Scottish Rifles
White Thomas D. King's Own Scottish Borderers
Wilson Alexander A.I.Y. & Royal Scots Fusiliers
Wilson Thomas Ayrshire Yeomanry Ayrshire Yeomanary & Royal Scots Fusiliers

WWII ROLL OF HONOUR:
Campbell Alexander Merchant Navy
Dugan James G.C. R.N.V.R.A. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve?
Hawthorn Gavin Lawson Black Watch
Law John McKenzie Royal Engineers
Loudon Alister M. Glasgow Highlanders 2nd. Glasgow Highlanders
Peacock Robert Anderson Royal Marines
Sloan James G.C. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve A.
Thom Alan W. Royal Aircraft Establishment

David McNay · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:05 am Post subject: Re: Dunlop

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

Thanks for the information David, very interesting. I've never done much military research, I thought the two yeomanries merged and became part of the Royal Artillery or Royal Field Artillery...shows what I know!
Another thing I've noticed about a few of the memorials in this area is the number of Seaforths listed, is there any reason for this?
Jim

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Dunlop

spoons · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: Dunlop

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 11:03 pm Post subject:

Paul

No, I think that is the name Jim has listed as Sloan James G.C. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve A. but I didn't notice before that everything apart from the surname is the same.

Cheers

Adam

spoons · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:24 am Post subject:

Reading that it could be Sloan or Dugan but the chances of 2 GCs on the same memorial, both from RNVRA must be pretty slim.

\Paul

David McNay · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:59 am Post subject:

I think GC are the middle initials rather than a recipient of the George Cross.

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

David , here are details of Sloan. Not a holder of the G.C. as you pointed out.

Not sure where Dugan came from of why the names are not given in the order on the memorial.

Name: SLOAN, JAMES GLADSTONE CAMPBELL
Initials: J G C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant (A)
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Ringtail"
Age: 24
Date of Death: 29/07/1944
Additional information: Son of John Sloan and Sarah Sloan (nee Cairnduff); husband of Nena Moir Sloan, of Muirend, Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. O. Grave 199.
Cemetery: DUNLOP CEMETERY
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 11:28 am Post subject:

Gents

Thanks for confirming the Sloan name. I guess Dugan is just an error in typing it up.

I can reply for Jim McG. why the names aren't in the same order as the memorial. When Jim posts lists like this they are not as straight transcriptions but in alphabetical order to help find names. It's common for civic memorials (especially for the Great War names) to list the names by rank, or unit, or date of death, and not always that easy to see if a name you want to look for is there.

Cheers

Adam

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Sloan's name looks like an add on, which is slightly unusual in a bronze panel. All the the casualty names, of both wars, run in alphabetical order with the exception of his.

It looks as if a new name panel was created after WW2 but more primative means used to update the inscription.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject:

Jim

Yes it does seem strange that they cast the names again but didn't bother with the inscription.

Perhaps Sloan's name was added to the pattern for the names plaque used by the foundry after it was already made up but before the actual casting. It may explain his position on the plaque and why it wasn't an additional panel like the bit added to the inscription?

Regards

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject:

OS Map Ref NS 405 494

Not listed on UKNIWM

graeme.ruxton · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 52

It can be a bit of a challenge to find this memorial, which is surprising given how small the village is. Main Street is the B706 to Beith, and is on a hill. At the bottom of the hill, on the outskirts of the village, is the church. The churchyard is behind the church, and the memorial is against the very back wall of the churchyard.

This is a slightly unusual location, since the memorial would never had had a particularly prominent position within the village. Certainly several villagers that I asked were unaware that the village had a war memorial. However, one advantage of the decision to site the memorial where it is, is that nearly a century later it remains a peaceful, contemplative place, whereas many other memorials have become traffic islands, with streams of traffic continually roaring within feet of them.

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:22 am Post subject: Pte. Thomas Davis McGregor White