The Scottish War Memorials Project

DerekR · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: Bowden

UKNIWM Ref: 13311
OS Map ref: NT554302

Unveiled by the Countess of Dalkeith on 30th October, 1921.
A green marble plaque listing 28 men who fell.
(The village of Bowden's memorial only lists 12 names in total).

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DerekR · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:33 pm Post subject:

The gold names against the green marble are very difficult to pick out even at very close range.

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dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject:

Derek,

If you have researched the memorial do you have any idea why there are 28 listed here and only 12 on the public ? That is a big difference.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:01 pm Post subject:

It may depend on the denomination of this church or they may have had less strict criteria for inclusion on the memorial.

I'd try and find out what the denomination was in the early 1920s

I notice that John Lang is listed as Sch of Musk. Which I take is School of Musketry.

There is an online detailed short history of the School of Musketry, later the Small Arms School at Hythe. http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/HYTHE%20SCHOOL%20OF%20MUSKETRY.pdf

It has a Roll of Honour but John Lang isn't listed on it. Neither is he one of the 12 names listed on the Bowden Civic War Memorial

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject:

James Ballantyne Scott of The Canadian Seaforths is eluding me. He is listed on the civic memorial as well which gives his middle name and confirms his unit.

The Canadian Seaforths were the 72nd Bn CEF but also made up part of the 16th Bn Canadian Scottish.

I've found a James Scott who's family came from Birgham but he isn't listed on any of the memorials in that part of the Borders: Coldstream, Eccles (the parish of which Birgham is in), Leitholm, Kelso, Sprouston and Ednam. He was also formerly 76th Bn and 4th Bn neither of which were Canadian Seaforth battalions

So I have a James Scott I can't identify in Bowden and a James Scott from Brigham I can't find on any memorial.

SCOTT, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 08/09/1916
Service No: 141542
Additional information: Son of James and Margaret Scott, of Laurel Cottage, Birgham, Berwickshire, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 13.
Cemetery: SUNKEN ROAD CEMETERY, CONTALMAISON

His Attestation papers don't help

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject:

Forget the man listed above for now. This man is a more likely fit for James Ballantyne Scott

SCOTT, J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Unit Text: 72nd Bn.
Date of Death: 30/10/1917
Service No: 1016013
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 18 - 28 - 30.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

His unit is the Canadian Seaforths and his attestation papers give his name as James. he was born in Earlston, Berwickshire (but not listed on that memorial). His mother is Mrs Margaret Scott residing at Clarelaw ????? Roxburghshire.

A handwritten placename has been written on the attestation paper but I can't make it out. His birth date was 5.2.1884

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1451 Location: Aberdeenshire

Newtown
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Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:53 am Post subject: Clarelaw

Thanks Jim. Newtown could be Newtown St Boswells which is very near Bowden

By trawling Google I found a reference to Clarelaw and Middleham Mill in the Barony of Bowden. It could be the old name for Midlem?

I found something else which says "Clarelaw, called Langsyde" and there is still a Langside just south of Bowden.

Adam

Jim · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 178

Clarelaw seems to spelled Clarilaw on modern maps. Perhaps it was then too and Clarelaw is just a typo or a false recollection.