The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

DerekR · Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject: Newtown St.Boswells

Newtown St.Boswells War Memorial

Situated in front of the Headquarters of Scottish Borders Council.
It somehow looks rather forlorn in its position.

OS ref NT 576 317

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:55 am Post subject:

Unveiled Sunday 14th November, 1920 by Mrs Ritchie of Holms.
Lt-Col Mitchell of Monksford gave an address and the Rev Robert Inglis gave the benediction.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Brunswick · Joined: 12 Oct 2010 Posts: 15 Location: Brunswick, Germany

Here are the names transcribed from the war memorial Newtown St Boswells

In memory of
the men from Newtown destrict
who gave their lives
for righteousness and liberty
in the great war 1914 - 1919.

Side 1 1914 - 1919
Lt. Robert A. Ingles, 16th Royal Scots
Lt. William Mowbray, 9th Curkha Rifles
Sgt. Robert C. Miller, 2nd Can. Mtd. Rifles
Sgt. Walter S. Thomson, 4th K. O. S. B.
Cpl. John Cairns, 9th Royal Scots
Cpl. Robert D. Ker, 47th Can. Imfantry
L/Cpl. Robert Chisholm, R. E.
L/Cpl. Felix Hall, 11th A. & S. H.
Gunner William Hume, R. F. A.

Side 2 1914 - 1919
L/Cpl. William Fraser, 1/7th Royal Scots
Gunner Francis J. Miller, Can. R. F. A.
Piper James Porteous, 5th Camerons
Sapper John Stewart, R. E.
Pte. Peter Allan, 6th K. O. S. B.
Pte. Alexander Bunyan, 4th K. O. S. B.
Pte. Adam Kerr, 2nd R. S. F.
Pte. James Thomson, 2nd Black Watch
John H. Gilholm, 4th K. O. S. B.

Side 3 1914 - 1919
L/Cpl. Andrew Gilholm, A. S. C.
Pte. Peter Paterson, 10th Gordons
Pte. John G. Miller, 14th American Infantry
Pte. E. Lawrence Mathers, 4th K. O. S. B.
Pte. James Robertson, 9th Royal Scotts
Pte. William Stewart, 4th K. O. S. B.
Pte. Joseph Wilson, 7th K. O. S. B.
James Yule, Post Office Rifles

Side 4 1939 – 1945 and Northern Ireland
Capt. William R. Annan, R. E.
Flt./Lt. Walter G. Clark, R. A. F. V. R.
Gunner Harold Douglas, R. A.
Pte. John Hunter, K. O. S. B.
Cadet Josep Lowrie, Merchant Navy
L/Cpl. William S. Sanderson, R. A. S. C.
Pte. David W. Shanks, K. O. S. B.
AC/1 John B. Stoddart, R. A. F. V. R.
Cpl. James Todd, H. G.

Northern Ireland
L/Cpl. J. Barrie R. Gold, K. O. S. B., 25.04.1972
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Genealogy is like love. Both use strange ways.

spoons · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:11 pm Post subject:

I knew Barrie Gold, although not well.......... well enough to have had a drink with him a time or two. Nice bloke. As I recall, he left an after work drink early to get home to his family.

Sad to see this article about him which sets MOD in a poor light. There is a photo of him.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/military/2012/04/12/revealed-mod-chiefs-refused-to-pay-soldier-war-pension-by-lying-that-they-had-no-evidence-pal-died-beside-him-86908-23821960/#sitelife-commentsWidget-bottom

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:20 pm Post subject:

And from that article the circumstances of Lance Corporal Gold's death.

“We were stationed near the Falls Road at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

“Two days before we were due home on leave from a six-month tour, I was part of a team doing a road check at Celtic Park (near the Royal Victoria Hospital).

“A shot rang out, we were standing near an armoured vehicle known as a pig. My colleague Barrie Gold was shot in the neck. He died later.

“I was just grazed on the neck by a bullet. I didn’t report it. It was a terrible experience. I was only 22.

“We were not given any help or debriefing, just kept in barracks and sent home two days later on leave."

anne park · Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:25 pm Post subject: Peter Paterson was 10th Bn

Peter Paterson Pte S/7030 9th Gordon Highlanders b Ratho,M'lothian 29/03/1892 e Galashiels Age 25 Killed in Action F&F 25/04/1917 Son of Robert Graham Paterson & Agnes Thomson Sommerville. 1901 Census: Easter Halton, Ratho. Father's Occ: Ploughman. Short Service: 24 Pages. Soldiers Effects: Brother: Robert. John. James. David. Robert. Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt Fr 0531 Plot I Row B Grave 28
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

DerekR · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 4:39 pm Post subject:

Francis James Miller, Robert Campbell Miller and John Campbell Miller were all brothers. Two of them being killed within days of each other

I can't find a link to Hawick but the family headstone sits in Hawick's Wilton Cemetery:

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

apanderson · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 6:44 pm Post subject:

Derek - Sending you their Canadian Attestation Papers.

Francis James was born 17th January 1895 Roxburghshire (next of kin, David Miller, St. Boswell's, Roxburghshire)

Robert was born 5th December 1883 at Ashkirk (next of kin Mrs. R. Miller - wife maybe?). Previously served 12 years, KOSB.

Anne Very Happy

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 7:47 pm Post subject:

This might be John Miller's gravestone at Keokuk National Cemetery, Iowa.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2882300&ref=acom
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Ken

apanderson · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 7:52 pm Post subject:

In some Public Trees and on Ancestry’s Census transcriptions, Binston Broomfield Campbell becomes Robina Campbell???

Family Search (IGI) lists Binston Broomfield Campbell was born 8th November 1861 at Wilton, Roxburgh
Daughter of Robert Campbell & Alice Govenlock

1881 Census, Living at 15 Buchanan Street, South Leith, Midlothian
David Millar, age 23, Car Driver, born c1858, Teviothead, Roxburghshire
Benstone Campbell, Wife, age 19, born c1862, Wilton, Roxburghshire
Alice Millar, Daughter, age 1, born c1880, St. Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh

1891 Census, Living at Sinton Parkhead Cottage, Ashkirk, Roxburghshire
David Miller, age 33, Farm Steward, born c1858, Teviothead, Roxburghshire
Robina C. Miller, Wife, age 29, born c1862, Wilton, Roxburghshire
Alice Miller, Daughter, age 11, Scholar, born c1880, Cannongate, Edinburgh
David Miller, Son, age 9, Scholar, born c1882, Wilton, Roxburghshire
Robert Miller, Son, age 7, Scholar, born c1884, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire
William Miller, Son, age 5, born c1886, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire
John Miller, Son, age 2, born c1889, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire
Christina Miller, Daughter, age 6 months, born c1890, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire

1901 Census, Living at Parkhead Stewarts Cottage, Ashkirk, Roxburghshire
David Miller, age 43, Farm Steward, born c1858, Teviothead, Roxburghshire
Robina C. Miller, Wife, age 39, born c1862, Wilton, Roxburghshire
Alice Miller, Daughter, age 21, Scholar, born c1880, Cannongate, Edinburgh
David Miller, Son, age 19, Ploughman, born c1882, Wilton, Roxburghshire
(Not listed with the family - Robert Miller, Son, would be around age 17)
William Miller, Son, age 15, Farm Servant, born c1886, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire
John Miller, Son, age 12, Scholar, born c1889, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire
Christina Miller, Daughter, age 10, Scholar, born c1891, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire
Robina Miller, Daughter, age 8, Scholar, born c1893, Ashkirk, Selkirhire
Francis Miller, Son, age 6, Scholar, born c1895, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire (listed as a daughter and name spelt Frances)
Maggie Miller, Daughter, age 1, born c1900, Ashkirk, Selkirkshire

Robert Campbell Miller, age 27, married 26th July 1911 at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Birthplace listed as Roxburgh, Scotland.
Father David Miller, Mother Robina Campbell
Wife Hay Middlemiss Swinton, age 22. Daughter of James Swinton and Margaret Lothian
Birthplace listed as Berwickshire, Scotland

David Miller, age 37, married 4th February 1920 at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Birthplace listed as Hawick, Scotland.
Father David Miller, Mother Robina Campbell
Wife Nellie Richardson Grant, age 34. Daughter of William Grant and Annie Smith
Birthplace listed as Aberlour, Banffshire

William Thomas Miller, age 86, died 10th May 1972 at Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
Birthplace listed as Ashkirk, Scotland.
Father David Miller, Mother Robena Miller
Widow: Margit Valborg

I've been trying to find any of them sailing to Canada without success.

Anne

DerekR · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:38 pm Post subject:

Anne,
Thank you. Terrific info.

Ken, thank you as well.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 9:12 am Post subject:

From Wikipedia:
"Newtown St Boswells is an old settlement, well-established by the 16th century. The town has been known at various times as Newtoune, Newtown of Eildon, Neuton and Newtown of Dryburgh. It lies split between the civil parishes of Melrose and St Boswells."

In fact most registrations have Melrose but it also had an affinity with the adjacent parish of Bowden as a number of the men named here are also on the Bowden Parish Church memorial.

In memory of the men from Newtown district who gave their lives for righteousness and liberty.

PTE. PETER ALLAN, 6th K.O.S.B.
Peter Allan – age 19 – Private (31683) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Peter was made a prisoner of war at Kemmel in April 1918 but contracted dysentery and died in a German Field Hospital at Fourmies and was buried there.
Born 1899 in Maxton, Roxburghshire. Son of Andrew and Agnes Allan of Sprouston Cottages, Newtown St. Boswells.
Died on Service on 30 August 1918 and buried in Fourmies Communal Cemetery, France.

PTE. ALEX. BUNYAN, 4th K.O.S.B.
Alexander Bunyan – age 21 – Private (785) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Alexander was a member of the Territorial 4th KOSB and was mobilised in August 1914. He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915 but was killed a month later during the battle at Achi Baba Nullah.
Born 1894 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of Alexander and Christina (Robertson) Bunyan of Sprouston Cottages, Newtown St. Boswells.
Missing in Action on 12 July 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

CPL. JOHN CAIRNS, 9th ROYAL SCOTS.
John Cairns – age 31 – Corporal (40179) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
John enlisted in the 2/9th Battalion, Royal Scots before being posted to the 1st RSF in France in 1916.
Born 1884 in Bowden, Roxburghshire. Son of George and Annie (Turnbull) Cairns, of Holydean, Bowden. Husband of Jessie Victoria (Noble) Cairns of Monksford Lodge, Newtown St. Boswells who he married in 1905 in Kelso, Roxburghshire.
Killed in Action on 13 November 1916 and buried in Serre Road Cemetery No.1, France.
Also named on the Bowden Parish Church memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 9:21 am Post subject:

L/CPL. ROBERT CHISHOLM, R. E.
Robert Hall Chisholm – age 25 – Lance Corporal (46869) 18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.
Bob was living in Portobello, Edinburgh when he enlisted as Sapper (265985) in the Royal Engineers. He served at the front but at some point he transferred to the Fusiliers. He died in the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Kezelberg.
Born 1893 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of the late Wilhelmina (Hall) Chisholm (died 1899) and of Alexander Chisholm (died August 1918) of 15 Langlands Place, Newton St. Boswells.
He named his siblings Peter, John, Margaret, Jane and Wilhelmina as his legatees.
Died of Wounds on 31 October 1918 and buried in Kezelberg Military Cemetery, Belgium.

L/CPL. Wm. FRASER, 1/7th ROYAL SCOTS.
William Fraser – age 39 – Lance Corporal (276206) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots.
(Records indicate that he enlisted in the 1/7th Battalion)
William, aged 29, was a gamekeeper at Luscar, Carnock, Fife when he married Christina Allan of Alloway, Ayrshire in 1908 in Edinburgh and they were living in Carnock in 1911. By 1915 William was a gamekeeper at Langlands, Newton St. Boswells where the property was owned by Alexander Mitchell of Norton Hall, Eildon and of Luscar, Dunfermline.
Born 1878 in West Linton, Peeblesshire. Son of Robert and Elizabeth (Fraser) Fraser. Husband of Christina Allan of East Luscar, Dunfermline, Fife.
Missing in Action on 3 May 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Carnock District War Memorial.

L/CPL. ANDREW GILHOLM, A.S.C.
Andrew Gilholm – age 26 – Lance Corporal (T4/242430) "K" Supply Company, Army Service Corps.
Andrew enlisted in 1916. He was drowned when the troopship “Cameronia” was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-33 east of Malta while en route from Marseille to Alexandria, Egypt with 2,650 soldiers on board.
Born 1891 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of George and Ellen or Helen (Henderson) Gilholm of Eildon, Newtown St. Boswells.
Killed by Enemy Action/Lost at Sea on 15 April 1917 and named on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt.

and his brother

PTE. JOHN H. GILHOLM, 4th K.O.S.B.
John Henderson Gilholm – age 21 – Private (782) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
John was a member of the Territorial 4th KOSB and was mobilised in August 1914. He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915 but was killed a month later during the battle at Achi Baba Nullah.
Born 1894 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of George and Ellen or Helen (Henderson) Gilholm of Eildon, Newtown St. Boswells.
Missing in Action on 12 July 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 9:26 am Post subject:

L/CPL. FELIX HALL, 11th A. & S. H.
Felix Hall – age 26 – Lance Corporal (S/15309) 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Felix had studied Woollen Yarn Weaving, Design and Manufacture at the South of Scotland Technical College and at Galashiels Technical College and he was an assistant manager when he enlisted in November 1915. He went to France in August 1916 and joined his battalion in October
Born 1891 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of James Hall, J.P., and Janet (Kelly) Hall of The Hawthorn and of Fairfield, Newtown St. Boswells.
Missing in Action on 31 July 1917 and named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

GUNNER WILLIAM HUME, R. F. A.
William Hume – age 31 – Gunner (170732) Depot (Lydd) Royal Garrison Artillery.
William had been a tramcar driver in Glasgow when he enlisted.
He died of double pneumonia in the Victoria Infirmary, Cathcart while he was on his demobilisation furlough.
Born in 1888 at Newtown St. Boswell, Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of James and Margaret (Henderson) Hume. Husband of Mary (McLelland) Hume of 130 McLellan Street, Plantation, Glasgow who he married in 1910 in Milton, Glasgow.
Died on 9 February 1919 and buried in Glasgow (Craigton) Cemetery. (CWG)

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 9:34 am Post subject:

LT. ROBERT A. INGLES, 16th ROYAL SCOTS.
Robert Adam Ingles – age 23 – Second Lieutenant, 16th Battalion (2nd Edinburgh) Royal Scots.
Robert was employed by the Edinburgh Life Assurance Company when he enlisted as Private (1984) in the 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion of the Royal Scots. He landed with his battalion at Le Havre in February 1915. Later he became Corporal (350376) before he was commissioned in May 1917.
Born 1896 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of the Rev. Robert and Sarah (Hislop) Ingles, of The Manse, Newtown St. Boswells.
Missing in Action on 21 March 1918 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.

CPL. ROBERT D. KER, 47th CAN. INFANTRY.
Robert Davidson Ker – age 31 – Corporal (628515) 47th Battalion, Canadian Infantry.
Robert was a clerk when he enlisted at Vernon, British Columbia in June 1915 and he sailed with his battalion from Montreal in November. He was promoted to Corporal and the battalion landed in France in August 1916. Robert was killed at Vimy Ridge.
Born 1885 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of the late Thomas Ker (died 1914) and of Helen (Davidson) Ker of Dean Bank, Newtown St. Boswells.
Husband of Alice Angela (Woods) Ker of Savona, British Columbia.
Killed in Action on 13 April 1917 and buried in Canadian Cemetery No.2, Neuville-St. Vaast, France.

PTE. ADAM KERR, 2nd R.S.F.
Adam Kerr – age 28 – Private (40597) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Adam was an engineman with Messrs Trotter & Son in Newtown St. Boswells when he enlisted in December 1915. He was mobilised in June 1916 and was posted as Private (25257) to the 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers in France in October 1916 but was transferred to the RSF.
Born 1889 in Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire. Son of Agnes (Turner) Kerr (died 1917) and of William Kerr of Helmburn, Ettrick, Selkirkshire and of Kirkhope Cottages, Selkirk.
Killed in Action on 23 April 1917 and buried in Bootham Cemetery, Heninel, France.
Also named on the War Memorial in Ettrickbridge Church in Kirkhope.

PTE. E. LAWRENCE MATHERS, 4th K.O.S.B.
Edward Lawrence Mathers – age 19 – Private (42441) 9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Edward was captured at Kemmell in April 1918. He died in the Prisoner of War Camp at Les Aubrelles and was buried in the Morieulois German Cemetery in Crepy-En-Laonnois but was re-interred in Vendresse in September 1922.
Born 1899 in Melrose, Roxburghshire. Son of George and Annie (Barclay) Mathers of 3 Plainfield Terrace, Newtown St. Boswells.
George was a railway signalman for many years, and was an elder at Bowden Parish Church.
Died on Service on 8 August 1918 and buried in Vendresse British Cemetery, Aisne, France.
Also named on the Bowden Parish Church memorial.

Edward's eldest brother George (a railwayman like his father) became a Scottish trade unionist and was a Labour Party Member of Parliament until 1950. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Mathers, of Newtown St Boswells in the County of Roxburgh, in 1952,