The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

The only reference I can find of John Gauson of Prestonpans in The Scotsman was in August 1939 when he was convicted of claiming unemployment benefit while working.

ADP

DelBoy · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:31 pm Post subject: Pte. John Brown

WW1
J. Brown

(Glasgow Herald 17th Dec 1914)
"The death of Private John Brown, No. 5392, H Company, Section D, Cameron Highlanders is reported. Private Brown, who was a reservist, was employed at Dalry Gas Works, and was much respected. He was about 32 years of age, married and had three of a family, his home being in Templand Road, Dalry."

CWGC
Name: BROWN, JOHN
Rank: Private
Service No: 5392
Date of Death: 24/10/1914
Age: 30
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders 1st Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 38 and 40.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Husband of Elizabeth Cunningham Brown, of 205, High St., Prestonpans, Edinburgh.

SNWM
Surname: BROWN
Firstname: John
Service Number: 5392
Date Death: 24/10/1914
Place of birth: Prestonkirk Haddingtonshire
Other: 1st Bn.
SNWM roll: THE QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
Rank: Pte

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:49 pm Post subject: Pte. Harold Sydney Wallace

WW1
H.S. Wallace

(Glasgow Herald 15th April 1915)
"Killed in France on 8th inst. Harold S. Wallace, aged 22, 8th Battalion The Royal Scots, son of James Wallace, Castle View, Prestonpans."

"Private Harold S. Wallace, 8th Royal Scots, killed in action in France on 8th inst. was one of five sons of Mr James Wallace, schoolmaster, Prestonpans, all of whom are serving with the colours. Educated at George Heriot's School, Edinburgh, Private Wallace was the champion athlete in 1911, and also played as wing three-quarter in the fifteen for some seasons. After leaving school he on occasion lent his services to the Heriot's Scool Former Pupils Club but devoted most of his attention to the association game. being a back in the Tranent Juniors eleven, which won the East of Scotland Junior Cup last season. A clerk in the excise in Sheffield when hostilities began, he at once rejoined his regiment at Haddington, and had been at the front for some months. He was 22."

CWGC
WALLACE, H S
Rank: Private
Service No: 893
Date of Death: 08/04/1915
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots 8th Bn.
Grave Reference: Sp. Mem. 7.
Cemetery: RUE-DU-BOIS MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX
Additional Information: Son of James Wallace, J.P., F.E.I.S., of 54, Joppa Rd., Portobello, Edinburgh.

SNWM
Surname: WALLACE
Firstname: Harold Sydney
Service Number: 893
Date Death: 08/04/1915
Place of birth: Prestonpans Haddingtonshire
Other: 8th Bn.
SNWM roll: THE ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN REGIMENT)
Rank: Pte
Theatre of death: F.& F.

john walker · Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 5 Location: prestonpans

to whom it may concern as descendent of one of the named on this war memorial J WATTERS it is carved as WATERS as this is a very Prestonpans name can it be corrected at this late date.Thank you JW.

MagsD · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 171 Location: West Lothian

Three brothers, Samuel, James and Robert Heatlie Nisbet are remembered on this memorial:

Name: NISBET, SAMUEL FERGUSON
Initials: S F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 02/07/1917
Service No: 7068
Additional information: Son of John and Mary Ferguson Nisbet, of 13, Front St., Cuthill, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire. One of three brothers who fell in the War. Born at Broxburn, Linlithgowshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. N. 40.
Cemetery: DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN

Name: Samuel Nisbet
Birth Place: Broxburn, Linlithgow
Residence: Prestonpans, Haddington
Death Date: 2 Jul 1917
Death Place: France and Flanders
Enlistment Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borders
Battalion: 2nd Battalion
Regimental Number: 7068
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Name: NISBET, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: "D" Coy. 6th Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 30/09/1918
Service No: 6351
Additional information: Son of John and Mary Ferguson Nisbet, of 13, Front St., Cuthill, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire. Born at Broxburn, West Lothian. His brother Samuel also fell.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. C. 24.
Cemetery: DADIZEELE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY

Name: James Nisbit
Birth Place: Broxburn, Linlithgow
Residence: Prestonpans, Midlothian
Death Date: 30 Sep 1918
Death Place: France and Flanders
Enlistment Place: Cuthill, Midlothian
Rank: L Corporal
Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borders
Battalion: 6th Battalion
Regimental Number: 6351
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Robert Heatlie Nisbet, 413139, Royal Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, was called up on 24 July 1918 and discharged unfit for service on 9 Feb 1919. He died on 17 Nov 1919 at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

I have posted about Robert in the Queries Section.

Mags

john walker · Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 5 Location: prestonpans

john walker · Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 5 Location: prestonpans

john walker · Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 5 Location: prestonpans

anne park · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:39 pm Post subject: John Edmond GH

John Edmond Private 3/10491 9th Bn. Gordon Highlanders b Prestonpans e Prestonpans Age 17 Died of Wounds Pas de Calais, France 25/09/1915 Soldiers Effects: Widow: Margaret. St Patrick's Cemetery, Loos Fr 0551 Plot III Row J Grave 33
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:42 pm Post subject: James Darroch

James Darroch Pte 771 8th Royal Scots b New Monklands e Prestonpans r Prestonpans Died of Wounds F & F 03/08/1916 Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt L'Abbe Fr 0833 Plot III Row B Grave 09 Old Meldrum & Prestonpans
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Pte. Harold Sydney Wallace

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 3:40 pm Post subject:

On 20 November 2022 the East Lothian Courier reported that:

A new memorial at Prestonpans Civic Square has been created to commemorate local people who lost their lives in the world wars but whose names were left off the original memorial.
The names are presented on stone tablets at the rear of the square, engraved by Gardner Molloy, highlighting 75 people from the First World War and 12 from the Second World War.

It will also include Cecilia Cochrane Sunshine, a 19-year-old tragically killed after a gun misfired â€“ the first woman to be commemorated on the townâ€™s war memorial.
Six names from the First World War and one from the Second World War were also misspelt on the original memorial, and their names will be commemorated correctly.

The research was undertaken by community council chairman DJ Johnston-Smith who put in many hours to identify those whose deaths had not been recognised on the original memorial.

First World War (new names): Robert McWhirter Adams, William Baigrie, Henry Pow Baptie, John Bird, John Brodie, James Brown, James Campbell, James Cook, John Ritchie Coull, J. W. R. Coutts, David Cunningham, John Dickson Cunningham, John Corstorphine Dickson, Frank Dignan, Richard Docherty, James Andrew Duncan, James Ferguson, William Fraser, James Geddes, Robert Graham, Mark Kerr Greig, Patrick Hamil, William Hannaford, George McKinlay Houliston, Peter Hunter, Thomas Smith Merrilees Inglis, Andrew Jarvis, Andrew Knowles, James Carlyle Leckie, William Hope Macaulay, John William MacKay, Mark Sprot MacKay, Archibald McDonald, John McEwan, William McEwan, Robert McFarlane, John McKay, Archibald McKinlay, James McKinlay, James McLean, Thomas McLuckie, Hugh McNeill, Thomas Millar, David Neill, Alexander Nelson, John Paton, James Potter, James Purdie, William Purdie, Angus Robertson Ramage, Alexander Fowler Ritchie, Alexander Brash Robertson, George Baillie Robertson, Robert Robertson, William Robertson, George Rowan, Livingston Russell, Adam Scott, David Stewart, Robert Stewart, Sinclair Stewart, Andrew Horne Thomson, Henry William Thomson, William Watson, Andrew John White, George Inglis White, William Wilson, Thomas Wilson, John Wynne.

First World War (misspelled):

James Allan Arnot, William Smart Arnot, Peter Lowrie, Charles Nelson, Alexander Waddell, James Watters.

Second World War (new names):

Adam Veitch Bryce, Adam Cunningham, James Dickson, James Frater Hood, James Johnstone McCabe, George Allan Pollock, Kenneth Reid, Cecilia Cochrane Sunshine, Joseph White, David Fraser Wilson, Patrick Joseph Woods.

Second World War (misspelled):

Thomas Inglis.

My own research is (so far) of those named on the orginal panels and it would be good to see photos and/or transcriptions of the new panels.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 3:52 pm Post subject:

J. AITKEN
John Watson Aitken â€“ age 19 â€“ Private (1833) 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots.
John was a gardener who lived with his parents at Rose Lane Cottage, Prestonpans when he enlisted in the Territorial 8th Royal Scots in November 1915. He was posted to the 1/8th in France in July 1916 but he was killed two weeks later.
Born 1897 in Prestonpans. Son of George and Isabella (Watson) Aitken of Rose Lane Cottage, Prestonpans.
Missing in Action on 4 August 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

T. AITKEN
Thomas Aitken â€“ age 35 â€“ Lance Sergeant (332964) 1/9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Thomas enlisted as Private (1690) in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and was posted as Private (6233) to the 9th HLI.
Born 1884 in East Linton, Prestonkirk, Haddingtonshire/East Lothian as Thomas Swan Aitken. Son of the late George (died 1905) and of Ann (Bell) Aitken (died 1895) formerly of North Berwick. Husband of Annie Bisset (Cairns) Aitken, of Prestongrange, Prestonpans who he married in 1911 in North Berwick, East Lothian.
Killed in Action on 29 September 1918 and buried in Targelle Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Guislain, France.

M. ALLAN
McKenzie Allan â€“ age 21 â€“ Private (40086) 10th/11th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Mackenzie was a miner when he enlisted as Private (14760) in the 12th Royal Scots in September 1914 but he was found to be unfit due to an ulcer and was discharged in October.
Born 1895 in Auchtertool, Cowdenbeath, Fife as Mackenzie Lowe Allan. Son of Mackenzie and Dorothy (Mitchell) Allan of 102 Summerlee Street, Prestonpans.
Missing in Action on 15 September 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

G. ALLISON
Garrett Allison â€“ age 27 â€“ Private (1106) 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Garrett landed with his battalion at Le Havre in November 1914.
Born 1887 in Muirkirk, Ayrshire as Garrett Dickson Allison. Son of the late Samuel Allison (died 1894) and of Margaret (Dickson) Allison.
Husband of Margaret Allan (Arnott) Allison of Prestonpans who he married in 1907 in Muirkirk.
Missing in Action on 18 December 1914 and named on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 3:58 pm Post subject:

R. AMOS
Robert Amos, Military Medal â€“ age 27 â€“ Lance Corporal (17016) 12th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Robert was an electrician living with his parents at 45 High Street, Prestonpans when he enlisted in the 15th Royal Scots in October 1914. He landed with his battalion at Le Havre in January 1916 and was posted to the 12th Battalion in July 1917. His award of a MM was announced in August 1918.
Born 1891 in Tranent, Haddingtonshire/East Lothian as Robert Macintosh Amos. Son of Alexander and Euphemia (Macintosh) Amos of Cross Cottages, Preston, Prestonpans.
Died of Wounds on 27 October 1918 and buried in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Belgium.

D. ANDERSON
David Anderson â€“ age 38 â€“ Stoker (2075T) H.M.S. Invincible, Royal Naval Reserve.
In 1901 David was a coal miner in Prestonpans. He enrolled in the RNR in November 1904 and he was mobilised in August 1914. He joined the battle-cruiser â€œInvincibleâ€ in November 1914 but he was lost during the Battle of Jutland when she exploded and sank.
Born 1878 in Prestonpans. Son of the late James and Agnes Anderson of Prestonpans. Husband of Annie Cook (Aldridge) Anderson of 13 Hope Terrace, Leith, Edinburgh who he married in 1900 in Edinburgh.
Missing in Action/Lost at Sea on 31 May 1916 and named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

G. ANDERSON
George Anderson â€“ age 21 â€“ Lieutenant, 57 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
George was educated at Broughton High School in Edinburgh before joining the District Superintendent's Office of the North British Railway Company in Edinburgh. He enlisted in April 1918 and joined 57 Squadron as a Lieutenant in May 1918.
Born 1897 in Forgan, Fife. Son of George James White Anderson (Station Master) and Margaret Hislop (Sinclair) Anderson of Station House, Prestonpans.
Killed in Action on 16 September 1918 and buried in Grevillers British Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Broughton School memorial and on the North British Railway Company memorial in Waverley Station.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 4:05 pm Post subject:

R. ANDERSON
Robert Anderson â€“ age 21 â€“ Private (937) 8th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Robert lived with his sister at 14 Kirk Street, Prestonpans and was employed at Bankton Colliery in Prestonpans. He was a member of the Territorial 8th Royal Scots and landed with the 1/8th Battalion at Le Havre in November 1914. He became ill while on leave and died of acute nephritis in the Military Hospital in Edinburgh Castle.
Born 1894 in Prestonpans. Son of Janet (Campbell) Anderson of 19 Dean Park Street, Edinburgh, and the late John Anderson.
Died on Service on 20 January 1916 and buried in Edinburgh (Comely Bank) Cemetery

J. ARNOTT
James Allan Arnot â€“ age 22 â€“ Sergeant (1377) 15th Battalion, Australian Infantry.
James had been a coal miner when he enlisted in the Cameron Highlanders in April 1910. Later that year he was transferred to the Royal Engineers where he served until 1913 when the family emigrated to Australia. He enlisted at Claremont Camp, Hobart, Tasmania in November 1914 and was promoted to Sergeant in January 1915. James landed with his battalion at Gallipoli, Turkey in April 1915 but was wounded and evacuated to Ras El Tin Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt in May where he died two months later.
Born 1893 in Prestonpans. Son of the late James Arnot (died 1905) and of Eleanor Trotter (Allan) Arnot of Launceston, Tasmania.
Died of Wounds on 4 July 1915 and buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military And War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

and his brother

W. ARNOTT
William Smart Arnot â€“ age 30 â€“ Staff Sergeant (20094) Establishment for Engineer Services, Royal Engineers.
William was an engine driver and a member of the Territorial 8th Royal Scots when he enlisted in the Royal Engineers in April 1910. In 1911 he was an engine driver with 30th Company, Royal Engineers at Plymouth. William was a cadet in No.1 RE Officer Cadet Battalion at Newark-Upon-Trent when he died of pneumonia following influenza in the Military Hospital at Newark in Nottinghamshire.
Born 1887 in Musselburgh, Inveresk, Midlothian. Son of the late James Arnot (died 1905) and of Eleanor Trotter (Allan) Arnot of Launceston, Tasmania. Husband of Ruth (Lang) Arnot, of 1, Commercial Road, Barbican, Plymouth, Devon who he married in 1915 in Plymouth.
Died on Service on 29 November 1918 and buried in Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery, Nottinghamshire.