The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

DerekR · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 10:04 am Post subject:

UKNIWM Ref No. not listed
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

This has been identified as a parish memorial by Lesley Robertson so I am moving it from the church section to the civic section.

Regards

Adam

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

Whitsome united with Ladykirk in Feb of this year as Ladykirk & Whitsome in the Ladykirk building. Whitsome church has been entirely stripped of its fittings literally to floor walls and ceiling - bar (for now at least) a big font. Unfortunately, the WWI plaque's marble surround has been left in the wall.

"For Sale" (£130,000)
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about_us/property_and_church_buildings/properties_for_sale/properties/churches_and_halls/whitsome_kirk
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/15604/whitsome_kirk.pdf

I expected the plaques would most likely be relocated to Ladykirk church, or into Whitsome village hall ('Whitsome Ark'), but I was told earlier today that they are apparently be mounted on a wall at the village cemetery. In the meantime they are in care of the minister who lives at Swinton manse.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:49 pm Post subject:

The Lough brothers, both killed in the Far East.

LOUGH, ROBERT RUTHVEN.
Rank:Lance Corporal
Service No:3190152
Date of Death:08/10/1943
Age:29
Regiment/Service:King's Own Scottish Borderers
2nd Bn.
Panel ReferenceFace 10.
MemorialRANGOON MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Richard Gordon Lough and Isabella Lough, of Whitsome, Berwickshire.

LOUGH, THOMAS BOYD.
Rank:Lance Corporal
Service No:3190156
Date of Death:28/05/1944
Age:24
Regiment/Service:Royal Scots
1st Bn.
Grave Reference3. C. 17.
CemeteryKOHIMA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Richard Gordon Lough and Isabella Lough, of Whitsome, Berwickshire.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:06 pm Post subject:

The first name on the WW1 memorial

THOMSON, M.
Rank:Schoolmaster Warrant Officer
Date of Death:12/02/1919
Regiment/Service:Royal Navy
H.M.S. Hecla
Grave ReferenceC. 1190.
CemeteryINNERLEITHEN CEMETERY

From http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Pers-Warrant%20Rank.htm
A further change in 1861 granted a Commission to Schoolmasters engaged in the instruction of naval officers in shore training establishments. They were renamed "Naval Instructors", but those serving on ships retained the "Schoolmaster" title with added distinctions of "Senior Master" and "Headmaster" for those having greater responsibilities. These titles remained in use until 1946 when all Schoolmasters were given Commissioned rank as Instructor Officers.
Warrant Officers of all specialisations had to be capable of carrying out instructional duties ashore and afloat. This criteria still pertains to-day.
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Ken

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

Unveiling:

The Scotsman, 14th June 1921

WHITSOME - The handsome brass tablet to the twelve men of Whitsome Parish, Berwickshire, was unveiled by the Earl of Home, in presence of a large gathering. In the course of his address the Earl of Home said it was in comradeship and loyalty and mutual help that the hope of the future lay. The tablet, which is mounted on a marble plinth, is fixed in the west wall of the Parish Church.

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

These memorials were rededicated at 11am today in a short service, with around 2 dozen people present, led by the parish minister Rev Cartwright.

In actual fact it's the original WWII plaque but a new WWI plaque made to the same size with the inscription adjusted to mirror the WWII one. In the distance, behind the cemetery gates, the closed church is visible.

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

To the left of the gates, overlooking the old churchyard, I spotted this:

Evidently it dates from 1995, like the plaque at Chirnside.

(Note the second mount, to the right of the tree, has lost its plaque).

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:53 pm Post subject:

The Quinns would seem to be brothers although there is a variation of the address of the parents.

QUINN, ADAM BLACKIE
Rank:Private
Service No:7235
Date of Death:12/07/1915
Age:22
Regiment/Service:King's Own Scottish Borderers
"B" Coy. 1st/4th Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 84 to 92 or 220 to 222.
MemorialHELLES MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Edward and Margaret Quinn, of Leetside, Chirnside, Berwickshire.

QUINN, WILLIAM
Rank:Private
Service No:1447
Date of Death:27/11/1915
Age:27
Regiment/Service:2nd King Edward's Horse
Panel ReferencePanel 1.
MemorialPLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Edward and Margaret Quinn, of Windywalls, Kelso, Roxburghshire.
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Ken

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:49 am Post subject:

What has happened to the original WW1 memorial?

Adam

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

I'm trying to find out but it wouldn't surprise me if that's not been decided.

It has been removed from the church, leaving the marble surround.

I could guess that, being painted brass, they felt it was unlikely to survive very well outdoors, hence its replacement.

Also the new one makes the overall arrangement symmetrical.

Those I asked after the service hadn't realised it wasn't the original.

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2381

WMR 81418 WW1 Original
WMR 81419 WW1 Replacement
WMR 81421 WW2

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2020 10:38 am Post subject:

On original plaque as: Pte. ABRAM GIBSON, 5th Cameron Hdrs.
On replacement plaque as: PTE. ABRAM GIBSON, CAMERON HDRS.

He served as FRANK GIBSON and he is named on the Galashiels War Memorial in Selkirkshire as:

PTE. FRANK GIBSON. Camerons
Frank Gibson – age 31 – Private (S/15374) 5th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
Frank enlisted in Galashiels in November 1914 and joined the 1st Camerons in France in March 1915. He had transferred to the 5th Camerons by June 1917.
Born 1887 in Whitsome, Berwickshire as Abram Gibson. Son of George and Margaret (Waddell) Gibson of Whitsome.
(Source: Berwickshire News 1/4/1919 p.3)
Missing in Action on 23 March 1918 and named on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.
Also named on the Galashiels East Church memorial.
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Ken