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St Mary's School, Melrose
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IanA



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 949

PostPosted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:59 pm    Post subject: St Mary's School, Melrose Reply with quote

While trawling through old editions of the 'Kelso Chronicle' for 1919 recently, I came across this reference to a memorial donated to this independent school in Melrose.



When I contacted the school, the headmaster's wife was unable to say where it was or even if it still existed. However, a little persistence paid off and the secretary has just sent me the attached photo.



Even when enlarged, some of the names are hard to decipher and the names on the WWII memorial below are particularly difficult to make out so I plan to visit myself in the near future and take further images.
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Kenneth Morrison



Joined: 29 Sep 2008
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Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well "persisted" Ian - you can see why they missed it. Rolling Eyes
and it has been researched http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=7659
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IanA



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PostPosted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Easy sort of thing to overlook...

I will visit the school after the Easter holidays are over and take some more detailed photos. I haven't seen the book in any of the local shops but I will have a look in Melrose when I'm there.
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DerekR
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well done Ian.
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IanA



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I went along to St Mary's school this afternoon and took some more detailed photographs.

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IanA



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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IanA



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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IanA



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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IanA



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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IanA



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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IanA



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A rather fine memorial but the third panel of the 14-18 section raises a question - what had the Scottish Veterans Garden City Association got to do with the school?
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DerekR
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The memorial mentions a "cottage" - I'd guess that this cottage - if it still exists?, was provided at St.Mary's by the Scottish Veterans Garden City Association?

The surnames of Lumgair, Sanderson and Wade listed on the memorial all ring bells with me.
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Kenneth Morrison



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Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PAT GIFFORD
Named on the Castle Douglas War Memorial in Kirkcudbrightshire as:

SQUADRON LEADER PATRICK GIFFORD DFC RAF
Patrick (Pat) Gifford, Distinguished Flying Cross – age 30 – Squadron Leader (90188) 3 Squadron, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
Patrick was educated at St Mary's Preparatory School in Melrose and at Sedbergh School, Yorkshire (now Cumbria) before he studied law at Edinburgh University (1929-33) After qualifying as a solicitor he became a partner with his father in Castle Douglas. He had joined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1931 and in 1939 he was a Flight Commander with 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron flying Spitfires out of RAF Turnhouse. He was awarded the DFC (Source: London Gazette 28/11/1939 p.7961)
Flight Lieutenant Patrick Gifford, Auxiliary Air Force (90188). During October, 1939, this officer, leading a section of his squadron, sighted an enemy bomber over the mainland heading towards the sea at high speed. Flight Lieutenant Gifford led the attack with skill, daring and determination, and as the result of a final burst of firing from his own guns the enemy aircraft crashed into the sea. Later in October, 1939, this officer's section intercepted a bomber apparently engaged in reconnoitring a British convoy. The enemy aircraft attempted to take cover in the clouds but Flight Lieutenant Gifford led his section after it, firing short bursts as opportunity offered. The pursuit continued some eleven miles out to sea where the raider, showing signs of having been hit, turned and crashed into the sea.”
Patrick was posted to 3 Squadron, flying Hawker Hurricanes, and was promoted to Squadron Leader in January 1940. When the German offensive began on 10 May 1940, 3 Squadron was rushed to France. Ten days later the squadron was back in the UK, having lost almost its entire strength during the collapse. Patrick was reported to have been shot down over Belgium.
Born 1910 at Castle Douglas in Kelton Parish. Son of Patrick and Helene Alma (Cohen) Gifford of Forneth, Castle Douglas.
Missing in Action on 16 May 1940 and named on the Runnymede Memorial, Windsor.
Also named on a family memorial and on the WW2 Memorial in the St. Ninian's Episcopal Church, Castle Douglas, and on a memorial outside Castle Douglas Library. Also on the St. Mary's School and Sedbergh School memorials, on the Edinburgh University Roll of Honour and on the Old College Memorial.
Patrick Gifford is credited with being the first pilot to bring down an enemy aircraft over UK airspace in the Second World War, flying a Spitfire with 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force.
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stuartn



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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 11:08 am    Post subject: WMR (ex UKNIWM) number Reply with quote

WMR 76296
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Kenneth Morrison



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Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2019 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

R. B. ANDERSON.

Named on the Jedburgh War Memorial in Roxburghshire as:

ANDERSON, R. B. LIEUT. K.O.S.B.
Robert Ballantine Anderson – age 27 – Lieutenant, 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert was educated at St. Mary's School in Melrose, Roxburghshire and at Edinburgh Academy before becoming a Student of Law at Edinburgh University 1908 to 1912. He was appointed a Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh in 1913. He enlisted as a Private in the 1st Lovat Scouts in September 1914 and was commissioned in January 1915. He joined his battalion at Gallipoli in July 1915 and later served in Egypt and Palestine where he was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1916 but where he was killed at Gaza.
Born 1890 in Jedburgh. Son of Robert Ballantine Anderson and Agnes (MacMillan) Anderson, of Glenburn Hall, Jedburgh.
Killed in Action on 19 April 1917 and buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine.
Also named on the Edinburgh Academy memorial and on the Edinburgh University's Roll of the Fallen.
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