The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 339 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

UKNIWM: 54106, 54108, 54113

Christ Church was opened in 1854 and serves the Episcopal community in central Berwickshire, which has traditionally included a large proportion of the landowners and suchlike, drawn from many parishes around Duns.

It is set in its own small churchyard on the north side of the county town.

There are plaques for both wars and a WW2 roll.
(Private Maughan doesn't make it onto the plaque but is on the roll).

When I get time I'll do a transcription and identify civic commemorations.

There are various individual memorials: see Individual Memorials section.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 9:41 am Post subject:

It's kind of sad that Private Maughan is not included on the memorial, especially as there is a link with Admiral Ramsay.

MAUGHAN, JOHN WILFRED.
Rank:Private
Service No:3191405
Date of Death:09/06/1944
Age:25
Regiment/Service:King's Own Scottish Borderers
1st Bn.
Grave ReferenceX. E. 3.
CemeteryLA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES
Additional Information:
Son of Thomas and Agnes Purves, of Duns, Berwickshire

From http://kosb.webs.com/20thcentury.htm

1st KOSB embarked for France in 1939 with the BEF (3rd Infantry Division). They crossed the Belgian frontier in May 1940, from where, facing an enemy of overwhelming numerical superiority, they were at length ordered to withdraw.
On the night of 31st May/1st June they were evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk.
They returned to France on D-Day, 6th June 1944, landing at ‘Queen’ Beach.
_________________
Ken

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 339 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

Owing to the passage of time it's unlikely that we'll ever know I suppose - but you naturally wonder whether there was a genuine reason for him not to be on the plaque or whether he was somehow forgotten, or whether he was omitted because he wasn't an officer. Looking at the roll, the font has a more modern look to it... perhaps it's been produced decades later with new information.

Private Maughan is on the Duns civic memorial so he seems to have been definetely local.

Recognising a few names, here is another interesting point. This Episcopal Church's plaque for WW1 - "the Men of Christ Church" - includes 2 men in the Cranshaws Parish Church (i.e. Church of Scotland) roll of honour, the Holmes. They're also on Longformacus Parish Church's roll (distinct from the parish roll for Longformacus).

It also includes one man with an individual plaque in Edrom Parish Church, Sir George Houston-Boswall, albeit he was probably the/a heritor.

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 339 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

First World War transcription
Where an individual appears on a local civic memorial I've added it in red

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL
REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF CHRIST
CHURCH WHO MADE THE SUPREME
SACRIFICE IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-19

Edward Henry Trotter DSO, Lt Col, Grenadier Guards - Fogo
Sir George Houston Boswall (4th Baronet of Blackadder), Captain, Grenadier Guards - Edrom
Reginald Baird Trotter, Captain, Cameron Highlanders - Fogo
John Christie Aitken MC, Captain, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
George Fair, Lieutenant, 4th KOSB - Duns
Alexander Charles Holme, Lieutenant, 1st Gloucester Regiment - Longformacus
Ronald Henry Paull Holme, Lieutenant, 2nd KOSB - Longformacus
Alister Hunter-Blair, Lieutenant, Cameron Highlanders - Edrom
Henry Learmonth, Sergeant, 1st KOSB - Duns ('Harry Learmouth' on CWGC and SNWM)
Robert Hedley, Lance Corporal, Northumberland Fusiliers - Edrom (as Private)
Robert Blyth, Private, 2nd Highland Light Infantry
Arthur Colvin, Private, 4th KOSB - Duns
Robert Haggarty, Private, Scots Guards - Duns
John Haggarty, Private, Royal Scots - Duns
William Hunter, Private, 1/4th KOSB - Duns
Telfer Lough, Private, 4th KOSB - Duns & Eyemouth
Alexander Knight, Private, Durham Light Infantry
Arnold Robinson, Private, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders - Leitholm

FOR KING & COUNTRY

Merseman · Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 339 Location: Duns, Berwickshire

Second World War transcription (plaque)

TO THE HONOURED MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR KING & COUNTRY
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945

Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay KCB KBE MVO
of Bughtrig
Commander-in-Chief Allied Naval Forces, Normandy Landings
Northern France - 2nd January 1945

Douglas Michael Hugh Bailie
of Manderston
Lieutenant, Scots Guards
Anzio, Italy - 30th January 1944

Desmond Penkivel Minchin
of Cruicksfield
Lieutenant, KOSB
Normandy - 1st July 1944

Second World War transcription (roll)
Where an individual appears on a local civic memorial I've added it in red

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF THE
MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN
THE WAR OF 1939 - 1945

Douglas Michael Hugh Bailie
Lieutenant, Scots Guards - Duns (as 2nd Lieutenant)

John Wilfrid Maughan
Private, KOSB - Duns

Desmond Penkivel Minchin
Lieutenant, KOSB

Sir Bertram Home Ramsay
Admiral KCB KBE MVO - Leitholm

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 11:08 am Post subject:

Excellent information. It is very strange why the only private on the roll os missed off the plaque.

Adam