The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

David McNay · Last edited by David McNay on Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:32 pm; edited 1 time in total

Uddingston Old Parish Church, Old Glasgow Road, Uddingston G71 7HF

OS Grid Ref: NS 696602

Uddingston Old has its roots in the resolutions to build two distinct Churches in the 1870s. Over the years, both Churches have enjoyed vibrant worship, finally joining together in 1982 to form Uddingston Old Parish Church. The two churches were Trinity Parish Church and Uddingston Chalmers Church. www.uddingstonold.org.uk

The stained glass window had originally been posted as two individual memorials, but it is clear from the wording on both windows that together they comprise the Second World War memorial for Chalmers Church.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF THOSE OF THIS CHURCH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945

Major James Alexander Ritchie Royal Engineers
Rifleman Daniel Thomson 7th Cameronians

David McNay · Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:31 pm Post subject:

Name: RITCHIE, JAMES ALEXANDER
Initials: J A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Major
Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
Age: 28
Date of Death: 19/02/1946
Service No: 251686
Additional information: Son of Alexander and Jean Ritchie; husband of Christina Greenshields Ritchie. B.Sc. Hons. D.R.T.C.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 4. Column 2.
Memorial: BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL, ENGLAND

Surname RITCHIE
First name James A
Service number 251686
Date of death 20/02/1946
Decoration
Place of birth Fife
Other
SNWM roll ROYAL ENGINEERS
Rank Capt
Theatre of death Western Europe Campaign, 1944-45.

David McNay · Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:32 pm Post subject:

Name: THOMSON, DANIEL
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 18/01/1945
Service No: 3254225
Additional information: Son of William and Ellen Thomson, of Uddingston, Lanarkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: J. 21.
Cemetery: SITTARD WAR CEMETERY, NETHERLANDS

Surname THOMSON
First name Daniel
Service number 3254225
Date of death 18/01/1945
Decoration
Place of birth Lanarkshire
Other
SNWM roll THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)
Rank Rfn
Theatre of death Western Europe Campaign, 1944-45

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:33 pm Post subject:

These windows are by the noted Scottish artist Douglas Hamilton.

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:18 pm Post subject:

I wondered why Captain Ritchie was named on the Brookwood Memorial ….

A report in the Carluke and Lanark Gazette of 1/3/1946 explains:

TRAPPED IN GERMAN MINE. A Scottish mining engineer, Major James Alexander Ritchie, of Uddingston, has been named as one of the British officers among over 400 men entombed in the Monopol Grimberg coal mine, near Dortmund, Germany, after the explosion there on Wednesday of last week. Major Ritchie is a son of Mr A. M. Ritchie, Uddingston. formerly Mining Agent of Coltness Iron Company, Ltd., who resided at Comely Bank, Bonkle. The news that Major Ritchie was trapped in the mine reached Scotland on Thursday of last week, and the following day his father left Glasgow for Germany. Major Ritchie, whose home is at Brooklands, Uddingston, has been stationed in Germany since June 1945. Before the war he was employed with Bairds and Scottish Steel Ltd of which his father is a director. Major Ritchie, who is 28, is married and has one son. His wife is the daughter of the late Mr James Buchanan, sculptor, and of Mrs, Buchanan, Runan. Carluke.
_________________
Ken