The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mutley · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 9 Location: Scotland

Hi,

New to the forum and looking forward to browsing.

Drawn to this site to see if my uncle Alexander John Gilmour, 3rd Officer in Merchant Navy who died on the SS Rhineland in 1941 is commemorated anywhere is Scotland. His ship was sunk by a German u-boat coming back from a convoy from Portugal.

He is mentioned on Panel 87 at Tower Hill in London, but I'm curious whether he's mentioned in Scotland?

Alex was born while his mother lived at 5 Ruchill Street, Maryhill, Glasgow but at the time of his death in 1941 his address and his mothers was 4 Chapel Street, Buckhaven, Fife.

I have his Seamans Pouch and know the medals he was entitled to. I also have the ships movement cards etc. So I've a fair idea what happened.

Thanks for letting me join the forum. Cheers - Maria

spoons · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 5:07 pm Post subject:

Hi, Welcome

He is of course commemorated in the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle and online as follows:

Era WW2
Surname GILMOUR
Forename Alexander J
Rank 3rd Offr
Service number
Decoration
Place of birth Glasgow
Date of death 21 September 1941
Theatre of death Unknown
Cause of death Unknown
SNWM roll MERCHANT NAVY & FISHING FLEETS (Part 1)
Unit name Unknown Unit attached to MERCHANT NAVY & FISHING FLEETS Part 1
Other detail S.S. "RHINELAND".

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 7:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Maria - did you know that his photo and some family history is at
http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/person/38132.html
It's kind of ironic that a ship called "Rhineland" was sunk by a German U-boat.
From uboat.net:
Completed in December 1922 as Altengamme for Schlüter & Maack, Hamburg. 1926 sold to Britain and renamed Rhineland for James Currie & Co Ltd, Leith.

At 23.20 and 23.21 hours on 21 Sep 1941, U-201 fired torpedoes at the convoy OG-74 about 800 miles north-northeast of the Azores and reported two ships sunk. The ships hit were Lissa and Rhineland.

The Rhineland (Master John Thorburn Gilroy) was sunk by a coup de grâce at 23.41 hours. The master, 22 crew members and three gunners were lost.
_________________
Ken

Mutley · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 9 Location: Scotland

[quote="spoons"]Hi, Welcome

He is of course commemorated in the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle and online as follows:

Era WW2
Surname GILMOUR
Forename Alexander J
Rank 3rd Offr
Service number
Decoration
Place of birth Glasgow
Date of death 21 September 1941
Theatre of death Unknown
Cause of death Unknown
SNWM roll MERCHANT NAVY & FISHING FLEETS (Part 1)
Unit name Unknown Unit attached to MERCHANT NAVY & FISHING FLEETS Part 1
Other detail S.S. "RHINELAND".

\Paul

Hi Paul, Many thanks for your post. I feel so stupid I've never sought to find his name in Scotland. I guess I was always happy to know that he was mentioned at Tower Hill. Looks like I need to plan a trip to Edinburgh again. Thanks for pointing this out to me.

Mutley · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 9 Location: Scotland

spoons · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:42 pm Post subject:

Shamefully, I have never been to the Scottish National War Memorial myself but I believe there will be some sort (perhaps) stone memorial to the Merchant Navy and a book with all the names written. If you plan to visit, probably best to ensure in advance that someone will be available to open the book to the page with his name on.

http://www.snwm.org/content/roll-search/?id=292645&searchid=fac7e8a844b590438c6c272e2edec50f&page=1

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:40 am Post subject:

Paul

I can't believe you have never been!

There is a Merchant Navy panel and roll of honour

Thanks

Adam

Mutley · Joined: 19 Nov 2014 Posts: 9 Location: Scotland