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Mutley



Joined: 19 Nov 2014
Posts: 9
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 1:13 pm    Post subject: New Member Merchant Navy Research Reply with quote

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
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 5:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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Kenneth Morrison



Joined: 29 Sep 2008
Posts: 7749
Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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Mutley



Joined: 19 Nov 2014
Posts: 9
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[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.
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Mutley



Joined: 19 Nov 2014
Posts: 9
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kenneth Morrison wrote:
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.


Thanks Ken. Yes, the irony of the name didn't escape me either. I think the photo at uboat.net was one I supplied a while back. I got a lot of help at WW2Talk when I first started looking into Uncle Alexanders service. One day I hope to find all the descendents of those that lost their lives on the Rhineland. I'd love to take a boat out to where the boat was sunk and place a wreath in the water. Thanks again for your response.[/img]
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paul

I can't believe you have never been!

There is a Merchant Navy panel and roll of honour



Thanks

Adam
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Mutley



Joined: 19 Nov 2014
Posts: 9
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 11:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Adam Brown wrote:
Paul

I can't believe you have never been!

There is a Merchant Navy panel and roll of honour



Thanks

Adam


That's beautiful. Can't wait to see it for myself. My brother is going to go and see it as soon as he can. He's often in Edinburgh because of work. Thanks to you all for the information.
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