The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Stirling Observer 1 July 1919
East Plean School
The memorial is a very striking one and consists of a brass plaque ornamented with scroll work, set into a marble base, the Latin inscription being in bronze. It is erected in the South wall of the principal classroom and is from designs by Mr Archibald Hamilton, Glasgow
The tablet bears the following inscription:
1914 1919
Dulce et Decorum
Est Pro Patria Mori
Roll of Honour
To the Immortal Memory
Of these young heroes
Former pupils of this
School who laid down
Their lives for
King and Country, for God
And the Right

Allan, James A, A&SH
Cuthbert, Samuel, Gordon Highlanders
Donachie, William, A&SH
Fitzpatrick, James, Scots Guards
Graham, John G, A&SH
Henderson, John, Royal Navy
Hogg, Andrew, A&SH
Inglis, Peter, AIF
Johnstone, David, Royal Scots
Johnstone, James K, HLI
Joiner, William, A&SH
Kilgour, Thomas A S, Royal Scots
Marshall, William, A&SH
Murdoch, Donald, Scottish Rifles
McArthur, Thomas, A&SH
McFeat, Alexander, A&SH
MacIntyre, James, Canadian Contingent
MacIntyre, William, A&SH
McKendrick, Andrew, A&SH
McMeekin, David, A&SH
Phee, William, AIF
Wilson, Roderick, Cameron Highlanders
Wilson, William, A&SH
Yeardly, John, Royal Field Artillery

There are many softly sleeping that
Shall never more awake
Till the last great trumpet sounding
Shall upon their slumber break
And they’ll leap to that revally (sic) ever
Faithful, fond and true
And we’ll see them stepping proudly in
God’s final grand review

East Plean school was destroyed in a catastrophic fire (arson) in 2010; the school population decanted to temporary classrooms elsewhere in the village for about a year while a new school was built on the original site. I don't know what happened to the war memorial.

Sandra

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

The wooden Dux board that was in the school hall was saved, so maybe the memorial did too... I did try to find out, but never got an answer to my email... Sad

tanyagar

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

Two of the casualties named do not figure on the civic memorial in the village: David Johnstone and William Donachie. I've found Johnstone on CWGC but have had no luck with Donachie. Any ideas?
tanyagar

anne park · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:31 am Post subject: Samuel Cuthbert GH

Samuel Cuthbert Pte S/7843 1st Gordon Highlanders b Stirling e Stirling Died of Wounds F & F 11/08/1915 Glasgow Road, St. Ninians. Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Zillebeke B 115 Sp. Mem. C. 5 East Plean School & Plean & Stirling
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:26 am Post subject:

Tanya - a faint possibility might be:

DONNACHIE, WILLIAM. [double N]
Rank:Private
Service No:207
Date of Death:12/11/1915
Age:17
Regiment/Service:Highland Light Infantry 11th Bn.
Panel Reference:Panel 38.
Memorial:YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information:Son of Manus Donnachie, of 15, Matilda St., Pollokshaws, Newlands, Glasgow.

He was born in Denny, Stirlingshire and (using the father's name to search) the family seems to still have been in Denny in 1901.
He enlisted at Pollokshaws.

I know the regiment is "wrong" but he's the only Stirlingshire man I could find.
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Ken

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

Thanks Ken, but I'm not sure the school would make a mistake like that... I remembered a Dunnachie family in the village, so tried that spelling and came up with Private William James Dunnachie of the 14th Argylls, born Ayrshire, but enlisted Stirling - Private 9474, died aged 20 on 16/10/1916. Could he be the man on the school memorial? A lot of Ayrshire men worked in the pit...
tanyagar

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:32 am Post subject:

Tanya - my version of "Soldiers who Died" shows William Donnachie Pte.S/9474 14th A&SH died 16/10/1916. Born and enlisted Drougan, Ayrshire (is this Drongan?) Resident in Ayr.
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Ken

tanyagar · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 121 Location: France

Hi Ken, thanks for that! Must have read it wrongly...
However, I decided to blow some credits on scotlandspeople and check the 1911 census. Found William Dunnachie aged 17 living in Plean and working as a drawer in the pit - born Drougan/Drongan in Ayrshire. He was staying with his grandparents and various other relatives.
Another mystery solved.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 1:18 pm Post subject:

Brilliant - well done you Very Happy

Miners at that time did seem to move from coal-field to coal-field - probably not always through choice?
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Ken

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

My contact at East Plean school remembers (vaguely) the war memorial in the original building but thinks it perished in the fire. She is going to make enquiries when the new session starts next month. (And I'll remind her!)

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

The jannie was put on the case of the missing war memorial but to no avail. It doesn't appear to be anywhere in the new building.

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 76552