The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 7:46 pm Post subject:

Name: TUNNOCK, DAVID K
Initials: DK
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 41282
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots, 13th Bn
Date of Death: 23/4/1917
Age: 33
Additional Information: Son of Matthew and Agnes Tunnock; husband of Agnes Balfour Tunnock, of II, Green Vale St., Stranraer, Wigtownshire.
Panel Reference: Bay 1 and 2
Memorial: Arras Memorial

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 7:53 pm Post subject:

Name: WILSON, WILLIAM ALLAN.
Initials: WA
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank:Bombardier
Service No:87334
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery, 200th Siege Bty.
Date of Death: 31/05/1917
Age: 29
Additional Information: Husband of Agnes S. Wilson, of Orchardlea, Girvan, Ayrshire.
Grave Reference: XII. C. 2A.
Cemetery: LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY (Belgium)

Also named on St Ninian's United Free Church War memorial, and, possibly, Girvan War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:02 pm Post subject:

Name: WILLIAMSON, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 43968
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots, 12th Bn
Date of Death: 20/9/1917
Age: 20
Additional Information: Son of Mrs. Margaret Allison, of 78, Garngad Hill, Townhead, Glasgow.
Panel Reference: Panel 11 to 14 and 162
Memorial: Tyne Cot Memorial

Also named on St Joseph's Church Parishioners War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:06 pm Post subject:

Name: WOOD, FRED
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 5467
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards, 2nd Bn
Date of Death: 18/12/1914
Panel Reference: Panel 1
Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:11 pm Post subject:

Name: WOOD, SAMUEL
Initials: S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 317069
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders, 8th/10th Bn
Date of Death: 31/5/1916
Additional Information: Brother of Mrs. M. Gibson, of Whitecairn, Barr Hill, Ayrshire.
Grave Reference: I N 30
Cemetery: Nouex-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 8:17 pm Post subject:

Named on CWGC as Wylle, not Wyllie

Name: WYLLE, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st/5th Bn
Date of Death: 12/7/1915
Panel Reference: Panel 73 to 76
Memorial: Helles Memorial

Also named on Stranraer Parish Church War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 11:59 am Post subject:

Name: HARVEY, H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 31
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders, 1st Bn
Date of Death: 26/1/1919
Age: 28
Additional Information: Son of Henry and Elizabeth McKean Harvey, of 19, Harvey Terrace, Lochwinnock, Renfrewshire. Born at Stevenston. Ayrshire.
Grave Reference: 246
Cemetery: Beirut War Cemetery

Wigtownshire Free Press (6/2/1919): Died in Egypt (of typhoid fever) on 26th January, Pte H Harvey, 1st Seaforth Highlanders, only son of Mr Harvey, Lochwinnoch, aged 20 years.

Mike Morley · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:40 pm Post subject:

This may be a non-com as I cannot see him on CWGC or SNWM.

David McKie.

Wigtownshire Free Press: At University War Hospital, Southampton, on the 18th inst, (of pneumonia), 13102 Pte David McKie, RSF, att 273rd London Field Ambulance, third son of the late David McKie, and Mrs McKie, 33 High Street, Stranraer, aged 32 years.

UK Army Register of Soldiers' Effects: McKie, David. Royal Scots Fusiliers, Pte 13102. Died 19/2/19, pneumonia, War Hos, Southampton. £27 11s paid to sole legatee, Jane.

Also named on Stranraer Parish Church War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:53 pm Post subject:

This may also be a non com. Edit: Now accepted as a non-commemoration.

John McKillops.

Wigtownshire Free Press (23/5/1918): Mrs McKillops, 33 Harbour Street, Stranraer, has received official notice that her son, Private John McKillops, Gordon Highlanders, is reported missing as from April 9. Private McKillops, who enlisted early in 1915, went to France for the third time at the beginning of March. Before enlisting he was employed by Messrs Smith, Dundee Equitable, Inverurie.

UK Army Register of Soldiers' Effects: McKillops John. 1/7th Bn, Gordon Hrs. Pte 266994. 14/4 - 14/7/18, BEF, death assd. £21 9d to mother, sole legatee.

Medal Index Card. McKillops, John. Gordons, Pte 14075, then Pte 266994.

Also named on Stranraer Parish Church War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 1:23 pm Post subject:

John Mann is not listed on CWGC as he may have been discharged prior to his illness. There is a lot about this man in the local press but the following best summarises his war career. It is taken from a report in the Wigtownshire Free Press (6/5/1920) when the burgh council was awarding Freedom of the Burgh and gold medals to various men who had served.

Engineer Commander John Mann, DSO. Shortly after the outbreak of war, Commander Mann, who was chief engineer of the twin screw steamer Angora, belonging to the British India Steam Navigation Co brought home his vessel from India to engage in special service work for the Admiralty. That work was to lay mines to neutralise the deadly action of enemy craft, both above and under seas. His vessel first operated in that death-trap, the Dardanelles, and in the Mediterranean. Working from home ports in the English Channel, in the North sea, and the Firth of Forth, it laid mines wherever submarines had been sighted. Rushing under cover of darkness to the German naval base, it laid mines to bottle up the German Fleet. It was work of the most arduous character, and involved the highest danger, and it was work successfully performed, the service rendered by Commander Mann being officially recognised when the King conferred on him the DSO. For over three years Commander Mann engaged in that work, but the strain of it all made a heavy toll of his health and energies. How severe that strain had been was only too apparent to us who saw him in Stranraer hen on leave to recruit his health. On the expiry of his leave he returned to India, but shortly after his return there he contracted an illness in Bombay, and died on 21st May last. There is no doubt that the strength which may have combatted that illness had been expended in the work he did for his country. The DSO was not the only distinction awarded to Commander Mann for his services on behalf of his country. He was the holder of a medal with two bars for transport services during the South African War, and also the Boxer Rising in China. Cammander Mann was one of those upon whom the Town Council had resolved to confer the highest honour they could bestwo - the freedom of the burgh.

From India: Select Deaths and Burials (via Ancestry): John Mann, born 1870. Died and buried 21 May 1919, at Sewri, Bombay.

National Probate Calendar (via Ancestry): John Mann of 6 Windsor Terrace, Stranraer, died 21 May 1919 at Colaba War Hospital, Bombay.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 6:49 pm Post subject:

London Gazette 28 September 1917 Supplement:30316 Page:10153

Admiraty, 1st October, 1917. The KING has further been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Distinguished Service Order and for the award of the decorations specified below' to the undermentioned Officers: —
To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order:—
..............Engr. Cdr. .John Mann, R.N.R.
_________________
Ken

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2016 3:36 pm Post subject:

Neil Thom is not named on CWGC or SNWM. He was 3rd Engineer on the SS Princess Victoria which sailed the Stranraer- Larne route before being converted to a troop transport for the duration of the war. The family grave stone in Sheuchan churchyard includes "Their fourth son Neil thom lost at sea on active service 27/10/1918." The Wigtownshire Free Press also reported on 5/12/1918, "Lost at sea on 27th October, Neil Thom, engineer, fourth son of Mr & Mrs David Thom, Victoria Place, Stranraer."

In her book on the war memorials of the Rhins, Julia MacDonald reports a conversation with Neil Thom's sister who says that Neil lost his life when his ship was either torpedoed or mined during the Great War. As the Princess Victoria was never torpedoed or mined she speculates that he was on another ship, the Calceolaria, which was sunk that day. However, a quick check through CWGC identifies each of the five fatalities - none is Neil Thom.

I suspect that Neil Thom did die in an accident at sea on the Princess Victoria but family legend developed a more heroic loss. My own speculation, of course!

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2016 3:50 pm Post subject:

John Wilson is also named on Sheuchan Church memorial as Engineer John Wilson RNR. He is not named on CWGC. The Wigtownshire Free Press (7/11/1918) reported: "At Alhambra, California, on 3rd November (of illness contracted on active service), John Wilson, aged 32, late engineer lieutenant, RNR, youngest and only surviving son on William Wilson, FEIS, late headmaster of Sheuchan School."

The only document I've been able to find in the National Archives is a manuscript entry that he served on the Campania as Engineer Lieutenant. I can't find any death record in Ancestry. I suspect proving that he deserves inclusion on the CWGC register may be difficult!

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2016 3:51 pm Post subject:

William McWilliam

I cannot find anything about this man.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 2:20 pm Post subject:

Name: WILSON, GEORGE EDWARD LOUIS
Initials: GEL
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Warrant Officer
Service Number: 509005
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Date of Death: 30/9/1945
Age: 35
Additional Information: Son of Mountain and Ada Matilda Wilson, husband of Margaret Isabella Hale Wilson, of Stranraer
Grave Reference: Grave 400 A
Cemetery: Inch Parish Cemetery

Wigtownshire Free Press (10/4/1945): Among the 39 people who lost their lives in the railway disaster at Bourne End, Hertfordshire, was Warrant Officer George Edward Lewis Wilson, RAF, who was well known in Stranraer and district, and was a native of London. He was for a time stationed at West Freugh, and while there he married Miss McClymont, who resides at 9 Foundry Lane, Stranraer. Only a week or so ago WO Wilson spent his leave at home with his wife and two children in Foundry Lane. On Saturday his mother-in-law, Mrs William McClymont, died suddenly at her home on Foundry Lane, and WO Wilson was notified of the death and, it is presumed, was allowed compassionate leave to attend the funeral on Sunday. WO Wilson was stationed in Wales and set out on his journey to Stranraer. It is presumed that when he arrived at Crewe he decided to pay a visit to his people in London and boarded the ill-fated train for the capital.