The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons

Two memorials posted together here.

WW1 memorial – UKNIWM 44392
WW2 memorial – Not Listed

The WW2 names were only added in approximately 2004. I will mail UKNIWM and ask them if they want to amend the title and record of 44392 or add WW2 as a new memorial.

The memorials are inside St Ninian’s Episcopal Church in Castle Douglas at OS Map Ref NX 765 619. This church is absolutely packed with memorials and is one of those rare churches that are open during daylight hours, therefore an absolute must for a visit if you are in the area. All the names on this memorial have been researched in detail and published in a booklet available from the church, details at…..
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1914

Opposite the war memorial(s) is a memorial to Major Alan Gordon DSO MC – although this is not a war memorial it is obviously designed to complement the war memorial so I have included a picture of it here (without listing it).

Something that I have noticed before in Episcopal churches is even more evident here, and that is the very high proportion of officers. Of the 11 WW1 names, 9 are officers.

Five of the WW1 names and one of the WW2 names also have individual memorials in the church and I shall be posting these separately.

WW1 Names:
M C C PINCHING MAJOR DSO 2ND D GDS
M A PHILLIPS CAPT RFA
A E C BAINES CAPT LINCN REG
E I L JOHNSTONE CAPT MC 60 RFLS
A D HERRIES CAPT KOSB
T MUSGRAVE LT IRISH GDS
V M CUBITT LT NORFOLK REG
J WEDDERBURN MAXWELL LT KOSB
D M G FERGUSON LT KOSB
J STEWART SERGT KOSB
W A ANDERSON PTE RS

WW2 Names:
G OVENS 3RD ENG MN
P GIFFORD SQN LDR DFC RAuxAF
J LIVESEY FLT SGT RAFVR

I notice the name Wedderburn-Maxwell on this memorial – there is a Wedderburn-Maxwell on the Parton church memorial and also an individual memorial (not war memorial) in Corsock Church.

Capt A D Herries was previously known as Young-Herries and I understand he was some relation to the head of the Bank of Scotland. There is other info on Capt Herries and others on this memorial, which I will post later (with their individual memorials where they exist).

And from WW2 – Sqn Ldr Gifford is credited with shooting down the first German plane over Britain on 16th October 1939 whilst flying his Spitfire from RAF Turnhouse.

spoons · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject:

Photos sent to UKNIWM with question about how these panels are to be listed, i.e. one, two or three memorials.

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:11 am Post subject:

Have just discovered that the research of those named here is at
http://episcopalglasgow.co.uk/castledouglas/history/the-war-memorials

Link updated
http://stninianscastledouglas.org.uk/history/the-war-memorials/
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:25 pm Post subject:

I'm posting this here as it deals with both the Church Memorial and with the individual wooden grave-crosses.
The original article appeared in the on-line version of the St. Ninian's Church Review, issue no. 35 - Advent 2009, and reproduced here with the kind permission of the author, Leslie Scarborough.

NINETY YEARS ON
In 1914, the Revd C W Baines was appointed Rector of St Ninian’s but, before he could take up his position, he was recalled to the Army Chaplaincy Service on the outbreak of the War. He served throughout the War, becoming Colonel in rank, Assistant Chaplain General to 4th Army, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and a Mention in Dispatches. He also lost his only son, Captain Arthur Baines, who died in 1916, one of 40,000 who died in the campaign.

On his arrival at St Ninian’s, the Revd Baines wished to install the wooden screening in the Chancel and Sanctuary as a war memorial and this was carried out at a cost of £190, of which he subscribed £100 in memory of his son.

When changes were made to accommodate the new organ, it became necessary to remove the large safe from the Sanctuary and I was asked by Clem Gault to sort out the old books and papers it contained. Among those papers, mainly dating from the time when the design and installation of the War Memorial was taking place, I found letters written by mothers of two of the church members who had lost their lives, and I thought they might be of interest.

Firstly an undated letter from Mrs Helen Wedderburn-Maxwell, mother of James, who died on 1st October 1918:

London W.8

Dear Mr Baines
I herewith enclose my authorization for your applying to the Graves Commission to have my son’s wooden cross sent direct to you. I am extremely obliged to you for allowing this to be done as at this distance I should have found it difficult to arrange for the best about it. I have told the Graves Commission they will hear direct from you.

My son’s grave was at first “on the north western outskirts of Ledeghem” but as there were only five or six graves there altogether, it seems to be thought they may have to be moved.

I wrote and asked about this and on the 25th inst. they replied that they had not received any report as to my son’s grave being removed, but that it will be removed “unless it happens that a new cemetery is formed where he lies”.

I have written again begging them to find out if there has been or is to be any removal, and if so where to. Is the place of burial to be named in the inscriptions on the Memorial? I feel it would be very desirable us placing it on record and would let you know immediately on hearing anything definite from the Graves Commission.

Yours etc.

She was clearly deeply distressed that it was necessary for her son’s body to be moved to a new communal cemetery and concerned that due attention would be given. As we now know, these cemeteries continue to be maintained to a very high standard and are worthy resting places of those lost. Her two older sons both survived the war.

The second letter is from Mrs Christabel Cubitt, mother of Victor Cubitt:

Honing, Norwich:

13th April 1920

Dear Mr Baines

Thanks for your kind letter of the 3rd inst. I am very glad to hear you have been able to put up the panelling. My son’s full name was Victor Murray Cubitt, 2nd Lieut. 1/5th Battn. The Norfolk Regt. He fell in the attack at Suvla Bay (Gallipoli) which took place on the 12th August 1915. As far as we know, he and his eldest brother, Capt E R Cubitt, fell within a few minutes of each other, but where and how is still a subject for conjecture. It has been reported that the Turks buried the bodies somewhere in the Bush. It is a sad sad story; the Regiment was practically wiped out. You do not say how the money has been raised or if I am to send you a subscription.

Yours etc.

This lady was to lose three sons in the War, having also lost a young son just before the War. One other son survived the War and, in the 1930s, became Colonel of the Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment in which his three brothers served.

Leslie Scarborough
_________________
Ken

spoons · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject:

Thank you for posting this. Reading such things alway puts a tear in my eye and a lump in the throat.

\Paul

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

I have now revised this report to change the title and add the WW2 part, subdivided into military and civilian.

For some reason the photos were added by the office in 2015 (thank you), but it was not then updated to include WW2