The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 6:23 pm Post subject:

A little more on Alan Hill Whyte from the Wigtownshire Free Press of 19/4/1917.

His name also appears on Sheuchan Church memorial, Merchiston Castle School and Clydesdal Bank memorials.

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:12 pm Post subject:

Name: CUTHBERTSON, ALEXANDER SWAINSON
Initials: AS
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service Number: 10660
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards, 2nd Bn
Date of Death: 16/5/1915
Panel Reference: Panel 3 and 4
Memorial: Le Touret Memorial

Also named on Penninghame and St Ninian's United Free Church, Stranraer memorials

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:17 pm Post subject:

Name: MCKAY, H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Boatswain (Bosun)
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine, SS "Polandia" (Liverpool)
Date of Death: 24/11/1917
Age: 41
Additional Information: Husband of Mrs. McKay, of 37, Agnew Crescent, Stranraer. Born at Islandmagee.
Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial

Wigtownshire Free Press (19/7/1917): At sea on the 10th March, by the supposed loss of HM Transport, Hugh John McKay, husband of Jeanie K Robinson.

Note: meseysiderollofhonour.co.uk states that S.S. Polandia was built at Hamburg in 1898 by Blohm & Voss for the Woermann Linie. Her original name was the Paul Woermann and she operated on the East African routes for the company. In the first year of the war was she captured at Douala, Cameroon by H.M.S. Cumberland. Her name was changed to Polandia. On the 10th March 1917 she was en route from Birkenhead to Cherbourg, France, with government material when she disappeared without trace. Thirty-one crewmen were lost.

There is also discussion on the Great War Forum about the Polandia and speculation that CWGC has the date of death of Boatswain McKay wrong as it is 8 months after the ship sank.

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:29 pm Post subject:

Name: ESPIE, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sapper
Service Number: 14213541
Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers, 255 Field Coy
Date of Death: 2/3/1944
Age: 20
Additional Information: Son of James and Joan Espie, of Glasgow.
Grave Reference: II B 3
Cemetery: Minturno War Cemetery

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:44 pm Post subject:

Name: MCKIE, DAVID
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 13102
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers, 7th Bn, attd. 2nd/3rd London Field Amb. Royal Army Medical Corps
Date of Death: 18/2/1919
Age: 24
Additional Information: Son of Jane McKie, of Stranraer, Wigtownshire.
Commemorated: UK Book of Remembrance.

Mike Morley · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:00 pm Post subject:

William McWilliam is possibly Acting Corporal 310311, Royal Engineers. Pension Cards indicate he died of "disease" on 12 April 1918. The dependent on the Pension Card is Miss Sarah McKerlie of 5 Queen Street, the Guardian of illegitimate child.

The Medal Index card shows Cpl McWilliam had also served with the Royal Scots (31801) and Royal Scots Fusiliers (23431).

Mike Morley · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 12:40 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."

Further investigation on the In From The Cold Forum has revealed his grave on the Find a Grave site (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13360297/john-wilson) in the Tehachapi East Side Cemetery in California. The grave stone reads: In memory of Engineer Lieutenant John Wilson RNR of Stranraer, Scotland. Aug 15 1886. Oct 27 1918. On Active Service 1914 to 1916.

Two local press items can be seen and include an account of his action that won him the DSO. A veteran of the Battle of Jutland, in a later action he had leapt into the sea to hook an escaping submarine onto a cable.

Keptie · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2023 7:12 pm Post subject: stranraer

The CWGC lists Pte 46380 John Douglas KILPATRICK, 3rd Bn KOSB died 5th February 1919 aged 27, son of Jane Douglas or Kilpatrick, of Valparaiso Villa, Stranraer, and the late James Kilpatrick , Teacher at Arbroath High School. . MA.
Stranraer (Sheuchan) cemetery grave 4 . 197

Recently the SNWM at the Ediinburgh Castle has accepted the casuatly
recording details as
KILPATRICK, 46380 , Pte , John Douglas , Born Stranraer, died UK arbroath 5th February 1919 , 3rd Bn KOSB.

I contacted Dumfries & Galloway council and they have this month October 2023 allocated a sculptor to put the name of John Douglas Kilpatrick , KOSB on the Stranraer war memorial located outside of the Sheriff Court in Stranraer and the name should be listed in time for 11th November 2023

Patrick w anderson