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Birgham, Millennium War Memorial

 
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Merseman



Joined: 07 Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Location: Duns, Berwickshire

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:48 pm    Post subject: Birgham, Millennium War Memorial Reply with quote

Noticed this civic memorial from Berwickshire doesn't appear to be on the site, so I got some photos when I was passing through earlier.

Also my first shot at uploading some pictures, so fingers-crossed!


Birgham is a village of a couple of hundred people, located between Kelso and Coldstream, so very near the Tweed which marks the borderline with England. Historically it was a component part of Eccles parish - and one of 3 settlements in that parish, along with Eccles itself and Leitholm. Birgham has a pub, and a village hall - but no church. Casualties from Birgham are commemorated on Eccles Parish Church's memorial window.

However, back in 2000 the villagers decided upon a war memorial of their own, and this cairn and associated planting were erected. They are placed in the north-east corner of the only junction in the village, where the road from Eccles joins the Kelso-Coldstream Road. Sat in front of 'Treaty Park' it was, by my reckoning, the first civic memorial in Berwickshire since the Polish memorial unveiled in Duns in 1981.

It comprises a cairn of local stone - with a slate plaque (mounted on wood and secured into the cairn). To the left is another small plaque, explaining the background to the cairn, and to the right is a bench marked "Birgham 2000". Notably only Second World War individuals are listed by name and the Great War dead are included with previous conflicts under a collective phrasing.

As you can see in the photos, a fresh wreath has just been placed. At this time of year, the principals of the neighbouring town civic weeks - Kelso's Laddie and the Coldstreamer - lay a wreath during their rideouts.

Kenny


Last edited by Merseman on Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:07 pm; edited 3 times in total
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Merseman



Joined: 07 Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Location: Duns, Berwickshire

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote







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Merseman



Joined: 07 Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Location: Duns, Berwickshire

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BIRGHAM MILLENNIUM
WAR MEMORIAL CAIRN

IN MEMORY OF THOSE VILLAGERS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

World War II
1939-1945

Private Robert Bell
Corporal Ian Buchan
Private William Galbraith
Flight Sergeant Thomas Paxton MiD
Flight Engineer Peter Purves
Sergeant John Smyth

And those from the Great War and before
whose names have passed into history

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"

Erected in 2000 to mark the millennium
and as a permanent memorial to our fallen
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 4:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's a really "odd" tale about Flight Sergeant Thomas Galbraith Paxton, MiD on ww2talk.com about him being thought to be an Australian
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/32568-ww2-australian-casualties-raaf-raf-etc-etc/

The posts include the following:

Tom Paxton was sent to the Middle East as a Sergeant in 1941. He was posted to 250 Squadron during the summer before being transferred to 30 Squadron for defensive missions in Egypt. Between June 1941 and February 1942, he won five victories. Promoted Flight Sergeant in early March 1942, he accompanied the unit when it was sent to the Far East aboard the HMS Indomitable. On 9 March, 30 Squadron moved to Ceylon in order to defend the island. On April 5, he was engaged in the interception of the first attack launched from Japanese aircraft carriers while based in Colombo. During the battle, Paxton managed to kill 2 Zero aircraft but is himself hit and forced to abandon his burning aircraft. Picked up and taken to hospital with second degree burns, he died two days later from secondary shock.

At this time 30 Squadron were flying Hurricanes from Colombo Racecourse.
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 4:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

p.s. - great photos Kenny.
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Merseman



Joined: 07 Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Location: Duns, Berwickshire

PostPosted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks. I was using a pocket digital camera from the early 2000s, but if it is set to high res seems to do the job. It's a simple but dignified memorial.


Unfortunately I can't help any regarding Thomas Paxton. I have looked at the wartime chapter in the Coldstream local history "Second to None", but it doesn't mention him; not surprising as the book concentrates mainly on the burgh, and less on surrounding hamlets.

Interestingly and somewhat poignantly, that same Easter Sunday Thomas Paxton was fighting Japanese aircraft off Ceylon and ultimately being shot down, Coldstream man George Kerr was lost in the water below when the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire - which left Colombo the day before, after the sighting of the approaching Japanase taskforce - was hit by bombers.
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Birgham_man



Joined: 14 Oct 2014
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

New plaque to be fitted to this cairn with the names of those villagers who lost their lives in WW1 the names are as follows:-

Private Nicholas Allan
Sergeant James Briggs
Private Walter Galbraith
Private Robert Hendry
Private James Scott

New plaque will be fitted for the 9th November 2014
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Merseman



Joined: 07 Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Location: Duns, Berwickshire

PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote



James Briggs appears upon Eccles war memorial - the stained glass window in Eccles Parish Church. None of the others appear upon Eccles, Leitholm or Coldstream memorial.

There is an article about the new plaque's unveiling in 2015:

https://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/birgham-pays-tribute-to-its-ww1-fallen-heroes-1-3751013[/img]
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stuartn



Joined: 13 Dec 2016
Posts: 2551

PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:41 am    Post subject: WMR (ex UKNIWM) number Reply with quote

WMR 79957

By the way the link to the Berwickshire News article isn't working, at least for me.
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 3:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1914 - 1918

PRIVATE NICHOLAS ALLAN
Nicholas Allan – age 46 – Private (7558) 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Nicholas was a blacksmith in Edinburgh when he enlisted. He joined his battalion in Belgium in February 1915 but he was killed just over two months later.
Born 1869 in Thorwood, Glendale, Northumberland. Son of the late William Allan and of Ellen (Cockburn) Allan of Birgham. Husband of the late Susan (Campbell) Allan (died September 1914 in Edinburgh) who he had married in 1895 in Hawick, Roxburghshire.
Died of Wounds on 20 April 1915 and buried Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery, Belgium.


SERGEANT JAMES BRIGGS
James Briggs – age 32 – Sergeant (S/11897) 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
James trained at Floors in Kelso and had been a gamekeeper on the Hirsel Estate near Coldstream, Berwickshire for 9 years prior to his enlistment in the spring of 1916. He joined his battalion in France later that year.
Born 1885 in Kelso, Roxburghshire. Son of Thomas and Isabella (Turner) Briggs, of Bowmont Forest, Kelso. Husband of Elizabeth Hannah (Darling) Briggs of Hollybrae, Birgham who he married in 1910 in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.
Died of Wounds on 17 April 1918 and buried in Meteren Military Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Eccles Parish War Memorial.


PRIVATE WALTER GALBRAITH
I cannot trace this man.


PRIVATE ROBERT HENDRY
Robert Hendry – age 36 – Private (25871) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert was employed as a fishing fly dresser with P.D. Malloch's of Scott Street, Perth when he enlisted.
Born 1880 in Birgham. Son of the late William and Elizabeth Waughope (Patterson) Hendry (died 1894) of Birgham. Husband of Catherine Chalmers (Ormiston) Hendry of South Inch Place, Perth and of 4 Ladhope Bank, Galashiels who he married in 1906 in Heriot, Midlothian.
Killed in Action on 9 April 1917 and buried in Bailleul Road West Cemetery, St. Laurent-Blangy, France.
Also named in the City of Perth Roll of Honour (Golden Book) and on the Galashiels War Memorial together with his brother William George Hendry, formerly Private (24605) King's Own Scottish Borderers who died in 29 March 1921 in Galashiels.


PRIVATE JAMES SCOTT
James Scott – age 19 – Private (141542) 4th Battalion, Canadian Infantry.
James was working as a painter when he enlisted in Hamilton, Ontario in July 1915. He sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia with the 76th Battalion in April 1916 and was posted to the 4th Battalion in France in June but he was killed just over two months later.
Born 1896 in Brigham, Eccles. Son of James and Margaret (Bennet) Scott of Laurel Cottage, Birgham. Grandson of the late James Bennet of Thirlstone, Yetholm, Roxburghshire.
Killed in Action on 8 September 1916 and buried in Sunken Road Cemetery, Contalmaison, France.
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1939 -1945

PRIVATE ROBERT BELL
Robert Moffat Bell – age 28 – Private (3193875) 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert was employed by a timber merchant in Kelso and was the first man from Birgham to fall. The 1st KOSB returned to France on D-Day, 6th June, landing at ‘Queen’ Beach. They fought through Normandy and around Caen. Robert was killed near Cambes and was re-interred at Douvres in May 1945.
Born 1914 in Glasgow. Son of the late William Young Bell (died 1933) and of Isabella (Moffat) Bell of Birgham, Eccles and of Highridge Hall, Ednam, Berwickshire. Husband of Alice Elizabeth (Main) Bell, of Glass, Aberdeenshire who he married in 1942 in Glass.
Killed in Action on 12 June 1944 and buried in La Delivrande War Cemetery, Douvres, France.
Also named on the Eccles Parish War Memorial.


CORPORAL IAN BUCHAN
Ian Mungo Buchan – age 22 – Corporal (3254245) 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
Ian's family had come to Birgham, Eccles when he was five. He was educated there and at Kelso High School before serving his apprenticeship as a joiner in Birgham. He enlisted in January 1942 and served in the Cameronians before transferring to the Royal Fusiliers. Ian's remains were recovered from the battlefield and re-interred in Florence in February 1945.
Born 1922 in Perth. Son of the late John Buchan of Perth and of Elizabeth Buchan of the Schoolhouse, Birgham, Eccles.
Killed in Action on 17 September 1944 and buried in Florence War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the Eccles Parish War Memorial.


PRIVATE WILLIAM GALBRAITH
William Galbraith – age 30 – Private (3195692) 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment.
Allied forces landed near Salerno on 8-9 September 1943 and there was fierce fighting for some days in the bridgehead that they established.
Born 1913 in Sprouston, Roxburghshire. Son of George and Janet (Halliday) Galbraith who married in 1910 in Sprouston. Husband of Marion Turnbull (Rae) Galbraith of Duns, Berwickshire who he married in 1937 in Ednam, Berwickshire. William was employed at Springhall Farm, Ednam and Marion was at Highridgehall Farm, Ednam when they married at the latter place. This farm is close to Birgham village.
Killed in Action on 9 September 1943 and buried in Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the Ednam Parish War Memorial and on the Eccles Parish War Memorial.


FLIGHT SERGEANT THOMAS PAXTON MiD
Thomas Galbraith Paxton – age 20 – Flight Sergeant (1053584) 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Thomas was educated in Eccles and at the Berwickshire High School in Duns before he became a Tax Officer with the Inland Revenue in Penrith, Cumberland in 1938. He joined the RAF in 1940, was sent to Southern Rhodesia for flight training and was posted to the Middle East as a Sergeant for defensive missions in Egypt in April 1941. Promoted to Flight Sergeant in early March 1942, he accompanied 30 Squadron when it was sent to the Far East aboard the HMS Indomitable. The Squadron moved to Ceylon in order to defend the island, flying their Hurricanes from Colombo Racecourse, and on 5th April he was engaged in the interception of the first attack launched from Japanese aircraft carriers. During the battle he shot down two Zero aircraft but was hit and forced to abandon his burning aircraft. Tom was picked up and taken to hospital with second degree burns but he died two days later from secondary shock.
Born 1921 in Maxton, Roxburghshire. Son of William Hogg Paxton and Margaret (Galbraith) Paxton of Ferneyrig, Birgham.
Died of Wounds on 7 April 1942 and buried in Colombo (Kanatte) General Cemetery, Sri Lanka.
Also named on the Eccles Parish War Memorial.


FLIGHT ENGINEER PETER PURVES
Peter Purves – age 20 – Sergeant (1820366) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Peter was an electrician and plumber in Coldstream, Berwickshire and was a member of the local Air Training Corps when he joined the RAF in early 1944. He was the flight engineer on his Halifax bomber which had taken off from the Operational Refresher Training Unit at RAF Matching in Essex. The aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision at night with a Wellington of 81 Operational Training Unit and both aircraft crashed near Peterborough.
Born 1924 in Eccles. Son of Jane Renton (Purves) Brown and step-son of John Brown of 74 High Street, Coldstream. Grandson of the late Peter Purves of Birgham. (died 1936)
Died on Service on 3 June 1945 and buried in Birgham Churchyard. (CWG)
Also named on the Coldstream Burgh and Parish War Memorial.


SERGEANT JOHN SMYTH
John Scott Smyth – age 38 – Pilot Officer (118650) 158 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Jack was well known in the Borders as a motor racing cyclist and he farmed at Birgham Haugh, Eccles for some years before he joined the RAF. He was commissioned from Leading Aircraftman (939824) in March 1942 and six months later he was the navigator in his Halifax bomber which had taken off from RAF East Moor in Yorkshire for a raid on the Krupps works at Essen but the aircraft crashed near Krefeld.
Born 1904 in Eccles. Son of the late John Smyth (died 1940) and the late Elizabeth Jane (Glahome) Smyth (died 1941) formerly of Birgham, Eccles. Husband of Alice Mary (Smith) Smyth who he married in 1936 in Edinburgh.
Killed in Action on 17 September 1942 and buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Also named on the Eccles Parish War Memorial.
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