The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 3:47 pm Post subject:

PTE. JOHN SCOTT CAMERON HRS.
John Scott – age 21 – Private (S/15835) 7th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
John was employed in the Commercial Bank in Hawick when he enlisted. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915.
Born 1895 in Castleton. Son of Thomas and Marion (Elliot) Scott of 5 Doncaster Street, Newcastleton.
Died of Wounds on 13 October 1916 and buried in Bazentin-Le-Petit Military Cemetery, Somme, France.
Also named on the Commercial Bank of Scotland memorial in the RBS branch in St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh.

PTE. ROBERT SCOTT SCOTTISH RIFS.
Robert Scott – age 32 – Private (34002) 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
In 1911 Robert was a wood forester, living with his mother at Old Toll Bar, Newcastleton.
Born 1886 in Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire. Son of the late Robert Scott and of Agnes (Airey) Scott of Newcastleton.
Missing in Action on 13 April 1918 and named on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

PTE. WILLIAM M. SCOTT BLACK WATCH.
William Scott – age 32 – Private (29509) 1st Garrison Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
William was a colliery labourer at Glencraig, Fife when he married in October 1914. He enlisted in Lochgelly and as Private (S/7076) he joined the 2nd Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in France in October 1915. At some point he was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Scottish Rifles which had been formed in February 1916 and moved to India. William died at Poona in July 1918.
Born 1886 in Castleton as William Milligan. Son of Rachel (Milligan) Scott and step-son of John Scott who married in 1889 in Castleton. Husband of Elizabeth (Roxburgh) Scott who he married in 1914 in Ballingry, Lochore, Fife.
Died on Service on 1 July 1918 and buried in Poona (St. Sepulchre's) Cemetery, India.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 3:54 pm Post subject:

L/CPL. JOSEPH R. STITT ROYAL SCOTS.
Joseph Roderick Stitt – age 30 – Lance Corporal (325491) 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Joseph of Newhouse, Newcastleton was a gamekeeper at Saltoun Hall, Pencaitland, East Lothian when he enlisted in Haddington in January 1915 and he was posted to his battalion in France as Private (1681) in October. He was treated in the 14th General Hospital at Wimereux for diphtheria before being evacuated to hospital in London in September 1917. When he recovered he was posted to the Reserve Battalion in Ireland and in March 1918 he rejoined his battalion in France but he was killed a month later.
Born 1887 in Castleton. Son of William Stitt (died September 1918) of Byreholm, Newcastleton and of Mary (Pearson) Stitt of 1 Henry Street, Newcastleton.
Missing in Action on 12 April 1918 and named on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

PTE. RICHARD TELFORD NEW ZEALANDERS.
Richard Telford – age 41 – Rifleman (23/2140) 1st Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
Richard Telford was a draper at Levin, north of Wellington on the north island of New Zealand when he enlisted December 1915 at Trentham Military Camp. He sailed from Wellington in April arriving in Egypt in May and he then moved to France where he was posted to his unit in August but just over a month later he was killed.
Born 1875 in Castleton. Son the late Mark Telford (died 1893) and of Mary (Murray) Telford of Newcastleton, Husband of Alexina Barbara (Robertson) Telford, of Sandhead House, Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire who he married in December 1909 in Stoneykirk.
Richard and Alexina had lived in Chorlton, Manchester where Alexander Mark was born in 1911, and in Wrexham where Richard Murray was born in 1912. Their youngest son James Moir was born in Stoneykirk in June 1914 and it seems that Richard may have travelled unaccompanied to New Zealand that same month.
Missing in Action on 15 September 1916 and named on the Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, Somme, France.

PTE. FRANK TURNBULL LOTHNS.&BR.HRS.
Frank Turnbull – age 26 – Private (32828) 2nd Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
Frank moved with his family to Satchells, Lilliesleaf in 1911 and enlisted as Private (2029) in the Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry in October 1914. He was transferred to the Royal Scots and went to Salonica in northern Greece in 1916 where he was posted to the KSLI. He died of pneumonia in the 25th Casualty Clearing Station at Doirani.
Born 1891 in Burnmouth, Castleton as Frank. Son of James and Betsy (Turnbull) Turnbull of Satchells, Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire.
Died on Active Service on 30 September 1918 and buried in Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 3:55 pm Post subject:

CPL. JOSEPH WILSON K.O.S.B.
Joseph Wilson – age 26 – Private (14431) 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Joseph was a signalman with the North British Railway Company at St. Boswells, Roxburghshire when he enlisted and he landed at Boulogne with the 7th KOSB in July 1915.
Born 1889 in Crosby-upon-Eden, Carlisle. Son of Thomas and Mary Grace (Coulthard) Wilson of 32 North Hermitage Street, Newcastleton.
Died of Wounds on 8 July 1916 and buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Newtown St. Boswell District War Memorial and on the North British Railway Company memorial in Waverley Station, Edinburgh.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:10 pm Post subject:

1939 – 1945

SGT. JAMES BEATTIE R.A.F.
James Elliot Beattie – age 19 – Sergeant/Air Gunner (1822489) 156 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
James was a member of the Air Training Corps in Newcastleton for two years before he enlisted. His Lancaster bomber had taken off from RAF Warboys in Huntingdonshire for a raid on Berlin but the aircraft came down near Klein Behnitz to the west of Berlin and the members of the crew who were killed were buried there but were re-interred in Berlin in September 1947.
Born 1924 in Newcastleton. Son of William and Annie Jane (Elliot) Beattie of Buccleuch Terrace, Newcastleton.
Killed in Action on 30 January 1944 and buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.

P.O. WILLIAM CHARTERS R.A.F.
William Charters – age 32 – Pilot Officer (184685) 206 Squadron, Coastal Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
William had been a chemist in Hawick before he joined the Metropolitan Police Force. He was commissioned from Warrant Officer (1391630) in July 1944. In December 1944 the squadron were flying Liberator bombers from RAF Leuchars on anti-submarine patrols over the Norwegian Sea.
Born 1912 in Newcastleton. Son of John James Snadden Charters and Helen (Burnet) Charters of Liddle View, Newcastleton.
Missing in Action on 2 December 1944 and named on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

PTE. STEWART DAVIDSON K.O.S.B.
David Stewart McQuillin Davidson – age 19 – Private (3190273) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Stewart was a butcher and had been a member of the Territorial 4th KOSB before the war.
In 1939 a building known as Yates Retreat, in the village of Theydon Bois near Epping in Essex, was requisitioned as accommodation for the 6th KOSB who were engaged on security and other duties in the area. In the early hours of 18 November 1940 a German parachute mine dropped by the Luftwaffe struck the Retreat killing thirty men and injuring many others.
Born 1921 in Castleton. Son of John William Davidson and of Grace (McQuillin) Davidson of 3 Douglas Square, Newcastleton.
Killed by enemy action on 18 November 1940 and buried in Ettleton Old Churchyard, Castleton. (CWG)
Also named on a memorial plaque in St Mary’s church, Theydon Bois, Essex.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:16 pm Post subject:

PTE. ROBERT ELDER K.O.S.B.
Robert Harrow Elder – age 23 – Private (3189202) 4th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert was a forestry worker and a member of the Territorial KOSB. He was mobilised at the outbreak of war and was one of the first men to leave the village. The battalion landed at Ostend in Belgium in October 1944 and fought in the battle of the Scheldt Estuary in Belgium and the Netherlands. Robert was killed near Rempfeld and was buried there but was re-interred in Mook in May 1947.
Born 1921 in Berwick, Northumberland. Son of James and Wilhelmina or Mina (Harrow) Elder of Newcastleton.
Killed in Action on 18 February 1945 and buried in Mook War Cemetery, Netherlands.

PTE. WILLIAM HARKNESS K.O.S.B.
Robert William Harkness – age 26 – Private (3190558) 8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
Robert had worked as a grocer in Newcastleton and at Springfield, Gretna and was a member of the Territorial KOSB. He served for several years in the North of Scotland and died of meningitis in the Military Hospital at Stromness on Orkney.
Born 1917 in Penton, Longtown, Cumberland. Son of the late William and Mary Ann (Fraser) Harkness of 8 Houghton Park, Newcastleton. Husband of Edith Alice (Pocock) Harkness of Walton, Peterborough, Northamptonshire who he married in Cambridge in 1942.
Died on Service on 10 June 1944 and buried in Castleton Churchyard. (CWG)

PTE. JAMES KNOX K.O.S.B.
James Knox – age 21 – Private (3189678) 8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
James was a member of the Territorial KOSB when war broke out. He was on the beach at Dunglass, Oldhamstocks, East Lothian when he was hit by shrapnel from an exploding sea-mine.
Born 1920 in Castleton. Son of James and Jane Knox of Steele Road, Newcastleton.
Died on Service on 10 June 1941 and buried in Castleton Churchyard. (CWG)

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:25 pm Post subject:

PTE. JOHN McNEIL K.O.S.B.
John McNeil – age 24 – Private (3191370) 4th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
John was killed in a road accident in Egypt. Probably he was on his way to join the 2nd KOSB in India.
Born 1918 in Newcastleton. Son of the late Robert McNeil (died 1918) and of Sarah (Docherty) McNeil. Husband of Gloria McNeil of Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.
Died on Service on 8 May 1943 and buried in Suez War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

SGT. WALTER NUGENT R.A.F.
Walter Crone Nugent – age 25 – Sergeant/Air Gunner (613267) 57 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force.
Walter had joined the RAF in 1940. His Wellington bomber had taken off from RAF Feltwell in Norfolk for a raid on Essen but was reportedly shot down by a night fighter.
Born 1917 in Half Morton, Dumfriesshire. Son of William John and Janet (Crone) Nugent of Old Braidlie, Liddesdale and of Newcastleton. Husband of Annie Elizabeth (Turnbull) Nugent of Upper Burnmouth who he married in April 1942 in Castleton.
Missing in Action on 5 June 1942 and named on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

PTE. JAMES PROUDFOOT K.O.S.B.
James Stevenson Proudfoot – age 20 – Private (3189536) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
James was an apprentice joiner in Newcastleton when he joined up. In 1939 a building known as Yates Retreat, in the village of Theydon Bois near Epping in Essex, was requisitioned as accommodation for the 6th KOSB who were engaged on security and other duties in the area. In the early hours of 18 Nov 1940 a German parachute mine dropped by the Luftwaffe struck the Retreat killing thirty men and injuring many others.
Born 1920 in Castleton. Son of James Stevenson Proudfoot and Hannah (Cowan) Proudfoot of 2 Buccleuch Terrace Newcastleton.
Killed by enemy action on 18 November 1940 and buried in Castleton Churchyard. (CWG)
Also named on a memorial plaque in St Mary’s church, Theydon Bois, Essex.

SGT. THOMAS SCOTT R.A.F.
Thomas Scott – age 19 – Sergeant/Flight Engineer (1569472) 9 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Thomas's Lancaster bomber had taken off from RAF Bardney in Lincolnshire to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Kanal near Ladbergen but the aircraft was hit by ground-fire and crashed north of Munster. Those of the crew who were killed were buried at Schmededhausen-Greven but were re-interred in June 1948.
Born 1925 in Castleton. Son of William James Scott and of Frances Isabella Sinclair (Thomson) Scott of Selkirk.
William as a shepherd at Teviothead when he married Frances in 1917 in Canonbie, Dumfriesshire. The family were at Braidleyhope, Castleton in the mid-1920s.
Killed in Action on 1 January 1945 and buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:29 pm Post subject:

Also named on the memorial are:

PTE. JOHN HENRY ROYAL MARINES MALAYA 1951
John Henry – age 20 – Corporal (CH/X 5389) 45 Commando, Royal Marines.
John was a boy porter at Newcastleton Station when he joined the Marines in 1947. He was killed during operations in Malaya when his section were ambushed and pinned down in the Cameron Highlands and John was killed as he went to get ammunition for them. He was buried at Batu Gajah but later exhumed, cremated at Sek Keng Cheng Crematorium, Kuala Lumpur and his ashes were returned to the UK.
Born 4 June 1930 in Castleton. Son of the late James Henry (died 6 December 1950) and of Emma (Wood) Henry of Clarkleap, Newcastleton. Killed in Action on 10 January 1951.
Also named on the Armed Forces Memorial and Roll of Honour.

and

CFN. JAMES COLLINS R.E.M.E. KENYA 1955
James Collins – age 20 – Craftsman (22835009) Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers.

Born 20 October 1934 in Newcastleton.
Date of Death – 27 September 1955.
Also named on the Armed Forces Memorial and Roll of Honour.
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Ken