The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

The main Cemetery in Ayr has a plot given over to the men of the Newfoundland Regiment, known affectionately by the locals as 'The Foondies' who were based here in WWI.
There are several graves in front of the memorial which if a rustic granite celtic cross with wheelhead and the Newfoundlander's crest is in bronze on the face of the cross. The inscription at the base of the pedestal reads:
'SIMPLE SERVICE, SIMPLY GIVEN
TO HIS OWN KIND IN THEIR COMMON NEED'
KIPLING

Cross at entrance to cemetery:

Newfoundlanders Memorial:

Newfoundlanders Plot:

Additional memorial stone:

There is also a granite slab at the front of the plot listing twelve more Newfoundlanders who are buried in other graveyards. The inscription reads:
NEWFOUNDLAND CONTINGENT
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN
MEMORY OF THOSE MEN OF THE
NEWFOUNDLAND CONTINGENT
WHO LIE BURIES ELSEWHERE
IN SCOTLAND

THIS STONE IS DEDICATED BY
THEIR COMRADES IN ARMS
'HAEC TIBI DONA HERO'?

spoons · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject:

UKNIWM 56976

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

An article in The Scotsman of 1 April 1921 records that the bodies of these 14 men were dis-interred from scattered graves throughout the cemetery, and brought together in this plot. The memorial was erected subsequently. It is these re-interments which are recorded on the grave reports on the men's entries on the CWGC website