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Galashiels
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gmac101 : Well done.
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gmac101



Joined: 31 May 2016
Posts: 2
Location: London

PostPosted: Sat Sep 23, 2017 2:24 pm    Post subject: The King and I and the Galashiels War Memorial Reply with quote

Anybody researching a casualty on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission(CWGC) website knows that anything in the “additional information” column is always greatly appreciated but few have something as intriguing as: “Son of Admiral John Bush, of Bangkok, Siam; husband of Jean I. Bush, of 21, Lauderdale St., Edinburgh.”
The Galashiels War Memorial only lists only one member of the RAF; Captain V.G.A. Bush. There is only one man of that name listed on the CWGC site, not in the RAF but in the RFC as he died in early 1918 before the RAF was formed. And according to the CWGC additional information his father was Admiral John Bush of Bangkok, a rather improbable sounding character. But John Bush did exist; an English merchant seaman who arrived in Bangkok in 1857 with his wife and was encouraged by the British Consul to apply for the position of Bangkok Harbour Master. He served in this role until the late 1800’s when one of his sons took over. He also ran the Bangkok Dry Docks and Captained the King of Thailand’s ship when he made longer voyages. He had 4 children with his wife from England but his first wife Elizabeth (nee Lawson )died in 1866. John Bush then married Mae Plian and in the early 1890’s had two further children Victor and Victoria. John Bush died in the early 1900’s and sometime shortly after Victor came to the UK, presumably to study and the 1911 census finds him at a boarding school in Edinburgh.
Victor studied at George Watsons College in Edinburgh where he won prizes for drawing and played rugby in the 2nd fifteen he finished in 1911 and started a university course. However his studies were interrupted by the announcement of war and on the 29th of August 1914 he enlisted in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Scots but along with other OTC Cadets was quickly commissioned and joined the 10th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry in November 1914 as a 2nd Lieutenant . He arrived in France on the 8th of August 1915. He presumably fought with the HLI at Loos on the 25th of September 1915 where they suffered considerable losses. Perhaps as a result of this he applied and was accepted into the RFC qualifying as an observer in early 1916 and as a pilot by August. By the 10th of August he was back in France serving with 1st Squadron, flying Morane Parasol’s and later Nieuport Scouts. He got some home leave in December and married Jean McLeod, he gave her family address when he joined up so he must have known her for some time. They married in St Davids Church, Viewforth in Edinburgh on the 16th of December. His sister Victoria, now in the UK, was one of the witnesses. On his return to France he was involved in bringing down at least one enemy plane a Roland C on the 4th of March 1917. Shortly afterwards he returned to the UK to serve as a flying instructor
He served at a number of flying schools and the 26th Reserve Squadron before he was posted in late.. August 1917 to the No.1 School of Aerial Fighting at Turnberry near Ayr. During this period he was Gazetted a Captain. It appears he lived in Ayr at 5a Miller Street with his wife. He died from head injuries he received in a crash on the 8th of February. One of the wings of the Sopwith Camel he was flying failed and as a result he was unable to control the aircraft and it crashed on the outskirts of Ayr at a place called Kincaidston farm (now a housing estate). He was buried in Edinburgh in Merchiston Cemetry. As well as the Galashiels War Memorial he is remembered on the memorial at Gorgie in Edinburgh and on the memorial in St Michaels Church in Edinburgh.
Why is he remembered in Galashiels? – None of the official records finds him in Galashiels but an article in the “Southern Reporter” in September 1917 recording his promotion to Captain notes that he was “formerly of Galashiels”. In addition according to the 1911 census his wife’s younger brother was born in Galashiels. So he and his wife had some connection to the town and thus a place on the War Memorial.
Captain V G A Bush is an interesting person, possibly the only British Officer with Thai Origins? Does anybody know of any others
His sister went on to serve in the WRAF and married an American serviceman in Montrose in July 1918 and evidently emigrated to the United States. The last record I have found of his wife is from 1920 when she was living in Pewsey Wiltshire when she applied for her late husband’s medals
But what of the connection to the King and I?
When Anna Leonowens, the “I” in the “King and I” first arrived in Bangkok she was met by John Bush, then known as a Captain and stayed at his house until the King arranged accommodation for her.
Thanks to Neill Gilhooley on the 1914-18 forum for some very helpful links to information about Captain Bush
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Mike Morley



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8667
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire

PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 4:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: CLEGHORN, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Service Number: 7118
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots, 8th Bn
Date of Death: 27/11/1914
Age: 41
Additional Information: Son of William Cleghorn, late of Galashiels; husband of Marion Cleghorn, of 42, Munroe's Buildings, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire.
Grave Reference: III B 45
Cemetery: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery

Also named on Peebles and Innerleithen War Memorials.
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Mike Morley



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8667
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire

PostPosted: Sun Dec 30, 2018 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: FAIRBAIRN, PETER
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 13575
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots, 16th Bn
Date of Death: 16/7/1917
Age: 40
Additional Information: Son of John and Margaret Fairbairn, of Galashiels; husband of Margaret McLaren Fairbairn, of 212, Halliburton Place, Galashiels, Selkirkshire.
Grave Reference: I B 10
Cemetery: Tincourt New British Cemetery

Also named on Peebles and Manor War Memorials.
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Mike Morley



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8667
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire

PostPosted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: MORRISON, G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 12055
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers, 6th Bn
Date of Death: 25/9/1915
Grave Reference: VI K 14
Cemetery: Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos

Also named on Peebles and Walkerburn War Memorials, and the North British Railway Memorial, Edinburgh.
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Mike Morley



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8667
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire

PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: SMAIL, ADAM
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 6762
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1st/4th Bn
Date of Death: 12/7/1915
Panel Reference: Panel 85 to 93 or 220 to 222
Memorial: Helles Memorial

Also named on Peebles War Memorial
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Kenneth Morrison



Joined: 29 Sep 2008
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Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Named on the Cavers and Kirkton Parishes War Memorial in Roxburghshire as:

FRANK McTAVISH, 4th K.O.S.B.
Frank McTavish – age 29 – Private (6802) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
In 1901 Frank, aged 15, was a woodman at Cavers and was a forester when he enlisted in Galashiels in September 1914. He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915 but was killed a month later during the battle at Achi Baba Nullah.
Born 1886 in Fogo, Berwickshire as Francis. Son of John and Margaret (Lillie) McTavish of Manse Cottage, Cavers.
Missing in Action on 12 July 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
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Mike Morley



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8667
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: THORBURN, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 7519
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots, 1st/8th Bn
Date of Death: 22/5/1916
Age: 27
Additional Information: Son of William and Betsy Thorburn. Native of Galashiels, Selkirk.
Grave Reference: I E 5
Cemetery: Maroeuil British Cemetery

Also named on Walkerburn and Peebles War Memorials.
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Mike Morley



Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Posts: 8667
Location: Roberton, Lanarkshire

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: CURRIE, FAY T
Initials: FT
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Aircraftwoman 2nd Class
Service Number: 2043380
Regiment/Service: Women's Auxilliary Air Force
Date of Death: 26/5/1944
Age: 23
Additional Information: Daughter of Thomas and Ann Currie, of Galashiels.
Grave Reference:
Cemetery: Sec O.5 Grave 23
Cemetery: Galashiels (Eastlands) Cemetery

Also named on Peebles War Memorial
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PTE. JAMES DOHERTY. [KOSB PANEL]

Named on the Morebattle Parish War Memorial in Roxburghshire as:

Pte. J. DOCHERTY, K.O.S.B.
Note: most records spell the name as Doherty.
James Doherty – age 19 – Private (7217) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
James was a ploughman at Primside farm in Morebattle when he enlisted in Kelso and he landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915 but was killed a month later during the battle at Achi Baba Nullah.
Born 1895 at Newstead, Melrose, Roxburghshire.
Son of William and Margaret (McGlein) Doherty of Mossilee Farm, Caddonfoot, Galashiels.
Missing in Action on 12 July 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallpoli, Turkey.
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ROMANIS:

Three boys with the very unusual Romanis surname on the Galashiels Memorial:

George Romanis born St. Bothwells, Roxburgh.
No. 8185 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys)

Robert H. Romanis, born St. Boswells, Roxburghshire.
No. 55390, 18th H.L.I.

Thomas Romanis born and lived Galashiels, Selkirkshire.
No.6807, 1/4th K.O.S.B.

I suspect the first 2 are brothers.
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 4:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Derek - George Halliday Romanis born 1896 and Robert Halliday Romanis born 1899 both in St Boswell.
Sons of James Romanis (railway signalman) and Margaret Halliday.

Thomas's service record exists and gives his parents as Archibald Romanis and Jane (Henderson) of Stirling Street, Galashiels.
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Ken.
Only 3 Romanis' on the CWGC register so it is a very select surname. I suspect they were all related being from such a small geographical area.
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Keptie



Joined: 24 Feb 2009
Posts: 937
Location: near Arbroath Angus

PostPosted: Tue May 28, 2019 9:36 pm    Post subject: gala war memorial Reply with quote

During April 2019 the Trustees of the Scottish National War Memorial accepted
SCOTS GUARDS guardsman 6657 DAVID BAIN MacLENNAN, killed in action on 14th September 1914 in France & Flanders when serving on recall with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards .

Lt Colonel Roger J. Binks , Secretary to the Trustees informed me that they had accepted the casualty of the Great War of 1914-1918 . Note also on the SNWM index is originally MacLeman , Born : Avoch Ross shire.

Pte D B McLennan is listed on the Gala war memorial with the McLennan spelling .

Listed on the CWGC index as

Pte 6657 David Bain MacLENNAN, 1st Bn Scots Guards aged 27 years and death 14th September 1914

Memorial La Ferte - sous- Jouarre Memorial

son of Alexander & Catherine MacLennan, of Rosehaugh, Avoch, Ross shire . Husband of Elizabeth Sim Miller of Bolside, Fishing Lodge , Galashiels


(Patrick W Anderson )
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed May 29, 2019 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well done Pat.
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