The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

anne park

George Graham Pte S/11255 1st Gordon Highlanders b Garleston, Ayr e Aberdeen Killed in Action F & F 18/08/1916 Soldiers Effects: Mother: Martha. Soldiers Will 4 Pages. Thiepval Memorial M. R. 21 Pier 15B & 15C AJ 21-09-16 P3: Kilmarnock
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 7:13 am Post subject: Angus MacKinnon GH

Angus MacKinnon Pte 291507 1st Gordon Highlanders b Fort William, Inverness. e Kilmarnock Age 27 Died of Wounds F & F 27/10/1917 Son of Mary MacKinnon, of Inverlochy, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, and the late Charles MacKinnon. Soldiers Effects: Fa: Charles. Bro: John. Ecoust Military Cemetery, Ecoust-St Mein Fr 0690 Plot II Row A Grave 02 The Scotsman 29-11-17 P8: Dow: Kilmarnock
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 9:51 am Post subject: John Gass GH

John Gass L/Cpl S/2101 6/7th Gordon Highlanders b Kilmarnock, Ayrshire e Glasgow Age 26 Died of Wounds F&F 21/10/1918 Son of Isabella Gass Robertson, of 11, Low Glencairn St., Kilmarnock, and the late Donald Robertson. Born at Beansburn, Kilmarnock. Soldiers Effects: Mo: Isabella Gass Robertson. Bro: Donald Robertson. Sis Ann Robertson. Mary Robertson. St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Fr 0146 Block S Plot II Row R Grave 01 AJ 16-11-18 P6: Kilmarnock
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

killie97 · Joined: 28 Oct 2014 Posts: 2

Hi, I am looking for some advice. My great uncle, Lieutenant William Wylie Swift of the Royal Scots Fusiliers was killed at Sangro River in 20/12/1943. He is buried in the Sangro River War Cemetry. He & his brother Alexander (my late grandfather) were both from Kilmarnock.
My grandfather told my dad years ago that when they put "Willie's" name on the Kilmarnock War Mermorial they put it on as Smith W.W. rather than Swift W.W. It is quite common when we tell somebody our name that they mistake it for Smith. In the pictures of the Kilmarnock memorial you can plainly see Smith W.W. RSF rather than Swift. I have searched casualty records and I can see no mention of a WW Smith from Kilmarnock who was killed in WW2.

Now my grandfather reported this to somebody years ago but as time passes & he also passed away it was forgot about. Does anybody know who I can officially contact to get this checked out and if possible to get great Uncle Williams name to take it's correct place on the memorial.
Records below are from the Commenwealth War Graves Commision site.
Joseph & Mary were my great grandfather & great grandmother both from Kilmarnock.

Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 271322
Date of Death: 20/12/1943
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers
Grave Reference: V. A. 45.
Cemetery: SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Mary Swift; husband of Alvera Jeanette Swift, of Clapton, London.

Entry Smith WW RSF can be seen on the plaque below. If I am correct it should be Swift WW.

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab44/jrah60/Kilmarnock%20Civic%20War%20Memorial/DSCF2124.jpg

Thanks

Alex

David McNay · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:31 pm Post subject:

Hi Alex,

i expect the local council would be responsible for any repairs (and therefore any amendments) to the memorial. Its's just a matter of getting in touch with the right department.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 9:10 am Post subject:

The man named on the memorial could be:

SMITH, WILLIAM WATSON
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 3132783
Date of Death: 18/01/1945
Age: 27
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers 4/5th Bn.
Grave Reference: H. 15.
Cemetery: SITTARD WAR CEMETERY [Netherlands]
Additional Information:
Son of William Murdoch Smith and Jessie Smith, of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 9:40 am Post subject:

Looking at William W Swift's records I see that he was a serving soldier with the 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers in India when war was declared.
He married Elivira Jeanette D'Costa of Frere Road, Karachi on 10 September 1939 in St. Patrick's RC Church in Karachi when he was based in the Napier Barracks. (The marriage is recorded on the Service Returns at Scotlandspeople)
CWGC records her as Alvera Jeanette Swift, of Clapton, London.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the RSF on 23 April 1943.
(London Gazette 11/6/1943 p,2725)

It is possible that he was considered to be too far removed from Kilmarnock to be included on the memorial, but that can only be conjecture.
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Ken

killie97 · Joined: 28 Oct 2014 Posts: 2

Thanks for that information Kenneth. I know my great uncle was living in Kilmarnock when he originally joined the army & that he married Alvera in Karachi. I had tried to find info about WW Smith & couldn't find any. You may have cleared this up. My grandfather assumed that his brothers name would be on the Kilmarnock memorial. Looks like the memorial in Kilmarnock may be correct after all & William may be included in another memorial in London. My father said that William had 2 sons & both went to Sandhurst but they lost contact many years ago.
I think the confusion came about as it was quite a coincidence that there was a WW Smith & WW Swift both from Kilmarnock originally & both in the RSF.

My grandfather Alex, Williams brother was a Salvation Army member & a postman when the war started. He was also posted to India during the war & spent his time on torpedo boats delivering mail up & down the coast.

Many thanks

Alex

anne park · Last edited by anne park on Sat May 06, 2017 7:58 am; edited 1 time in total

John Charles Guthrie Lance Corporal S/11643 9th Bn. Gordon Highlanders b Kilmarnock Age 21 Died Pas de Calais, France 02/12/1918 Son of John and Martha Guthrie, of 21, Rennie St., Kilmarnock. Native of Kilmarnock. Short Service: 29 pages. Soldiers Effects: Fa John. Service Returns: 118/AF 495 Age 22. Etaples Military Cemetery Fr 0040 Plot LI Row F Grave 17
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 4:23 pm Post subject:

WILSON, EBENEZER. AYR. YEO.

There is only one man of this name listed on the SNWM so I think this is him:

Named on the Lockerbie War Memorial in Dumfriesshire as:
TPR. EBENEZER WILSON, CAVALRY.
Ebenezer Wilson – age – Private (2222) 1/1st Lanarkshire Yeomanry.
Although born in Lockerbie Ebenezer was brought up in Glasgow where his father worked as a Telegraph Linesman and Foreman. He was a joiner when he enlisted and he landed with his unit at Gallipoli in October 1915. He was killed as the Expeditionary Force was in the process of evacuating the peninsula at Cape Helles.
Born 1885 in Lockerbie, Dryfesdale as Ebenezer Chesney Wilson.
Son of Andrew and Margaret (Bell) of 3 Renfrew Street, Glasgow and of Park Place, Lockerbie. Husband of Margaret Stewart (Orr) Wilson who he married in 1913 in Darvel, Ayrshire.
His daughter Mary Stewart Orr Wilson was born in 1914 in Kilmarnock.
Killed in Action on 27 December 1915 and buried in Redoubt Cemetery, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Also named on the St. Cuthbert's United Free Church memorial in Lockerbie.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 3:25 pm Post subject:

PATERSON JOSEPH M. SEAFORTHS.
PATERSON W. HLI.

Two brothers, the sons of the late James Cowan Paterson and of the late Mary (Moffat) Paterson, formerly of 59 Millburn Street, Kirkcudbright.

Joseph Paterson – age 17 – Private (S/11018) 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
Joseph was living with other members of the family at 3 Loanhead Street. Kilmarnock when he enlisted there in September 1916 and was posted to the 1st Seaforths in Mesopotamia.
Born 1898 in Kirkcudbright. Brother of Robert Paterson of 29 Townend, Kirkcudbright and brother of George Moffat Paterson of 3 Loanhead Street, Kilmarnock..
Missing in Action on 22 April 1916 and named on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

William Moffat Paterson – age 29 – Corporal (2021) 1/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
William had served his apprenticeship as a watchmaker in Kirkcudbright. Prior to the war he was employed in the Candleriggs in Glasgow. He enlisted in August 1914 and landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in July 1915. He served at Cape Helles, Achi Baba and on operations covering the evacuation at Sulva Bay during which he was killed.
Born 1886 in Kirkcudbright. Brother of George Moffat Paterson of 3 Loanhead Street, Kilmarnock.
Missing in Action on 19 December 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli,Turkey.

The brothers are also named on the Kirkcudbright War Memorial, on the St. Cuthbert's Church memorial in Kirkcudbright and on the Kirkcubright United Free Church memorial - together with a third brother

John Paterson – age 37 – Lance Corporal (41069) 6th/7th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
John enlisted in the Ayrshire Yeomanry in December 1915. He was posted to the 1st RSF in France and served at the Somme, at the Ancre and at Arras, where he was wounded.
Born 1882 in Kirkcudbright. Husband of Elizabeth (Russell) Paterson of 2 Alexandra Terrace, Troon, Ayrshire who he married in 1902 in Lockerbie, Dryfesdale, Dumfriesshire.
Killed in Action on 12 March 1918 and buried in Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Mory, France.
John is also named on the Troon War memorial.
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Ken

anne park · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:59 am Post subject: David Richmond RFA

David Richmond Gnr 175407 150th Royal Field Artillery A Bty e Aberdeen r Inverness Age 24 Died of Wounds F & F 06/04/1918 Husband of Mrs Richmond, 136 King St; Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Former Captain of Galston Football Club. Soldiers Effects: Wid: Martha. Service Returns: 134/AF 97. St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Fr 0146 Block P Plot IX Row F Grave 11A The Scotsman 10-05-18 P6 Daily Record 29-04-18 P4: Kilmarnock
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

pwl1951 · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:23 pm Post subject: Joseph Ferguson

Pte Joseph Ferguson, 34853, 6th/7th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers died 21 March 1918. Killed in action.
Commemorated at Arras Memorial, Bay 5, Course C, Stone No. 9
Previous service as 8107, 1st V,B, RSF (4 years).
Attested at Kilmarnock 9 October 1914. Living at 2 Fowlds Street, Kilmarnock.
Campaigns: Home 9/10/14 - 19/12/16
BEF 20/12/16 - 21/3/18

Joseph was born in 1886 at Dumfries but lived in Kilmarnock from at least 1891.

Joseph married Janet McCartney Gilmour at Haining Cottage, Riccarton on 19 November 1909. Joseph left 5 children.