The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

govangirl · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:33 pm Post subject: Beith Memorial - James Kirkland

CWGC Information

Name: KIRKLAND
First names: James Caldwell
Rank: Sapper
Regiment: Royal Engineers
Unit: 52nd. Div. Signal Coy.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 10/09/1916
Service no: 2618
Additional information: Son of John and Elizabeth Kirkland, of 61, King's Rd., Beith, Ayrshire
Grave reference: N, 32
Cemetery: PORT SAID WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 22 September 1916
"BEITH
SAPPER JAMES KIRKLAND, Royal Engineers
(Died of wounds)
It is our melancholy duty this week to record the death, as the result of wounds, of Sapper James Kirkland, Royal Engineers, official intimation having been received to that effect on Monday last. Sapper Kirkland was a son of Mr John Kirkland, currier, King's Road, Beith, and was about 24 years of age. Before being mobilised as a member of the local Territorial Company he was employed in the West of Scotland Furniture Manufacturing Works. He was time-expired, but patriotically re-joined his regiment after a short furlough home. He had a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the district, and much sympathy is expressed to the bereaved parents. We hope to reproduce the deceased soldier's photo next week"
_________________
Mary

govangirl · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 5:54 pm Post subject: Beith Memorial - James Dale

CWGC Information

Name: DALE
Initials: J
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Unit: Hood Bn. R.N. Div.
Date of Death: 21/11/1916
Service no: Clyde Z/5257
Grave reference: C 735
Cemetery: BEITH NEW BURIAL GROUND

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 24 November 1916

_________________
Mary

govangirl · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 6:10 pm Post subject: Beith Memorial - Allan Meikle

CWGC Information

Name: MEIKLE
First name: Allan
Rank: Able Seaman
Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Unit: Howe Bn. R.N. Div
Date of Death: 26/10/1917
Service no: Clyde Z/5550
Memorial reference: Panel 2 to 3 and 162 to 162A
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 24/11/1916
"BEITH
SEAMAN ALLAN MEIKLE, R.N.D.
(Wounded)
Seaman Allan Meikle, R.N.D., has been wounded in France, and is in hospital in London. He was wounded in the same charge as Seaman James Dale, with whom he had served for many months past. He is a son of Mr Thomas Meikle, Grahamfield Place."

Royal Naval Division 1914 -1918 transcription
Born 8//7/1895
Cabinet maker
Next of kin & home address: Parents Thomas and Christina, Winton Place, Beith
Missing assumed killed in action
Enlisted 29/6/15; Draft for MEF 5/12/15, joined Howe Bn 10/1/16-13/11/16 GSW right foot, invalided to UK 21/11/16; Draft for BEF 14/5/17, joined Howe Bn 15/6/17-26/10/17 DD
Date of Death 26/10/1917
_________________
Mary

A Beattie · Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald 24 November 1916

A Beattie

The Glasgow Herald, Tuesday, 18th December, 1917.
"Deaths on Service.
AINSLIE.- Died of wounds, Private Alex. Ainslie, H.L.I., aged 20 years and 5 months, after three years and three months service, beloved youngest son of Tom and Annie Ainslie, Beith, and grandson of the late Walter Turnbull, Kilmarnock."

SDGW - Lived Beith; enlisted Glasgow.
Previous service Nr.: 1/5 H.L.I.. Private 1988.
Theatre of war first served in:- 2b - Balkans. 2nd July, 1915.

Backpay and War Gratuity appears to be equally divided between mother, Annie, and part legatee Annie Stewart (originally noted Fiancee but scored out).

1901 Census Ayrs., Beith, Roebank Road, Gowanba., Wilson's Houses, recorded (transcription):- Alexander Ainslie (3), son, born Beith; Thomas B. Ainslie (28 ), Coachman (domestic), born Lanarks., Glasgow; Annie Ainslie (27), Wife, born Ayrs., Dalry; siblings. (Also an Annie Stewart in Beith at this time - similar age.)

SNWM - WW1
Surname AINSLIE
Forename Alexander
Rank Pte
Service number 200432
Decoration
Place of birth
Date of death 7 December 1917
Theatre of death Egypt
Cause of death Died of wounds.
SNWM roll THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Unit name Unknown Unit attached to THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Other detail 5th Bn. (T.).

CWGC - AINSLIE, A.
Rank: [b]Private.
Service No: 200432.
Date of Death: 07/12/1917.
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 1st/5th Bn.
Grave Reference: XII. C. 7.
Cemetery: GAZA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:[/b]
_________________
Andrew.

A Beattie

The Glasgow Herald, Monday, 14th May, 1917.
"Deaths on Service.
KERR.- Killed in action, on 19th April, Private Andrew S. Kerr, Machine Gun Coy., E.E.F., aged 23, youngest son of the late John Kerr, and Mrs Kerr, grocer, Main Street, Beith."

SNWM - WW1
Surname KERR
Forename Andrew
Rank Pte
Service number 49820
Decoration
Place of birth Beith Ayr
Date of death 19 April 1917
Theatre of death Palestine
Cause of death Killed in action
SNWM roll MACHINE GUN CORPS
Unit name MACHINE GUN CORPS INFANTRY
Other detail formerly 1948 H.L.I.

SDGW - Born and lived Beith; enlisted Glasgow.
Medal index ticket records previous service:- Pte. 1948 H.L.I.
Theatre of War first served in :- Balkans, 2nd. July, 1915.

Soldier's backpay and War Gratuity - bulk paid to his mother Marion but also distributed between brothers Robert, John and William; sisters Christina, Jeanie S. Higgins and Janet A. Ritchie. (Nice to have married surnames.)
1901 Census Ayrshire, Beith, 31, Main Street, recorded (transcription):- Andrew Kerr (8 ), Scholar, son, born Beith; Marion Kerr (46), Grocer Licensed, born Beith; siblings. (1891 Census records father, John Kerr (36), Grocer & Spirit Merchant, born Renfrewshire, Paisley. Family living at 25, Main Street, Beith at this time.)

CWGC - KERR, Andrew Smith
Rank: Private.
Service No: 49820.
Date of Death: 19/04/1917. Age: 24.
Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 157th Coy.
Grave Reference: XXIV. E. 6.
Cemetery: GAZA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of John and Marion Smith Kerr, of 31, Main St., Beith, Ayrshire.
_________________
Andrew.

A Beattie · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 8:06 pm Post subject: Cpl. John Muir, R.E.

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 2:50 pm Post subject:

Name: BELL, MALCOLM
Initials: M
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Service Number: 463235
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry, 29th Bn
Date of Death: 6/11/1917
Age: 24
Additional Information: Son of David and Maggie Bell, of 12 New Street, Beith.
Grave Reference: C 229
Cemetery: Beith New Burial Ground

Wigtownshire Free Press (22/11/1917): Mr and Mrs David Bell, New Street, Beith, have been notified that their seventh son, Private Malcolm Bell, Canadians, who was wounded some weeks ago, has died in King George Hospital, London. Mr and Mrs Bell had already lost two sons in the war. Prior to going out to Canada a few years before war broke out, Private Bell was employed on the office staff of Messrs John Muir & Son, tanners, Beith. He was buried in Beith Cemetery on November 10, the funeral being a military one, and the turnout of the public being the largest ever seen in Beith. Mr and Mrs Bell are both natives of Stoneykirk district and have many friends in and around Stranraer.

swally · Joined: 22 Dec 2014 Posts: 15

Afternoon Guys,

One of the entries is that of Alexander Millen.

I believe it to be this chap -

Alexander Milne – Private 5396 – Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion.
Alexander, born 1887 in Aberdeen, he married Margaret Grant on 23rd June 1905 and had the following children, George (1912), Alexander (1910), James (1908), Catherine (1906), Robert (1914 and John (1916) resided at 5 Grahamfield Place, Beith, Ayrshire. He was employed as a miner prior to enlistment.
Private Milne resided in Stonehouse in 1914 when he enlisted at Larkhall 8th September 1914 with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, he was noted as standing 5’ 4” tall, weighing 145 lbs., having a 37” chest when fully expanded and of Presbyterian faith when he was examined at Hamilton. He was confined to barracks at Bristol, England on the 12th November 1914 for a period of ten days, having been absent from Tattoo and found in bed at Reveille, on 12th January 1915 having overstayed his pass he was confined to barracks for 3 days.
He joined his regiment in Aberdeen and arrived in France 19th September 1915. He was admitted to hospital on the 4th February 1916 having suffered a gun-shot wound. Alexander returned to duty and was killed in action 27th August 1916.
Alexander has no known grave; he is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France, Pier and Face 15a & 16.

Mike Morley · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:59 am Post subject:

Name: CRAWFORD, KENNETH CLARK
Initials: KC
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Bn attd 14th Bn
Date of Death: 2/9/1918
Age: 35
Additional Information: Son of the late John C. Crawford and Mary Isabel Paterson Crawford.
Panel Reference: Panel 6
Memorial: Vis-En-Artois Memorial.

Also named on Paisley Grammar School Memorial.