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Lieutenant The Rev. F. W. Saunders, A&SH

 
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2016 4:01 pm    Post subject: Lieutenant The Rev. F. W. Saunders, A&SH Reply with quote

A bit unusual in that the memorial is mounted on the rear of the family gravestone in Kingarth Cemetery on Bute.
(It may be that this should be posted on the cemetery thread but there isn't one for Kingarth and I felt it was more appropriate here as an individual memorial, however..........)
The photo is from a lady named Irene Morrison (no relation, we just get everywhere!) via Margaret and Graham at Gatehouse Folk.
Saunders was the minister of Anwoth Parish Church in Gatehouse-of-Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire from 1907.





The transcription reads
Sacred to the memory of the Rev. John Saunders MA BD who was ordained to this parish on the 22nd July 1879 and after a long and devoted service finally fell asleep on the 8th Oct. 1926 in the 74th year of his age and the 47th of his ministry.
Also his only son The Rev. Francis William Saunders MA BD Minister of Anwoth and Lieut. A&SH who fell in action in France on the 1st August 1918 in the 37th year of his life and the 13th of his ministry.
Also of Katherine Evans wife of the aforesaid Rev. John Saunders and daughter of the Rev. W. Begg BD Minister of Falkirk who died at Rothesay 2nd May 1943 in the 94th year of her life.

Francis William Saunders – age 37 – Second Lieutenant: 1/8th (The Argyllshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
The Rev. Saunders had been the minister of Anwoth Parish Church since 1907 when he enlisted.
He was educated at Rothesay Academy, Isle of Bute and at Glasgow University where he was awarded an M.A. in 1902 and B.D. in 1905.
Born 1881 in Kingarth Manse, Isle of Bute, where his father was the minister. Son of the Rev. John Saunders and of Katherine Evans (Begg) Saunders.
Husband of Janet Cochrane (Meilkejohn) Saunders who he married in 1908 in Glasgow.
Killed in Action on 1 August 1918 and buried in Oulchy-Le-Chateau Churchyard Extension, Aisne, France.
Also listed on the Anwoth and Girthorn Parishes War Memorial in Gatehouse-of-Fleet, on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church, on the Kingarth Parish War Memorial, Bute, on the Church of Scotland Ministers Memorial in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh and on the Glasgow University Roll of Honour.

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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That looks like a plaque that was attached at a later dead to the headstone. I would guess it was donated by his parents to an institution - e.g. school, club, church, college - connected to Rev Saunders not long after he died; then returned to the family once that institution closed.

He is already commemorated by an inscription on the front of the headstone so why add another one on the back?

Adam
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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think you are correct Adam.

According to Canmore "The present church of Kingarth was built in 1826, apparently on the site of one built in 1680, known as the 'Mid Kirk'...........
According to Mr Gilmour, The Tileries, Kilchattan Bay, the roof of this church was blown off in 1968 and the building was subsequently demolished. There is nothing to be seen on the ground today."

https://canmore.org.uk/site/81886/bute-kingarth-church

So it does look as though this is an "individual" memorial from inside the church.
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is also a plaque to the Rev Saunders in the former Anwoth church, now in private hands. This is not yet recorded on the project as I have not yet been able to obtain access. But from the description of the memorial on UKNIWM, this is a different plaque.

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Kenneth Morrison



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

PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 11:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A photo via Margaret and Graham of Gatehouse Folk.


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Kenneth Morrison



Joined: 29 Sep 2008
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Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 7:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kenneth Morrison wrote:
I think you are correct Adam.

According to Canmore "The present church of Kingarth was built in 1826, apparently on the site of one built in 1680, known as the 'Mid Kirk'...........
According to Mr Gilmour, The Tileries, Kilchattan Bay, the roof of this church was blown off in 1968 and the building was subsequently demolished. There is nothing to be seen on the ground today."

https://canmore.org.uk/site/81886/bute-kingarth-church

So it does look as though this is an "individual" memorial from inside the church.


Some info from Margaret Wright at Gatehouse Folk

What I also noticed on your web site was a question mark about the memorial on the back of the Saunders gravestone in Bute – where had it come from? I have your answer!

Because of this new found memorial, David Steel has been trying to trace relatives of those named – in particular the minister’s family. Believe it or not he managed to trace them and Rev Saunders's great great grandson (Richard Porter) is coming to Gatehouse on the 13th for the service. Turns out Richard had already found gatehouse-folk, liked it, and he has now sent me various news clippings and also some photos including one of of Rev Saunders wedding.
He also said this
Also a photo of a plaque that my great-great grandparents had placed in the kirk at Kingarth on Bute. My great-great grandfather (FWS’s father) was Minister at Kingarth. When the church was badly damaged by lightning, and eventually demolished, the plaque was moved and mounted to the rear of my great great grandparents gravestone (which also has a memorial inscription to my great grandfather and mother) in the Kingarth graveyard. Where it stands today, in surprisingly good condition!
So there is the answer to where the memorial came from.
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