The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

graeme.ruxton · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 52

Rankinston is the perfect example of an Ayrshire mining village. As such its current population of around 250 is perhaps less than a third what it would have been at the time of World War One. The war memorial is characteristically modest in size and design: a relatively simple obelisk in grey dressed granite, sitting on two square steps and surrounded by a fence in black-painted iron. However its size and simple design are very much in keeping with the local built environment, and the setting in the heart of the village continues to lend dignity to the monument to this day.

The front panel bears the inscription:

Erected to the memory of the men
Of this district who gave their lives
In the great war 1914-1919.

“They gave their bodies to the commonwealth
And received each for his own memory
Praise that will never die,
And with it the noblest sepulchre –
Not that in which their mortal bones are laid,
But a home in the minds of men.”

(This last quote is attributed to the ancient Greek statesman Pericles)
The two side panels list the 26 dead of the first world war by given name and surname (alphabetically by surname):

John Brown
Thomas Ballantyne
David P Clement
James Clement
Thomas Clifford
William Cook
Robert Graham
Charles Halbert
John Halbert
Robert Hamilton
William Laughland
Alexander Linden
Gilbert McMillan
Archibald Mair
David Millar
Alexander Poole
Samuel Poole
Robert Rodger
Donald Sloan
Robert Sloan
Thomas Sloan
William Sloan
Alexander Taylor
Samuel Wallace
James Walsh
Matthew Watters

Notable here are 3 sets of two brothers and the terrible loss of four brothers from the Sloan family. The unveiling (on 7th August 1921) was performed by their father, John Sloan. The local minister, Rev. J.E. Thomson, presided.

The back panel of the memorial has the following inscription

To the memory of the men
Of this district who gave
Their lives in the war
1939-1945

This is followed by the names given by initial and surname (not alphabetically this time):

J Speirs
W Speirs
W McMillan
W Whiteside
J Murray
G Wallace
R Wilson
J Halbert
J Dunn
W Sloan

The considerable overlap in names between the two wars perhaps the traditional nature of such mining communities with generations of one family staying in one place.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:07 pm Post subject:

I like Graeme's introduction/description regarding this thread - very good.

spoons · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject:

There is a Rankinston Panel on the Coylton memorial which has the same names as this memorial with the following exceptions:

Coylton memorial has Ballantyne spelt as Ballantine

The two Halberts are listed on the Coylton district panel instead

Gilbert McMillan, Archibald Mair and David Millar are not listed

Rodger is spelt Rodgers

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

Not listed on UKNIWM

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:20 pm Post subject: Rankinston memorial

Rankinston is/was my home village. I was born there.

John S. Brown
Private
52382
2nd/10th Bn. Territorial., Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) (Cyclist Battalion)
Killed in Action on Sunday the 13th of October 1918.

Thomas Lyall Ballantyne
Private
40025 (Previously 6958)
6th/7th Bn., Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died of wounds on Sunday the 3rd of December 1916, aged 19.

David Purdie Clement
Private
1579
14th Bn., Australian Infantry, A.I.F
Who died on Wednesday, 19th May 1915. Age 22.

Thomas Clifford
Private
34893
6th/7th Bn., Royal Scots Fusiliers
Killed in Action on Friday, 19th January 1917. Age 42.
_________________
Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:38 pm Post subject: Rankinston memorial

This was the very first memorial I researched.

Charles Halbert
Private 2230
Ayrshire Yeomanry
Killed in Action on Thursday, 23rd December, 1915, Gallipoli, Age 21.

John Halbert
Private 43898.
165th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (INF)
The 55th (West Lancashire) Division
Formerly 8279 Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Killed in Action on Saturday, 22nd September 1917, France and Flanders. Age 29.

Robert Stanley Hamilton is the full name. In the CWGC website and the SDGW as Robert "Shanley".
Common spelling mistake. i found a reference to his service number in the memorial list of the Ayrshire Post in 1921. She had put a small remembrance in every year after his death. Only in 1921 she listed his serial number. It took me nearly 3 years of of searching for proof. and finally when Ancestry took over the custody of the MIC Cards they digitized both sides.
His MIC states name as "Robert Stanley Hamilton" with an address on the back of the card for his mother, Mrs McCartney 211 Rankinston......with regards to correspondence in respect of a claim for Robert's 1914 Star.
Robert Stanley Hamilton
Rank: Private
Service No:1223
Date of Death: 25/02/1915
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders 2nd Bn
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Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:40 pm Post subject: Rankinston

JAMES CLEMENT
Private
4005
9th (Glasgow Hdrs.) Bn., Highland Light Infantry
Killed in Action on Saturday, 15th July 1916. Age 22.

William Cook
Sergeant 6969
1st/5th (TF) Battalion. Royal Scots Fusiliers
Killed in Action on, Monday, 12th July 1915. Gallipoli. Age 22.

ROBERT CORRIE GRAHAM
Private 240243
1st/5th (TF) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 1st October 1918, France and Flanders, Age 23.
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Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:42 pm Post subject: Rankinston memorial

WILLIAM LAUGHLAND
Lance Sergeant 6975
1st/ 5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Killed in Action on Monday, 12th July, Gallipoli, 1915.

ALEXANDER JAMES LINDEN
Private 7892
1st/5th (TF) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Who Died of Wounds on Friday, 14th January 1916, Malta, Age 29.

Archibald Mair
Private S/13411
6th (Service) Battalion. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
Killed in Action on, Sunday 26th September 1915, France and Flanders. Age 26

GILBERT McMILLAN
Private 43949
11th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.)
Formerly 3083 Ayrshire Yeomanry
Formerly 43178 L & B Horse
Killed in Action on Monday, 25th March, 1918, France and Flanders, Age 21.
_________________
Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:44 pm Post subject: Rankinston memorial

ALEXANDER POOLE
Private 7321
1st/5th (TF) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 22nd September 1915, Gallipoli, Age 22.

SAMUEL POOLE
Private 116497
72nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regt.)
Who died on Wednesday, 21st November 1917. Age 40.
Wounded on the 30th October 1917.

ROBERT RODGER
Lance Corporal 240179
1st/5th (TF) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Killed in Action on Monday, 26th August 1918, France and Flanders, Age 29.
Additional Information
Son of Mrs. Jane McBride Rodger, of Lea-Rig Cottage, Rankinston, Ayr; husband of Mary Sloan (formerly Rodger).
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Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:46 pm Post subject: Rankinston memorial

The four Sloan Brothers who died. Five brothers and one son in law enlisted.

DONALD SLOAN
Private S/9311
8th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
Killed in Action on Monday, 1st January 1917, France and Flanders.
Additional Information
Son of Mr & Mrs John Sloan, Rankinston.

ROBERT THOMAS SLOAN
Private 20372
10th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.)
Who died on Thursday, 22nd April 1915.
Additional Information
Son of Mr & Mrs John Sloan, Rankinston.

THOMAS SLOAN
Private 13536
1st Battalion, Scots Guards
Killed in Action on Friday, 15th September 1916, France and Flanders.
Additional Information
Son of Mr & Mrs John Sloan, Rankinston.

WILLIAM SLOAN
Sapper 503460
2nd Tunnelling Coy, Canadian Engineers
Who died on Wednesday, 28th June, France and Flanders, 1916.
Additional Information
Son of Mr & Mrs John Sloan, Rankinston.
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Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:48 pm Post subject: Rankinston memorial

ALEXANDER WILLIAM TAYLOR
Private 6972
1/5th (TF) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Who Died of Wounds on Tuesday, 22nd June 1915, Gallipoli, Age 20.
Additional Information
Son of Thomas and Jane Taylor, of Sunnyside Cottage, Stair, Tarboltan, Ayrshire. Born at Kilwinning, Ayrshire.

SAMUEL WALLACE
Private 41638
10th/11th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Formerly 8354 Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Who Died of Wounds on Friday, 13th April, 1917, France and Flanders, Age 31.

JAMES WALSH
Private 7332
1st/5th Battalion (TF), Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Who Died of Wounds on Thursday, 30th December, 1915, Gallipoli.

MATTHEW WATTERS
Corporal 7310
"A" Coy. 1st/5th (TF) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Killed in Action on Monday, 12th July 1915, Gallipoli, Age 21.
Additional Information
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Watters. Of 33, Cairntable, Patna, Ayrshire.
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Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

James Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:51 pm Post subject: Rankinston memorial

Anyone wants any further information regarding my research of the men on the memorial I can be contacted through the email address in my profile. I have photographs of some of the men and all the Medal Index Cards. Maps of the battle's or trenches. Photos of the gravestones and foreign memorials.

Regards
James Brown
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Researching WWI Memorials in Ayrshire

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 80664