The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:23 pm Post subject: Cochran and Company Annan

This is a company memorial. Cochrans manufacture boilers. The memorial is located just inside the entrance to the factory office. The names inside the inner box are the fallen and the remainder served and returned.

UKNIWM Ref: 44215

Location is Newbie, just outside Annan. OS Map Ref: NY 183 652

spoons · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject:

I had a stroke of luck and made contact with a local historian called Jim Hawkins. He kindly provided the scans below from Cochran Roll of Honour naming the 1914-1918 dead. This was was printed in the company's magazine Forum Volume 1 in June 1919.

Jim tells a story that Pte A Smith RE was reported killed, appeared on the Roll of Honour and in the magazine but actually turned up alive after the war and lived on until at least the 1950s. It is a little confused because his name is given as Alex on the Roll of Honour but Andrew in the magazine - further complicated by the existance of another Pte Andy Smith (KOSB) on the Roll of Honour who survived.

I have researched local war memorials, SNWM and CWGC and there was no A Smith RE with either a connection to Annan area or 60th Div Sig CO who died, so this supports the claim that he survived.

Details are sketchy but Jim relates.........

"I knew an Andy Smith at Cochran & Co in the 1950s. The story which I was told was that Andy was wounded and captured in the Balkans and was posted missing. When he eventually arrived home he was aleady listed as dead when the Cochran list was printed.
Andy's grandaugher who lives in Eastriggs only knows that he had been wounded fighting the Turks but has little further information. I do not know if Andrew Smith is the Andy who returned to work at Cochran & Co and died in 1973."

Certainly makes for an interesting tale and a possible topic for a future researcher.

Meanwhile, here are the excellent pics of those who died (including the one who came back).

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:47 pm Post subject:

Well done to Cochrans - all I can say is that is a superb tribute.

DerekR · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:10 am Post subject:

Yes, excellent.
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Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject:

A very nice tribute and thanks to Spoons for digging around for extra information. One thing doesn't seem to make sense though.

The text at the start of the magazine's tribute says "..we write but their names, and, equal in death, make no distinction of length of service or rank." Except for the only officer who is given the prime position and a larger photograph!

It is by unit order of precendence on the roll of honour so no distinction there.

Regards

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject: