The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject: Springholm WW2

UKNIWM 44452

Location in Springholm village hall at OS Map Ref: NX 805 700

Names:
STOKER G K HAINING RN
GUNNER J A GLASS RN
PRIVATE T KENNEDY KOSB
PRIVATE J KERR KOSB

Name: HAINING, GORDON KERR
Initials: G K
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Stoker 2nd Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Drake
Age: 27
Date of Death: 04/11/1940
Service No: D/KX 108945
Additional information: Son of Peter and Blanch Kerr Haining, of Castle Douglas.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: URR CHURCHYARD

The most likely candidate is this man but why RN instead of RA and what is his connection to the area?
Name: GLASS, JOHN ALEXANDER
Initials: J A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Age: 27
Date of Death: 27/03/1941
Service No: 1568180
Additional information: Son of John and Jane G. Glass, of Edinburgh; husband of Margaret M. Glass, of Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave N. 791.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (COMELY BANK) CEMETERY

Name: KENNEDY, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Date of Death: 30/12/1940
Service No: 3188733
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. 36. Grave 25.
Cemetery: DUMFRIES (ST. MICHAEL'S) CEMETERY

Name: KERR, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 11/06/1944
Service No: 3196119
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 1. C. 1A and 1- 26.
Cemetery: KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY

And Thomas Kennedy’s gravestone in Dumfries

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject:

Spoons

The Maritime Royal Artillery was formed during the war where RA gunners served on Merchant ships. Perhaps Gunner Glass served in this regiment and everyone back home classed him as a sailor?

The Lairg memorial has a man listed as Fleet Air Arm but in fact he was an RAF sergeant serving on an aircraft carrier. And I'm sure there was a memorial you posted earlier this year where a soldier was listed as RN because he died at sea.

Alternatively he may have been discharged and is not listed on the CWGC database. You will not find Pte R.A. Goldie Seaforths (listed on the Loth War memorial) on any database. He died in 1940 in hospital in Golspie and was not recorded as serving in any of the armed forces on his death certificate.

Regards

Adam

spoons · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:27 am Post subject:

Interesting, thanks - it all makes sense when it is explained.

\Paul