The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

apanderson

Situated on the A883, Main Street, Denny.

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 11:53 am Post subject:

That's handy for researchers that the full date is listed even if no ranks or units are. That's common on church memorials to just have the names though.

Here's the parishioner with the unknown date of death

Name: SCALLY, CHRISTOPHER
Initials: C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Rifles
Unit Text: "D" Coy. 2nd Bn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 24/03/1918
Service No: 10506
Additional information: Husband of Jane Scally, of 87, Stirling Street, Denny, Stirlingshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. O. 26.
Cemetery: SAVY BRITISH CEMETERY

Does anyone know what the Latin inscription says?

Adam

apanderson · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject:

According to an online Latin - English translation it means something about eager death and feeling sorrowful.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject:

Could you put the transcription on please. It is holy and ?

Thanks,
Mark

apanderson · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:

I don't know exactly what it is.

The site I tried - InterTran (www.tranexp.com) just gave a 'rough' translation of the each of the words although I keyed it in as a phrase.

The other translation sites seem to cost . . . . and I'm not that keen to find out!

Maybe we'll find out if it turns up on any other memorials.

Anne

dhubthaigh · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 8:03 pm Post subject:

Anne,

I meant the bit at the top, in English

IT IS HOLY AND ?
THOUGHT TO PRAY FOR THE DEAD

There also seems to be a name? between the above and
PRAY FOR THE SOULS

Thanks,
Mark

apanderson · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject:

Oh, Sorry Mark!

It says "It is a Holy and Wholesome thought to pray for the dead"

And the circle has an intertwined S & A, presumably for St. Alexander's.

Here was me thinking you knew some latin! Amo, amas, amat and all that jazz!

Anne

dhubthaigh · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 9:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Anne.

Latin - me!. My grandfather, Martin Duffy, was probably the the last of the direct line who knew any of that.

cheers,
Mark

john burnett · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 790 Location: Fife

The English words at the top come from the Book of Maccabees
"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins" (2 Mach. 12 :46).

The latin at the bottom - Suis aerumnae est avida mors ex luctui!
I got this reply from the church
John I have a translation for you for the latin inscription on our war memorial. Our latin scholars inform us it is either a citation from a classical or early christian writer, or more probably a line learnedly composed for the memorial. the translation they have given me reads
"Greedy death is a source of affliction and grief for a persons kin."
Hope this is helpful, keep on with the excellent work you are doing,
Jean Connelly Parish Secretary St. Alexanders Denny.

Of course when she says the excellent work you are doing she means the excellent work all the rest of you are doing!
So your work is appreciated.
John