The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Last edited by spoons on Tue Sep 07, 2010 7:07 pm; edited 4 times in total

Not listed on UKNIWM

Location is in the Carpet Bowling Club on Cotton Street, Castle Douglas OS Map Ref NX 762 622.

Another bit of digging around in a most unlikely building turns up an amazing memorial. This is a superb watercolour Roll of Honour but unfortunately no detail of the artist. This is the original location although the building has had a more recent extension stuck on the front. The carpet bowling club was very popular in years past, much less so now. When I visited the club was having a new floor laid and so was in a bit of a mess.

I will just post some pics of the excellent artwork today and try and sort out readable names over the next day or two.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject:

Spoons,

This is a gem. How did you get onto that one ?

spoons · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject:

I have decided to visit every local public or club premises and ask. This will be a long and difficult job but I have already come up with 2 out of 4, nothing in the golf or bowling clubs but carpet bowling yes and community centre yes. My next tries will be football and rugby clubs, local hospital, post office, police station, fire station and air cadets hut - oh, and British Legion of course. Anywhere with its own premises is worth a try. I won't be able to do this for the whole of Dumfries and Galloway of course but I should be able to cover my own patch.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:44 pm Post subject:

Paul

That is definitley the way to go. After Civic memorials and churches the next thing is the clubs.

I think you'd be surprised at just how many memorials and rolls of honour are out there.

As you point out there are so many places to visit it can only be done locally.

About the Golf club. They may not have had a roll of honour but perhaps a golf cup or medal was donated in memory of someone lost in the World Wars? Worth asking about the next one you visit.

Regards

Adam

spoons · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject:

I think I have managed to get readable inscriptions, sorry it is across 3 prints. Note yet again the fine artwork on this memorial.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject:

It is a very impressive Roll. So many we see on the forum are off-the-shelf rolls but a lot of time and effort has been spent on this one.

I take it the image of the men playing bowls is of the Castle Douglas club. Perhaps the men are some of those lost?

Note that there is one Second World War name squeezed into the bottom right hand corner.

JOHNSTONE, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Secondary Regiment: No. 9 Commando
Age: 24
Date of Death: 03/02/1944
Service No: 3189032
Additional information: Foster-son of Mrs. E. A. Kean, of Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 6.
Memorial: CASSINO MEMORIAL