The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mike Morley · Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:19 pm Post subject: David Kiltie

I hope someone can help me find this man. I have found info on all the WW1 casualties on Wigtown War Memorial bar two. One of them is David Kiltie. I quickly found someone of that name born 25 March 1890 who enrolled with the RNVR and served on the City of London through the war. He was discharged after the war and lived to the ripe old age of 102 in Wigtown. His obituary in the local paper mentioned his City of London service. So it can't be him! To add to the confusion there is no David Kiltie on the CWGC database either.

Does anyone have any bright ideas, please?

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Mike

It is entirely possible it is him and an error made or he served under another name. Will check out and revert.

Have you his service record?
I found a reference to a David Kiltie with the same date of birth you give but he was in RND not RNVR
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Mike Morley · Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:10 pm Post subject: David Kiltie

Jim

Thanks. Yep, that's the man. I do have his service record: RND, not RNVR. So are you saying that his name may have gone on to Wigtown's memorial, though he was not a fatality of the conflict? Is this a mistake that occurred on occasions elsewhere? It's something I was beginning to suspect as its the only logical answer. The Galloway Gazette on 18 March 1922 carried an advert listing the first draft of the names to go on the memorial and it did include David Kiltie: though there were additions (and a removal of a name) subsequently it appears that his name remained. I have been unsuccessful in finding the minutes of the Council sub-committee set up to provide for the memorial so I can't verify whether any representations were made re David Kiltie.

Mike

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Mike

Interesting that Kiltie was still on the list in 1922, tends to look like it was thought then he had died. Does the service records give a home addres or his residence after discharge?
There are many reasons why men did not return home immediatly after the war. There are cases of men returning later and finding they were believed dead and named on a memorial.
War Memorial Committee minutes seldom survive. They did their work and disbanded.
The local paper would likely be the best source of info regards the final list and dates involved.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Mike Morley · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:03 am Post subject: David Kiltie

Thanks Jim

Kiltie's papers state "Shore on Demob" when his service finished on 3 March 1919. I'll have to see if there's any records of him subsequent to the war. I know that he eventually ended up back in Wigtown and I think he married twice but I guess he may have decided to see the world in the 1920s. I'll also check if there's any record of his parents' whereabouts and whether they were still alive around 1922 as they may have been able to set the record straight.

Mike