The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:41 pm Post subject: Lochrutton

This memorial is on the outside of Lochrutton church (now disused). It is also probably the most difficult to find and get to of any memorial I have seen.
The fact that it is not on UKNIWM did not help!
It is at NX 913 736 on an unmarked track of the old military road to the east of a hamlet called Lochfoot. Unless you have a 4WD, don't even try to get all the way to the church. Walking the last half mile is adviseable or 200 yards if you are a brave driver.
So how did I find it? Hunch, plus taking my 4WD for a test drive.
The church itself is disused of course.

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject:

Spoons

To me this inscription, and the outside location, means the memorial is a community one as well as a church one so I've moved it to the civic section.

Regards

Adam

*sparkle* · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Leicester

ERECTED
BY THE PARISHONERS OF LOCHRUTTON
TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF
THOSE BELONGING TO THE PARISH WHO FELL
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918
CARSON, THOMAS PVT K.O.S.B. AGED 21 YEARS
ESDALE, WILLIAM PVT K.O.S.B. AGED 26 YEARS
GIBSON, JAMES PVT K.O.S.B. AGED 20 YEARS
HALLIDAY, JOHN PVT CANADIANS AGED 32 YEARS
JARDINE, JOHN SERG R.S.F. AGED 31 YEARS
MITCHELL, WILLIAM PVT BORDER HORSE AGED 20 YEARS
MUIR, JAMES SERG CANADIANS AGED 28 YEARS
MUIRHEAD, DAVID PVT R.S.F. AGED 31 YEARS
McCUBBIN, WILLIAM L/CORP CANADIANS AGED 40 YEARS
SMITH, JAMES LIEUT GORDON HIG AGED 36 YEARS
SWAN, JOHN PVT a&s HIGHLANDERS AGED 33 YEARS

“THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”

AND THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR
LIVES IN THE SECOND GREAT WAR
1939-1945
A.G. McCULLOCH D.S.C. LIEUT. R.N.
Wm McWHIRTER PTE 7TH K.O.S.B
_________________
Interests: Dickson, Bowie, Manderson and Hogg from the Borders. Rammell, Beck, Ireland from Dumries & Galloway.

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:28 am Post subject:

Here are the details of the two Second World War names

McCULLOCH, ANDREW CHRISTIAN
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Laforey.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 30/03/1944
Awards: D S C
Additional information: Son of Major-General Sir Andrew Jameson McCulloch, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., D.C.M., D.L., and Lady McCulloch, of Ardwall, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 81, Column 1.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

Note his father's decorations which include the DCM which makes him an ex-ranker. Also note his father was a soldier but Lt McCulloch was a sailor.

McWHIRTER, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 7th (Airborne) Bn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 04/04/1944
Service No: 3190876
Additional information: Son of Charles and Jemima McWhirter, of Ruthwell.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: North Extn. Lair 93.
Cemetery: RUTHWELL PARISH CHURCHYARD

I take it Ruthwell and Ardwell are near Lochrutton.

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:37 am Post subject:

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

CARSON, THOMAS PVT. KOSB, AGED 21 YEARS
Thomas Carson, Private (23837) 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 21.
Born 1896 at Ullioch Farm, Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of James and Andrina (Hogg) Carson. Enlisted June 1916 from Barnbackle, Lochrutton.
Killed in action 13 August 1917 and listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Also listed on the Bridgestone (Balmaghie Parish) War Memorial.

ESDAILE, WILLIAM PVT. KOSB, AGED 26 YEARS
William Esdaile, Private (201792) 1/5th Battalion (Dumfries and Galloway) King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 26.
Born 1896 at Drumicork Cottage, Morton, Dumfriesshire. Son of John and Mary (Docherty) Esdaile of Lochrutton. Enlisted September 1914 in 8th KOSB. Transferred to 1/5th Battalion. Served at Gaza, Egypt, Loos and the Somme. Wounded three times.
Died of wounds 5 November 1918 and buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France. Also listed on the Irongray War Memorials.

GIBSON, JAMES PVT. KOSB, AGED 20 YEARS
James Gibson, Private (14464) 8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 26.
Born 1896 at Lochrutton. Son of Samuel and Isabella (McCowan) Gibson of Lochfoot, Lochrutton. Enlisted September 1914 and served at Loos and Hill 60. Reported missing and presumed killed.
Missing in action 14 May 1916 and listed on the Loos Memorial, France. Also listed on the Irongray War Memorials.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject:

HALLIDAY, JOHN PVT. CANADIANS, AGED 32 YEARS
John Gillespie Halliday, Private (931148) 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion. Age 32.
Born (as James Halliday) 1890 at Howliggate, Troqueer, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Thomas and Jane (Gillespie) Halliday of Lochfoot, Lochrutton. Enlisted March 1916 at Nelson, British Columbia in 225th Battalion, Canadian Infantry before transferring to 2nd CMR. Prior to enlistment he served with the 107th East Kootenay Regiment.
Killed in action 8 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens (8-11 August)
and buried in the Caix British Cemetery, France.
The 2nd CMR took the towns of Demuin and Le Quesnoy on the first day of the battle. Their casualties for the three days were 80 killed and 140 wounded.

JARDINE, JOHN SERT. RSF, AGED 31 YEARS
John Jardine, Lance Sergeant (295990) 12th (Ayr and Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 31.
Born 1886 at Lochrutton. Son of John and Anne (Boyd) of Lochfoot, Lochrutton.
Missing in action 8 December 1917 during the attack on the heights to the west of Jerusalem. Listed on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel and on the Dumfries War Memorial.
12th Battalion, RSF was formed in Egypt in January 1917 from the men of the Ayrshire Yeomanry and the Lanarkshire Yeomanry who had fought as dismounted troops at Gallipoli.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject:

MITCHELL, WILLIAM PVT. BORDER HORSE, AGED 20 YEARS
William Stitt Mitchell, Private (107708) Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Age 20.
Born 1898 at Longbeoch Cottages, Irongray. The birth was also registered at Lochrutton. Son of William and Janet (Moffat) of Gateside, Lochrutton. Later of Screel, Castle Douglas and of Stockerton, KIrkcudbright. Enlisted March 1917 in the Lothian and Borders Horse Yeomanry before transferring to the MGC. Served in Italy (Asiago Plateau) and Ypres.
Died 27 April 1919, of a inner ear infection, at Stockerton, Kirkcudbright and buried, in a CWG, in Kirkcudbright (St. Cuthbert) Old Churchyard.
On the Death Register he is listed as a Private MGC 1st Reserve.

MUIR, JAMES SERT. CANADIANS, AGED 28 YEARS
James Muir, Segeant (442133) 7th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment) Age 28.
Born 1889 at Chapmanton, Castle Douglas, Crossmichael. Son of Robert (a Railwayman) and Jessie Muir of Lochanhead Station, Lochrutton and of Maxwell St. Dalbeattie. Husband of Agnes (Boyd) Muir of Gallowflat St. Rutherglen, Glasgow who he married in 1917 at Rutherglen. Enlisted June 1915 at Vernon, British Columbia in the 30th Battalion, CIF before transferring the 7th Battalion. Served at Vimy Ridge and Hill 70. Wounded twice and reported missing.
Missing in action 15 August 1917 and listed on the Vimy Memorial, France and on the Rutherglen War Memorial, Lanarkshire.
During the assault on Hill 70, near Lens, 6 Officers and 78 Other Ranks were lost from the battalion.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

MUIRHEAD, DAVID PVT. RSF, AGED 28 YEARS
David Muirhead, Private (205148) 4th Reserve Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 29.
Born 1878 at Auchenfad, Auchencairn, Rerrick, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of James and Jane (Walker) Muirhead. Husband of Susan (Ireland) Muirhead of Lochfoot, Lochrutton who he married in 1914 at Lochrutton. Enlisted June 1917.
Killed on active service 17 September 1917 as the result of injuries sustained during a railway accident two days earlier at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire. Buried in a CWG in Lochrutton Parish Churchyard.
David's story can be found in Stuart Wilson's book - Answering the Call, Auchencairn and the First World War.

McCUBBING, WILLIAM L/CORP. CANADIANS, AGED 40 YEARS
William McCubbing, Military Medal, Lance Corporal (2336301) 50th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) Age 39.
Born 1878 at Kissock, New Abbey. Son of John and Sarah Redmond (Drummond) McCubbing of Drum, Lochrutton and, later, of Laurieknowe Maxwelltown, Kirkcudbrightshire. Husband of Agnes (Austin) McCubbing of Calgary, Alberta who he married in 1905 at Dumfries. Pre-war service with the KOSB. Enlisted April 1917 at Calgary, Alberta in 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles) then transferred to 50th CIF. Wounded at Lens.
Died of wounds 5 September 1918 at 7th Casualty Clearing Station and buried in the Ligny-St.Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, France.
Also remembered on the New Abbey WW1 Memorial, on the Beeswing WW1 Memorial and on the Maxwelltown/Troqueer War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:13 pm Post subject:

SMITH, JAMES LIEUT. GORDON HIGH., AGED 36 YEARS
James Smith, Second Lieutenant: Combined 8th/10th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Age 36.
Born 1881 at Lochrutton. Son of the late James Smith of Lochside, Lochrutton and of Catherine (Wilson) Smith of Fernwood, Maxwelltown. Enlisted October 1914 as a Private in the Royal Scots before transferring to the Gordons.
Killed in action 9 April 1917 at the Battle of Arras and buried in the Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery,Wancourt, France. Also listed on the Maxwelltown/Troqueer War Memorial.

SWAN, JOHN PVT. A&S HIGHLANDERS, AGED 33 YEARS
John Swan, Private (5560) 1/7th (Fife) Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Age 33.
Born 1888 at Barwhan, Lochrutton. Son of William and Annie (Alston) Swan. Educated at Dumfries Academy he served his apprenticeship in Law with John Greirson, Dumfries Town Clerk and later qualified by studying at Edinburgh University. At the outbreak of war he was employed by P&J Stormont Darling in Kelso. Enlisted November 1915 in 14th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before transferring to the Black Watch.
Died of wounds received on the Somme on 1 August 1916 at No. 45 Casualty Clearing Station and buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject:

1939 - 1945

A. C. McCULLOCH, DSC, LIEUT., RN
Andrew Christian McCulloch, Distinguished Service Cross, Lieutenant, HMS Laforay, Royal Navy. Age 28.
Born 1915 at St.Andrew's Edinburgh. Son of Major General Sir Andrew Jameson McCulloch and Lady Esme Valentine (MacKenzie) McCulloch of Ardwall, Gatehouse-of-Fleet and of Hills, Lochrutton.
Awarded the DSC for actions in the Mediterranean in preventing the escape of enemy forces after their defeat in North Africa.
Missing in action 30 March 1944 when the Destroyer HMS Laforay was hit by three torpedoes from U223 during a surface action between the U-boat and several Destroyers. Only 65 of the ship's company survived.
Listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, on the Beeswing Village WW2 Memorial and on the War Memorial in Gatehouse-of-Fleet.

Wm. McWHIRTER, PTE. 7th KOSB
William McWhirter, Private (3190876) 7th (Airborne) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers (Galloway), 1st Airlanding Brigade. Age 22 (or 19)
CWGC listed his age at 22 but he is listed on the Ruthwell War Memorial as 19 and I have not been able to identify his Date/Place of Birth.
Son of Charles and Jemima McWhirter of Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire.
Killed on active service 4 April 1944 and buried in a CWG in Ruthwell Parish Churchyard. Also listed on the Ruthwell War Memorial.
In the early hours of 4 April, during a training exercise, a Stirling bomber towing a Hosa Glider carrying No. 3 Platoon, 7th KOSB hit a tree on high ground and crashed. 26 Borderers were killed together with 6 RAF personnel and 2 glider pilots.

spoons · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 12:43 pm Post subject:

This church was sold about 5 years ago. It is currently still fitted with pews etc. About two and a half years ago, one of the window frames blew in and the building is no longer weathertight. A local resident believes that the owner has not visited in that time and is not aware of any plans for the church. The church itself is listed Cat B but no specific mention is made of the memorial.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 5:01 pm Post subject:

local people are currently investigating the possibility of getting this memorial moved to a central location in the village where it can once again act as a focus for remembrance. Further details available on request.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 5:48 pm Post subject:

Latest update is that the costs of moving this memorial appear to be prohibitive and there are real concerns about whether it can be achieved succesfully (£2000 + is an optomistic cost for moving it).
A local group is now investigating whether they can raise funds for a new memorial in a central location in the village.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:13 pm Post subject:

The memorial was erected in 1919 at a cost of £160 - £170

\Paul