The Scottish War Graves Project

gourdongirl · Last edited by gourdongirl on Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:00 pm; edited 5 times in total

Elphinstone is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, UK. It lies two miles south west of Tranent on the B6414, and one mile south-east of Ormiston. The coordinates of the village are 55.922 ⁰N 2.966 ⁰W.

The cemetery is quite hard to find as it it down a dirt track just beyond the school. If visiting this cemetery I would advise you park in the main street and walk down to it.

There are no "modern" graves and several stones are lying face down on the ground.

There is only 1 CWGC WWI stone, and 2 family WWI stones.

The stone furthest away on the left, lying down is the Kerr Family stone.

You can see the only CWGC stone on the right of this photo, the stone directly behind it, infront of the tree, is Robert Wight's family stone.

The nearest stone lying on the ground, all covered in snow is the other Robert Wight stone.

gourdongirl · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:10 am Post subject:

Name: THOMSON, J
Initials: J
Nationality: UK
Rank: Pte
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 3rd Bn
Age:
Date of Death: 21/03/1916
Service No: 1693
Awards:
Additional Info:
Casualty Type: CWD
Grave/Memorial Ref: On South side of main path.
Memorial: Elphinstone Cemetery, Tranent, East Lothian

SNWM entry: Born Inveresk Midlothian, Name - John

CWGC Grave: 1693 Private J Thomson Royal Scots 21st March 1916.

gourdongirl · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:11 am Post subject:

Name: KERR, James
Initials: J
Nationality: UK
Rank: Pte
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 7th Bn
Age: 28
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Service No: 292219
Awards:
Additional Info: Son of George Kerr, of The Butts Tranent, East Lothian.
Casualty Type: CWD
Grave/Memorial Ref: Bay 8 and 9
Memorial: Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France

SNWM entry: Born Elphinstone.

Family Grave: In loving memory of Mary Reid beloved wife of George Kerr who died at Elphinstone on 21st Oct 1911 aged 48 years also their son James Kerr who died in France on 23rd April 1917 aged 28 years, his beloved second wife Isabella Ness died 26th Jan 1942 aged 64 years.

gourdongirl · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:12 am Post subject:

Name: WIGHT, Robert
Initials: R
Nationality: UK
Rank: Company Quartermaster Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 8th Bn
Age: 41
Date of Death: 16/05/1915
Service No: 33
Awards:
Additional Info: Son of the late James and Margaret Wight of Retreat Cottage Elphinstone, husband of Margaret Wight of Main Street Elphinstone Tranent East Lothian
Casualty Type: CWD
Grave/Memorial Ref: Panel 4
Memorial: Le Touret Memorial Pas de Calais France

SNWM entry: Born Tranent Haddingtonshire. A/C.Q.M.s

There are 2 Family Graves, one with his parents and one with his wife.

In loving memory of Margaret Dickson beloved wife of Jas. Wight died 28th March 1916 aged 76 also their son Robert Wight QMS 8th Royal Scots killed at Festubert 16th May 1915 aged 41 beloved husband of Margaret Dodds, also the above James Wight died 10th Oct 1916 aged 72 years, also James Main beloved husband of Mary Wight died 23rd Jan 1929 aged 35, also their son James died 25th June 1930 aged 23. Thomas Wight died 19th March 1932 aged 61. The burying ground of Jas. Wight.

In loving memory of Robert Wight QMS Royal Scots killed at Festubert 1915 aged 41 years, his beloved wife Margaret Dodds died 23rd Aug 1939 aged 61 years.