The Scottish War Graves Project

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

I am a new member seeking help.

I am involved in a New Zealand project which seeks to place a small Cross of remembrance on the UK graves of all Members of the New Zealand forces who died in two World Wars. The Grave is then photographed and the Photo will then be placed on a Website.

The Cross is made from a flax which only grows in New Zealand, and is intended to be a little piece of home. The Cross is about the same size as the British Legion Cross and includes a red poppy.

There are 344 Cemeteries in UK containing New Zealand War Graves, and most have already been completed. However there are a number in Scotland remaining, and I am looking for Volunteers to place the crosses and photograph them. I have listed the remaining Scottish Cemeteries below, and If any one can help, please contact me, and I will send details, and the Crosses.

Thanks, and Kind Regards,
Brian Hillman

Crathie Cemetery, Crathie & Braemar, Aberdeenshire, 1
Dyce Old Churchyard, Aberdeenshire, 4
Peterhead Old Churchyard, Aberdeenshire, 1
Arbroath Western Cemetery, Angus, 4
Dundee (Balgay) Cemetery, Angus, 2
Dundee Eastern Necropolis, Angus, 1
Kirriemuir Cemetery, Angus, 1
Montrose (Sleepyhillock) Cemetery, Angus, 5
Auchinleck Parish Churchyard, Ayrshire, 1
Troon Cemetery, Ayrshire, Ayrshire , 1
Banff Cemetery , Banffshire, 1
Fordyce Old Churchyard ARD, Banffshire, 1
Annan Cemetery, Dumfriesshire, 2
Glasgow (Craigton) Cemetery, Glasgow, 3
Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground, Moray, 6
Lossiemouth Burial Ground , Moray, 3
Kirkwall (St Olaf's) Cemetery , Orkney, 4
Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Orkney, 1
Stoneykirk Cemetery, Wigtownshire, 1
Stranraer (Glebe) Cemetery, Wigtownshire, 3

spoons · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 10:26 am Post subject:

I did contact someone once before about this and said I would be prepared to do Annan, Stoneykirk and Stranraer, but I heard nothing back. I am still willing.

\Paul
_________________
www.ukwarmemorials.co.uk

Davep · Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Dunfermline

while looking at the graves in Carnock old churchyard i have come across a trooper william thomas marshall of the otago mounted horse, part of the nzef.
he is noted on his grandparents grave stone as he died in london at hampstead military hospital in 1918.

dave

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

[quote="spoons"]I did contact someone once before about this and said I would be prepared to do Annan, Stoneykirk and Stranraer, but I heard nothing back. I am still willing. Paul[/quote]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your offer which is gratefully accepted.

I have sent you a PM with the details, but it has said "failed DEBUG MODE."
If you have not received it, please let me know and I will resend. I know that this DEBUG message has come up before, but the PM has been sent.

Kind Regards,
Brian
_________________
Kind Regards
Brian

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

[quote="Davep"]while looking at the graves in Carnock old churchyard i have come across a trooper william thomas marshall of the otago mounted horse, part of the nzef.
he is noted on his grandparents grave stone as he died in london at hampstead military hospital in 1918.

dave[/quote]

Hi Dave,
That is interesting, as Trooper William Thomas Marshall, is buried in Carnock new Churchyard.
_________________
Kind Regards
Brian

JIMMCGINLAY · Joined: 05 Oct 2007 Posts: 748 Location: Glasgow

I would be happy to help with Glasgow (Craigton), Auchinleck, Troon, and possibly also Montrose and Kirriemuir.

Jim

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

[quote="JIMMCGINLAY"]I would be happy to help with Glasgow (Craigton), Auchinleck, Troon, and possibly also Montrose and Kirriemuir.

Jim[/quote]

Hi Jim,
Your offer of help is Gratefully accepted, I will send you a PM in the next few Minutes with the details.
_________________
Kind Regards
Brian

Adam Brown · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 714 Location: Edinburgh

It looks like Brian has fallen foul of a 5 post rule which may have been reintroduced by our forum hosts. That may explain why Brian can't send PMs or use quotes.

Hopefully his next post will sort out the problem.

Thanks

Adam

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

[quote="Adam Brown"]It looks like Brian has fallen foul of a 5 post rule which may have been reintroduced by our forum hosts. That may explain why Brian can't send PMs or use quotes.

Hopefully his next post will sort out the problem.

Thanks

Adam[/quote]

Hi Adam,
No doubt this is some type of initiation Ceremony for new members! If this post clears the way for me to accept the kind offers from 2 of the members it will no doubt be worth it.

I will try sending a PM to those who have offered to help with this project, after I have sent this post.
_________________
Kind Regards
Brian

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

[quote="Adam Brown"]It looks like Brian has fallen foul of a 5 post rule which may have been reintroduced by our forum hosts. That may explain why Brian can't send PMs or use quotes.

Hopefully his next post will sort out the problem.

Thanks

Adam[/quote]

I have tried sending another PM and it failed!!! Sorry to wast every ones time with these pointless messages but I am only trying what Adam has suggested.
_________________
Kind Regards
Brian

Keptie · Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Letham Forfar angus

Do you know that since 1999 the New Zealand Assoc (Scotland ) jointly with the Royal British Legion Scotland -Arbroath branch have the annual ANZAC Memorial service at the Arbroath Western Cemetery war graves plot where as you said there are 4 NZ's war graves from WW2 - Fleet Air Arm casualties generally at HMS Condor . The event started with a handful of around 30 to its present attendance of around 250 -300 attenders from all over Scotland as well as NZ Embassy from London and Australian Embassy and also NZAF and RAAF airmen in attendance . This year it will of course happen on ANZAC Day being 25 April ( Sunday ) .

Do you know that there is a NZ Airman buried in a CWGC grave but his family from Auckland paid for his headstone at the Kilmallie Old Graveyard near Corpach : 2nd Lieut Aleck Campbell Craig, NZEF & RAF death on Ben Nevis Feb 1919 :

You will see on the official Black Watch website : Black Watch forum there is a section called Pat's corner and you will see photos of the 2009 ANZAC Day memorial event as well as the NZ wargraves at the Arbroath Western Cemetery ..

.

Davep · Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Dunfermline

my mistake brian, it is carnock new cemetery, but that is relative as its actually an extension of the original cemetery surrounding the ruined church.
I've attached a picture of trooper marshalls grave.

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

[quote="Keptie"][i]Do you know that since 1999 the New Zealand Assoc (Scotland ) jointly with the Royal British Legion Scotland -Arbroath branch have the annual ANZAC Memorial service at the Arbroath Western Cemetery war graves plot.[/i]

I did know that there was an ANZAC day ceremony at Arbroth, but I did not realise that it was so large. Are you able to place Crosses on the 4 NZ Graves in Arbroth Cemetery, and photograph them before ANZAC day Please,

[i]Do you know that there is a NZ Airman buried in a CWGC grave but his family from Auckland paid for his headstone at the Kilmallie Old Graveyard near Corpach : 2nd Lieut Aleck Campbell Craig, NZEF & RAF death on Ben Nevis Feb 1919 :[/i]

He started training as a pilot in NZ in September 1917, and obtained his Flying Certificate on 25 March1918. He embarked for UK on 24 April, arriving 21 June 1918. He flew with the RAF in UK and went on an Armaments course on 10 November 1918. He was on leave awaiting shipment back to NZ, when he and another officer set out on the afternoon of 9 Febuary 1919 to climb to lower shoulder of Ben Nevis. At about 1000ft, he lost his footing whilst attempting to negoiate a snow slide, and when his companion reached him, he was dead. A tragic end to a man about to return home, having survived 18 months flying those early aircraft.
_________________
Kind Regards
Brian

FortyTwa · Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 382 Location: Arbroath

Hello Brian,

I'm pretty sure that between Keptie, myself and another local member of this forum we could do the necessary at Arbroath, Montrose, Kirriemuir and maybe even Dundee.

Although Scots born, my grandmother's brother Robert Menzies Robertson was killed in action in North Africa in WW2 while serving with the NZ artillery, having emigrated there in the 1930s, so the Kiwis have a special place in my heart.

Now that Libya is a bit more accessible I plan to visit his grave at some point and leave a little piece of Scotland there for him so I can appreciate what your project is aiming to achieve

Brian Hillman · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 12 Location: Norfolk

[quote="Davep"]my mistake brian, it is carnock new cemetery, but that is relative as its actually an extension of the original cemetery surrounding the ruined church.
I've attached a picture of trooper marshalls grave.[/quote]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the photograph, it seems that we were both talking about the same Grave. I already have a Volunteer to place the Cross and Photograph that grave, he is working his way round Fife, and hopes to get to Carnock in the next couple of weeks.
_________________
Kind Regards
Brian