The Scottish War Graves Project

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

48 WW1 CWGC graves

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:54 am Post subject:

The cemetery is located between Balcarres Street and Morningside Drive in the Morningside district of SW Edinburgh. The main gates are now located on Morningside Drive, but there is also a small “hole in the wall” in Balcarres Street.

Morningside Cemetery was opened by the Metropolitan Cemetery Company in 1878, it was the first of a new generation of cemeteries, built on the edge of the city, although urban expansion quickly ensured that it was surrounded by buildings. The cemetery, was purchased by Edinburgh City Council from a private owner in February 1992 and has subsequently been reduced in size by developments in Belhaven Terrace/ Belhaven Place, where the main entrance to the cemetery used to be. The Main gate pillars can still be seen here.

You can see the cemetery in the background between the two blocks of flats, which have been built on Section A!

Houses have also been built inside the old boundary wall in Morningside Drive. Due to these housing developments many of the graves in Section A and some in Section B, and possibly other sections seem to have disappeared. There are also some graves behind a double locked fence at the opposite end of the cemetery from where the original entrance was (no access), where a further housing development has been built. To get to what is left of Section A, you need to walk down a narrow “lane” between the back gardens of new houses, when you get to the bottom of this “lane”, it opens up to a small area, where, if you can see over the new wall, you will see the original gates!!

Houses built behind the old boundray wall in Morningside Drive.

In recent years many thousands of stones have been laid flat due to safety reasons. However there does seem to be moves a foot to errect the stones again. You can also find, in some corners, grave stones piled up on top of each other, or just discarded in a pile, with no indication as to where they came from.

It is very evident that many of the gravestones are no longer in situ as you can still see their foundations. On the whole it is a well maintained cemetery, but it is sad to see so many stones lying flat, and no always face up.

Buried here are Nobel prize-winning scientist Sir Edward Appleton (1892 - 1965) who served during the First World War in the West Riding Regiment, and later transferred to the Royal Engineers., poet James Logie Robertson (Hugh Haliburton; 1846 - 1922) and Alison 'Cummy' Cunningham (1822 - 1913), 'the beloved nurse' of author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94), Crimean VC winner Private Samuel Evans who died in 1900 (stone no longer evident). There is also 81 Commonwealth War Graves Commission Graves located within the cemetery.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:57 am Post subject:

From the "new" main entrance to the cemetery.

Stones locked behind a wire fence. No obvious military ones there, but there are a few further down, under the undergrowth that you can't see.

Taken from what is left of Section A, looking towards the main cemetery just beyond the tree in the center of the photo.

Houses built inside the original boundary wall on what was part of the cemetery.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:57 am Post subject:

AITKEN, MARY
Initials: M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Member
Regiment/Service: Women's Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 2nd Training Depot Sqdn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 07/11/1918
Service No: 10446
Additional information: Daughter of Mrs. Aitken, of Newlandrig, Gorebridge, Midlothian.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 168.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Born in Humbie East Lothian, died at home.

10446 Member M. Aitken Women's Royal Air Force 7th November 1918 aged 25

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:58 am Post subject:

ARNOTT
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 15/08/1920
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: D 641.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Not found as died 1920.

Lieutenant W Arnott The Cameronians (Sco. Rif) 15th August 1920

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:58 am Post subject:

BAIRD, WILLIAM DODDS HALDANE
Initials: W D H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 112th Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 22/11/1918
Awards: A F C
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Baird, of 10, Warrender Park Crescent, Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: J. 101.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: No entry found.

In loving memory of William Dodds Haldane Baird A.F.C Flight Commander RAF died 22nd November 1918 aged 23 years. Sarah Tatlock Haldane wife of William Baird died 7th February 1941 aged 70 years. Robert Ormand Garland Baird died 20th November 1943 aged 43 years, also the said William Baird died 22nd July 1946 in his 83rd year. Frances Margaret (Peggy) Baird died 4th September 1949 aged 31 years.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:59 am Post subject:

BAIRD, THOMAS H.
Initials: T H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 474 Bty., 76 Searchlight Regt.
Date of Death: 21/08/1940
Service No: 3056289
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. C. Grave 2039.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM:Born Edinburgh, died United Kingdom.

3056289 Gunner T H Baird Royal Artillery 21st August 1940.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:59 am Post subject:

BLACK
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Date of Death: 27/01/1915
Service No: 1141
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 809.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Name Francis Andrew, born Edinburgh, died home.

1141 Corporal F Black 5th Bn Royal Scots Queen's Edinburgh Rifles 27th January 1915.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:00 am Post subject:

BLACKIE
Initials: P C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery
Unit Text: 49th Anti-Aircraft Coy.
Date of Death: 09/02/1920
Service No: 116901
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 174.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

Several stones in Section K appear to be missing so have been unable to locate this grave (yet!)

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:00 am Post subject:

BROWN
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text: 5th Reserve Bde.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 02/12/1918
Service No: 650340
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Brown of 34, South St., Dalkeith, Midlothian; husband of Mary Brown of 29, West Nicolson St., Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: G. 614.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Can't find

650340 Gunner T Brown Royal Field Artillery 2nd December 1918 aged 28. "Until the day dawns"

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:01 am Post subject:

BRUNTON, JOHN WILLIAM
Initials: J W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Unit Text: 3rd Reserve Lowland Field Amb.
Age: 18
Date of Death: 27/02/1915
Service No: 2094
Additional information: Son of Mr. T. S. and Mrs. A. Brunton of Braemar, Ightenhill Park, Burnley.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 1915.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Died at home.

2094 Private J W Brunton Royal Army Medical Corps 27th February 1915 aged 15. Resurgam.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:37 am Post subject:

CALDER, ROBERT GEORGE
Initials: R G
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Age: 26
Date of Death: 03/03/1944
Service No: J/19340
Additional information: Son of George H. Calder and Nora Preston Calder; husband of Elizabeth McGregor Fraser Calder, of Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. G. Grave 774.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Not found. Although he served in the Canadian Air Force he appears to have been Scottish!

Pilot Officer R G Calder Pilot Royal Canadian Air Force 3rd March 1944 aged 26. In memory of my dearly beloved husband.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:37 am Post subject:

CAMERON, DAVID PEACOCK ROBERTSON
Initials: D P R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death: 20/05/1945
Service No: 186773
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. E. Grave 856.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Born Edinburgh, Died R.A.F.V.R. B.C

In loving memory of Flying Officer David Cameron who gave his life on 20th May 1945 aged 22, beloved husband of Joan Allison and son of David and Janet Cameron. Until the day dawns.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:38 am Post subject:

CEMERY
Initials: T G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Date of Death: 23/08/1920
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 677.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: No entry as died in 1920.

To the sacred and everlasting memory of Thomas Geo. Cemery Lieut. RAF who depareted this life 23rd Aug 1920 aged 36. A devoted son, husband and father.

gourdongirl · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:38 am Post subject:

CHISHOLM
Initials: D A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Date of Death: 20/10/1920
Service No: S/6620
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. 1597.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (MORNINGSIDE) CEMETERY

SNWM: Not found as he died in 1920.

S/6620 private D A Chisholm The Black Watch 20th October 1920.