The Scottish War Graves Project

spoons · Last edited by spoons on Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:22 pm; edited 3 times in total

OS Map Ref: NX 860 932

In the centre of Keir village.

Number of CWGC burials 0

Keir is also known as Keirmill. The church is now closed for worship and has been sold but the churchyard remains open.

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject:

Name: DAVIDSON, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery
Unit Text: 55th Heavy Bty.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 07/02/1917
Service No: 8668
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Jane Davidson, of Hulme, Manchester; husband of Jessie McCartney Davidson, of 117, Warrender Park Rd., Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. T. 7.
Cemetery: GUARDS' CEMETERY, LESBOEUFS

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject:

Name: KERR, WILLIAM DONALD
Initials: W D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death: 14/06/1942
Service No: 103063
Additional information: Son of Nicol and Margaret C. Kerr, of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. B.Sc.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 248.
Memorial: ALAMEIN MEMORIAL

[Mod edit: P.O. Kerr was a Glasgow University Graduate. See here Adam]

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

Name: SCOTT, ARTHUR J.
Initials: A J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 18/08/1916
Service No: S/10352
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 15 A and 16 C.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject:

This is an unusual stone in that it commemorates a brother and a sister.

Name: WILSON, THOMAS McEWAN
Initials: T M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 31/08/1916
Service No: 16232
Additional information: Son of Margaret Wilson, of Dunreggan, Moniaive, Dumfries-shire, and the late James Wilson.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 4 A and 4 D.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

It is a shame that Jemima does not appear on the local church or civic memorials, although she does appear on SNWM and CWGC.

Name: WILSON, JEMIMA
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Member
Regiment/Service: Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps
Unit Text: Gateshead Hostel
Age: 24
Date of Death: 02/12/1917
Service No: 3812
Additional information: Daughter of James and Margaret Wilson, of Ingleston Cottage, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Q. U. 364.
Cemetery: NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (ST. ANDREW'S AND JESMOND) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

from the Lost Bombers website:

Lancaster PD295 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number PD295
Squadron 626
X1D UM-B2
Operation L_tzkendorf
Date 1 4th April 1945
Date 2 5th April 1945

Further Information
"Serial range PD198 - PD444 This aircraft was one of 200 Mk.1s ordered Apr43 from metro-Vick from Metro-Vick and delivered from Jun44 to dec44 with Merlin 24 engines. PD295 was delivered to 626 Sqdn Sep44 No operational history No record of total hours. PD295 was one of two 626 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: PB411 airborne 2101 2Apr45 from Wickenby to attack the Wintershall synthetic-oil plant. Presumed lost over the sea. Four are buried in France; Sgt Fletcher, found near Den Helder 18Jun45, is buried on Texel in Den Burg. F/L Eames and F/O Young are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/L K.H.Eames DFC KIA Sgt G.H.Fletcher KIA f/O A.D.Moore KIA F/O W.Young KIA P/O W.A.Mitcham KIA Sgt R.F.Clarke KIA Sgt G.Davies KIA "

Name: YOUNG, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 626 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 05/04/1945
Service No: 154575
Additional information: Son of William and Marion Findlay Young, of Penpont, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 268.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

teddy · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 14

Have another three family graves with men lost in WW1:
1. JAMES FARROW MAXWELL- Serg., , Service No 21634 from 12th Bn. HLA, died 26/4/1918 aged 22years. Awarded MM Son Of Edward Maxwell and Agnes Farfrow of Allanton Mill, Auldgirth. He is commemorated on the Dunscore WM. On CWGC and SNWM

2.TROOPER JOHN MILLER, who died of wounds at Port Said on 4/6/1918 aged 25 years, father William Miller and Mother Janet Haddow.
not found on either CWGC or SNWM, and not found which WM on.
Help with this this man please.

3.ROBERT ANDERSON L/CPL who died in action on 24/4/1918 aged 18 years, father Hugh Young Anderson and Mother Janet Kirk.
Not found on either CWGC or SNWM. He is commemorated on Keir WM.
Help with this man please.

Teddy

spoons · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:

thanks for the info, I will photograph and post the photos when I get down that way next.

Keir church memorial shows Robert Anderson was 11th Bn Royal Scots and died in 1918. Of the 3 Robert Andersons from 11th Bn who died, I think it may be this man.

Surname ANDERSON
Firstname Robert
Service Number 59437
Date Death 01/06/1918
Decoration
Place of birth Dumfries
Other 11th Bn. formerly 56970. H.L.I.
SNWM roll THE ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN REGIMENT)
Rank L/Cpl
Theatre of death F.& F.

That gives a discrepancy in date of death but a search in the local papers might be able to clarify that.

\Paul

teddy · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 14

Re Robert Anderson,
Yes was one which I found, only death date wrong.
On the grave states 24th April, 1918.

I have someone going up to Edinburgh house to check registers.

Found nothing in the Standard, but will check once again.

I have taken photos of all the graves, could send you them and save you journey over.

Teddy

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

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

And looking up the Australian War Memorial it gives an alias

James Miller
Aliases: John
Service number: 1662
Rank: Trooper [Tpr]
Unit: 8th Australian Light Horse
Service: Army
Conflict: 1914-1918
Date of death: 4 June 1918
Cause of death: Died of sickness
Cemetery or memorial details: EGYPT 7 Port Said War Memorial Cemetery
War Grave Register notes: MILLER, Tpr. James, 1662. 8th Australian Light Horse. Died of sickness 4th June, 1918. H. 2.
Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

And a link to a further document

http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM131/034/034871.pdf

Which shows his name James scored out and replaced with John and his father's name of William

Adam

teddy · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 14

Adam,

Thank you very much for the information.
Lovely to have someone from The Austrailin Light Horse, in fact first one known about, quite exciting I think.

I am busy compiling book on Keir WM and I include all family war related graves which are in churchyard, John is one of them.

Teddy

spoons · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject:

Sergt Robert Dempster who died at
Fort Dufferin, Mandalay December 21st
1897 aged 37 years