The Scottish War Graves Project

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Name: COLTMAN, WILLIAM H.
Initials: W H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 19/11/1940
Service No: 3189718
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Coltman, of Hawick.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 1484.
Cemetery: HAWICK (WILTON) CEMETERY

See: Theyden Bois

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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Name: GRIERSON, WILLIAM PENDREIGH (BILLY)
Initials: W P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Air Mechanic (A) 2nd Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Kestrel
Age: 20
Date of Death: 18/08/1942
Service No: SFX.3415
Additional information: Son of Walter and Agnes Grierson, of Hawick.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 2642.
Cemetery: HAWICK (WILTON) CEMETERY

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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Name: STAVERT, THOMAS ALEXANDER
Initials: T A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Air Mechanic (A) 2nd Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. Sanderling
Age: 19
Date of Death: 01/04/1947
Service No: L/FX.762172
Additional information: Son of John Grierson Stavert and Jessie Gibson Stavert, of Hawick.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 2679.
Cemetery: HAWICK (WILTON) CEMETERY

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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

Lieutenant- Colonel James Kennedy died at his home in Hawick in 1938 at the relatively young age of 55 years.
The son of a butcher’s clerk from Hawick, he rose from the ranks of the Black Watch to become commanding officer of a Welsh regiment during the Great War. He was affectionately known to his men as ‘Chocolate Kennedy’ as he was constantly urging them to eat chocolate to keep their energy and spirits up. He had been an extraordinary soldier and officer, most certainly the most decorated soldier that Hawick has ever produced. He was awarded the D.S.O., & Bar, M.C., D.C.M. and the French Croix De Guerre - all for acts of gallantry and soldierly ability.
James was buried with full military honours in Wilton Cemetery. Hawick Ex-servicemen’s pipe band and a detachment from the 4th KOSB accompanied the cortege and the route was lined with mourning crowds.
James could hardly have imagined that just over a year after his death, Europe would once again be at war - a war that would claim the lives of 2 of his 4 sons. Their names were carved on his headstone for all to see until many years later, mindless ignorant vandals toppled the stone face down into the mud.
A couple of years ago, Susan Hopcraft, the Great-Grand daughter of James Kennedy contacted me to enquire about James' grave but to my sorrow and Hawick's shame, all I could tell her was that I knew where his grave was but the headstone was toppled and unreadable.

Last week the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, was in
Hawick and part of his day was spent in Wilton Cemetery watching the "Community Pay Back Team", an initiative forcing offenders to repay the community for the wrong they have done.
Totally randomly, as he stood and watched the team re-erect vandalised headstones, the very first stone to be lifted was that of ‘Chocolate Kennedy’. Immediately recognising the significance of the lettering on the stone, Mr MacAskill said that the raising of the Kennedy stone was "Fitting and Touching".
The history of Hawick's most decorated soldier was lifted from oblivion.

The Kennedy headstone now sits on a new concrete base and the stone is pinned so it can't be so easily pushed over. Commenting on the resurrection of such a historically significant headstone, Ian Lowes, former President of Hawick Archaeological Society hopes that the condition of the stone will be further improved next year by the Society for the centenary of the start of the Great War.

The ultimate irony of the story is that the Community Pay Back Team have a backlog of 9000 headstones in the Borders which need their attention - some toppled by age, vandals or "made safe" and laid flat by Scottish Borders Council under the pretext of "Health and Safety".

The re-erected headstone.

James Kennedy

Imprint of the headstone lettering in the mud.

Kenny MacAskill in Wilton Cemetery watching the team at work.
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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

ANDERSON, GAVIN JAMES

Rank:
Private
Service No:
SS/18975
Date of Death:
02/11/1918
Age:
45
Regiment/Service:
Army Service Corps
Grave Reference:
Lair 504 Section D
Cemetery:
HAWICK (WILTON) CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of William and Jane Anderson. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Anderson, of 18 Waverley Terrace, Hawick.

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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

The Kennedy brothers:

KENNEDY, JAMES AITCHESON.
Rank:Captain
Service No:292333
Date of Death:10/04/1946
Regiment/Service:Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 4th Bn.
Grave Reference:C. A. 18.
Cemetery:KHAYAT BEACH WAR CEMETERY [Israel]

KENNEDY, WALTER ELDER.
Rank:Lieutenant
Service No:201156
Date of Death:04/08/1941
Age:28
Regiment/Service:Cyprus Regiment 1st Bn.
Grave Reference:5. B. 9.
Cemetery:NICOSIA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:Son of Lt.-Col. James Kennedy, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt.), and Christina Kennedy; husband of Elsie E. Anne Kennedy, of Dover. [married Elsie E. A. Oxley in September Q 1939 in Elham, Kent]

DerekR · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 809 Location: Hawick

IRVINE, GRAHAM

Rank:
Guardsman
Service No:
10112
Date of Death:
19/03/1918
Age:
48
Regiment/Service:
Scots Guards

3rd Bn.
Grave Reference:
Lair 269
Cemetery:
HAWICK (WILTON) CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Fergus-Graham Irvine and Emma Irvine, of Hawick.

N.B.

Recent research has shown that Private Irvine is buried here.

NO sign of new headstone.
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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....