The Scottish War Graves Project

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: Gretna Cemetery

OS Map Ref: NY 301 672

This is on the road from Annan to Carlisle, between Gretna and Rigg.

Number of CWGC burials 11

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject:

Name: MacINNES, MYLES
Initials: M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Cook
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Patrol Service
Unit Text: H.M. Motor Vessel Roseden.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 28/07/1942
Service No: LT/MX84685
Additional information: Son of Donald and Janet Stewart MacInnes; husband of Margaret Ann MacInnes, of Gretna.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Compt. C. Sec. 156. Grave 466-467.
Cemetery: GRETNA CEMETERY, Dumfriesshire

HMS Roseden was a Royal Naval Patrol Service Trawler.

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject:

Name: PHILIPSON, JOHN ADDISON
Initials: J A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sapper
Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
Age: 19
Date of Death: 03/04/1943
Service No: 14327345
Additional information: Son of James and Agnes Jane Philipson, of Gretna.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Compt. D. Sec. 11. Grave 1.
Cemetery: GRETNA CEMETERY, Dumfriesshire

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject:

Name: POWELL, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Age: 20
Date of Death: 13/06/1941
Service No: 552157
Additional information: Son of Robert and Stella Powell, of Gretna.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Compt. D. Sec. 37. Grave 110.
Cemetery: GRETNA CEMETERY, Dumfriesshire

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

Name: WATSON
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Date of Death: 05/12/1918
Service No: 240819
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 34. 2.
Cemetery: GRETNA CEMETERY, Dumfriesshire

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

BROWN, JOHN.
Rank:Trooper
Service No:3185357
Date of Death:03/06/1945
Age:33
Regiment/Service:Royal Armoured Corps
1st Royal Dragoons
Grave ReferenceCompt. A. Sec. 86. Grave 1.
CemeteryGRETNA CEMETERY, DUMFRIESSHIRE
Additional Information:
Son of John and Mary Ann Brown; husband of Vinette Irene Drucilla Brown, of Richmond, Yorkshire.

Photo by "spoons" - family stone on CWG

John Brown – age 33 – Trooper (3185357) 1st Royal Dragoons, Royal Armoured Corps.
Born 1911 in Langlands, Dornock, Dumfriesshire. Son of the late John Thompson Brown and of Mary Ann (Nelson) Brown of 41 Empire Way, Gretna who had married in Gretna in 1900.
Husband of Vinette Irene Drucilla Brown of Richmond, Yorkshire.
Vinette remarried to Norman Everett in Richmond in 1945 but I cannot trace her marriage to John.
Died on Service on 3 June 1945 and buried in Gretna Cemetery.
Named on the Gretna War Memorial.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

CONROY, JOHN EDWARD.
Rank:Colour Serjeant
Service No:3595095
Date of Death:21/05/1946
Age:36
Regiment/Service:Border Regiment
Grave ReferenceCompt. C. Sec. 167. Grave 499.
CemeteryGRETNA CEMETERY, DUMFRIESSHIRE
Additional Information:
Son of John Valentine Conroy and Elizabeth Conroy, of Carlisle; husband of Elizabeth Conroy, of Carlisle.

Photo by "spoons" = Family stone on CWG

John Edward Conroy – age 36 – Colour Sergeant (3595095) Border Regiment.
John, like his father, had been a regular soldier in the Border Regiment for many years and had served in India in the early 1930's. He died of Addison's diseases and mental illness in the Military Hospital, Carstairs, Carnwath, Lanarkshire.
In 1911 he and his family were at 2nd Battalion Border Regiment barracks in Binstead, Hampshire.
Born 1910 in Carlisle. Son of John Valentine Conroy and of Elizabeth (Robley) Conroy of Gretna and of Carlisle. Husband of Elizabeth (Cartner) Conroy of 15 Eden Place, Stanwix, Carlisle.
Died on 21 May 1946 and buried in Gretna Cemetery.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

FELL, HAROLD.
Rank:Private
Service No:G/87749
Date of Death:26/12/1918
Age:23
Regiment/Service:Royal Fusiliers
23rd Bn.
Grave ReferenceB. 12. 1.
CemeteryGRETNA CEMETERY, DUMFRIESSHIRE
Additional Information:
Son of John and Helen Fell, of 18, Whinfield Rd., Windermere, Westmorland. Born at Windermere.

Photo by "spoons" - private stone on CWG

Harold Fell – age 23 – Private (G/87749) 23rd Battalion (1st Sportsman's), Royal Fusiliers.
In 1911 Harold, aged 14 and a schoolboy, was living with his family at 23 Park Terrace Windermere. He enlisted as Private (Spts. 4523) in the “Sportsman's Battalion” and died due to illness at the military hospital in Wesham, Kirkdale, Fylde, Lancashire.
Born 1896 in Windermere, Kendal, Westmorland. Son of John and Helen Fell of 18 Whinfield Road, Windermere.
The 1920 Valuation Roll has a John Fell at 105a Central Avenue Gretna.
Died on Service on 26 December 1918 and buried in Gretna Cemetery.
Named on the Gretna War Memorial, on the Gretna Old Parish Church memorial and Roll of Honour; and on the Windermere Parish War Memorial.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

KERR, JOHN VOYLE.
Rank:Signalman
Service No:2337398
Date of Death:13/04/1940
Regiment/Service:Royal Corps of Signals
15th Div. Sigs.
Grave ReferenceCompt. B. Sec. 121. Grave 361.
CemeteryGRETNA CEMETERY, DUMFRIESSHIRE
Additional Information:

Photo by "spoons" - Family stone on CWG

John Voyle Kerr – age 23 – Signalman (2337398) 15th Division Signals, Royal Corps of Signals.
John was educated at Dumfries Academy, while his father was curate at St. John's church, and was employed in the Electricity Department of Dumfries County Council when he enlisted. He had been in training for 3 weeks when he collapsed and died in his barracks in Partick, Glasgow.
Born 1917 in Edmonton, London. Son of the Rev. John Cyril Kerr and Winifred (Massey) Kerr of All Saints' Parsonage, Gretna.
Died on Service on 13 April 1940 and buried in Gretna Cemetery.
Named on the Gretna War Memorial and on an indivdual memorial in Gretna Old Parish Church.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

MUIR, EDWARD THOMAS.
Rank:Driver
Service No:97920
Date of Death:29/08/1940
Age:22
Regiment/Service:Royal Army Service Corps
Grave ReferenceCompt. C. Sec. 159. Grave 1.
CemeteryGRETNA CEMETERY, DUMFRIESSHIRE
Additional Information:
Son of Edward T. Muir and Annie Muir; husband of Sadie Muir, of Raffles, Carlisle.

Photo by "spoons" - Family stone on CWG

Edward Thomas Muir – age 22 – Driver (97920) Royal Army Service Corps.
Edward was accidentally killed near Norwich while leading a convoy on his motor cycle. He had escaped from Dunkirk earlier in the year.
Born 1918 in Hoddom, Dumfrieshire. Son of Edward T. Muir and Annie Muir. Husband of Sarah or Sadie (Cartwright) Muir of B West 1, Gretna and of Raffles, Carlisle who he married in 1939 in Carlisle.
Died on Active Service on 29 August 1940 and buried in Gretna Cemetery.
Named on the Gretna War Memorial.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

PHILLIPS, JAMES.
Rank:Private
Service No:7543
Date of Death:12/11/1917
Age:35
Regiment/Service:Border Regiment
"D" Coy. 2nd Bn.
Grave ReferenceA. 8. 2.
CemeteryGRETNA CEMETERY, DUMFRIESSHIRE
Additional Information:
Son of the late James and Jane Phillips, of Creca, Annan, Dumfriesshire; husband of Mary Phillips, of 4, Midnunnery, Ferregles, Dumfries.

Photo by "spoons" - family stone on CWG

James Phillips – age 35 – Private (7543) 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment.
James, as a reservist, was mobilised in August 1914 and landed with his battalion at Boulogne in October 1914. He died in the King George Hospital in London from wounds received in action three weeks earlier.
Born 1883 in Annan, Dumfriesshire. Son of the late James and Jane Phillips, of Creca, Annan and step-son of William Cook of The Lea, Springfield Gretna. Husband of Mary (Rule) Phillips of 4 Midnunnery, Terregles, Dumfriesshire who he married in 1912 in Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.
Died of Wounds on 12 November 1917 and buried in Gretna Cemetery.
Named on the Gretna War Memorial, on the Gretna Old Parish Church memorial and Roll of Honour.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

ROYAL, J.
Rank:Worker
Service No:810
Date of Death:09/08/1917
Regiment/Service:Australian Munition Worker.
Grave ReferenceD. 26. 1.
CemeteryGRETNA CEMETERY, DUMFRIESSHIRE
Additional Information:

Photo by "spoons" - Private stone on CWG
"Erected as a token of respect by his Australian fellow workers on the Dornock Section"

Thanks to a number of Australian "pals" on the Great War Forum I can now add:
Joseph Royal – age 58 – Worker (810) Australian Munitions Worker.
Joseph was a blacksmith and was resident in Newfoundland House, Eastriggs, Dornock when he died of pneumonia in the Works Hospital in Gretna.
Born 1858 in Melbourne, Victoria as Joseph Thomas Royal. Son of the late Sarah Harriet (McPherson) Royal and of the late Joseph Royal of Melbourne.
Husband of Charlotte “Lottie” Annie (Carter) Royal who he married in 1905 in Melbourne.

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

Ken

I notice you have Australian Munition Worker in bold, but not clear why this is. It may be you think it unusual for a munitions worker to be commemorated by CWGC. Generally it is, but Australians are the exception.

The Australian Munitions and War Workers fall into the category of Recognised Civilian Organisations (RCO).
Each Dominion deemed which organisations from their countries were RCOs and, in certain circumstances, afforded CWGC status. These Australians were organised as a body to serve overseas and were numbered ( the example above is 810). They were contracted as a unit and could not pack up and return home at will like any civilian worker back home.
Australia deemed them to qualify under certain conditions.

To qualify for War Grave status they had to die in the UK or en route between 04.08.14 and 11.11.18 (or dying by 31.08.21 of injury/illness caused in UK before 11.11.18 ). Any dying in Australia do not count, they had to be on overseas service.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Jim - I just wanted to highlight his background, for the reasons you have detailed.
I know there has been some efforts to have UK munitions workers recognised and it does seem incongruous that Joseph is remembered so far from home while "locals" are not - but those were the "rules".
Thanks for the background to why this was so.
Cheers
Ken

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

BEATTIE, THOMAS COOMBES.
Rank:Civilian
Date of Death:07/04/1941
Age:60
Regiment/Service:Civilian War Dead

Reporting AuthorityCARLISLE, COUNTY BOROUGH
Additional Information:
Wife of Helen J. Beattie, of 72 Annan Road, Gretna, Dumfriesshire Injured at Masonic Hall, Gretna; died same day at Cumberland Infirmary.

Photos by "spoons"