The Scottish War Graves Project

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

Another mystery, well to me anyway!

This is what can be read on the stone. Unfortunately it's broken and has been propped up with this part being partially obscured.

........ ROBERT M. RUSSELL, A.I.E.
........ earing Station France
........ age 29 years

Possibly the son of William Russell and brother of the following man: (who is also mentioned on the same stone)

Name: RUSSELL, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Bulwark."
Date of Death: 26/11/1914
Service No: 269300
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

I can't think what A.I.E stands for and as for earing Station, France - Clearing Station?

Anne

David McNay · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject:

Possibly AIF? That would make him serving with the Australians....

Roxy · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 621 Location: Elgin, Moray

How about this man:

Name: RUSSELL
Initials: R M
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Driver
Regiment/Service: Australian Engineers
Unit Text: 13th Field Coy.
Date of Death: 23/02/1919
Service No: 16678
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 3.
Cemetery: HOUYET CHURCHYARD

Or these are the Australian R Russells who died in the Great War

Name: RUSSELL, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Date of Death: 25/04/1915
Service No: 128
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 25.
Memorial: LONE PINE MEMORIAL

Name: RUSSELL
Initials: R
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 51st Bn.
Date of Death: 16/10/1917
Service No: 2443
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. C. 17.
Cemetery: NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY

Name: RUSSELL, ROBERT ALFRED COWLEY
Initials: R A C
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 28th Bn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 03/05/1917
Service No: 5916A
Additional information: Son of Alfred Cowley Russell and Elizabeth Catherine Russell, of "Belvedere", Claremont, Western Australia. Born in Warwickshire, England.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Roxy · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 621 Location: Elgin, Moray

R M Russell (above) is buried in Houyet Churchyard, the former home of 53rd CCS.

Cemetery: HOUYET CHURCHYARD
Country: Belgium
Locality: unspecified
Location Information: The village of Houyet is located south of the town of Dinant on the N929. From the motorway E411/A4 which runs between Namur and Luxembourg turn off at junction 22 onto the N94 direction Dinant. Follow the N94 to the junction with the N929 and turn left here direction Houyet/Finnevaux. Follow this road along into the village of Houyet and turn right over the railway to the centre. Follow the road round to the right and the church is on the left in Rue de L'Eglise. The graves are located at the rear of the church.
Historical Information: The 53rd Casualty Clearing Station was posted in the village of Houyet from December 1918 to May 1919. Houyet Churchyard contains 23 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and two from the Second World War.
No. of Identified Casualties: 25
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

Thanks guys!!

Roxy - I think the first man you found will be the right one - having M as a middle name and his place of burial making it just too much of a co-incidence to be otherwise.

Are we agreed? I don't really fancy trying to move the stone!

Anne

Roxy · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 621 Location: Elgin, Moray

Anne,

I was pretty convinced myself that I was right, but I thought that I would put a few alternatives up for grabs and see what you all thought. It is just too much of a coincidence, I think.

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

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

The Australian War Memorial online RoH gives his first names and also a place of enlistment.

http://www.awm.gov.au/roh/person.asp?p=145-48396

Robert Murray Russell
Rank: Dvr R M
Service Number: 16678
Unit: 13th Field Coy Australian Engineers
Service: Army
Conflict: 1914-1918
Date of Death: 23 February 1919
Cemetery or Memorial Details: BELGIUM 268 Houyet Churchyard
Place Of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
War Grave Register Notes: RUSSELL, Dvr. R.M., 16678. 13th Field Coy. Australian Engineers. 23rd Feb., 1919. A. 3.
Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

And from the Australian National Archive

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=8073473&NS=Y&T=1

RUSSELL Robert Murray :
Service Number - 16678 :
Place of Birth - Kilsyth Scotland :
Place of Enlistment - Sydney NSW :
Next of Kin - (Wife) RUSSELL Jean Patterson

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

Here we go again!

Inscription:
THOMAS BROWNLIE, Gordon Highlanders died in India 12th November 1918 aged 30 years
Son of John and Elizabeth Brownlie (nee Angus)

The only Thomas Brownlie I can find is the following:

CWGC
Name: BROWNLIE, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Date of Death: 26/03/1918
Service No: 3/6404
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 8 and 9.
Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname BROWNLIE
Firstname Thomas
Service Number 3/6404
Date Death 26/03/1918
Decoration
Place of birth Govan
Other 7th Bn.
SNWM roll THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS
Rank Pte
Theatre of death F.& F.

Why would he be on the Arras Memorial if he died in India?

Any suggestions? Confused

Anne

David McNay · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

The grave could be completely wrong.

I have a grave in Glasgow to a great-uncle which states he died in South Africa.

All well and good, and it kicked off my Boer War interest.....only trouble is he died in India.

Roxy · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 621 Location: Elgin, Moray

Anne,

How about this chap?

Name: BROWNLEE, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 12/11/1918
Service No: S/16246
Additional information: Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Brownlee; husband of Jenny Bauld Brownlee, of 4 Burngreen Kilsyth, Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. B. 12.
Cemetery: RAWALPINDI WAR CEMETERY

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

That'll be him Roxy - thanks!

How in the name of the wee man did you find him - I thought I tried every combination!!

Anne

Roxy · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 621 Location: Elgin, Moray

Anne

It was pure luck!

Wink

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

That's all of the above sorted . . . . . . . . . so - here's the next installment

Surname ROBERTSON
Firstname John
Service Number 39977
Date Death 01/12/1917
Decoration
Place of birth Coatbridge Lanark
Other formerly 11981 R.C.R.
SNWM roll MACHINE GUN CORPS
Rank Cpl
Theatre of death F.& F.

and

Surname ROBERTSON
Firstname John
Service Number 11981
Date Death 01/12/1917
Decoration
Place of birth Coatbridge
Other latterly 39977, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry).
SNWM roll COMMANDS AND STAFF; CAVALRY (EXCLUDING GREYS AND SCOTTISH YEOMANRY)
Rank Cpl
Theatre of death F.& F.

The above two SNWM entries are the same man. His CWGC entry gives his M.G.C. info, so that all ties in - but - what does R.C.R. mean and what exactly does 'Excluding Greys and Scottish Yeomanry' mean? This is the first time I've seen 'Commands and Staff' too, so I wouldn't mind the idiot's guide to what that is.

Old Monkland is proving to be fun and games and I've only done about a quarter of it - thank goodness for this 'Queries' section!

Anne

Roxy · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 621 Location: Elgin, Moray

RCR = Royal Canadian Regiment?

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

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