The Scottish War Graves Project

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

This is the grave of John McGinlay in Hawick's Wellogate Cemetery.

Name: McGINLAY, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Secondary Regiment: Training Reserve
Secondary Unit Text: transf. to (234558) 458th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 12/07/1921
Service No: 651
Additional information: Son of John and Grace McGinlay, of 17, Trinity St., Hawick. Born at Hawick.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Burghal. 4315.
Cemetery: HAWICK (WELLOGATE) CEMETERY

At the bottom of his grave you will see this:

Also 291546 L/Cpl Thomas McGinlay M.M., Gordon Highlanders in his 25th year. RIP

A medal Index Card survives for Thomas confirming his service number.
But there is no mention of him on the CWGC website.
So did he die during the Great War? Or did he die afterwards and his parents had his service details inscribed on the other brother's headstone?
But if he died at home later why isn't his grave next to this one?
_________________
There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

spoons · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

I guess that he was buried in the same grave as his brother (?) and the inscription added. I understand that CWGC allows this in cemeteries that they don't own. I have a few where a widow, son and in one case a mother have been buried in the same grave and added to the CWGC stone in the same way.

\Paul

JIMMCGINLAY · Joined: 05 Oct 2007 Posts: 748 Location: Glasgow

Thanks Derek.
I had already come across the CWGC entry so it was interesting to see your photographs.
No connection with my branch of the family though. I had no idea the clan had reached as far as the Borders.
Jim

Splunge89 · Joined: 30 Apr 2018 Posts: 1

My name is Tim McKinley. I am 65 years old and I live in Tampa FL, USA. I am a relative of John McGinlay. Last year, I did a research project to learn all I could about my paternal ancestors. I found official records - birth, marriage, death and census abounding, tracing my Scottish roots from John McGinlay's death in 1921 back to his great-parents' arrival at Hawick from Cavan (?) Ireland ca. 1849.

I am seeking members of the family who can share whatever they can. Besides the documents, I have nothing of a personal nature, such as letters, newspaper articles or anything else, that would add some color to their story, and show what kind of people they were.

I would be most happy to explain how the family, beginning with John's grandmother's brother James McGinlay, came to America and how they grew and prospered.

Thank you in advance!