The Scottish War Graves Project

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

The old church is on the B7052, just off the A746, in the centre of Sorbie village.
There is one CWG burial.

Name: STOTT
Initials: J E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Defence Corps
Unit Text: 462nd Protection Coy.
Date of Death: 10/10/1918
Service No: 72247
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: South of Church ruins
Cemetery: Sorbie Old Churchyard

Pt. Stott is a victim of the RMS Leinster sinking. Born in Brighouse, Yorkshire he was formerly 37825, West Yorkshire Regiment.
Many of his colleagues of the 462nd Company, who died in the same incident, are buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Co. Dublin.

The following is from the Galloway Gazette dated Sat 23 November 1918.

(could not get my scan to load so photo of my PC screen)

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

I am not sure if this qualifies as a war grave but in view of his military decorations I have posted him. I am trying to find out his Regiment.

Constable James Briggs of the Royal Irish Constabulary was killed, with three colleagues, on 3 June 1921 in an IRA ambush at Modreeny, Co. Tipperary.

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

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Adam
I cannot find a reference on the Gazettes sites.
From a site with deals with RIC history, I'm reasonably sure that he was not a reservist (ie B&T) and there was a posting on the forum from his great-grandson - but it was made about a year ago so I'm hoping he is still using it and will see my post.
Cheers Kenneth

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Information from the RIC Forum is that James Briggs served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Kenneth

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

His MIC looks like it says 5th Battalion:

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

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Derek
As far as I can find, there was not a 5th Battalion. There was a 1/5th but they served in the middle east and were not posted to France until April 1918.
I've asked the guy who seems to run the Royal Irish Constabulary forum if he would post the information he has on James Briggs on this site.

Kenneth

Peter Mc · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Posts: 3

James Briggs joined the RIC on 25 Feb 1920. As such he would be classed as a 'Black and Tan' (ie a non-Irish ex-soldier recruited to bolster the strength of the RIC) though not a reservist. Prior to this he had served with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers (Corporal 14429) where he won the MM in August 1917 at Frezenburg for taking control of a unit when his commander was fatally wounded. He received the DCM in October 1918 "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations east of Ypres. On the 5th October 1918 he located a machine gun post by a daylight patrol and during the night raided it, capturing two heavy and one light machine gun".
He was known as 'Jock' to his comrades in the RIC and was killed when on a cycle patrol near Borrisokane in County Tipperary. Part of a 12 man group on their way to Petty Sessions, he died along with three other 'old RIC' and 4 more seriously wounded.
There are family still, I believe, living locally so out of deference I won't post any photos. I hope though I may be permitted to quote this very poignant poem taken from his memoriam card:

"Oh! why was he taken, so young and so fair,
When the earth held so many, it surely could spare?
Hard, hard was the blow that compelled us to part,
With one so loving, so dear to our hearts.

Friends may forget him, his mother will never;
He will live in my heart till life's journey is done.
Lord, teach me to live that when my life is ended,
I'll be met at the gates by my dear hero son."
_________________
Peter Mc
- Interested in anything relating to the Royal Irish Constabulary -
Visit my web site - RIC Family Research

Peter Mc · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Posts: 3

With the kind permission of the family, attached are two photos of James Briggs. In one of them he is seen wearing his gallantry medal ribbons.

_________________
Peter Mc
- Interested in anything relating to the Royal Irish Constabulary -
Visit my web site - RIC Family Research

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

Peter

Thanks for posting the photographs. The top one must show him in the RSF with the grenade collar badges. The second one shows him in the uniform of a sergeant of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Interestingly it shows him in full dress which suggests a pre-war photograph but the belt is not the usual full dress belt and he is a sergeant so maybe it is Post-war? Maybe not though because he is not wearing any medals.

Adam

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Just had a telephone chat with Jim Briggs McKie a great-nephew of James Briggs and the reason for the A&SH uniform is that he borrowed it from a mate - because it looked so good!!

Kenneth

John Burnett · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 306 Location: Fife

Name: KENNEDY, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 14/09/1917
Service No: 202558
Additional information: Son of William and Elizabeth Kennedy, of Burnside Cottages, Garliestown, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. G. 6.
Cemetery: HARGICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY

John Burnett · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 306 Location: Fife

Name: CAVEN, DAVID SINCLAIR
Initials: D S
Nationality: New Zealand
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 12/10/1917
Service No: 22207
Additional information: Son of Mary Caven, of Garlieston, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: N.Z. Apse, Panel 3.
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

John Burnett · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 306 Location: Fife

Name: STEVENSON, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Master
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine
Unit Text: "Llwynwair"
Age: 53
Date of Death: 26/04/1918
Additional information: Son of the late David Stevenson and his wife Margaret Whannel; husband of Annie Stevenson, of Bay View, Garlieston.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

briggs · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 2 Location: stranraer

Have not been on for sometime but on Sat I received an email to say I had a private message but I have been unable to find it, if anyone has been trying to contact me then please get in touch