The Scottish War Graves Project

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

The cemetery is on the left side of Portree Street which is first left, just after the War Memorial, on the main road (A77) into Portpatrick.
There are 6 CWGs; 5 named and 1 unidentified.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Name: BALSDON, DENYS FINLAY
Initials: D F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Wing Commander (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force (RAFO)
Age: 28
Date of Death: 18/12/1941
Service No: 34065
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Additional Information: Son of Percy Robert Balsdon and of Mabel Olive Balsdon (nee Finlay) and husband of Phyllis Mary Balsdon (nee Adair), of Portpatrick. Service and International Hockey Player.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. A. Grave 206.
Cemetery: Portpatrick Cemetery

Photo from Mike Morley

There is a biog. at http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RAF_officers_B01.html

which includes:
Commanding Officer, 97 Squadron RAF
[Returning in a Manchester I (L7490 OF-U) from a daylight attack on the Gneisenau in the port of Brest, Balsdon's aircraft, a Halifax, which had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire over the target, crashed on landing at Coningsby and the whole crew were killed. From the Operations Record Book: "On reaching home base, the visibility being bad, overshot the aerodrome and on opening up the engines to apparently circle round again, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all the crew. The aircraft was completely burnt. The aircraft had been seen to be hit by flak over the target, smashing the tailplane and elevator, the rear turret also being put out of action. The rear gunner was a casualty. W/C Balsdon having signalled for the ambulance to be ready on landing. W/C Balsdon led the formation to the target and back to the English coast and then gave over command to S/L Sherwood DFC owing to damage caused by flak."]

There is some confusion about the type of aircraft. 97 Squadron flew Avro Manchesters in 1941. These were replaced with Lancasters.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Name: CUMMING, ANDREW ALEXANDER
Initials: A A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 06/02/1918
Additional Information: Son of Andrew Cumming, of Penvin St., Portpatrick.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: F. 22.
Cemetery: Portpatrick Cemetery

From Mike Morley:

Wigtownshire Free Press 31 August 1916: Portpatrick again stands prominent in the recent issue of the "London Gazette" of Army appointments and promotions. It was with pleasure we observed the promotion to commissioned rank of Second Lieutenant of Mr Andrew Alexander Cumming. Son of the proprieter of the Crown Hotel, Portpatrick, Lieut Cumming for many years was associated with the Ayr and Galloway Artillery, and distinguished himself in the discharge of his military duties connected with Garrison Artillery work. He holds an excellent record as a first class shot, and retains many distinctions won in keen contests. Lately he was connected with the local company of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and took an active interest in all matters relating to the welfare of his unit. On the outbreak of war Lieut Cumming's services were again enlisted, and a position of trust was given to him in the No 1 Supernumerary Company of the 5th KOSB, he having acted as non-commissioned officer in charge of several military guards on detatched posts in isolated areas, where his excellent worth as a man, and long experience as a soldier, gained for him consideration of further promotion by his superior officers. His appointment now to commissioned rank is the just reward of good and faithful service. Lieut Cumming is detailed for duty with the Royal Defence Corps, and will be on service within the command presently held by Capt James Brand Of Newton Stewart.

14 February 1918: It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of Lieut Andrew Cumming, Portpatrick, which took place in the Military Hospital, Edinburgh, on 6th inst. Lieut Cumming was home on leave in August and, after returning, he took ill and went through several operations, to the last of which he succumbed. When he was still a very young man he was a member of the A&GVA, the Territorials, and National Reserve. When war broke out he was a private with the KOSB and was promoted to sergeant during their stay at Portpatrick on patrol duty. He then went to Edinburgh in the NDC and was later transferred to the Royal Scots in which he obtained his commission as Second Lieutenant. Lately he was promoted to 1st Lieut. In private life Lieut Cumming was of a quiet disposition, and was mush respected by all with whom he came into contact. The funeral took place on Saturday to Portpatrick cemetery, and was largely attended. The coffin, draped in the Union Jack, was carried shoulder-high by Navymen, the Boy Scouts marching in front. Much sympathy is estended to Mr Cumming and his daughter on their bereavement.

Medal card of Cumming, Andrew Alexander
Royal Scots Territorial Force Second Lieutenant
Royal Defence Corps 3057/13759 Serjeant

Photos from Mike Morley

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Name: MYALL
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Date of Death: 05/03/1915
Service No: 3048
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 30.
Cemetery: Portpatrick Cemetery

SDGW - born and resident in Annan, Dumfriesshire.

extra details from Mike Morley - from the Wigtownshire Free Press

100 years ago: Thursday April 15 1915

SOLDIER'S BODY RECOVERED AT PORTPATRICK

The body of Corporal Frank Myall was found floating in the dock on Monday morning. Myall, while on his way from the village to his quarters, fell in the dock one dark night over six weeks ago, and although trawling operations were prosecuted for some days afterwards, the body was not recovered. He was serving with the K.O.S.B.s (National Reserve) at the Wireless Station at the time of the accident. The remains were removed to the mortuary in the cemetery, and interred there on Tuesday afternoon with full military honours.

Frank Myall – age 36 – Corporal (3048) 2/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Frank was brought up in Lambeth in London and he went, at the age of 13, to the Training Ship “Exmouth” at Grays in Essex in October 1894 before he joined the Navy as a Boy in January 1895. He signed on for 12 years as an Ordinary Seaman in December 1897 and was discharged as Leading Seaman (182429) in December 1909. He married in August 1910 in Edinburgh and came to work as a machine-man at the Cochrane & Company Works at Newbie, Annan. He enlisted in August 1914 for home guarding duties and had just been posted to Portpatrick in Wigtownshire when he fell off the quay at the harbour side and was drowned.
Born in December 1879 as Frank Tom Myall in Blandford, Dorset. Son of the late John and Leonora (Freeman) Myall. Husband of Effie or Euphemia (Nicholson) Myall who he married in 1910 in St. Giles, Edinburgh.
Died on Service on 5 March 1915.
Commonwealth War Grave – Portpatrick Cemetery. Wigtownshire.
Named on the Annan War Memorial and on the Cochrane Company Roll of Honour.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Name: O'BRIEN, PHILIP
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Date of Death: 10/10/1918
Service No: 24677
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 29.
Cemetery: Portpatrick Cemetery

A victim of the RMS Leinster sinking.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Name: ROBERTSON, GEORGE HAWTHORN MINOT
Initials: G H M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry
Unit Text: 13th Bn.
Secondary Regiment: Nigeria Regiment, W.A.F.F.
Secondary Unit Text: attd.
Age: 33
Date of Death: 10/03/1919
Additional Information: Son of the Rev. George Philip Robertson, M.A., and Martha Hawthorn Urquhart Robertson,of 41, Mardale Crescent, Edinburgh. Six years in the Colonial Civil Service, Straits Settlement. Recalled from military work in Africa, January 1919.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 58.
Cemetery: Portpatrick Cemetery

Photos from Mike Morley

Note from me: George Robertson's dad, the Rev George Philip Robertson was the Minister of the Free Kirk in Stoneykirk and his son is the first name on the War Memorial at Sandhead. He also died there.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

An unknown sailor of the Merchant Navy. Buried 10/08/1940.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Name: TULLY, JAMES WITHER
Initials: J W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 27/03/1916
Service No: 12382
Additional Information: Son of William and Agnes Jane Tully, of Colfin, Stranraer.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 17.
Cemetery: Potijze Chateau Wood Cemetery

Extra info from Mike Morley:
Wigtownshire Free Press (13 April 1916) carried a photograph of Private Tully: Official intimation has been received by Mr Tully, Colfin, that his youngest son, Private James Tully, Scots Guards, has been killed on 27th March by a sniper while he was relieving a guard. Private Tully joined the Scots Guards in November 1914, and after undergoing a course of training at Caterham, he proceeded to France in October last. Previous to joining the Army he was serving his apprenticship in the Union Bank, Stranraer.

James is named on both the Portpatrick and the Stranraer War Memorials.

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Name: MCCRACKEN, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry, 10th Bn
Date of Death: 11th January 1917
Service Number: 100182
Panel reference: Panel 24 – 28 – 30
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

Private McCracken’s Attestation papers show his date of birth as 22nd February 1887. He named his mother, Elizabeth McCracken of Kilfillan, Glenluce, as his next of kin. His trade was a Stationary Engineer.

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Name: MILLER, FREDERICK
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 9th Bn
Age: 18
Date of Death: 11th February, 1916
Service Number: S/9480
Additional Information: Son of William and Elizabeth Miller, of Main St., Hinton St. Mary, Dorset.
Panel Reference: Panel 78 to 83
Memorial: Loos Memorial

Wigtownshire Free Press (30 March 1916): Killed in action on February 11th, Private Fred Miller, 9th Black Watch, only son of W Miller, Manchester, (late dairyman, Cairngaarn), and grandson of the late W McWhirter, Lagganmore.

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Name: PATTERSON, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery, 184th Siege Battery
Age: 25
Date of Death: 4th June 1917
Service Number: 61089
Additional Information: Son of Samuel and Sarah Patterson, of Lochans, Stranraer, Wigtown.
Grave Reference: VII. E. 17
Cemetery: Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery

Wigtownshire Free Press (5 July 1917) carried a photograph of Gunner Paterson and reported: Mr and Mrs Paterson, High Mark, Leswalt, have received official word that their son, Gnr Alex Paterson, Royal Garrison Artillery, was killed in action in France on 4th June. Gnr Paterson enlisted about two years ago. He was formerly employed as a dairyman in the district.

[Note different spelling of surname]

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Name: SMITH, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Stoker, 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, HMS Cressy
Age: 23
Date of Death: 22nd September 1914
Service Number: K/13677
Additional Information: Son of James and Minnie Ann Smith, of 8, Hill St., Port Patrick, Wigtownshire.
Panel Reference: 4
Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Wigtownshire Free Press (1 October 1914): On Monday morning Mr James Smith, Hill Street, Portpatrick, coxwain of the Portpatrick lifeboat, received a wire from the Admiralty, stating that his son, John, a first class stoker, was not amongst those sailors who were landed from the Cressy, one of three cruisers which were sunk by the German submarine or submarines in the North Sea on Tuesday night. Mr Smith's son joined the Navy about three years ago. Prior to joining the Cressy, he was on the Invincible, which was stationed in the Mediterranean for eight months, while he had also seen service in several other ships. He was 23 years of age, and joined the Cressy just a short time before the outbreak of war.

Note: HMS Cressy was a Cressy-class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy around 1900. Upon completion she was assigned to the China Station. In 1907 she was transferred to the North America and West Indies Station before being placed in reserve in 1909. Recommissioned at the start of World War I, she played a minor role in the Battle of Heligoland Bight a few weeks after the beginning of the war. Cressy, together with two of her sister ships, was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-9 on 22 September 1914 with the loss of 560 of her crew. (Source: Wikipedia)

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Major J A L Brown

Galloway Gazette (12 August 1972): A wide circle of friends throughout the County heard with deep regret of the sudden death of Major JAL Brown at his home, Crest House, Portpatrick, on Monday. He was 74. He was born at Whithorn where he spent his early working days keeping with his father’s drapery shop. Joining the Army at the age of 17 he was one of a band of men who served with the now legendary Lawrence of Arabia during a twelve months spell in the desert. Soon after this he was commissioned and returned to this country. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was given his own command, with the rank of Captain, and in 1940 he founded the Wigtownshire Battery, Royal Artillery. Major Brown was in France during the war and followed the forces into Germany, where he was given the post of Town Mayor of Halberstadt, a small town not far from Berlin. After the war was over he and his son Norman went into a farming partnership of High Three Mark, Stoneykirk. But he never lost his family connections and he was one of the co-founders of the Port William Branch of the British Legion, and in 1957 he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration for services to the Territorials. Local affairs always interested Major Brown and he was a member of the Wigtownshire Local Employment Committee and the Wigtownshire Valuation Appeal Court. Major Brown was an extremely keen golfer and he was a former president of the South of Scotland Gold Association and past vice-president of St Medan’s Golf Club. He was also a club captain of Dunskey Golf Club and an associate member of the County and Creachmore Clubs. He is survived by a widow, son and daughter to whom deep sympathy is extended.

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Colour Sergeant Peter Douglas, Royal Scots Fusiliers

Wigtownshire Free Press (13 August 1905): The remains of Colour Sergeant Peter McMillan Douglas, 1st Batallion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, First Class Instructor to the Calcutta Rifles Volunteers, second youngest son of the last Mr William Douglas, Pinminnock, and Mrs Douglas, Portree, were interred in the New Cemetery, Portpatrick, on Friday afternoon, with semi-military honours. The funeral was largely attended. At Portree an appropriate and impressive service was conducted by the Rev John Brownlie, DD, Trinity Church. The coffin, draped in the Union Jack, on which was placed the deceased’s helmet, sword, belt, and a number of beautiful floral tributes, was borne shoulder-high from the house to the hearse by Colour Sergeant Proudfoot and two Sergeants of the Battalion from the depot at Ayr, and Sergt Major M McDougall, Royal Garrison Artillery. At the cemetery they also formed the carrying party to the grave. Colour Sergt Douglas joined the 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers at Ayr on 26th April 1894 and was early drafted to India in which he had twelve years service with the battalion. A smart young soldier, of good education, he soon gained the confidence of superior officers. On 4th May 1895 he was promoted to Lance-Corporal; on 1st June 1896 to Corporal; on 3rd May 1898 to Lance-Sergeant; on 27th March 1899 to Sergeant; and on 20th January 1904 to Colour Sergeant. In the beginning of last year he was appointed First Class Instructor to the Calcutta Rifles Volunteers, and towards the end of the year he obtained leave of absence owing to ill-health. On arriving in England he was confined to Netley Hospital for a short time, and came home in February last. It was hoped he would regain his former robust health, and it was only a week or so before his death that his illness assumed a serious form, and the end came at his mother’s residence, Portree, Portpatrick, on Tuesday evening last week. In his battalion he was a very popular non-commissioned officer, and took a leading part in all regimental athletic sports. His old schoolmates and acquaintances in this district were proud of his military career, and regret the close of a young life so full of promise. He was thirty one years of age, and leaves a widow and one child, and for all his relatives the deepest sympathy has been expressed in their sad bereavement.

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

John McCrorie RN