The Scottish War Graves Project

scottish lass · Joined: 29 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Canada

Hi everyone. You have a fantastic site and the work you have done is remarkable. I found your site while trying to locate a family member's gravestone. My grandfather's brother was drowned on the HS Warilda August 3, 1918. He was a private with the KOSB's. I found a site that gave me the information that his grave site was located in Hollybrook, Southampton. But I have a picture of his gravestone which also includes his mother's name as well. I don't know if his body was actually recovered or not. His name was John McKie, and his mother's name was Mary Ann McIntyre. I believe this to be a private gravestone. I would think that it would be located in one of the cemetaries in Dumfries as the family was living at 32 Shakespeare at the time. Any help locating the wearabouts of the gravesite would be appreciated.

Eileen

spoons · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:59 am Post subject:

Hi Eileen and welcome.

I think this is your granduncle:

Name: McKIE, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 03/08/1918
Service No: 241117
Additional information: Son of John and Mary Ann McKie, of 32, Shakespeare St., Dumfries.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: HOLLYBROOK MEMORIAL, SOUTHAMPTON

The fact that he is named on the Hollybrook memorial in Southampton means that his body was not recovered. CWGC have a place of commemoration for every soldier who died in the 2 world wars, if there is no grave then they put him on a special memorial.

The picture you have will be a family gravestone that lists him but he is not buried there.

Dumfries is my patch so I will have a look to see what I can turn up.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

John McKie is listed on the Dumfries war memorial and you can see photos of this on our sister project at http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=543&mforum=warmemscot

Do you have a photograph of him that we could put on the site?

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject:

He is also listed on the memorial inside St John's episcopal church at http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1058&highlight=&mforum=warmemscot

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject:

John McKie is not listed on any grave that I have posted so far in and around Dumfries nor is he listed on any of the 100+ that I have yet to post. I suspect he will be on a grave in St Michael's cemetery that I have only just started to photograph. It may be several weeks before I have all the photographs and have them posted. If you have a photo, can you scan and post what you have to help me find it?

\Paul

scottish lass · Joined: 29 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Canada

Thanks Paul, That's a lot of great information. I actually do have a picture of him and my grandfather both in uniform. They were both with the KOSB's. My grandfather was blown up in a foxhole in Gallipoli and woke up in Alexandria. He was 2 years older than John but he survived and died in 1969. I never knew any of my family in Scotland. I'm first generation born in Canada. So I truly appreciate you looking into this for me. I don't know much about my mother's side of the family as she passed away when I was only ten. So I've taken it upon myself to find out more. Thanks again.

Eileen

scottish lass · Joined: 29 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Canada

The picture I have of the gravesite will have to be enlarged. It's very small. I needed a magnifying glass to read the inscription. I will scan it and send it to you.

Thanks again.

Eileen

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

Eileen,

There are a couple of McKie brothers listed on the New Abbey War Memorial, some 6 miles from Dumfries - possibly a family link to yours?

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=258&highlight=abbey&mforum=warmemscot

One issue I have found is that there is usually a great deal of different spellings for surnames such as McKie, McKay, MacKay etc etc.
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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

spoons · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject:

I have just been around St Michael's again and the only McKie I found was George, but its a big place. I think I need to make a specific query with the council so would need to know the full name and date of death of the first listed person on the photo of the gravestone you have. That should enable me to pin down the cemetery and location.

\Paul

scottish lass · Joined: 29 Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Canada

Hi Paul,
The inscription on the gravestone is as follows "
In loving memory of
Mary Ann McIntyre
beloved wife of John McKie
died July 28?? 1923??
aged ?? years
Also, Pte. John McKie
son of the above
Drowned on hospital ship Warilda
?? August, 1918 aged 25 years.

The question marks are because the photo is old and very small. I had to use a magnifying glass to read it. My sister talks about always having to go to the High Cemetary on Sundays when they were visiting. This is absolutely wonderful of you to put so much time into this site and helping people with their searches. Thank you so much.

Eileen