The Scottish War Graves Project

mons21 · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 4

Hi,
Just a quick hello.

My name is Martyn Gibson and I was referred to this site from the Great War Forum. What a wonderful resource this site is. Well done.

My main area of interest is in the Monmouthshire Regiment but at the moment I am compiling a book about the men and women from Melksham who gave their lives during the Great War.

Kind regards

Martyn

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject:

Hi Martyn

Nice to see you made it over Laughing

It would be interesting to know how men from your area of interest came to be buried or commemorated in Scotland.

\Paul

mons21 · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 4

Hi Paul,

Many thanks for the link to this site.

My interest is because Gunner Fergusson is mentioned on the Melksham memorial and I am compiling a book about all the men and women who are mentioned on it. I thought it would be nice to try and get a copy of his headstone to put in the book.

I am still trying to find out what happened to him. He was serving on HMS Cyclops II when he died.

Martyn

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject:

HMS Cyclops - Launched by Sir James Laing & Son at Sunderland 27th Oct 1905. Commissioned at Devonport as Home Fleet repair ship. Based at Scapa Flow throughout World War 1. After a refit in 1920, Cyclops became the Depot Ship for the First Submarine Flotilla, at Chatham, then took that Flotilla out to Malta in 1926. Cyclops remained in the Mediterranean until 1938, when she was relieved by Maidstone. She served in home waters throughout the Second World War, firstly at Harwich, then Rosyth and then at Rothesay from June 1940, working with the operational boats of the 3rd Flotilla running from HMS Forth at Holy Loch, further up the River Clyde. She was paid off in 1945, replaced at Rothesay by the Forth, and was sold in 1947. Scrapped at Newport

there is a story here http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/62/a5753162.shtml of a man who served on it for a period.

your man is not listed at http://www.naval-history.net/ under cyclops so I guess that means he most likely died of disease.

\Paul

mons21 · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 4

Paul,

Many thanks for the reply.

I followed the link to the Naval history site and I found a reference to Ferguson and it says he died as a result of any accident.

Very interesting site thank you for the link to it and for the comprehensive reply. I very much appreciate it.

Martyn

spoons · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject:

glad to help - even accidentally Shocked

there's a few of us around who like a puzzle so don't be frightened to use the queries and requests section.

\Paul