The Scottish War Graves Project

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

SORN PARISH CHURCHYARD
Ayrshire
United Kingdom
No. of Identified Casualties: 2

Name: GORDON
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Defence Corps
Date of Death: 12/02/1919
Service No: 17429
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Near South boundary.
Cemetery: SORN PARISH CHURCHYARD, AYRSHIRE.

Name: RICHARDSON, WILLIAM JOHN
Initials: W J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Guardsman
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 01/01/1943
Service No: 2698141
Additional information: Son of Daniel and Janet Richardson; husband of Maggie Richardson, of Sorn.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 2128.
Cemetery: SORN PARISH CHURCHYARD, AYRSHIRE.

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

In Affectionate Remembrance of
DAVID RICHMOND AITKEN
CORPORAL CYCLE CORPS 1ST R.V. GREENOCK
WHO DIED OF ENTERIC FEVER AT PRETORIA
ON WED 29TH MAY 1901
AGED 26 YEARS

ALSO OF TOM AITKEN, LATE 17TH HLI
WHO DIED AT GREENOCK ON WED 1ST JUNE 1921
OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
DURING THE WAR 1914 – 1918 AGED 36 YEARS

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

Surname HENDERSON
First name James
Rank Pte
Service Number 240335
Date Death 01/10/1918
Place of birth Sorn Ayrshire
Other 1/5th Bn.
Regiment THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
Grave/Memorial Ref. IV D 31
Cemetery: ANNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, FRANCE

Surname DUNSMORE
First name Thomas
Rank Corporal
Service Number 240846
Date Death 02/06/1918
Decoration
Place of birth Muirkirk Ayrshire. Son of William and Annie Dunsmore of 40 Springhill Terrace, Muirkirk, Ayrshire.
Other 1/5th Bn.
Age 21
Regiment THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
Grave/ Memorial Ref: IV H 24
Cemetery: AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, FRANCE

Surname McGREGOR
First name Thomas
Rank Pte
Service Number 241361
Date Death 01/10/1918
Place of birth Aberdeen. Stepson Of Fred Mulloy of 70 St. Clement St., Aberdeen.
Other 1/5TH Bn.
Age 21
Regiment THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
Grave/Memorial Ref: Panel 6
Memorial: VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, FRANCE.

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

Name: STRACHAN, DAVID EUGENE
Initials: D E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Unit Text: 11th Bn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 18/07/1944
Service No: 217458
Additional information: Son of Robert and Olive Strachan, of Glasgow. Place of birth Ayr.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. G. 10.
Cemetery: KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY, INDIA

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

Major Frederick William Augustine Oakes
Born Cologne, Germany 23rd November 1923
Died Edinburgh 28th March 1997

According to the locals, a delegation from France hold a service at the graveside every year.
Noboby knows Major Oake's background.
Was he in the SIS, SOE?
The SAS emblem on the bottom right of the headstone is intriguing.
Would anyone have any information on Major Oakes?

John Houston.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

From http://www.sasregiment.org.uk/ww2.html

Prior to the Normandy Invasion, SAS men were inserted into France as 4-men teams to help maquisards of the French Resistance. In Operation Houndsmith, 144 SAS men parachuted with jeeps and supplies into Dijon, France. During and after D-Day they continued their raids against fuel depots, communications centres and railways. They did suffer casualties at one stage the Germans executed 24 SAS soldiers and a US Air Force pilot. At the end of the war, they hunted down SS and Gestapo officers.

and from Adams post - he was a member of the Royal Signals (hence the "Winged Mercury" badge) so probably a radio operator

http://www.specialforcesroh.com/image-2565.html

William Oakes · Joined: 29 Sep 2011 Posts: 1

A cousin from Peebles alerted me to the picture of the headstone and comments concerning my parents’ headstone in Sorn Kirkyard, East Ayrshire. Thanks to fellow members of the Scottish War Graves project for their interest – may I give some more information? I have recently joined the Group.

My parents met in Ayr at a dance in 1944. My father was a courier and radio operator (also a technician which gave a double advantage on operations – he once repaired an SOE suitcase radio).. He was training at Monkton nr. Prestwick with 2nd SAS but also did some couriering at nearby Sorn Castle which in 1944 was the Brigade HQ for the SAS. My father’s parent regiment was The Royal Corps of Signals which he went back to after the War and retired in 1975. My mother’s family worked on a nearby farm in Sorn belonging to the Sorn Estate. My grandparents and and an Uncle & Aunt are also buried in Sorn Kirkyard.
In August 1997 a group of 4 French Maquisards made a special visit to Scotland to honour my father; Albert Fah, Henry Chevallier, Gerard Huot and Leon Gervais - my father had been with them in different parts of occupied France. The first three were members of the Maquis Grandrupt nr. Bains-les-Bains and later spent 8 months in Dachau. Leon operated in Burgundy. The Scotsman did an article at the time. Since then various SAS veterans have visited my father’s grave. The kirkyard is beautifully kept by East Ayrshire Council. If you want any more information, please let me know. My interest in headstones extends outside Scotland, fellow members might be interested in the following:
http://www.specialforcesroh.com/browse.php?mode=viewiroll&rollid=2726
Again, thanks for your interest.

PS Why was Dad born in Cologne? My grandfather was also in the Army - the Royal Engineers (from which the Royal Signals was created) - my grandparents were stationed as part of the British Army of the Rhine after the 1st War and lived in Cologne. My father had an elder sister but she died a few weeks after birth due to the flu pandemic of the 1920's. She was buried in the British Military Cemetery in Cologne in 1921 - the grave was maintained by the German state right through the last war. I saw it about 5 years ago and it was kept in fine condition.

apanderson · Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 6903 Location: Stirlingshire

Hello William,

Thank you very much for the very interesting information.

As you no doubt realise, we post photos of anyone having a military connection but on very few occasions are we able to follow up on any details, so your input is very much appreciated.

Anne