The Scottish War Graves Project

spoons · Last edited by spoons on Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

OS Map Ref: NS 894 038

In the centre of Durisdeer village.

Number of CWGC burials 0

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject:

I have been trying hard to find an excuse to post this because of its excellent qualities and general historic value. Finally I found out that he was lieutenant-colonel of Dundee's regiment of horse and was later appointed colonel of the 6th Horse Guards Regiment. A bit thin I know, but I think it sneaks in under the wire.

This is the mausoleum of the 2nd Duke of Queensbury, especially surprising because of its location in a small village church. Described in church literature as the Queensbury Isle, the mausoleum forms the north transept of the church (i.e. opposite side to the main entrance). The mausoleum cannot be entered from the church but go around the right hand side of the church and the second door is the mausoleum. It is kept permanently open, the door is a bit stiff, there is a light switch inside. You can see the exterior of the mausoleum and the door in the first photo. The inside is quite magnificent for something found in a modest church but my photos fail to do it justice. You would really need a fish-eye lens to get really good photos as you just cannot stand far enough back but I hope it gives a feel for the memorial.

Details about the Duke from Wikipedia:

James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry and 1st Duke of Dover (18 December 1662 - 6 July 1711), was a Scottish nobleman.

He was the eldest son of William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry and his wife Isabel Douglas, daughter of William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas.

Educated at the University of Glasgow, he was appointed a Scottish Privy Counsellor in 1684, and was lieutenant-colonel of Dundee's regiment of horse. He joined William III in 1688 and was appointed colonel of the 6th Horse Guards Regiment.

He was appointed Lord High Treasurer of Scotland from 1693 and Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1695 to 1702. He was Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland in 1700, 1702 and 1703, in which role he procured the abandonment of the Darién scheme.

He was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1701, and was Secretary of State from 1702. He encouraged the Jacobites by his undecided attitude on the question of the settlement, and was deluded into unconsciously furthering the Jacobite designs of Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat. He withdrew from government in 1704.

He was reinstated as Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1705, was a commissioner of the estates in 1706, and procured the signing of the Treaty of Union. He was Secretary of State for Scotland from 1709 until his death.

He was created Duke of Dover, Marquess of Beverley and Earl of Ripon in 1708, and appointed to the British Privy Council in the same year.

Queensberry House in Edinburgh is today part of the Scottish Parliament Building.

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject:

Name: COOK, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 17/02/1945
Service No: 14709339
Additional information: Son of John and Elizabeth Cook, of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 22.
Cemetery: MOOK WAR CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject:

There was a book published "Letters of a Durisdeer Soldier" from the letters that the first of these brothers wrote home. The book contains photos and information about many of the local men who died. Further details are here http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=554&mforum=warmemscot

Name: HENDRIE, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 15/09/1916
Service No: 13043
Additional information: Son of David and Jeanie Hendrie, of Castlehill, Thornhill, Dumfrieshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 7 D.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Name: HENDRIE, DAVID
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 22/10/1916
Service No: S/16893
Additional information: Son of David and Jeanie Hendrie, of Castle Hill, Durisdeer, Thornhill, Dumfries.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. Y. 12.
Cemetery: BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject:

transcription

"In memory of Captain John Kerr of the H.E.I.C. 54th Regiment N.I. who died in Assam Feb 11th 1927 aged 59 years by his affectionate father David Kerr Carron Bank A.D. MDCCCXXX"

if anyone knows what HEIC or NI stand for, please post the info.

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject:

Name: LITTLE, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 02/09/1918
Service No: 240146
Additional information: Son of Walter Little, of Carronbridge, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 6.
Memorial: VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject:

Name: LOCKHART, HARRY
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 29/01/1916
Service No: S/16221
Additional information: Son of William Lockhart, of Merkland, Lochrutton, Dumfries.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 119 to 124.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

from SNWM, he was born in Durisdeer

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject:

Note the discrepancy in the spelling of his name (McClunie and McClounie)

Name: McCLUNIE, ROBERT SHANKLAND
Initials: R S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 7th/8th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 04/10/1918
Service No: 30981
Awards: M M
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Ellen McClunie, of Auchensell, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire; husband of the late Margaret McGinley McClunie.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. F. 2.
Cemetery: PHILOSOPHE BRITISH CEMETERY, MAZINGARBE

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

Name: MURPHY, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 10th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 01/08/1917
Service No: 29194
Additional information: Son of Thomas Murphy, of High Farding Bank, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 22.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

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

H.E.I.C = Honourable East India Company

The following link exlains all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honourable_East_India_Company

N.I. = Northern India?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam

Anne

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks Anne, all makes sense

\Paul