The Scottish War Graves Project

Adam Brown · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 714 Location: Edinburgh

Also known as Western Cemetery

More details to follow

29 WW1 CWGC graves

spoons · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:33 am Post subject:

OS Map Ref NT 239740. Entrance is round the corner from the Dean church at the end of Ravelston Terrace. This is a very large cemetery.

I think the 29 is an error on CWGC database because they actually list 39 names. Of that 39, 33 were officers so this is very much a cemetery of 'the great and the good'. There are certainly some incredible monuments and it is very atmospheric. Amongst those buried here are Elsie Inglis, 'Fighting Mac' and a US civil war confederate soldier.

The cemetery is only open from 9 to 5 (or dusk if earlier) and is closed on public holidays!

The minister of the Dean church is very knowledgeable about the graves and was very helpful. It will certainly take several visits to find my way around and I only get down this way once a year or so. I have just collected a few photos so on this occasion I will post the non CWGC ones before collecting all the CWGC ones as I may well never get them all.

spoons · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:37 am Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC grave.

Name: DRYBURGH, NEIL GEORGE
Initials: N G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 38
Date of Death: 27/05/1940
Service No: 76164
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B.B. Grave 46.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC grave

Name: GILMOUR
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Age: 25
Date of Death: 19/08/1916
Additional information: Son of John Gilmour, of 20, India St., Edinburgh. M.B.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: G.G. 230.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:

Name: KEMLEY, ANDREW BRUCE
Initials: A B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 11/12/1916
Service No: 5055
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kemley; husband of Elizabeth Wallace Kemley, of 4, Reid Terrace, Edinburgh. Born at Arbroath.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: D.D. 232.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC grave

Name: MacDONALD, WALTER HALLI-BURTON
Initials: W H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Secondary Unit Text: attd. No. 2 Sect. Forth Defences
Age: 57
Date of Death: 22/01/1916
Additional information: Order of the Brilliant Star (Zanzibar). Son of John and Catherine MacDonald, of Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire; husband of Isabella Hill MacDonald, of 39, Merchiston Crescent, Edinburgh. Served in the Uganda Expeditions (1897-1900).
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: E. 13. 156.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC grave.

Name: McKENNY, WILLIAM JAMES
Initials: W J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry
Unit Text: 16 Bn.
Date of Death: 09/05/1916
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: G.G. 189.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC grave

Name: PATTEN, FRANCIS HOPE
Initials: F H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death: 15/01/1918
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: B.B. 212.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

Francis Hope Patten Second Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps second son of Hugh Patten writer to the Signet born 13th September 1898 killed in aeroplane accident 14th January 1918

With further family inscriptions including

Brigadier James Ronald Patten CBE MG officer Legion of Merit USA RHA RFA R Corps Signals born 5 5 1897 died 29 7 1985

spoons · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC grave

Name: PHILIPPS, IVOR JOHN DOUGLAS
Initials: I J D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Cheshire Regiment
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Secondary Regiment: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Secondary Unit Text: formerly 3rd Bn.
Date of Death: 08/03/1915
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: N.N.169.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC listed grave

Name: SIMSON, JAMES ROBERT
Initials: J R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry
Secondary Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Secondary Unit Text: attd.
Age: 37
Date of Death: 09/11/1917
Awards: D S O
Additional information: Son of Amy and the late Robert Simson; husband of Minnie Simson, of Bromley, St.Anns, Jamaica, British West Indies.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: H.H. 184.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC listed grave

Name: SYM, Sir JOHN MUNRO
Initials: J M
Nationality: Indian
Rank: Major General
Regiment/Service: Indian Army
Age: 80
Date of Death: 03/10/1919
Awards: K C B
Additional information: Son of the late Rev. John Sym; husband of the late Eliza d'Oyley Vincent Sym.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: M.M. 158.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

Major General Sir John Munro Sym KGB Indian Army, Colonel of the 5th Gurkha Rifles, born 15th Feb 1839, died 3rd October 1919

This must be one of the oldest recipients of war grave status. Generals do not retire, they go onto half-pay so all Generals are still serving at the time of death! Not sure if that is still true, but it was until the '60s for sure.

spoons · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

This is a (particularly stunning) private stone on a CWGC listed grave

Name: TURNBULL, DAVID STEVENS
Initials: D S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps
Secondary Regiment: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Secondary Unit Text: and
Date of Death: 15/04/1917
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: G.G. 295.
Cemetery: EDINBURGH (DEAN, OR WESTERN) CEMETERY

Info from 'Dolpin' on GWF

"Lt D S G Turnbull was killed in an accident while flying BE 12a A6350 on 15 April 1917"

spoons · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

This is a non CWGC grave to Elsie Inglis, founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. She also had a hospital in Edinburgh named after her and she has a memorial in St Giles cathedral.

To the
Beloved and Honoured Memory of
ELSIE MAUD INGLIS
born 1864 died on active service 1917
Surgeon, Philanthropist and Patriot.
A Leader in the Movement for the political emmancipation of women and founder in 1914 of the Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service.
HORS JANUA VITAE

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

It's a pity to see the lettering on her grave so poor.
_________________
There must be a place under the sun where hearts of Olden Glory grow young .....

spoons · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

Not listed on CWGC

This transcription kindly provided by 'Caroline'........

"Erected to the memory of Col. Robert A. Smith, of the 10th Mississippi Regt., Confederate States Army, a native of Edinburgh, who fell mortally wounded at the battle of Mumfordsville, Kentucky, September 14 1862, while gallantly leading in the charge on Port Craig, aged 26 years."

She adds that he is not buried there and he has 3 memorials.

However this looks like a gravestone and it is in a graveyard so I think this is the right place to post it.