The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

DerekR · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject: Ruthwell

Ruthwell Parish War Memorial

Ruthwell Parish Memorial is situated in the main road running through the small village of Clarencefield, situated between Dumfries and Annan.

O/S Map Ref: NY 092 688
(edit by spoons - Revised OS Ref (by GPS) NY 09167 68636)

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

spoons · Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:26 pm Post subject:

UKNIWM Ref: 44104

I like the sky in my photo (but not the buildings in the background). Other pics posted for clarity of text and missing WW2 panel.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

The following casualty is also on the Scone War Memorial, Perthshire;
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=271&highlight=scone

Surname GORDON
Firstname Robert John
Service Number 5233
Date Death 13/11/1916
Decoration
Place of birth Dumfries
Other 6th Bn.
SNWM roll THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
Rank Pte
Theatre of death F.& F.

Name: GORDON
Initials: R J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/6th Bn.
Date of Death: 13/11/1916
Service No: 5233
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: B. 68.
Cemetery: Y RAVINE CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL

Pte. Robert John Gordon, 6th Black Watch, was born at Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire, on the 14th of May, 1893. Prior to enlistment he was employed as a forester on the Scone estate. He enlisted in the Scottish Horse on 17th August, 1914. He saw service in Gallipoli and was invalided, suffering from enteric fever, first to Malta, and later to England. He sailed for France with the 6th Black Watch in August, 1916, and was killed at Beaumont Hamel on the 13th November that year.

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject:

Mark,
Brilliant spot - well done my friend.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

spoons · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:16 pm Post subject:

I found an excellent document in the Savings Bank Museum, Ruthwell

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 3:12 pm Post subject:

The location in brackets at the end of the first line is taken from the above Roll of Honour.

PTE. JOHN ANDERSON AGE 30 KOSB. (Comlongon Cottage)

John Anderson – age 30 – Private (13834) 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
John had been widowed in1910 and lived in Ruthwell with his children. He had been a chauffeur at Comlongon Castle for 9 years when he enlisted. He landed with the 7th KOSB at Boulogne in July 1915.
Born 1886 in Ruthwell. Son of John and Janet Anderson of 10 High Street, Moffat, Dumfriesshire.
John Anderson senior was a stud groom and 1891 the family were at Ancrum, Roxburghshire and, by 1901, had moved to Moffat.
John's wife, the late Mary (Jackson) Anderson, died in 1910 in Clarencefield, Ruthwell.
Killed in action on 7 June 1916 and buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, France.

DVR. JOHN BELL AGE 21 RFA. (Ruthwell Village)

John Bell – age 21 – Driver (7844A) "D" Battery, 72nd Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
John enlisted in Greenock and landed with his battery in France in July 1915 as part of the 15th (Scottish) Division. In January 1917 the brigade left the division and became an Army Brigade.
Born c.1896 in Dumfries. Son of Maggie H. Bell, of Ruthwell Village, Ruthwell.
Killed in action on 8 August 1917 and buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium.

PTE. THOMAS BOYD AGE 25 CAMERONS (Glebe Cottage)

Thomas Boyd – age 25 – Private (S/17753) 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
Thomas was employed by the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company as a goods guard when he enlisted in April 1915. He joined his battalion in France in June and served at Loos. He was hit by a stray bullet and died in the 1st Casualty Clearing Station.
Born 1890 in Ruthwell. Son of James and Janet (Grierson) Boyd of Glebe Cottage, Ruthwell.
Also named on the G&SW Railway Memorial now in Ayr Station.
Died of wounds on 2 January 1916 and buried in Chocques Military Cemetery, France.

S.SRGT.MAJ. GEORGE BROATCH AGE 34 LAN. YEO. (Slethat)

George Broatch – age 34 – Sergeant (271246) 17th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Formerly Sergeant (35307) Lanarkshire Yeomanry and Sergeant (238124) Scottish Rifles.
George worked on his father's farm at Slethat, Ruthwell when he enlisted as Private 2097 in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry in March 1909. He was mobilised in August 1914 in the 2/1st Battalion and when his time expired he re-enlisted in March 1916. He was posted to the 3/1st Battalion and a month later was promoted to Sergeant Major. When the 3/1st and 2/1st amalgamated in January 1917 he reverted to Sergeant and in February 1918 he was posted to France where he was transferred to the Scottish Rifles before being transferred again to the Royal Scots. George was wounded during an enemy raid on his trenches and died of his wounds in the 105th Field Ambulance at Engelbelmer.
Born 1883 at Dornock, Dumfriesshire. Son of Lewis Bell Broatch and Janet (Swallow) Broatch of Slethat Farm, Ruthwell.
Husband of Margaret Hastie (McDougall) Broatch of 4 St. Vincent Place, Lanark who he married in 1917 in Lanark.
Died of wounds on 9 April 1918 and buried in Englebelmer Communal Cemetery, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 3:14 pm Post subject:

L.CPL. MURRAY H. DUNBAR AGE 28 KOSB. (Greenfield Cottage)

Murray Hill Dunbar – age 28 – Lance Corporal (14923) 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Murray landed with the 7th KOSB at Boulogne in July 1915.
Born 1887 in Ruthwell. Son of the late William Dunbar and of Mary Ann (Inglis) Dunbar of Greenfield Cottage, Ruthwell. Brother of Miss Jane R. Dunbar of Greenfield Cottage, Ruthwell.
Also named on the Dalton Parish War Memorial near Annan.
Missing in action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.

SAPR. ROBERT DUNKELD AGE 26 RE. (Post Office)

Robert Dunkeld – age 26 – Sapper (T/3786 & 496816) 477th Field Company, Royal Engineers.
Robert was living in the village of Ewyas Harold in Herefordshire when he enlisted in the 2/1st South Midlands Company of the Royal Engineers. This Territorial Army Unit was later re-numbered as the 477th Field Company. He died of his wounds in the 45th Casualty Clearing Station at Dernancourt.
Born 1890 in Cummertrees, Dumfriesshire. Son of the late James and Mary Dunkeld, of Cummertrees, Dumfriesshire. Brother of Miss Margaret H. Dunkeld of Ruthwell Post Office.
Also named on the Dumfries Academy War Memorial and on the Ewyas Harold Memorial Plaque.
Died of Wounds on 26 January 1917 and buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

PTE. JOSEPH GILLIES AGE 19 SEAFORTHS. (Station House)

Joseph Gillies – age 19 – Private (S/41873) 1/6th (Morayshire) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
Formerly Private (Tr/14125) Training Reserve and Private (S/23762) Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Joseph had been employed by the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company as a goods clerk at Racks, Gretna and Ruthwell Stations. He enlisted in September 1917 and was posted to the A&SH in France in April 1918 but was transferred to the Seaforths.
Born 1899 in Gorbals, Glasgow. Son of Thomas (Stationmaster) and Sarah Gillies, of Station House, Ruthwell.
Also named on the G&SW Railway Memorial now in Ayr Station.
Killed in action on 12 October 1918 and buried in Niagara Cemetery, Iwuy, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 3:17 pm Post subject:

PTE. ROBERT J. GORDON AGE 23 BLACK WATCH. (Clarencefield)

Robert John Gordon – age 23 – Private (5233) 1/6th (Perthshire) Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Robert had served his apprenticeship on the Duke of Mansfield's Conlongon estate and he became a forester at his lordship's Scone estate in Perthshire. He enlisted at Dunkeld as Trooper (5179) in the 1/3rd Scottish Horse Yeomanry in August 1914 and landed with his battalion, as dismounted troops, at Gallipoli in August 1915. There he contracted enteric fever and was evacuated to hospital in Malta and then to the UK. In August 1916 he was posted to the Black Watch in France and was killed at Beaumont Hamel.
Born 1893 in Ruthwell. Son of Andrew and Jane (Gilchrist) Gordon of Rose Cottage, Clarencefield, Ruthwell.
Also named on the Scone Parish War Memorial and Roll of Honour.
Killed in action on 13 November 1916 and buried in Y Ravine Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, France.

and his brother

GNR. THOMAS GORDON AGE 22 RFA. (Clarencefield)

Thomas Gordon – age 23 – Driver (4296 & 655692) "A" Battery, 261st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
Thomas enlisted in the 2nd Lowland Brigade, RFA in August 1914 and went to Egypt in June 1915. This brigade was renamed as the 261st RFA in May 1916 and served in Palestine. He contracted dysentery and died in the 21st General Hospital in Alexandria.
Born 1895 in Ruthwell. Son of Andrew and Jane (Gilchrist) Gordon of Rose Cottage, Clarencefield, Ruthwell.
Died on service on 21 November 1918 and buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

L.CPL. WILLIAM H. MUNDELL AGE 18 KOSB. (Railway Cottages)

William Haugh Mundell – age 18 – Lance Corporal (14507) 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
William was a clerk with the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company when he enlisted. He landed with the 7th KOSB at Boulogne in July 1915.
Born 1897 in Castle Douglas, Kelton, Kirkcudbrightshire as William Haugh Maben.
Son of Grace (Maben) Mundell and step-son of Samuel Mundell of Railway Cottages, Ruthwell.
Also named on the G&SW Railway Memorial now in Ayr Station.
Missing in action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.

PTE. JOHN PROUDFOOT AGE 18 R. SCOTS. (Brow Well)

John Proudfoot – age 18 – Private (51628) "C" Company, 12th Battalion, Royal Scots.
John was an apprentice joiner when he enlisted in June 1917. He was mobilised as Private (48001) in the Royal Scots Fusiliers in September. He landed at Calais on 31 March 1918 and was transferred to the 12th Royal Scots on 9 April. Two weeks later he was killed.
Born 1899 in Ruthwell. Son of William and Robina (McIntosh) Proudfoot of Brow Well, Ruthwell.
Missing in action on 25 April 1918 and named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

L.CPL. GEORGE WRIGHT AGE 24 HLI. (Greenhill)

George Wright – age 24 – Lance Corporal (29873) "C" Coy. 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
George was employed at Kirkconnel Hall, Ecclefechan when he enlisted. He joined his battalion in France in March 1917 and was wounded in July.
Born c.1893 in Durisdeer, Dumfriesshire.
Son of James and Helen (Walker) Wright of Rose Cottage, Clarencefield, Ruthwell.
Husband of Mary Ann (Cranston) Wright of Whitehill, Ecclesfechan, Dumfriesshire (later Mrs Craig of 29 King Street, Maxwelltown) who he married in 1915 in Hoddom, Dumfriesshire.
Also named on the Hoddom Parish War Memorial in Ecclefechan.
Killed in action on 28 November 1917 and buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 3:21 pm Post subject:

1939-1945

FLT. SERGT. GEORGE R. IRVING AGE 21 RAF.

George Roan “Jock” Irving – 21 – Flight Sergeant/Pilot (1349829) 23 Squadron, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
George was educated at Ruthwell School and Dumfries Academy and had been employed on the Comlongon estate before joining a coal merchant in Cummertrees. He enlisted in 1941 and was trained in Canada. He and his navigator, Flight Sergeant George Cross, had completed 40 missions together when they took off in their Mosquito from RAF Little Snoring in Norfolk on a night time interdiction sortie during which they attacked a train. The train was guarded by anti-aircraft weapons and the Mosquito was shot down near Brunswick. Cross managed to bale out and became a Prisoner of War. Irving was buried at Bevenrode but was re-interred in Hanover in May 1947.
Born 1923 in Ruthwell. Son of James and Martha (Roan) Irving of Summerfield Cottage, Ruthwell.
Husband of Winifred Lawson (Wilson) Irving of Sanderstead, Surrey who he married in September 1944 at Grantham, Lincolnshire.
Killed in action on 30 September 1944 and buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany.

In December 1942 the 23 Squadron Mosquitos were transferred to Malta, to fly intruder missions over Sicily, Italy and Tunisia. In December 1943, with the Allied armies in Italy, No.23 Squadron moved to Sardinia, and expanded its range of operations to include northern Italy and the south of France. In May 1944 the squadron returned to Britain, and on 1 June it joined No.100 Group. This was the group dedicated to supporting Bomber Command's heavy bombers over Germany. For the rest of the war No.23 Squadron flew night intruder missions, mostly over Germany, aimed at disrupting the German night fighter defences.

PTE. WILLIAM McWHIRTER AGE 19 KOSB

William McWhirter – age 22 – Private (3190876) 7th (Airborne) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers (Galloway), 1st Airlanding Brigade. (Note: on the Ruthwell War Memorial his age is given as 19)
William was killed during a training exercise when a Stirling bomber of 196 Squadron, towing a Horsa Glider carrying No.3 Platoon, “A” Company, 7th KOSB, hit a tree on high ground and crashed. His death was registered at Droxford in Hampshire.
Born 1921 at Parton, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Son of Charles and Jemima (Hyslop) McWhirter of Longbridgemuir, Ruthwell.
Also named on the Lochrutton War Memorial.
Killed on Active Service on 4 April 1944 and buried in Ruthwell Parish Churchyard.

The Stirling took off from RAF Keevil in Wiltshire on Exercise Dreme, a D-Day rehearsal run, towing a Horsa glider. It was a three-and-a-half hour cross-country flight after which the glider was to be released over Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Around Winchester they encountered lower cloud than expected. The pilot decided to fly below the cloud but hit the top of a tree. The glider was released immediately and crashed at Warnford, killing all on board. The Stirling continued flying but crashed 15 minutes later, around 21.00, one mile south-west of Romsey.

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Ken