The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: Portpatrick

UKNIWM Ref: 44450

Located at a road junction at entrance to Portpatrick at OS Map Ref NX 004 548

Note that UKNIWM states there are 10 WW2 names whereas there are 11. Either this was a miscount or the last named (Maj Robson) was added later. Difficult to see from the memorial as he is the last alphabetically as well.

One of those named caught my eye.

Name: McCRACKEN, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Stoker
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Patrol Service
Unit Text: H.M.S. Southern Flower.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 03/03/1945
Service No: LT/KX 112278
Additional information: Son of Alexander and Elizabeth McCracken, of Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 17, Column 2.
Memorial: LOWESTOFT NAVAL MEMORIAL

U-1022 left Bergen under the command of Hans-Joachim Ernst on 12th Feb 1945 and returned nearly seven weeks later to Bergen on 1st Apr 1945.
Hans-Joachim Ernst hit two ships on this patrol, one was from convoy UR-155.
· On 28th Feb 1945 he sank the Panamanian 1,392 ton Alcedo, sailing with convoy UR-155.
· On 3rd Mar 1945 he sank the British 328 ton HMS Southern Flower.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:22 pm Post subject:

Spoons

Did you notice that one of the Great War names Stoker John Smith was lost on HMS 'Cressy' in 1914 at the Broad Fourteens when U-9 sank three cruisers in one morning.

This means Portpatrick with just a few names has U-boat casualties from the outbreak of the First World War and the dying days of the Second World War.

SMITH, JOHN
Rank: Stoker 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Cressy."
Age: 23
Date of Death: 22/09/1914
Service No: K/13677
Additional information: Son of James and Minnie Ann Smith, of 8, Hill St., Port Patrick, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 4.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

john burnett · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 790 Location: Fife

In Burntisland on the War Memorial is William Hearn age 26 killed 22/09/1914. He was Leading Stoker on H.M.S. Cressy. ( He is Hern on CWGC website). The Aboukir, Hogue, and Cressy were sunk in the North Sea by U-9. with the loss of 1459 men.The patrol of these elderly ships was much criticised, they were too old and slow with inexperienced crews to put up a decent fight against modern German ships. They were nicknamed "Live Bait".
Also Hugh Hopps, surgeon, Burntisland was killed on the Aboukir.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject:

Looking again at one of the Naval names shows quite an unusual rank

MUIR, HUGH
Rank: Rigger's Mate
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. 'Tonbridge'
Age: 36
Date of Death: 22/08/1941
Service No: R/JX 219480
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Jessie Muir, of Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 52, Column 1.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

Adam

DelBoy · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:38 pm Post subject: Memorial Transcription

WW1

Corpl. Andrew Anderson, Wilts. Regt.
L-Corpl. John Anderson, R.S.F.
Lieut. Andrew A. Cumming, R.S.
Pte. Robert Drynan, K.O.S.B.
Pte. James Eccles, H.L.I.
Pte. William Kelly, Gordon Highrs.
Lieut. James Melrose Kerr, R.S.F.
Pett.Ofr. William McCulloch, "H.M.S. Albacore"
Sergt. Charles McGregor, A.&.S. Highrs.
Sergt. James K. McGregor, N.S.W.I.
Pte. Simon G. McGregor, C. Victoria Rifles
Pte. Alexander McKenzie, R.S.F.
Pte. Neil Shaw, Cneshire Regt.
Stoker. John Smith, H.M.S. "Cressy"
Pte. John Smith, S.R.
Pte. John Smith, R.S.F.
Pte. Gilbert Thomson, Canadian Regt.
Pte. James Wither Tully, Scots Guards

WW2

Pte. R. Alexander, R.A.S.C.
Wing Cdr. D. Balsdon, R.A.F.
Major R. Boyle, M.C. (Military Cross) B.W. (R.H.R.)
C.P.O. J. Connor, R.N.
L/Cpl. F. Coudy, R.E.
Chief Engr. C. Kilpatrick, M.N.
Lieut. C. Milroy, R.N.R.
Rigg's Mte. H. Muir, R.N.
Sto. A. McCracken, R.N.
Ldg. Sto. A. McKenzie, R.N.
Major, I. Robson, R.A.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 3:00 pm Post subject:

Corpl. Andrew Anderson, Wilts. Regt.

ANDERSON, ANDREW.
Rank:Private
Service No:33091
Date of Death:10/02/1917
Age:28
Regiment/Service:Wiltshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Grave ReferenceIII. B. 14.
CemeteryDOIRAN MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Andrew and Jeanie Anderson. Husband of Isabella M. Anderson, of Colonel St., Port Patrick, Wigtownshire. Native of Auchtermacain, Port Patrick.

Formerly 2240, Royal Ayrshire Yeomanry [SNWM]
Formerly 24187, Royal Scots Fusiliers [MIC]

and his brother

L-Corpl. John Anderson, R.S.F.

ANDERSON, JOHN.
Rank:Lance Corporal
Service No:23804
Date of Death:28/03/1918
Age:24
Regiment/Service:Royal Scots Fusiliers
1st Bn.
Panel ReferenceBay 5.
MemorialARRAS MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Andrew and Jeanie Anderson, of Auchtermacain, Portpatrick, Wigtownshire

Place of birth Portpatrick Wigtownshire [SNWM]

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 3:13 pm Post subject:

Lieut. Andrew A. Cumming, R.S.

CUMMING, ANDREW ALEXANDER.
Rank:Second Lieutenant
Date of Death:06/02/1918
Age:36
Regiment/Service:Royal Scots
4th Bn.
Grave ReferenceF. 22.
CemeteryPORTPATRICK CEMETERY
http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/scottishwargraves-ftopic708.html
Additional Information:
Son of Andrew Cumming, of Penvin St., Portpatrick.

Royal Defence Corps 3057/13759 Serjeant. Royal Scots Territorial Force Second Lieutenant [MIC]

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 7:14 pm Post subject:

Pte. Robert Drynan, K.O.S.B.

DRYNAN, R.
Rank:Private
Service No:40863
Date of Death:04/10/1917
Age:20
Regiment/Service:King's Own Scottish Borderers
1st Bn.
Grave ReferenceXLVII. C. 7.
CemeteryPOELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Mrs. Grace Drynan, of 11, Hill St., Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.

Formerly Private 30549 Royal Scots [MIC]

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 7:21 pm Post subject:

Pte. James Eccles, H.L.I.

ECCLES, J.
Rank:Private
Service No:42097
Date of Death:08/03/1917
Age:19
Regiment/Service:Highland Light Infantry
17th Bn.
Grave ReferenceO. VI. E. 4.
CemeteryST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
Additional Information:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Eccles, of 94, McLellan St., Plantation, Glasgow.
Native of Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.

Place of birth Port Patrick Wigtownshire. [SNWM]
Formerly Private 23679, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) [MIC &SNWM]

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 7:26 pm Post subject:

Pte. William Kelly, Gordon Highrs.

KELLY, WILLIAM.
Rank:Private
Service No:S/14968
Date of Death:11/04/1917
Age:26
Regiment/Service:Gordon Highlanders
8th/10th Bn.
Panel ReferenceBay 8 and 9.
MemorialARRAS MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Mrs. Susan Drysdale Kelly, of Galdenoch Mill Leswalt, Stranraer, Wigtownshire.

Place of birth Glenluce Wigtownshire [SNWM]

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 7:43 pm Post subject:

Lieut. James Melrose Kerr, R.S.F.

KERR, JAMES MELROSE.
Rank:Second Lieutenant
Date of Death:03/09/1916
Age:25
Regiment/Service:Royal Scots Fusiliers
1st/5th Bn.
Grave ReferenceN. 34.
CemeteryPORT SAID WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of William and Eliza Purves Kerr, of Kirklea, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.

Cause of death Drowned [SNWM]
The Wigtownshire Free Press of 5/10/1916 reported that Kerr had drowned while bathing near Port Said. He had been attending the base hospital for a foot injury.
Pre-war he had assisted his uncle James Purves, the factor of the Dunskey Estate near Portpatrick and had been involved with the RNLI.
Thanks to Mike Morley for the WFP extract.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject:

Pett.Ofr. William McCulloch, "H.M.S. Albacore" .

McCULLOCH, WILLIAM.
Rank:Chief Stoker
Service No:284877
Date of Death:09/03/1917
Age:43
Regiment/Service:Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Albacore."
Panel Reference23.
MemorialCHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of James and Mary Heron McCulloch, of Stoneykirk, Stranraer; husband of Annie McCulloch (nee Wallace), of Enoch, Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 4:22 pm Post subject:

Sergt. Charles McGregor, A.&.S. Highrs.

Thought to be
see http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=6203&highlight=mcgregors
McGREGOR, CHARLES.
Rank:Serjeant
Service No:4354
Date of Death:16/04/1915
Regiment/Service:Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1st Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 42 and 44.
MemorialYPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information:

and thought to be his brother

Sergt. James K. McGregor, N.S.W.I. [New South Wales Infantry]

McGREGOR, JAMES.
Rank:Private
Service No:1992
Date of Death:Between 06/08/1915 and 11/08/1915
Age:33
Regiment/Service:Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
1st Bn.
Panel Reference15.
MemorialLONE PINE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of John and Elizabeth McGregor; husband of Christina McGregor, of 10, Codrington St., Darlington, New South Wales. Native of Perth, Scotland.

Charles McGregor was born in 1877 and James Keith McGregor was born in 1881; both in Rattray, Perthshire

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 4:51 pm Post subject:

Pte. Simon G. McGregor, C. Victoria Rifles.

MacGREGOR, S.
Rank:Private
Service No:65691
Date of Death:10/02/1916
Age:27
Regiment/Service:Canadian Infantry
24th Bn. [Victoria Rifles of Canada]
Grave ReferenceX. C. 1.
CemeteryLA LAITERIE MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of John and Annie M. Grant MacGregor, of Dunskey, Portpatrick, Wigtownshire. Born at Ballikinrain Balfron, Stirlingshire.

Simon Grant MacGregor was born in 1889 in Killearn, Stirlingshire.
He attested as Samuel McGregor when he enlisted in November 1914 in Montreal giving his DoB as 20/12/1893 but his Next of Kin as his father J. MacGregor of Portpatrick.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 6:21 pm Post subject: