The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 5:36 pm Post subject:

JAMES S. HARKESS
James Sinclair Harkes – age 23 – Lance Corporal (S/14694) 1/8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Born 1893 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of Peter and Catherine (Sinclair) Harkes of 11 Links Road and of 2 Wemyss Place, Port Seton.
Missing in Action on 15 May 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.

JAMES HAWTHORN
James Hawthorn – age 41 – Private (19038) 16th Battalion (2nd Edinburgh) Royal Scots
James was a brickworker in Cockenzie when he enlisted in December 1914. He landed with his battalion in January 1916.
Born 1875 in Calderbank, Old Monkland, Lanarkshire. Son of George and Lillie (Gilchrist) of 19 Hope Place, Levenhall, Musselburgh. Husband of Agnes (Ritchie) Hawthorn of 1 Hawthorne Terrace, Cockenzie who he married in 1898 in Tranent.
Missing in Action on 1 July 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

GEORGE HUNNAM
Note: The spelling of the family name varies from record to record – both civil and military.
George Hunnan – age 25 – Private (267487) 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
George enlisted as Private (4455) in the 5th Seaforths and was transferred as Private (5124) to the 6th Battalion before transferring again to the 2nd.
Born 1892 in Innerleithen, Peeblesshire. Son of the late George (died 1915) and Ann (Thomson) Hunnam (died 1918) of Whin Cottage, Cockenzie.
Missing in Action on 31 August 1918 and named on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.
Also named on the Innerleithen section of the Peebles War Memorial.

ARCHIBALD JOHNSTON
Archibald Neill Johnstone – age 24 – Private (798) 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Archibald was a member of the Territorial 8th Royal Scots and he was mobilised in August 1914, landing with the 1/8th Battalion at Le Havre in November 1914. (Source: Medal Roll/Card)
Born 1890 in Tranent as Archibald Johnston. Son of John and Marion (Neill) Johnston of 70 New Row, Tranent.
Died of Wounds on 17 February 1915 and buried in Sailly-sur-la-Lys Churchyard, France.
Also named on the Tranent War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 5:43 pm Post subject:

ROBERT W. JOHNSTON
Robert Willis Johnston – age 22 – Private (S/14695) 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Born 1895 at Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of Thomas and of Mary (Dougal) Johnston of 11 Elcho Place, Cockenzie.
Missing in Action on 22 August 1917 and named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Also named on the Tranent War Memorial.

ALFRED McKENZIE
Alfred McKenzie – age 21 – Private (S/5082) 10th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Alfred landed with his battalion at Boulogne in September 1915. In November they sailed from Marseilles, landing at Salonica in northern Greece at the end of that month.
Born 1896 in Prestonpans as Alfred Alexander McKenzie. Son of Alfred and Helen (Baillie) McKenzie of 130 High Street, Prestonpans.
Missing in Action on 9 May 1917 and named on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.

JAMES MACKIE
James Mackie – age 25 – Lance Corporal (S/3954) 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
James joined his battalion in France in January 1915. They moved to Mesopotamia, landing at Basra on 31 December 1915. Later they moved to Palestine, arriving at Suez in January 1918.
Born 1893 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of the late Janet (Donaldson) Mackie (died 1895) and of James Mackie of 39 High Street, Cockenzie.
Missing in Action on 20 September 1918 and named on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel .

ALEXANDER RITCHIE
Alexander Ritchie – age 22 – Private (S/6425) 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
Alexander landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915.
Born 1895 in Prestonpans as Alexander Fowler Ritchie. Son of Alexander Fowler Ritchie and Jane (McArthur) Ritchie of 4 West Harbour, Cockenzie.
Missing in Action on 22 April 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.

JOHN G. SANDILANDS
John George Sandilands – age 32 – Second Lieutenant, 11th Battalion, Royal Scots.
John was an accountant when he enlisted in Fort Frances, Ontario as Private (438894) in February 1915. He sailed from Montreal in September and was posted to the 12th Canadian Infantry in England until he was commissioned in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in July 1916. He was transferred to the Royal Scots in November 1916.
Born 1885 in Prestonpans. Son of the late Mary (Yorke) Sandilands (died 1914) and of John George Sandilands of Formans Row, Cockenzie and of St. Margarets, Prestonpans.
Missing in Action on 21 March 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

DAVID WARDROP
David Wardrope – age 32 – Private (13648) 1st Battalion, Scots Guards.
Born 1886 in Bathgate, Linlithgowshire.
Son of Thomas and Mary Ann (Ramsay) Wardrope of Bathgate.
Husband of Margaret (Allan) Wardrope of 1 School Lane, Cockenzie who he married in 1910 in Tranent.
Killed in Action on 8 November 1918 and buried in La Longueville Communal Cemetery, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 5:44 pm Post subject:

1939 -1945

THOMAS BLACKIE
Thomas Blackie – age 61 – Deck Hand, Fishing Vessel S.S. Bellevue (Granton) Fishing Fleet.
The “Bellevue” was working the west coast at the beginning of 1942, and left Ayr for the fishing grounds with a crew of eight aboard. She was never seen again and the first indication that a tragic accident had occurred came the following day when three bodies were washed ashore at Whiting Bay, on the Isle of Arran.
Born 1880 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of the late Charles Blackie (died 1917) and of the late Elizabeth (Pow) Blackie (died 1930) of Port Seton.
His next of kin was named as his brother Charles of 3 Gosford Road, Port Seton.
Died on 21 February 1942 and buried in Prestonpans New Cemetery. (CWG)

CHARLES BROWN
Charles Brown – age 28 – Skipper, H.M. Trawler Orfasy, Royal Naval Reserve.
The “Orfasy” was escorting the “Litiopa”, a tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, from Lagos, Nigeria to Freetown, Sierra Leone when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-68.
Born 1915 in Tranent. Son of George and Annie Marshall (Johnston) Brown. Husband of Elizabeth Muirhead (Thomson) Brown, of Port Seton who he married in 1938 in Cockenzie.
Killed in Action/Lost at Sea on 22 October 1943 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

ALEXANDER BUCHANAN
Alexander Buchanan – age 24 – Seaman (LT/JX 198948) H.M. Trawler Ebor Wyke, Royal Naval Patrol Service.
The minesweeper “Ebor Wyke” was based at Reykjavik, Iceland when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-979 off Hrafneyri Light, north of Skagi, Iceland.
Born 1920 in Port Seton, Tranent. Son of Thomas and Margaret Buchanan. Husband of Lily Leyden (Gullane) Buchanan of Dunbar, East Lothian who he married in 1944 in Dunbar.
Killed in Action/Lost at Sea on 2 May 1945 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 4:30 pm Post subject:

ADAM CUNNINGHAM
Not listed by CWGC.
Adam Cunningham – age 46 – Chief Engineer, Trawler Ocean Drift.
Adam was one of two men reported missing after the “Ocean Drift” sank following a collision with another trawler in the Moray Firth.
Born 1893 in Prestonpans. Son of the late Michael Cunningham (died 1910) and of the late Margaret (Ritchie) Cunningham (died 1922) formerly of Prestonpans. Husband of Elizabeth or Lizzie Baillie Cunningham of 2 South Seton Park, Port Seton who he married in December 1914 in Cockenzie, Tranent.
Lost at Sea on 17 March 1940.

PETER DICKSON
Peter Dickson – age 43 – Engineman (LT/KX 101616) H.M. Drifter Ocean Sunlight, Royal Naval Patrol Service.
The mine-sweeper “Ocean Sunlight” was returning to Newhaven Harbour in East Sussex when she struck a mine.
Born 1897 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of the late William Dickson (died 1938) and of Jessie (Johnstone) Dickson of Main Street, Cockenzie. Husband of Elizabeth (Montgomery) Dickson, of 36 Winton Park, Cockenzie.
Died on Active Service/Lost at Sea on 13 June 1940 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

WALTER DICKSON
Walter Dickson – age 37 – Fireman, Steam Trawler Bellevue, Fishing Fleet.
The “Bellevue” was working the west coast at the beginning of 1942, and left Ayr for the fishing grounds with a crew of eight aboard. She was never seen again and the first indication that a tragic accident had occurred came the following day when three bodies were washed ashore at Whiting Bay, on the Isle of Arran.
Born 1904 in Dunbar, East Lothian as Walter Fairbairn Dickson. Son of Thomas and Alison (Fairbairn) Dickson of 36 Winton Park, Cockenzie. Husband of Jeanie Allan (Reid) Dickson of 12 West End, St. Monance, Fife who he married in 1940 in Edinburgh.
Died on 21 February 1942 and buried in St. Monans Cemetery, Fife.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 4:36 pm Post subject:

JOHN G. FLOCKHART
John Gordon Flockhart – age 23 – Flight Sergeant (1077095) 294 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
John was the Air Gunner and Wireless Operator on his amphibious Walrus air-sea rescue aircraft when it flew into barrage balloon cables and crashed.
Born 1921 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of James D. Flockhart and Catherine Wood (Gordon) Flockhart of Port Seton.
Died on Active Service on 16 March 1944 and buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.

ALEXANDER FLOCKHART
Alexander Flockhart – age 39 – Second Hand, Fishing Vessel Horace E. Nutten (Lowestoft) Fishing Fleet.
Alexander's vessel was bombed and sunk by enemy aircraft in the Moray Firth.
Born 1901 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of the late Charles Flockhart (died 1935) and of Isabella Durham (Neill) Flockhart of High Street, Port Seton. Husband of Andrewina (Leslie) Flockhart of 47 Genbervie Road, Torry, Aberdeen and of Port Seton who he married in 1924 in Thornton, Fife.
Killed by Enemy Action on 29 March 1941 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

JAMES FRAME
James Frame – age 22 – Able Seaman (P/JX 175347) H.M.S. Eagle, Royal Navy.
The Aircraft Carrier “Eagle” was escorting a convoy to Malta when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-73 off Cape Salinas, Mallorca.
Born 1919 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of William and Isabella (Stewart) Frame of Cockenzie. Husband of Mary Ann Dickson (Johnston) Frame of Cockenzie who he married in 1941 in Cockenzie.
Killed in Action/Lost at Sea on 19 January 1942 and named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 4:41 pm Post subject:

ALEXANDER HARKES
Alexander Harkess – age 51 – Second Engineman, Fishing Vessel. S.S. Bellevue (Granton) Fishing Fleet.
The “Bellevue” was working the west coast at the beginning of 1942, and left Ayr for the fishing grounds with a crew of eight aboard. She was never seen again and the first indication that a tragic accident had occurred came the following day when three bodies were washed ashore at Whiting Bay, on the Isle of Arran.
Born 1890 Innerleithen, Peeblesshire as Harkes. Son of the late James Harkess (died 1932) and of the late Isabella (Flucker or Flockhart) Harkes (died 1937) formerly of Cockenzie. Husband of Elizabeth (Peden) Harkess of 20 Winton Park, Cockenzie who he married in 1917 in Edinburgh as Harkess.
Died on 21 February 1942 and buried in Prestonpans New Cemetery.

THOMAS HORNE
Thomas Horne – age 20 – Stoker (LT/KX 109638) H.M.S. Good Design, Royal Naval Patrol Service.
Born 1920 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of William and Joanna (Sinclair) Horne of 15 Osborne Terrace, Cockenzie and of Port Seton.
Died/Lost at Sea on 23 November 1940 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

THOMAS H. HORNE
Thomas Hunnam Horne – age 23 – Ordinary Seaman, S.S. Abbotsford (Grangemouth) Merchant Navy.
The “Abbotsford” was sailing from Ghent to Grangemouth with a cargo of steel and flax when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-14 off Zeebrugge.
Born 1916 in Port Seton, Tranent. Son of Archibald and Jeanie (Hunnam) Horne of 3 Cope Lane, Port Seton.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 8 March 1940 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 4:54 pm Post subject:

ARCHIBALD JOHNSTON
Archie Johnston – age 31 – Seaman (LT/JX 215779) H.M. Trawler Laertes, Royal Naval Patrol Service.
The mine-sweeper “Laertes” was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-201 off Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Born 1911 in Tranent. Son of Peter and Hannah (Sinclair) Johnston of Port Seton.
Killed in Action/Lost at Sea on 25 July 1942 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

JOHN JOHNSTON
John Johnston – age 31 – Engineman (LT/KX 109616) H.M.S. Good Design, Royal Naval Patrol Service.
Born 1909 in Port Seton, Tranent. Son of Peter and Margaret (Peden) Johnston of 6 Elcho Place, Cockenzie and of Port Seton.
Died/Lost at Sea on 23 November 1940 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

JOHN MACKIE
John Mackie – age 21 – Telegraphist (C/JX212513) H.M.S. Badger, Royal Navy.
“Badger” was a shore base at Harwich. John died in a Naval Hospital.
Born 1922 in Tranent. Son of John Mackie and of Elizabeth (Johnstone) Mackie of 24 Whin Park, Cockenzie.
Died on Service on 22 March 1943 and buried in Prestonpans New Cemetery.

ALEXANDER McKENZIE
Alexander Mckenzie – age 44 – Fisherman, Fishing Vessel Noreen Mary (Granton) Fishing Fleet.
Based at Ayr the “Noreen Mary” was sailing to the fishing grounds when she was sunk by gunfire by the German submarine U-247 about 20 miles west of Cape Wrath. (Source: uboat.net)
Born 1899 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of James and Margaret (Durham) McKenzie of 18 Hawthorne Terrace, Cockenzie.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 5 July 1944 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 4:58 pm Post subject:

WILLIAM PEDEN
William Peden – age 25 – Engineman (LT/KX 13170) H.M.B.Y. Minesweeper "24" Royal Naval Patrol Service.
The BYMS class was a class of wooden motor minesweepers, originally designed for the United States Navy.
William died of cerebral malaria on the Hospital Ship “Edinburgh Castle” in Freetown Harbour.
Born 1917 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of William and Margaret (Burgess) Peden of 11 New Street, Cockenzie. Husband of Mary Devlin (Nelson) Peden, of 38 Eskview, Musselburgh and of Dunfermline, Fife who he married in 1941 in Musselburgh.
Died on Active Service on 15 July 1943 and buried in Freetown (King Tom) Cemetery, Sierra Leone.

ROBERT ROSS
Robert Grandison Ross – age 25 – Seaman (LT/JX 199110) H.M. Yacht Viva II, Royal Naval Patrol Service.
The armed anti-submarine yacht “Viva II” was bombed and sunk by German aircraft west of Trevose Head, Cornwall.
Born 1915 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of William and Jane (Jarron) Ross of Port Seton.
Killed in Action/Lost at Sea on 8 May 1941 and named on the Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Suffolk.

WILLIAM ROSS
William Ross – age 32 – Mate, Fishing Vessel Thrive (Leith) Fishing Fleet.
The “Thrive” was fishing off the Bass Rock when she pulled in a device which exploded and sank the vessel.
Born 1913 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of William (Skipper of the “Thrive”) and Isabella (Bowie) of 12 South Seton Park, Port Seton. Husband of Theresa (Fairclough) Ross of 9 Gosford Road, Port Seaton who he married in 1940 in Cockenzie.
Lost at Sea on 19 February 1946 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 5:02 pm Post subject:

DAVID THOMSON
David Thomson – age 57 – Chief Engineman, Fishing Vessel S.S. Bellevue (Granton) Fishing Fleet.
The “Bellevue” was working the west coast at the beginning of 1942, and left Ayr for the fishing grounds with a crew of eight aboard. She was never seen again and the first indication that a tragic accident had occurred came the following day when three bodies were washed ashore at Whiting Bay, on the Isle of Arran.
Born 1884 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of the late David Thomson (died 1925) and of the late Marion (Harkes) Thomson (died 1933) Husband of Alice (Pratt) Thomson of 40 Winton Park, Port Seton who he married in 1913 in Kilrenny, Fife.
Died on 21 February 1942 and buried in Prestonpans New Cemetery.

JAMES THOMSON
James Robert Thomson – age 57 – Deck Hand, Fishing Vessel Steam Trawler Thrive (Leith) Fishing Fleet.
The “Thrive” was fishing off the Bass Rock when she pulled in a device which exploded and sank the vessel.
Born 1888 in Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of the late Hannah (Sinclair) Thomson (died 1890) and of the late George Thomson (died 1912) and step-son of Charlotte Dickson (Johnstone) Thomson who married George in 1891 in Tranent. Husband of Isabella (Barber) Thomson of 6 Hawthorn Bank, Edinburgh Road, Cockenzie who he married in 1912 in Tranent.
Died on 19 February 1946 and buried in Prestonpans New Cemetery. (CWG)

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 5:07 pm Post subject:

(later additions to the memorial)

JOHN DONALDSON
John Donaldson – age 25 – Gunner (1078556) 67 Anti-Tank Regiment, (2/5th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment) Royal Artillery.
The 67 ATR served with the 56th (London) Infantry Division in North Africa and Italy landing at Salerno in Italy on 9 September 1943 before it was transferred to Anzio. The division fought in the battle to secure the bridgehead, sustaining heavy casualties. It was withdrawn from Anzio to Egypt on 28 March 1944 to refit. It returned to Italy on 17 July 1944 to become involved in the battles for the Gothic Line in August and September 1944.
Born 1919 in Prestonpans. Son of Robert and Mary Donaldson, of Preston Tower, Prestonpans.
Died of Wounds on 13 September 1944 and buried in Ancona War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the Prestonpans War Memorial.

WALTER R. GREIG
Walter Robertson Greig – age 29 – Private (3063594) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots.
The 2nd Royal Scots had been in Hong Kong since January1938. Walter was killed at the fall of Hong Kong to the Japanese in December 1941.
Born 1912 in Edinburgh. Son of the late Peter and Apleina (Robertson) Greig of Wardlaw Place, Edinburgh. Husband of Margaret or Peggie (Harkess) Greig of Sea View, Port Seton and of Prestonpans who he married in 1940 in Prestonpans.
Missing in Action on 8 December 1941 and named on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong, China.

JAMES WISHART
I cannot identify this man.

RICHARD SCOTT
Richard Scott – age 38 – Cook, S.S. Rutland (Leith) Merchant Navy.
The “Rutland” had sailed from Demarara and Bermuda with a cargo of bauxite, charcoal and general cargo, bound for Larne, Northern Ireland, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-124.
Born 1902 Cockenzie, Tranent. Son of Richard and Margaret (Greig) Scott of Port Seton. Husband of Mary G. Scott of 1 Granton Terrace, Edinburgh.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 30 October 1940 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
_________________
Ken