The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

adb41 · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 178 Location: Stornoway

This memorial to the Leith-based Merchant Navy vessel SS Giralda can be found in St Olaf's Cemetery at Kirkwall, Orkney. Graves of most of the crewmen can be found nearby. The vessel was sunk off South Ronaldsay by German aircraft on 30 January 1940, with the loss of all hands.

MagsD · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 171 Location: West Lothian

Rodger, Francis Gallacher

Rank: Donkeyman
Date of Death: 30/01/1940
Age: 38
Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy, S.S. Giralda (Leith)
Grave Reference: Plot 2. Joint grave 13A.
Cemetery: Kirkwall (St. Olaf's) Cemetery
Additional Information:
Husband of Catherine Rodger, of Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.

Francis Gallacher Rodger, born 12 September 1901 Leith Midlothian, was the son of William Cochrane Rodger and Isabella Fraser Brand Campbell. He died of drowning on 30 January 1940, off the coast of Grimness, South Ronaldsay. The full story can be found at www.orcadian.co.uk/features/articles/cruelsea.htm
His death certificate, GROS: 1940 029/00 0031, shows aditional information:
Usual address: 19 Hazel Street, Grangemouth
Informant: Registered on the information of the Procurator Fiscal
Registered: St Margaret's Hope, 1940 March 29th
He is also remembered on the Grangemouth Memorial, Stirlingshire.

His brother, David Purves Campbell Rodger died WW1, is remembered on the South Leith Church Memorial.
Rodger David Purves Campbell
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: S/18599
Date of Death: 18/07/1916
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders 5th Bn.
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 15 B.
Memorial :Thiepval Memorial
David Purves Campbell Rodger, born 8 September 1896 was the son of William Cochrane Rodger and Isabella Fraser Brand Campbell. 1901 census shows him living with his parents and siblings at 8 Tennant Street, Leith. At the time of his death, the family was living at 15 Couper Street, Leith.
Another brother(my grandfather), 1249 Private Thomas Rodger, Royal Scots, was injured in the Gretna Disaster and taken to Fusehill Hospital, Carlisle. Later he was transferred to the Labour Corps and his service record shows many admissions to hospital during the war of WW1 due to “crushed left foot, Gretna Disaster”.

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 69378