During our research for information on the Queensferry and Dalmeny men who are listed on both memorials, we came across a number of men with a Queensferry connection who are not on the memorial. There could be several reasons why this is so, and this is the next step in our research journey. If anyone has any information on the men below, or indeed anyone they know of, who perhaps should be on the memorial, but isn't, please email us at [email protected].
Also please be aware we are still trying to identify some of the men on Queensferry and Dalmeny Memorials whose information is proving difficult to find. We would also be grateful for any information on them. They are Queensferry - John McLean, Dalmeny - R Campbell, J Cullen, J C Nelson and A Rutherford.
Also please be aware we are still trying to identify some of the men on Queensferry and Dalmeny Memorials whose information is proving difficult to find. We would also be grateful for any information on them. They are Queensferry - John McLean, Dalmeny - R Campbell, J Cullen, J C Nelson and A Rutherford.
The criteria for inclusion on a particular memorial are varied and summarised in the following quote from the www.roll-ofhonour website:-
"The criteria for inclusion on a war memorial was set by the memorial committee and the resons why men were included or excluded is now lost with their records. A man could be included on a memorial because he was born, resident, attended school or worked there or that his next-of-kin lived there, or didn't live there in the case of exclusion. To find the reasons why people were included you need to search out the minutes of the memorial committee meetings and local newspapers of the time." We do know that the Queensferry memorial was not unveiled until November 1927.
"The criteria for inclusion on a war memorial was set by the memorial committee and the resons why men were included or excluded is now lost with their records. A man could be included on a memorial because he was born, resident, attended school or worked there or that his next-of-kin lived there, or didn't live there in the case of exclusion. To find the reasons why people were included you need to search out the minutes of the memorial committee meetings and local newspapers of the time." We do know that the Queensferry memorial was not unveiled until November 1927.
Our ultimate hope is to get some recognition for the "Forgotten Men".
It is to be noted that only army servicemen are on the Queensferry and Dalmeny memorials, and we find several Naval men among our lost souls. It may be that in many cases, they were born in Queensferry because their fathers served in the Royal Navy and were based at Port Edgar, so their time in Queensferry may be short.
It is most likely these men, and others, are not on Queensferry War Memorial because of the possibility that there were no living relatives in the area at the time of collating the names to be put on the memorial. This does not mean to say that Queensferry should not honour them with remembrance.
Below you can read information found on just six of the men. This research is still ongoing. Any helpful information is most welcome.
It is to be noted that only army servicemen are on the Queensferry and Dalmeny memorials, and we find several Naval men among our lost souls. It may be that in many cases, they were born in Queensferry because their fathers served in the Royal Navy and were based at Port Edgar, so their time in Queensferry may be short.
It is most likely these men, and others, are not on Queensferry War Memorial because of the possibility that there were no living relatives in the area at the time of collating the names to be put on the memorial. This does not mean to say that Queensferry should not honour them with remembrance.
Below you can read information found on just six of the men. This research is still ongoing. Any helpful information is most welcome.
Private William Coull of the 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders was born on the Loan, Queensferry on 10th January 1886 the only son (with 4 older sisters) to George Coull, a Quarry Labourer, and Mary Sommerville. They married in Linlithgow. In the 1871 census his father was living in West Terrace, in the 1881 and 1891 census the family were living on the Loan. In the 1901 census they were living in Rosebery Buildings and in 1911 his father was in the High Street, Queensferry.
William enlisted in Airdrie and was killed in France on 25th September 1915, aged 29. he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
William enlisted in Airdrie and was killed in France on 25th September 1915, aged 29. he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
Leading Seaman Ronald Stuart Clark, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Invincible, was born in Clark Place, Queensferry. His parents were Thomas Archer Clark, Warrant Officer of the Royal Navy, and Annie Emily Cammack. They were married in Devonport, Devon.
Ronald signed up to the Royal Navy in 1912 aged 18 and died on 31st May 1916 as a direct result of enemy action. He was involved in the Battle of Jutland on board HMS Invincible, and his ship was sunk. Of her entire compliment, 1026 officers and men were killed, with only 6 survivors, picked up by HMS Badger. Ronald was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Ronald signed up to the Royal Navy in 1912 aged 18 and died on 31st May 1916 as a direct result of enemy action. He was involved in the Battle of Jutland on board HMS Invincible, and his ship was sunk. Of her entire compliment, 1026 officers and men were killed, with only 6 survivors, picked up by HMS Badger. Ronald was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Sapper Robert Kerr of the 66th Company Royal Engineers, was born in Linlithgow on 14th April 1892. His Parents were Thomas Kerr, a Ploughman and Janet Kerr (also maiden name) who were married in Livingston. Robert married Mary Brown in 1915 in Edinburgh. He was a Police Constable living in Bo'ness at the time and Mary was living in Catherine Terrace (commonly known as "The Brickies"), Queensferry. Robert served in Queensferry as Police Constable for some time, but was in Bo'ness when he enlisted. He was killed in Belgium on 10th August 1917 aged 25. He is rememberd on the Ramcapelle Road Military Cemetery in Belgium and his name is also on Queensferry Parish Church Memorial and the Masonic Memorial of St Margarets Lodge. However his name is not on the Queensferry War Memorial. His wife Mary died of Tuberculosis in 1924, in Queensferry.
Private Thomas Potter of the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders was born on 11th April 1884 in Woodend, Abercorn. His parents were Peter Potter, a Quary Labourer and Agnes Chapman. They married in 1882 in Woodend. In the 1891 census, the family were living in Abercorn. Peter enlisted in Queensferry and his Parents were living in Hopetoun, Queensferry at this time. Peter was killed in action in France on 13th October 1914. He was awarded the 1914 Cross, Victory and British War Medals and is buried in Meteren Military Cemetery, Nord, France. He is remembered on the Abercorn War Memorial. His brother William, also on the Abercorn Memorial, enlisted into the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion and died of wounds in Belgium on 30th March 1918. His parents are listed as the late Peter and Agnes Potter of Society, Hopetoun, Queensferry. Father died in 1917 in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, usual address, Society, Hopetoun, Queensferry and Mother died in 1922 in Abercorn.
Signal Boy Frederick Thomas Simkins of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Good Hope, was born in East Terrace, Queensferry, on 5th February 1897. His parents were Frederick Simkins, 2nd Yeoman of Signals, Royal Navy, and Ruth Fuller. They married in 1895 in Sussex. In the 1901 census, the family were in Gravesend, father then a Coastguard. Frederick died on 1st November 1914, aged 17, as a direct result of enemy action. HMS Good Hope was sunk by the German East Asia Squadron off the coast of Chile, with all hands lost. Frederick's body was never recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. He was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
Private James Scott McLean, of the 1st Royal Scots, was born the youngest of four sons, on 18th June 1889 in Kirkliston. His parents were Donald and Mary Mclean and they married in Govan.
The family moved from Glasgow to Catherine Terrace, Queensferry and it is believed Donald worked on the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge. He died in 1903.
In 1909 James was a Shale miner in Dalmeny, when he married Jane King.
By 1911 James and Jane were living in Kelty, Fife with their children and in the 1911 census, his mother Mary was still living in Catherine Terrace, supported by her sons. She died in 1917, shortly before James. By 1920, his brother Lauchlan was living in Catherine Terrace. His brothers Lauchlan and Archibald did not enlist but his brother Donald enlisted and survived the war.
James was killed in action in Ypres, Belgium on 9th October 1917 aged 28. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cote Memorial in Belgium and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
We do have more names we are researching and may add to this list later on.
©Queensferry History Group 2018
©Queensferry History Group 2018