While we have managed to research details of most of the men on Queensferry and Dalmeny Memorials, there are still some we are having difficulty with.
Maybe you are related to, or have knowledge of, some of the following men, and can help us identify them correctly. We would be very grateful if you contacted us with anything you think might help.
John Mclean -
As far as we can see, John McLean, on the Queensferry Memorial and the Old School Memorial, was born John Henderson McLean, on 16th May 1893, in Brachla, Cawdor, Nairn. His Father was Thomas Mclean, a Cooper Journeyman, and his Mother was Mary McLean, ms Grierson. They were married on 14th July 1880 in Edinburgh.
As Edinburgh City Archives have a John Mclean on the Old School register, born in Kent Road, Glasgow, on 19th May 1893, with a Father Thomas, either wrong information was given on the register, or there were two John Mcleans. As no further information can be found on a John McLean born in Kent Road, Glasgow, we will go with John Henderson Mclean.
In 1901 the Family were living in Brachla, Cawdor, Nairn. John was 7 years old. His father, Thomas was 46, and a Cooper. His Mother Mary was 44. His Siblings all born in Cawdor, Nairn; –Jane, 17, a scholar; William, 15,; Margaret, 14; Mary, 12;
Alexander, 10.
In 1905, Thomas Mclean, a Cooper, was tenant of House and Garden in Morton Terrace, Queensferry.
Thomas's Father died of Pneumonia, on 8th February 1909, aged 54 years, in Lilybank House, Queensferry. He was a Foreman Cooper. His son Andrew was present.
In the 1911 census, Thomas, aged 17, an Engineer Apprentice in Oilworks, presumably Dalmeny, was living in Lilybank, Stoneycroft Road, with his Mother Mary, now a widow and his Siblings; Brother Andrew, 29, a Clerk in Gasworks, born in Edinburgh; other Siblings all born in Cawdor, Nairn; Sister Jane, 27, a Domestic Servant; Sister Margaret, 24, and Brother Alexander, 20, a Railway Clerk.
John's Mother Mary died on 24th September 1925, aged 71, in Priory house, Queensferry. The cause was- Fatty Degeneration of Heart, Syncope (Fainting) and Fractures of both bones in left leg which she had for 2 months. Her Son Andrew McLean was the informant, - his home address was in Perth.
We are finding War information on John McLean difficult to track down. Only 40% of Army Service Records survived enemy bombing in WW2. There are a few 'John Mcleans' with not enough information to say place of enlistment, or birth, or birth year, age at death, or Parents names, any of which would help us to track down the correct person, but we will keep looking, unless anyone out there can help with information!
There is information on a John MacLean born in Nairnshire, No:1632, who enlisted into the 4th Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, in Cawdor, Nairn, and was killed in action on 28.9.1915, aged 22. As his father is listed as John Maclean, this is the wrong man!
We can find no information on a John Mclean enlisting locally.
We have a few men in both Queensferry and Dalmeny Memorials who, through process of elimination, we believe to be the correct men, but we cannot find that vital 'link' to Queensferry or Dalmeny.
Queensferry
David Moig, (see Queensferry Memorial 1916), has his name on the Queensferry Parish Church Memorial, we believe we have the correct man, however no other Queensferry link has been found so far.
Norman Mathieson, (see Queensferry Memorial 1917), also on Queensferry Parish Church Memorial, so far has no Queensferry link other the
Dalmeny
W Russell, we believe, again by process of elimination, to be William Russell, however no Dalmeny link has been found. (See Dalmeny Memorial 1915)
R P Brown, we believe, by process of elimination, to be Robert Phorson Brown, however we can find no Dalmeny link. (See Dalmeny Memorial 1915)
P Anderson we believe by process of elimination, to be Peter Anderson but have not yet found a Dalmeny link.(See Dalmey Memorial 1917)
For Dalmeny we cannot establish the identity of the following men -
J Cullen,
R Campbell,
J Nelson,
A Rutherford.
As the Dalmeny Memorial does not give the first name of the men it is almost impossible to correctly identify them particularly when we can find no Dalmeny link for any of these men, either through registers or war information.