Queensferry’s War Memorial is on the wall of the outside stairs at Rosebery Hall on the High Street. As well as the 66 names of the Queensferry men who died in World War I, already researched by the History Group, there are 21 names of men who died in World War 2. There were 12 men in the Army, 5 men in the Navy and 4 men in the Airforce.
As 6th June sees the 75th Anniversary of the start of the Battle of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day, this month we are commemorating our 4 men who died there and will follow up over the next few months with information on other names on the Memorial.
As 6th June sees the 75th Anniversary of the start of the Battle of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day, this month we are commemorating our 4 men who died there and will follow up over the next few months with information on other names on the Memorial.
Battle of Normandy
Code name Operation Overlord
From D-Day to D-Day + 84: June 6 to August 29, 1944
85 days of fighting
Code name Operation Overlord
From D-Day to D-Day + 84: June 6 to August 29, 1944
85 days of fighting
The D in D-Day is the same as the H in H-Hour. It refers to military vocabulary. It is also possible to say : Y-Year.
Soldiers use the first letter of the word in order to say : THE moment. Here, in the case of the landing of Normandy, it means THE moment of the attack. It is a code name and thanks to this code there is no need to say the exact date. Thus it is possible to say “D-Day + 5” for : the date of the attack + 5 days.
This code avoids the enemy intelligence to find too easily the right date or the right hour of the offensive. -
The Battle of Normandy
The Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and by the following spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. -www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
Soldiers use the first letter of the word in order to say : THE moment. Here, in the case of the landing of Normandy, it means THE moment of the attack. It is a code name and thanks to this code there is no need to say the exact date. Thus it is possible to say “D-Day + 5” for : the date of the attack + 5 days.
This code avoids the enemy intelligence to find too easily the right date or the right hour of the offensive. -
The Battle of Normandy
The Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and by the following spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe. -www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
Queensferry Men involved in The Battle of Normandy
Private Malcolm Meikle, 1909- 1944
Malcolm was born on 23rd September 1909 in Muirs Land, Queensferry. He married in Queensferry Parish Church, on 22nd April 1939, while employed as an Explosives Worker, where, is not specified, but possibly in the shale mines.
He enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
In 1940, the 1st Battalion along with the 5th Battalion, were with the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division during the Battle for France, when they were trapped and had to surrender, at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux.
In August 1940, both 5th & 1st Battalions were quickly reformed along with the same division and fought with distinction in North Africa and Sicily.
On 6th June 1944, they returned to North West Europe on D-Day, and fought their way, along with the 2nd Battalion, from Normandy, through France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Malcolm died in Normandy, during the Western Europe Campaign on 19th June 1944 aged 35. He was awarded the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
Malcolm is buried in Banneville-La -Campagne War Cemetery, Calvados, France, Grave Ref: 1.C.18.
The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. For the most part, the men buried at Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery were killed in the fighting from the second week of July 1944, to the last week in August. The cemetery contains 2,170 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 140 of them unidentified, and five Polish graves.
Sergeant John McKay, 1906-1944
John was born in Queensferry on 30th May 1906 and he married in Edinburgh in 1935.
He served in 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
In 1940, the 1st Battalion along with the 5th Battalion, were with the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division during the Battle for France when they were trapped and had to surrender at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux.
In August 1940, both 5th & 1st battalions were quickly reformed along with the same division and fought with distinction in North Africa and Sicily.
On 6th June 1944, they returned to North West Europe on D-Day, and fought their way, along with the 2nd Battalion, from Normandy, through France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
John was killed in action on 11th July 1944, aged 38, in Normandy, during the Western Europe Campaign.
In 1943 John was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire in the Middle East. He was also awarded the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
He is buried in Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, Grave Ref: V111. E.7.
This cemetery contains 2,236 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 90 of them unidentified Some 82 regiments and corps from the British Army are represented here. 203 men were killed on D-Day, Tuesday 6th June 1944. All identified casualties in this cemetery (with the exception of 11 German forces casualties) were killed, or died, between May and September 1944.
John was born in Queensferry on 30th May 1906 and he married in Edinburgh in 1935.
He served in 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
In 1940, the 1st Battalion along with the 5th Battalion, were with the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division during the Battle for France when they were trapped and had to surrender at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux.
In August 1940, both 5th & 1st battalions were quickly reformed along with the same division and fought with distinction in North Africa and Sicily.
On 6th June 1944, they returned to North West Europe on D-Day, and fought their way, along with the 2nd Battalion, from Normandy, through France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
John was killed in action on 11th July 1944, aged 38, in Normandy, during the Western Europe Campaign.
In 1943 John was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire in the Middle East. He was also awarded the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
He is buried in Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, Grave Ref: V111. E.7.
This cemetery contains 2,236 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 90 of them unidentified Some 82 regiments and corps from the British Army are represented here. 203 men were killed on D-Day, Tuesday 6th June 1944. All identified casualties in this cemetery (with the exception of 11 German forces casualties) were killed, or died, between May and September 1944.
Guardsman John Ford, 1903- 1944
John was born in Muirs Land, Queensferry on 24th August 1903.
He enlisted into the 2nd Scots Guards, in November 1921 aged 18, while employed as a Labourer.
During the Second World War the principal centres of attention for the Scots Guards were North Africa, Italy, and the moves through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in 1944 and 1945 until the German surrender.
In North Africa, as part of the 22nd Guards Brigade, the 2nd Battalion took part in fighting against the Italians in Egypt followed by tough fighting in Libya, then also controlled by Italy. In North Africa, in March 1943, the 2nd Battalion took part in the defensive Battle of Medenine, Tunisia, after the Germans had counter-attacked the Allies.
In September 1943, the 2nd Battalion, as part of the 201st Guards Brigade of the 56th London Division, took part in the Landings at Salerno, Italy.
At the Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, 17th January – 18th May 1944, the 2nd Battalion suffered heavy casualties in tough fighting. They then moved through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in 1944 and 1945 until the German surrender.
In 1940 John received the General Service Medal along with the Palestine Clasp and in 1942 he received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
John died at home, on 6th August, aged 41, cause unknown, and his death was notified to the War Office Casualty Branch.
He is buried in Queensferry Cemetery, Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1101.
Queensferry Cemetery contains 180 First World War burials, almost all of them naval. There are also eight burials of the Second World War.
John was born in Muirs Land, Queensferry on 24th August 1903.
He enlisted into the 2nd Scots Guards, in November 1921 aged 18, while employed as a Labourer.
During the Second World War the principal centres of attention for the Scots Guards were North Africa, Italy, and the moves through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in 1944 and 1945 until the German surrender.
In North Africa, as part of the 22nd Guards Brigade, the 2nd Battalion took part in fighting against the Italians in Egypt followed by tough fighting in Libya, then also controlled by Italy. In North Africa, in March 1943, the 2nd Battalion took part in the defensive Battle of Medenine, Tunisia, after the Germans had counter-attacked the Allies.
In September 1943, the 2nd Battalion, as part of the 201st Guards Brigade of the 56th London Division, took part in the Landings at Salerno, Italy.
At the Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, 17th January – 18th May 1944, the 2nd Battalion suffered heavy casualties in tough fighting. They then moved through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in 1944 and 1945 until the German surrender.
In 1940 John received the General Service Medal along with the Palestine Clasp and in 1942 he received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
John died at home, on 6th August, aged 41, cause unknown, and his death was notified to the War Office Casualty Branch.
He is buried in Queensferry Cemetery, Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1101.
Queensferry Cemetery contains 180 First World War burials, almost all of them naval. There are also eight burials of the Second World War.
Petty Officer Stoker John Smith, 1899 - 1944
John was born around 1899, records are unclear as to where. He later married and his wife was living in Queensferry during his war service.
John enlisted into the Royal Navy and was serving on HMS Isis.
In 1943 Isis sank the German Submarine U-562.
John was missing presumed killed on 20th July 1944, aged 45, when Isis struck a mine and sunk off the Western sector of the Normandy landing beaches. Isis was active off the Normandy coast during and after the landings. Its guns joined the naval bombardment of German defences on shore and it escorted troop ships and supply vessels. It patrolled the waters for enemy submarines. Isis struck a mine, exploded and sank on 20th July 1944 off the western sector of the Normandy landing beaches just 5 miles off shore, in only 21 metres of water. She was the last interwar standard destroyer lost in the war, with eleven officers and 143 ratings lost, and 45 survivors rescued after several hours in the sea.
John is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, panel 85, column 2 and is also listed on Portsmouth Cathedral Memorial.
John was awarded the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
© Queensferry History Group 2019