We have been remembering the men on Queensferry World War 2 Memorial the past few months and here are the last few names. Below these will be the 7 names on Dalmeny Memorial.
Flight Sergeant Air Gunner George Robertson Douglas, 1920 – 1942.
George was born in 1920 in Dalzeil, North Lanarkshire. His family later moved to Queensferry where his father, who was a Storekeeper in Queensferry, died in 1952. George married in London in 1940.
George enlisted into the 502 Squadron Royal Air Force. In January 1942 the squadron officially moved to both Norfolk (RAF Docking) and Cornwall, where a maintenance station was set up at RAF St Eval. Until 1944 the squadron's main role was to carry anti-submarine patrols.
George was killed on 30th July 1942, aged 22 and is buried in St Columbs Major Cemetery, Cornwall, grave ref: 1373.
He was awarded the 1939-45 war and Star medals.
George was born in 1920 in Dalzeil, North Lanarkshire. His family later moved to Queensferry where his father, who was a Storekeeper in Queensferry, died in 1952. George married in London in 1940.
George enlisted into the 502 Squadron Royal Air Force. In January 1942 the squadron officially moved to both Norfolk (RAF Docking) and Cornwall, where a maintenance station was set up at RAF St Eval. Until 1944 the squadron's main role was to carry anti-submarine patrols.
George was killed on 30th July 1942, aged 22 and is buried in St Columbs Major Cemetery, Cornwall, grave ref: 1373.
He was awarded the 1939-45 war and Star medals.
Sergeant Duncan Grant, 1910 – 1942
Duncan was born in Girdwoods Land, Queensferry. His Parents married in Dalmeny Parish Church, Father a Shale Miner.
He enlisted firstly into the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, then into the 4th Regiment Reconnaissance Corps of the Royal Armoured Corps. The 4th Regiment formed in January 1941 from the anti-tank companies of the 10th, 11th and 12th brigades of the 4th Division.
Duncan married an Abercorn girl, in 1937, while living in Queensferry and was employed as a Bricklayer Journeyman.
He was killed on 20th October 1942, aged 32, while in action in the West Africa Campaign and is buried in Kaduna Civil Cemetery, Nigeria, Grave Ref: Row E, Grave 14.
There are 10 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-45 War there.
Duncan was awarded the 1939-45 War and Star medals.
Sergeant Navigator (Bomber) John Davidson Haigh, 1922 – 1943
John was born in Queensferry, in 1922.
He enlisted into the 102 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
He died on 12th March 1943 aged 20, when his plane crashed in the German target area.
John is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, Grave Ref: 10 (X).C.12
and was awarded the 1939-45 War and Star medals.
Gunner James Lowrie, 1921 – 1943
James was born in Linlithgow in 1921. His family later moved to Queensferry.
He served in the 57th Battery, 14th (West Lothian) Light Anti Aircraft Regiment in the Royal Artillery. The 57th Battery was formed in 1939. The 14th regiment arrived in Egypt in 1941 and was sent straight to Lybia. By January 1943 they were in Buerat, Lybia.
James died on 22nd November, 1943 aged 22 and is buried in Khayat Beach War Cemetery, North Africa, grave ref: D.C.7.
He was awarded the 1939-45 War and Star medals.
We now look at the 7 names on Dalmeny Memorial.
Private William Cummings Ferrol, 1921 – 1940
William was born in Humbie in 1921. The family later moved to Carlowrie, Kirkliston.
He enlisted into the 1st Battalion Royal Scots and was attached to the 2nd Division.
He died on 21st May 1940 aged 18. He is buried in Mont-Bernanchon Cemetery at Pas de Calais, France, grave ref: row A, grave 6, one of 32 men in the Commonwealth Graves, and was awarded the 1939/45 War and Star medals.
On 10th May 1940 the Germans invaded Belgium and the 1st Battalion moved forward to its pre-arranged deployment position at Wavre on the River Dyle, only some 5 miles East of Waterloo. They remained there without contact with the Germans, apart from bombing, until the night of 15th /16th May when they were ordered to withdraw as the German advance threatened to cut off the BEF from the Channel ports. The withdrawal continued with only minor contact with the enemy.
By the 21st, the day William was killed, the Battalion was holding a position on the river Escaut just south of Tournai. The battalion was in continuous action all day, suffering over 150 casualties but not losing an inch of ground.
William was born in Humbie in 1921. The family later moved to Carlowrie, Kirkliston.
He enlisted into the 1st Battalion Royal Scots and was attached to the 2nd Division.
He died on 21st May 1940 aged 18. He is buried in Mont-Bernanchon Cemetery at Pas de Calais, France, grave ref: row A, grave 6, one of 32 men in the Commonwealth Graves, and was awarded the 1939/45 War and Star medals.
On 10th May 1940 the Germans invaded Belgium and the 1st Battalion moved forward to its pre-arranged deployment position at Wavre on the River Dyle, only some 5 miles East of Waterloo. They remained there without contact with the Germans, apart from bombing, until the night of 15th /16th May when they were ordered to withdraw as the German advance threatened to cut off the BEF from the Channel ports. The withdrawal continued with only minor contact with the enemy.
By the 21st, the day William was killed, the Battalion was holding a position on the river Escaut just south of Tournai. The battalion was in continuous action all day, suffering over 150 casualties but not losing an inch of ground.
Private Dorothy May Morrison, 1924 – 1942
Dorothy is the only female listed on the Dalmeny and Queensferry War Memorials.
She was born in Queensferry on 8th July 1924. She enlisted into the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).
Dorothy died on 14th June 1942 aged 17 and is buried in Queensferry cemetery.
She was awarded the 1939-45 War and Star medals.
The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women’s branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9th September 1938, initially as a women’s voluntary service and existed until 1st February 1949.
As more men joined the War effort, it was decided to increase the size of the ATS with numbers reaching 65,000 by September 1941. Women between the ages of 17 and 43 were allowed to join, although these rules were relaxed in order to allow WAAC veterans to join, up to the age of 50. The duties of members were also extended , seeing ATS orderlies, drivers, postal workers and ammunition inspectors.
Women were barred from serving in battle, but due to shortages of men, ATS members as well as other women’s voluntary services, took over many support tasks, such as radar operators, forming part of the crews of anti-aircaft guns and military police. However these roles were not without risk and there were according to the Imperial war Museum, 717 casualties during World War 2.
Private John Shanks, 1920 – 1943
John was born in 1920.
He enlisted into the 7th/10th Argyll and Southern Highlanders. His parents were living in Kirkliston at the time.
John participated in the The North African Campaign of the Second World War which took place in North Africa from 10th June 1940 to 13th May 1943.
He died on 28th March 1943, aged 23.
He is commemorated in Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia, on panel V.A.51. and was
awarded the 1939-45 War and Star medals.
Private Charles Grey Bell, 1920 – 1944
Charles was born in 1920 in Portobello. The family later moved to Dalmeny or Queensferry.
Charles enlisted into the 2nd Kings Own Scottish Borderers. Until November 1942 they were at Razmak, when they left for Peshawar, both in Pakistan. After tough training they sailed with the 7th (Indian) Division to Burma in September 1943. The 2nd battalion crossed into the Arakan, and took part in the critical actions at Ngakydauk Pass and in the ‘Admin Box’, where 2 COs were killed. Later they were flown to the central front at Imphal.
He died on 8th July 1944 aged 24.
He is buried in Imphal War Cemetery, Burma (now Myanmar) grave ref: 3.B.3. and was awarded the 1939-45 War and Star medals.
Able Seaman Harry Teevan 1926 – 1945
Harry was born in 1926 in North Berwick. His parents were living in Edinburgh at the time of his enlisting.
He enlisted into the Royal Navy and was serving on HMS Indefatigable when he died on 1st April 1945 aged 18.
The Indefatigable suffered a Japanese Kamikaze attack on 1st April 1945 causing severe damage, but was operational again after only 1 hour. 8 men had been killed immediately and 16 wounded. 6 would die later. Among the dead were Indefatigable’s Lieutenant Commander (Flying), an Air Engineering Officer, the Flight Deck Medical Officer, a Photographer and many in the Operations Room.
Harry is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
There is a detailed account of what happened here –
htpp://www.armouredcarriers.com/indefatigable-kamikazee
There are two men we are unable to verify or find information on. If you can help please contact us at our Gmail address which is [email protected].
The names are:
George Grant - no information.
George Irvine Davidson - a George Irvine Davidson died in Dalmeny in 1941 aged 23, but so far we have not traced a war record. He was employed as a Garage Attendant.
© Queensferry History Group 2019