Dalmeny War Memorial
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Dalmeny War Memorial Unveiling Ceremony at Dalmeny General Sir Francis Davies, KCB, KCMG, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Scotland, unveiled the war memorial at Dalmeny in the presence of a large gathering on the village green. The memorial stands on a site granted by Lord Rosebery. It is in the form of a Mercat Cross, and is of the finest Cullalo freestone. A shaft rises from steps and plinth, and is surmounted by a lion rampant, supporting four shields with appropriate heraldic devices. A bronze tablet on the plinth records the names of 33 inhabitants of the parish who fell in the war. General Davies said they did well to pay honour to the fallen, as they had brought great honour to these who remained. Copyright 2014 © Garry A Ketchen and Alistair McEwen The day must be one of sad memory to many people present, but he asked these who had relations commemorated by the monument to believe him when he said that when they passed it they might hold their heads high. A little more than eight years ago the men they now commemorated were living there amongst them, most of them educated in their schools and worshipping in their church. When the call came they did not hesitate. They went forth and gave their lives. There was more to be done than putting up the monument. He asked them to remember these whom the fallen had left behind, and also these who had returned from the war and needed their help. They who put up the monument were not likely to forget what it meant, but as time went on the reason of the memorial might be forgotten. He asked, therefore, that the children should be taught how the call, when it was made, had been answered, and how they, if the call should come again, would have to do the same. If that was done their comrades would not have died in vain, and their sacrifice would be an inspiration to generations to come. The names of the fallen having been read by Mr A D Walker, the memorial was dedicated by the Reverend Dr Dunn, and thereafter the Dalmeny Pipe Band played "The Flowers of the Forest", and buglers sounded "The Last Post". A number of beautiful wreaths were placed at the foot of the memorial, and an impressive ceremony terminated with the benediction being pronounced by the Reverend W Bower Wilson. General Davies afterwards inspected a number of ex-service men of the parish, who were paraded near the memorial. We believe that we have correctly identified all but four of the men on the memorial. The five in question are R. Campbell, J. Cullen, J. C. Nelson and A. Rutherford. Please email [email protected] if you can help to identify them. Private Peter Anderson, 12th Royal Scots, born at Selkirk in 1893 was the younger son of George Anderson, a Baker, and Ann Anderson, of Jessiefield, Stow. After Ann's death, George married Marjory Yule, and they resided at 100 Dumbiedykes Road, Edinburgh. His siblings were Annie, George and Peter, and step siblings Elizabeth, Marjory, Margaret, Ann, Robert and Mary. His brother, Thomas Anderson, a Baker, lived at 13 The Loan, South Queensferry. He married Margaret R Meikle, on 3 May 1915. She lived at 9 Prospect Street, then 70 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh. She received a pension of 18/9 for herself and one child. Before enlisting on 28 April 1915 at Edinburgh, he was employed as a Coal Miner. He served in the 11th Royal Scots, entering France as a theatre of war on 28 August 1915. He received a gunshot wound in his left wrist on 14 July 1916 and was sent back to the UK, returning to France on 25 December 1916 and being posted to the 12th Royal Scots. He was killed in action on 5 June 1917, age 23, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France. Copyright 2014 © Garry A Ketchen and Alistair McEwen Lance Corporal James Beveridge, 2nd Royal Scots, born at Uphall in 1887, was the fourth son of Peter Beveridge, a Coal Miner, and Agnes Martin Beveridge, of North Lumphinnans, Ballingry, Fife. His siblings were William, Peter, Agnes, Jane, Robert, Ann, George, John, Alexander and Gavin. He was employed as a Miner, and on 22 September 1903, he enlisted as a regular soldier in the Royal Scots. Before enlisting in the 3rd Royal Scots on 22 September 1903, he was employed as a Shale Miner in the Dalmeny Crude Oil Company. He served at home as a Private until he was discharged to the Army Reserve on 22 September 1906, and was recalled on 9 August 1914, joining the 2nd Royal Scots as a Private and entering France as a theatre of war on 11 August 1914. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 18 September 1915 On 5 July 1907, he married Margaret Taylor Crane, of 7 Back Row, Dalmeny, and they had three children, Peter, William and Margaret. He was killed in action close to Longueval on 18 July 1916, aged 29, during the Battle of the Somme, and is buried in Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, France. He was mentioned in a casualty list in The Scotsman on 16 August 1916, and the West Lothian Courier on 4 August 1916. His wife remarried, becoming Mrs Margaret Miller, of 24 Bread Street, Edinburgh, and received a letter dated 27 June 1921 informing her that her former husband's body had been exhumed and reburied in Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, France. It was stated that "the removal has been conducted with every measure of care and reverence and the reburial was conducted by a Military Chaplain". Private Robert Phorson Brown, 14th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, born at Dalry, Edinburgh in 1895, was the third son of George Brown, a Wood Sawyer, and Margaret Brown, of 148 Baird Street, Glasgow. His siblings were George, William, Agnes, Janet, Margaret, Isabella, Richard and Euphemia. After enlisting at Edinburgh, he served as a Private in the 14th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, entering France as a theatre of war on 20 August 1914. He was killed in action on 19 May 1915, age 20, and is buried in Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ieper, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. He was mentioned in death notices in The Edinburgh Evening News on 5 June 1915 and 9 June 1915. Private James Cameron, 6th Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, born at Dalmeny in 1897, was the second son of McKenzie Cameron, a Mason, and Martha Cameron, of Long Green, Dalmeny House, Dalmeny. His siblings were Martha, McKenzie, Janet, Agnes. Copyright 2014 © Garry A Ketchen and Alistair McEwen Before enlisting at Edinburgh, he was employed as an Apprentice Mason on Dalmeny Estate. He died of wounds on 14 July 1916, age 19, and is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He was mentioned in the West Lothian Courier on 21 July 1916 and 18 August 1916, the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch on 26 July 1916, and a casualty list in The Scotsman on 16 August 1916. Private Andrew Campbell, 8th Black Watch, born at Blair Atholl in 1891, was the fourth son of Archibald Campbell, an Estate Labourer, and Jessie Campbell, of Woodend, Blair Atholl. His siblings were Catherine, John, Duncan, Alistair and Archibald. He was educated at Blair Atholl Public School and in 1911 was employed as a Gardener at Dalmeny Park, also living on the Estate. Before enlisting on 8 February 1916 at Paisley, he was employed at Ferguslie House, Paisley. He served as a Private in the 8th Black Watch, entering France as a theatre of war on 20 September 1916. He was killed in action on 24 March 1918, age 27, during the German Spring Offensive of 1918, and is commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. He was mentioned in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1918. Lieutenant William Campbell, MC, 9th Royal Scots, born at Edinburgh in 1895, was the only son of Bruce Campbell, a Bank Clerk, and Emeline Campbell, of 10 Greenbank Place, Morningside, Edinburgh. He was the grandson of William Campbell, Clerk of Works on Dalmeny Estate, and Charlotte Campbell, of Long Green Cottages, Dalmeny Park. His siblings were Charlotte and Mary. Lieutenant Campbell was educated at George Watson’s College from 1910 to 1912 where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was an outstanding golfer. He became an apprentice in the Scottish Widow’s Fund, training as an Actuary, before enlisting in the 9th Royal Scots during 1913. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in July 1915 and served in “D” Company entering France as a theatre of war during March 1916. The Military Cross was awarded for conspicuous gallantry and skill in the attack on Roeux on the banks of the Yser Canal. "He led his platoon with great bravery, picking up a Lewis gun and inflicting heavy casualties with it on the enemy, and although wounded he remained in command until relieved the following day." He was killed in action on 31 July 1917, age 22, and is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Ieper, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. He was mentioned in a biographical note in The Scotsman on 6 August 1917, and the Watsonian War Record 1914- 1918. He is also remembered on the Cramond Kirk Memorial. Copyright 2014 © Garry A Ketchen and Alistair McEwen Sergeant Richard John Dickson, 7th Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, born at East Carigie, Dalmeny in 1894, was the only son of John Dickson, a Shepherd, and Annie Dickson, of Home Farm, Dalmeny.