Roll of Honour - Dumfriesshire

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

GRETNA GREEN WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2012

The Gretna Green War Memorial stands opposite Gretna Old Parish Church and records the names of the Fallen from both World Wars. There are several other memorial in the village but this one takes the form of a granite Latin cross with a tapering shaft, with an octagonal base topped by an octagonal plinth. The inscription is to be found in black letting on the sides of the plinth and base. There are 37 names listed for World War 1 only. The memorial was dedicated and unveiled circa 26th January 1921; the site was free but the memorial cost £520 to erect. Fergus J Currie was the sculptor and architect; the builders were Hope & Currie. Details appeared in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard 26th January 1921.

Photograph Copyright © Steve Bryson 2012

TO THE GLORY
OF GOD AND
TO THE MEMORY
OF THE MEN OF
GRETNA PARISH
WHO GAVE UP
THEIR LIVES IN
THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1919
AND OF
1939 - 1945

ANDERSON	Robert	Private 77270, 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Infantry. Died 20 May 1915. Aged 28. Born 12 August 1886, in Rigg, Gretna, Dumfriesshire. Son of James and Margaret Anderson, of Rigg, Carlisle, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Bank accountant by trade. Unmarried. Enlisted 9th November 1914 at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, aged 28 years 3 months, passed fit 16th November 1914. Height 5 feet 9½ inches, girth 41 inches, complexion fresh, eyes blue, hair fair; religion Presbyterian. No known grave. Commemorated on VIMY MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 164 - 48
BEATTIE	Thomas William	Private 4307, 1/9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action 16 September 1916. Aged 22. Enlisted Gateshead-on-Tyne, resident Gretna. Son of Robert and Jemima Beattie. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 15 C.
BELL	David G	[Listed on memorial as Lance Corporal] Private 29548, 7th/8th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Killed in action 31 July 1917. Aged 39. Born Arthurst, cumberland, enlisted Dumfries, resident Gretna. Son of John and Margaret F. Bell, of Raeburnfoot, Gretna, Dumfriesshire; husband of May McDonald Bell, of "Leny House," Muthill, Perthshire. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 22.
BIRNIE	Robert	[Listed as Corporal on memorial] Pioneer 146507 4th Battalion Special Brigade, Royal Engineers. Died of wounds 28 June 1916. Aged 35. Born Gretna, enlisted Edinburgh. Son of Williamina Birnie, of Redkirk Mill, Gretna, and the late George Birnie. Buried in FOSSE NO.10 COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SAINS-EN-GOHELLE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row A. Grave 21.
BLACKLOCK	Joseph	Private 71351, 27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Died 23 October 1915. Aged 31. Born 9 October 1885 in Gretna Green. Son of the late James and Mary Elizabeth Blacklock, of Springfield, Gretna; next of kin listed as Mrs G Meakin of Gretna Green. Bank Clerk by trade. Unmarried. Previously served for 4 years in the King's Own Scottish Borderers before emigrating. Enlisted and passed fit 26 October 1914 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, aged 29. Heoght 5 feet 7 inches, girth 36 inches, complexion dark, eyes blue, hair dark; religion Presbyterian. Buried in WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row K. Grave 20A. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 785 - 11
BURNETT	Joseph	Lance Corporal 276717, 1/7th Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders). Killed in action 20 September 1917. Born Gretna, enlisted Dimfries, resident Ecdclefechan, Dumfriesshire. No known grave. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 141 to 143 and 162.
CARLYLE	James	Serjeant 240773, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Killed in action 31 October 1918. Aged 25. Enlisted Dumfries, resident Gretna. Son of Walter Carlyle, of Gretna Green, Carlisle. Buried in HARLEBEKE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VI. Row C. Grave 9.
COUPLAND	William	Private 41834, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. Died 29 April 1918. Aged 24. Born Annan, Dumfriesshire, enlisted Carlisle, resident Gretna. Son of Joseph and Mary Coupland, of Springfield, Gretna, Dumfriesshire. Formerly T/4/055824, Royal Army Service Corps. Buried in GRAND-SERAUCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Aisne, France. Plot Vi. Row A. Grave 10.
DAVIDSON	James	Private, Scots Guards - no further information currently available
DAVIS	Ninian W	Private, Royal Army Service Corps - no further information currently available
DICKSON	John Graham	Private 1992, 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Killed in action 15 June 1915. Born Gretna, enlisted Motherwell, Lanarkshire. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 15 and 16.
ELLIOT	James	Private 87930, 13th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment). Died 1 May 1918. Aged 19. Native of Longtown, Carlisle. Son of James and Janet Elliot, of 165, Central Avenue, Gretna, Carlisle. Buried in BERLIN SOUTH-WESTERN CEMETERY, Brandenburg, Germany. Plot IX. Row C. Grave 11.
FELL	Harold	Private G/87749, 23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died in United Kingdom 26 December 1918. Aged 23. Born at Windermere. Son of John and Helen Fell, of 18, Whinfield Rd., Windermere, Westmorland. Buried in GRETNA CEMETERY, Dumfriesshire. Plot B. Row 12. Grave 1.
GRAHAM	Christopher	[Listed on memorial as King’s Own Scottish Borderers ] Private, 42034, 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, High Light Inafntry. Died of wounds 21 October 1918. Aged 25. Born and resident Gretna, enlisted Annan. Son of George and Jane Graham, of Springfield, Gretna Green, Dumfriesshire. Formerly 18866, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Buried in MONT HUON MILITARY CEMETERY, LE TREPORT, Seine-Maritime, France. Plot VIII. Row M. Grave 8B.
HENRY	William	Private 24069, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Died 6 August 1916. Aged 31. Born at Gretna Green, Carlisle (CWGC) or Kirkpatrick Fleming, Dumfriesshire (SDGW), enlisted Dumfries, resident Gretna. Son of Mrs. Nicholas Henry and the late William Henry. Buried in ST. SOUPLET BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot III. Row BB. Grave 21.
JOHNSTONE	George	Private 420625, 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Infantry. Died 12 October 1917. Born 6 June 1884 in Ecclesechan, Dumfriesshire. His next of kin was listed as his brother, D Johnstone, of Cove Railroad Cottage, Kirkpatrick, Flemming, Dumfriesshire. Labourer by trade. Unmarried. Enlisted and passed fit 26 December 1914 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, aged 30 years 7 months. Height 5 feet 9 inches, girth 40 inches, compleion ruddy, eyes grey, hair dark brown; religion Presbyterian. Buried in SUCRERIE CEMETERY, ABLAIN-ST. NAZAIRE, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row B. Grave 6. National Archives of Canada Accession Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4868 - 19
LAVERS	Herbert J	Private 2822, 1/5th Battalion (Territorial Force), Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Killed in action 6 September 1916. Enlisted Bolton, resident Gretna. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 A.
LUCAS	James	[Listed as King’s Own Scottish Borderers on memorial] Private 31597, 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Killed in action 20 June 1917. Born and resident Gretna, enlisted Dumfries. Formerly 18209, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Buried in PERTH CEMETERY (CHINA WALL), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot I. Row A. Grave 10.
MACKIE	Andrew	Trooper, Scottish Horse - no further information currently available
MAXWELL	John	Private 12750, 1st Battalion, Scots Guards. Died 20 May 1918. Aged 30. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, of Blackwood Cottage, Auldgirth, Dumfries; husband of Williamina Maxwell, of Gretna Green, Gretna. Buried in DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.2, Somme, France. Plot I. Row D. Grave 32.
McCARL	Samuel	[Listed as MCEARL on SDGW] Private 18162, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment. Killed in action 25 September 1915. Born Dumfries, enlisted Kendal, Wetmorland, resident Annan, Dumfries. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 68 and 69.
McCARL	William	Private 23358, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Killed in action 27 August 1917. Aged 22. Born and resident Gretna, enlisted Annan. Buried in POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XLVIII. Row E. Grave 16.
McKAY	George I	[Spelt MacKay on CWGC] Stoker K/13443, HMS Cressy, Royal Navy. Died 22 September 1914. Aged 20. Son of Mrs. J. Graham, of Toll Bar Cottage, Gretna Green, Dumfrieshire. No known grave. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 4.
McKAY	William R	Private 24057, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Killed in action 9 July 1916. Enlisted Annan, Dumfriesshire, resident Wigton, Cumberland. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 3 C.
McMURRAY	Edward	Private 41513, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots. Died of wounds 20 October 1917. Born Rockcliffe, Cumberland, enlisted Annan, resident Dumfries. Son of Thomas and Rachel McMurray, of Todhills, Rockcliffe, Carlisle, Cumberland. Formerly TR/2/4658, Training Reserve Battalion. Buried in WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row E. Grave 9A.
MERRICK	Peter	Private B/201244, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). Killed in action 28 May 1918. Aged 20. Born Workington, Cumberland, enlisted and resident Glasgow. Son of William Merrick and Rosina Burns Merrick, of 65, Low Glencairn St., Kilmarnock. Formerly M/295577, Royal Army Service Corps. No known grav. Commemorated on SOISSONS MEMORIAL, Aisne, France. [Note: This is the only man that fits but cannot establish the link to Gretna]
MURRAY	James H	Private 42232, 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Killed in action 14 April 1917. Aged 19. Enlisted Dumfries, resident Gretna. Son of John and Nicholas Murray, of Bogheads Cottage, Gretna, Carlisle. Formerly 2898, King's Own Scottish Borderers. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 15 C.
O'DELL	Cecil Henry	Private 38422, 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 7 June 1917. Born Longford, enlisted Accrington, Lancashire. Son of Alfred and Susan E. O'Dell, of 11, Sergeant St., London Rd., Preston. Formerly 26976, East lancashire Regiment. Buried in MESSINES RIDGE BRITISH CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot II. Row D. Grave 20. [Note: This is the only man that fits but cannot establish the link to Gretna]
O'DELL	Frederick George	Private 51603. 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 23 April 1917. Aged 23. Son of Alfred E. and Susan E. O'Dell, of II, Sergeant St., Preston, Lancs. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 3. [Note: This is the only man that fits but cannot establish the link to Gretna]
PHILLIPS	John	Private 16283, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Died 10 July 1915. Aged 35. Son of Jane Phillips (now Cook), of Springfield, Gretna, Dumfries, and the late James Phillips. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 22.
PHILLIPS	James	Private 7543, "D" Company, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment. Died 12 November 1917. Aged 35. Son of the late James and Jane Phillips, of Creca, Annan, Dumfriesshire; husband of Mary Phillips, of 4, Midnunnery, Ferregles, Dumfries. Buried in GRETNA CEMETERY, Dumfriesshire. Plot A. Row 8. Grave 2.
ROME	John	Private 44304, 91st Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died of wounds 30 March 1917. Enlisted Annan, resident Rigg, Carlisle. Formerly 2671, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Buried in EUSTON ROAD CEMETERY, COLINCAMPS, Somme, France. Plot V. Row F. Grave 10.
STAFFORD, M.C	Kenneth 'Ken' James	Lieutenant, 37th Battery, 27th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds 14 November 1918. Son of the Rev. John 0. and Mrs. Stafford, of The Manse, Gretna, Dumfriesshire. Awarded the Military Cross (M.C.). Citation appeared in The London Gazette Suplement 9 December 1919, page 91, and the award of the Military Cross (M.C.) in The London Gazette Supplement 2 April 1919 page 18. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section S. Plot V. Row K. Grave 13. Citation from The London Gazette Suplement 9 December 1919, page 91 "Lt. Kenneth James Staffordm R.F.A. (Spec. Res.), attd. 37th By., 27th Bde. For great gallantry and devotion to duty on 4th November, 1918, near Beaudignies, when his battery was very heavily shelled. he went up to the position and remained there for some hours, encouraging the men and attending to several who were wounded. He continued to do so after being badly wounded. Throughout these operations he has set a fine example to those with him."
STEVENSON	David	Private 24917, 6th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Killed in action 9 April 1917. Aged 20. Born and resident Gretna, enlisted Berwick, Northumberland. Son of Thomas Stevenson, of Old Toll Bar, Sarkbank, Gretna, Carlisle. Buried in BAILLEUL ROAD WEST CEMETERY, ST. LAURENT-BLANGY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 41.
TELFORD	William	Lance Corporal 14936, 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow), Highland Light Infantry. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Born and resident Gretna, enlisted Glasgow. Buried in LONSDALE CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row U. Grave 8.
THOMPSON	James	Private 28529, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Killed in action 14 August 1917. Born and resident Gretna, enlisted Dumfries. Son of Mrs. Thompson, of Maxwellfield, Gretna Green, Carlisle. Buried in ARTILLERY WOOD CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XI. Row A. Grave 14.
WOOD	Robert	Private 24023, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Killed in action 9 July 1916. Born and resident Gretna, enlisted Annan.No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 3 C.

Last updated: 22 May, 2020

War Memorials Trust