APSS Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter update

A few days ago I called in on the Aviation Preservation Society (APSS) workshops down at East Fortune in East Lothian, naturally enough people were a little bit down regarding the death of their Patron Captain Eric (Winkle) Brown, one of our finest ever aviators.

I spoke to APSS members about the Sopwith Strutter project and the news is very encouraging, the work is picking up pace rapidly and they’re waiting the arrival of the special wing tension wires from the Wiremill in Musselburgh. Once these arrive and a suitable work space is found the aircraft will be assembled for inspection. Once it has been passed the aircraft can then be covered with fabric, not the original Irish linen, but a modern more durable alternative.

 

Replica Machine Guns

The apprentices at McTaggart Scott Engineering are currently hard at work manufacturing a Scarfe ring  for the rear cockpit onto which will be mounted the magnificent Lewis Gun replica made by APSS member John Guy, who also made the magnificent Vickers gun which will sit up front in front of the lucky pilot.

The beating heart of the aircraft, the Rotec radial engine, all the way from ‘Down Under’ is ready to be installed and looks very impressive indeed. I filmed a short video with Ken Sharp and Mike Harper who gave me a run down of the progress.

So keep your eyes on the East Lothian sky later this year, you never know what you might see.

 

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The fantastic #APSS Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter Project at East Fortune, a chat with James Mattocks

I’m delighted that James Mattocks from the Aircraft Preservation Society of Scotland has taken  time out to answer a few of our questions about the exciting Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter Project.

Q. What is APSS ?
APSS is the Aircraft Preservation Society of Scotland, we are a group of aviation enthusiasts helping preserve the history of aviation and associated skills. Over 30 working members are actively involved in various projects.

We are based at the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, part of the National Museums Scotland and recently celebrated our 40th Anniversary.

Q. So James, when did the project begin and who’s idea was it?

“It started back in 2001, Evan Pole and I approached Adam Smith, the Museum curator at the time, about building a replica Bleriot. He came back and said he already had an idea to build a Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter, an aircraft which represented an important stage in the development of military aircraft, which saw widespread action in fighter and bomber versions and which was

Q. How many people are involved in the project?

“Initially there were 12 people in the team, this has varied over the years and sadly two have passed away since the inception of the project. Six of the original team are still involved in the build and we now have 14 members working at least one day a week on the Sopwith.”

Can you describe a typical team member, if there is such a thing?

Ted Tootell working on a bracket – Photo APSS

“We have a wide cross section of people with exceptional skills in their field. We have 9 who are, or who have been pilots, Bernard McGinty and Evan Pole who are both retired professional engineers. Tim Rayner of LAA is our inspector, checking every piece of work. I still work on as an ordinary member, mainly due to the growing complexity of the project.

Any welding has to be done by a CAA certificated welder. Fortunately we obtained the services of “Stoorie”Muir who travelled up frequently from Prestwick, and still does when required, to do the necessary work.

The early work was mainly woodwork and proceeded rapidly because the group is graced by members with good woodworking skills.”

Q.  What’s the most difficult job to date?

“The wing rigging wires are very precise indeed, and are a time consuming job. They have to be extremely accurate in length or the wing will warp.

Also we have outgrown our current workshop and accommodation in building 32; we cannot keep putting the Strutter  together then dismantling and putting her back on the bench. When the engine and propeller, fuel and oil pipes and  electrics are fitted the fuselage will have to remain on its undercarriage with the only  items removable being the wings.”

Beautiful craftsmanship, seems almost a shame to hide it under fabric. Photo APSS

Q.  Will the Sopwith have any modern equipment or will it have WW1 style gear?

“As far as is possible the Sopwith will be built using the same techniques and materials as it’s WW1 predecessor, we have used modern aviation glues etc for safety reasons and we are using a brand new engine. This has arrived and it was an exciting day when it was fitted into the airframe.”

Q  The Lewis gun looks very real, is real or a replica?

“It’s a replica, but it looks very real, it a lovely piece of work by Joy Guy.”

Fantastic replica Lewis gun for rear mount – Photo APSS

Q How is the project funded?

“ The original budget estimate was £34,000, in money of the day, but not including the engine. £4000 per annum for the airframe was to be supplied by the Museum of Flight, the rest to be found by APSS.  It was to be powered by an original rotary engine which was to be supplied and paid for separately from the airframe budget, by the Museum of Flight.

Sadly after the initial funding the Museum withdrew from the project and we as APSS have continued with the project since then. Total spending so far is around £34,000 and we estimate the project will cost around £43,500 when it’s completed.

We have funded this by selling valuable assets such as the Brantley helicopter, the Taylorcraft Auster AOP5, and the Miles M17 Monarch, and the De Haviland Chipmunk.

The engine purchase was looked after by our Chairman, a retired business man of much experience, it was obtained at a good price but nevertheless was a major item of expenditure.”

Q When do you anticipate the aircraft being ready?

“In the light of my one time prediction of completion by 2006, I have to be careful here.  The airframe is largely complete but there is much work to be done still in making and fitting tanks, piping, instruments, flying wires and then covering and painting.

Instinct tells me that this will be complete in two years time but since my instinct has in the past proved to be somewhat optimistic, I am going to double that and say June 2017.”

Q Can the public see the Sopwith at the Museum at all?

The Sopwith has been on public display in the Concorde Hangar, it’s been an enormously popular exhibit and we have had people come back time and time again to get updates on our work. We estimate we have had over 2000 people visit the Sopwith this year and thank everyone for their interest and support.

Taking shape – The 1 1/2 Strutter in the Concorde hangar Photo Alex Duncan

Q Will the 1 1/2 Strutter be used at air displays or based at East Fortune?

As to where it will fly, there are no fixed plans at present, but fly it will.  Over the years, various ideas have been suggested, such as a local Lothian syndicate, a Perth Airport syndicate, or Shuttleworth. In the meantime we press on to ensure that our late production Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter takes to the skies.”

Q Will the aircraft take part in WW1 commemorative events?

It would be lovely if it was to be involved, a lot is dependent on the timescale for completion. Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters were based at East Fortune, which was a Royal Naval Air Service Station during WW1 and involved in the protection of shipping in the Firth of Forth.

Q  What’s your overall impression about the project?

“One thing comes to mind here and it is that throughout all these years, although this has been a absorbing and at times technically demanding project,the great friendship and companionship and cohesion of the team has never faltered.

The skills and dedication of the team have increased and refined over the period of build. We have all been involved in an important educational exercise designed to show to new generations the skill and dedication of our early aircraft designers and manufacturers, and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. “

A replica Strutter in it’s element.

Looking fantastic the Sopwith begins to evolve – Photo Alex Duncan

Thanks James, I for one am looking forward to the day the Sopwith takes to the air again. It’s a fantastic project and I take my hat off to those involved. It’s fantastic to see craftsmanship like this still exists.

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Scottish based Lithuanians and Ukrainians in HM Forces during World War One

Ninety nine years on from the start of World War One there is a group of men who’s service has long since been forgotten about, these men were Eastern European immigrants from Russia and the Baltic States who had settled in Scotland.

So how did these men come to settle in Scotland?

Many of them were escaping the clutches of Czarist Russia’s Army, where they would serve many years for little reward. In the 1890s many decided that enough was enough and left Russia, Lithuiania, Latvia and Ukraine with the intention of moving to the United States.

At this time there was an active trade between German and Baltics ports and British ports such such Leith ,on the east coast of Scotland, with coal being a prime export from Scotland. One of the main exporters was the Lothian Coal Company with numerous ships to and froing.

Rather than come back empty, the filthy coal ships offered immigrants cheap passage to a new life, which the immigrants thought would be in the USA. To their horror they were deposited in Leith (port town of Edinburgh) without a job and homeless.

The Lothian Coal Company was not slow to take advantage of their situation, the Lady Victoria Colliery had just opened in Newtongrange, many men were needed to man it’s new and highly productive coal seams. At first Scotish families moved through, mostly from Lanarkshire, however their numbers were insufficient and the Eastern Europeans were offered a job and and a house, many, especially those with a wife and family,had little choice other than to accept.

They settled in two main areas, the bulk in Bellshill, Lanarkshire and the rest in Newtongrange, Midlothian. Most came from Suwalki which lies in the NE of current day Poland and SW Lithuania.

And so my  village of Newtongrange became home to several hundred ‘Russian Poles’ as they were christened. Coming from all walks of life, few if any had ever been down a coal mine, most spoke no English, and a number were illiterate. Most settled in their new home and by 1906 there were around 200 Lithuanians as well as a number from Latvia and Ukraine living in the village, by the outbreak of war that number had increased to around 600 ,and about 1 in 5 of the population of Newtongrange were immigrants.

Technically they were Russian citizens at this time, and as such ‘friendly Aliens’ who had to register with the Police  at the outbreak of the Great War, and had certain restrictions on their movements. Unlike the Germans and Austrians in the community there were still free to live and work in the village.

Many men from the village enlisted in the Army, including a group of around 25 Lithuanian miners, who wished to join the famous McCrae’s Battalion, the 16th Royal Scots. They were initially accepted by were sent home shortly after as they could not read or write in English.

Not all were rejected however, men such as the Mikolajunas brothers Jan and Stanislaw were accepted into the Royal Scots and the Lancashire Fusiliers, Ukrainian Vasily Nikitenko boarded the bus into Edinburgh where he enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery. This pattern continued through 1916 with the occasional man enlisting, but most remaining in the coal mining industry.

This was about to change however, conscription had been introduced in early 1916 for British citizens, ‘Russian’ citizens were not subject to conscription, at least that was until 1917 when a treaty was signed between Russian and Great Britain allowing both to conscript each other’s citizen into their Army.

An ultimatum was issued to the Eastern Europeans, they were to make a choice, enlist in the British Army or return to Russia to fight for the Czar. Around 2/3rds of them decided to return, believing they were fighting to preserve their national identity. Not a single man who chose to fight for Russia was ever seen again, shamefully their families were evicted, rounded up and deported, again many never to be seen again.

As the for the others, well most were sent in job lots to Infantry regiments, from my research I have identified groups sent to the Royal Scots, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, Scottish Rifles and the East Yorkshire Regiment, My theory is that they tried to keep the men in groups to overcome the language barrier, with an English speaking man in each group.

160 Siege Artillery Battery 1916, Vasily Nikitenko rear row, 5 from right.

In 1917 the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia sent shock waves through the Allies and many of the ‘Russian Poles’ were viewed with much suspicion as potential ‘Reds’ and were removed from Infantry battalions and sent to unarmed Labour battalions. However many of the men who had proved themselves reliable under fire remained with combat units until the end of the war.

Inevitably some became casualties and a number made the ultimate sacrifice, mostly in 1918.

If you take a walk through Newtongrange Park you will come across the war memorial on which are these names

Pte Klemis Poliskis, Scottish Rifles, Pte Juozas Sanalitis, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, Gnr Stanaslaw Scortolskis, Royal Field Artillery, Pte Justinas Tutlis, Royal Scots all of whom were Lithuanian.

In 2007 I successfully campaigned to have another name added to the war memorial, it was that of Gunner Vasily Nikitenko, who if you recall, volunteered in 1916.

In 1918 Vasily was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during the German Spring Offensive, sadly he did live long after the award, on the 28th May, 1918 he was manning his gun when a stray shell landed killing him and wounding a number of others.

I was also able to assist Geraldine Bruin, the Great Neice of Zigmas Vilkaitis to have his name added to Glenboig war memorial in Lanarkshire, you can read his story here

After the war most of the Lithuanians moved away from the area, mostly to the United States, the majority of those that remained took British nationality and adopted British names, men such as Jan Mikolajunas, who became John Nicol. There is now little trace of the Lithuanian community in Newtongrange or elsewhere in the district, I estimate that 50 to 100 Eastern European men from Newtongrange served in the Army and would welcome contact from anyone related to them.

John Duncan – Honorary Board Member of the Scottish Lithuanian Community

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James Collins, Newtongrange’s 1 in a million war hero

James Collins DCM & Bar MM &Bar

James Collins was born in Pitullie, Aberdeenshire and moved to Newtongrange as a teenager where he settled and became a fireman (shot firer) with Lothian Coal Company on leaving school. He married and settled at 48 Abbeyland , Newtongrange and was a member of the St Mary’s Masonic Lodge. In May 1915 he enlisted in the 7th Seaforth Highlanders and went to France where he commenced a distinguished military career.

On 16th July,1916 the 7th Seaforths, part of the 9th (Scottish) Division were at Delville Wood, the scene of some of the bitterest and bloodiest fighting on the Somme. James, then a Lance Corporal and a stretcher bearer, went out under fire several times  and  rescued 13 men who were badly wounded, in doing so he was wounded himself 4 times.

He was shipped home to recover from his wounds and whilst home he heard that he had been awarded the recently introduced Military Medal.

When James returned to France he was transferred from the 7th Seaforth Highlanders to the 6th Battalion, part of the crack 51st Highland Division. On 9th April 1917 the 51st were engaged in heavy fighting in the Arras offensive. James was in the thick of the fighting and distinguished himself as a Lewis gunner in an attack near Vimy Ridge.

For this, he was awarded a Bar to his Military Medal.

By late 1917 James  was a highly respected member of the Battalion and was about to be decorated for a third time.  The 51st Highland Division had been heavily involved in the capture of Bourlon Wood , where the Highlanders were to attack with the assistance of tanks, sadly the tanks never arrived, the attack went ahead anyway and was a great success despite very heavy casualties. James was in the thick of it and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry.

His citation for the medal

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After his platoon commander had become a casualty, he led them with great skill and gallantry to their objective, which he consolidated under heavy machine-gun fire. When hostile fire caused his platoon to cease work, he immediately led four of his men to a position from which he could enfilade the enemy machine-gun, which he and two others then rushed and captured, having killed two of the team by rifle grenades.

James was sent home on special leave to Newtongrange as a reward for his bravery and promoted to Corporal.

In September of 1918, the writing was on the wall for the Germans, but they continued to fight on with great stubbornness and bravery. On 26th August,1918 the 51st were back in action at the Chemical Works at Rouex, after 5 days of savage fighting it captured the strong points at Roeux, Greenland Hill and Plouvain.

James, who was in charge of a section of men, was heavily involved through this period of fighting, he again performed in an exemplary manner and was awarded his 4th decoration, a Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Trench clearing 1918

Here is his citation

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Throughout a week’s fighting this N.C.O. set a fine example in organising the men in trying situations. He rallied a platoon of another unit which was withdrawing leaderless, and put it in position. He reorganised fragments of another brigade. By a personal reconnaissance he obtained good information and placed troops to cover the flank. He brought a wounded man out of action on his back, and on every occasion used his rifle with good effect.

Corporal Collins became Sergeant Collins and he was presented with his Bar by General Harper the Divisional Commander of the 51st Highland Division. His reputation in the Division was sky high. He returned home to Newtongrange on leave shortly thereafter where he was the guest of honour at a dinner in the Masonic Hall and presented with a magnificent gold watch.

The war ended a couple of months later and James returned to his job at the Lady Victoria pit in Newtongrange, a quiet and unassuming man.

To put his achievement in to perspective in World War One around 6 million men served in HM Forces, the Victoria Cross was awarded 628 times.

Only a handful of men, perhaps as few as 6 or 7, won the Military Medal and Bar, Distinguished Conduct Medal and Bar.

To the best of my knowledge James Collins is only Scotsman to achieve this and was undoubtedly a very brave man.

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Alexander Meek (54) from Newtongrange, is he the oldest man on the Thiepval Memorial?

The Thiepval Memorial on the Somme is one of the most distinctive memorials to the fallen on the Western Front. towering dramatically above the surrounding countryside, it bears the names of 72203 British soldiers who lost their life on the Somme and have no known grave.

Thiepval Memorial

Amongst those men is Pte Alexander Meek 10/11th Highland Infantry from the village of Newtongrange, Midlothian where I live, one man amongst many, so what, if anything makes Alex any different from the others.

The story begins back in Newtongrange, Alex Meek was an old soldier in the 8th Royal Scots, the local territorial battalion, at the outbreak of war he re-enlisted in the 3/8th Royal Scots, a Home Service Battalion to help train the younger soldiers, and prepare them for the front.

The Meeks were a patriotic family, in 1914 his son Robert was in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Charles was a Royal Engineer, John was in France with the 1/8th Royal Scots and his son-in-law David Hill, a former policeman in Newtongrange, was serving with the Cameron Highlanders. Later in the war Robert was badly wounded and awarded the Military Medal whilst serving with the Machine Gun Corps, his brother John was also awarded the Military Medal for rescuing an injured comrade.

Alex Meek however was restless and even though he was 54 years old, and a Grandfather, he decided that training soldiers was not enough for him, he wanted to take the fight to the Germans. Somehow he managed to pull a few strings and following the opening of the Battle of the Somme when many thousands of men were killed, he was transferred to the 10th/11th Highland Infantry of the 15th (Scottish) Division and went to France in September of 1916, along with a number of other local Royal Scots.

Alex was sent directly to the front, and pitched straight into the battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15th September,1916. The 15th Scottish Division were tasked with capturing the village of Martinpuich, it would be a tough nut to crack. At the whistle’s blast men from 46th Brigade went over the top, the 10th  Scottish Rifles, 7th & 8th  Kings Own Scottish Borderers, 10/11th   Highland Light Infantry and 12th Highland  Light Infantry.

Alex Meek was one of those men, he had only  got a few yards when he and his work mate from the pit, 36-year-old Robert Barton from Newtongrange were hit by a shell, they were never seen again.

The village was taken but other objectives were not, British and New Zealand Casualties were over 29,000.

It was thought at one time that Rupert Inglis an army chaplain and a former International rugby player was the oldest man on the memorial  at the age of 53.

He was killed while helping a party of stretcher bearers bring in the wounded.

It may well  be that a miner and  Grandfather from Newtongrange is actually the oldest man on the Thiepval Memorial, rest in peace Alex.

Since I published this article I have been contacted by Geoff Sullivan, an expert on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database amongst other things. Geoff agreed that Alex is one of the oldest, but not the oldest man on the memorial. That dubious honour appears to fall to William Sanders. Spookily he is also a local man, living in Musselburgh, but born in Dalhousie.

Incredibly he was 60 years old when he was killed in action on the 2nd of July, 1916 whilst serving with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, quite remarkable that he was allowed to enlisted at 20 years over the normal maximum.

Alex Meek’s death notice in Dalkeith Advertiser

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Pte James Marchbank, Dalkeith’s boy soldier who went to war aged 14 Part 2

As the winter of 1914 / 15 drew to a close the time came for the British to take the battle to the Germans. Plans were drawn up and in March of Neuve Chapelle took place, it was not a pleasant experience for the lads of the 8th, they spent most of the battle holding the line and being shelled.  One of those killed was Private James Kitching,(21) a married man with a young child from Penicuik.

He was in possession of a watch once owned by the late Sgt Dick Peacock from Newtongrange, it would appear that the watch was cursed, as James fell in action on 14th March, shot dead by a sniper, just as Dick Peacock had been. The watch was sent home!

James Marchbank however was spared the worst of the fighting, he was part of the Brigade transport, and befriended a pit pony from Newtongrange named Ginger.

In May though, during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, James moved in to the front line and saw at first hand the carnage of the modern battlefield, this was surpassed by the Battle of Festubert, when the 8th Royal Scots took heavy casualties, James had good luck and escaped uninjured, that is until late in May, when a shell burst overhead and hit him twice in the hand and once on the side.

James was sent home to recuperate and he became quite a local celebrity with tales of his adventures appearing in the local newspaper, the Dalkeith Advertiser.

James Marchbank with mum and brother William

James was home in Dalkeith on 9 days leave, when he returned he found that the Battalion had been transferred over to the famous 51st Highland Division and that they were to be their Divisional Pioneers.

This in modern terms would be a combat engineer, working in, and in front of the trenches, repairing wire, digging dugouts and a 101 other jobs.

The opening day of the Somme offensive ,on 1st of July,1916, was the blackest day in history of the British fortunately the 8th were not directly involved in the fighting, evidence of the fighting was everywhere and James recorded in his diary, that on a ration run there were “plenty dead”.

In the middle of all this, James bumped into his older brother William, a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, near Mametz, where his guns were in action. Given the number of men involved in the battle, it was quite a coincidence.

In November 1916 James took part in the attack on the seemingly impregnable Beaumont Hamel, which had proved impossible to take previously.  However by clever use of new tactics and great courage, it was taken by the 51st Highland Division, sealing their reputation as first class assault troops.

Christmas 1916 was spent in the Arras area, it was James’ third Christmas away from home, it was a dull and driech affair, a bit like the weather.

On April, 9th 1917 a major offensive was launched by the British and Canadians at Arras, they made huge advances on the first couple of days before being ground to a halt with massive casualties.

It was during this battle that a telegram arrived for James, it brought bad news, his father had been killed in an accident in the Lady Victoria pit in  Newtongrange. James went to see his Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Gemmill, he was sympathetic but unfortunately could not spare a single man. James sent home his reply, it read “Not coming”. It would have been hard for anybody, but for a 16 boy, it must have been doubly hard.

James for a brief spell left the 8th Royal Scots, and spent his fourth Christmas of the war in Italy, the British sent troops they could ill afford to lose to bolster their allies, who had suffered a series of defeats. The threat averted, James returned to his own battalion where he was met by Sgt Felix McNamara from Dalkeith. Felix was a postman and a keen footballer before the war in Dalkeith, he  had recently been awarded the Military Medal, and liked to keep a fatherly eye over James.

In March of 1918 the Germans launched a massive offensive against the allies in the west using reserves of men freed up following the surrender of Russia. The 8th Royal Scots were caught up the thick of battle around the River Lys, making a series of heroic stands which delayed the German advance, taking many casualties in the process. Communications were vital and James was appointed a battalion runner, a dangerous and difficult job, with a low survival rate. In the space of 36 hours James carried important messages to and fro between Battalion and Brigade Headquarters, by my reckoning he ran about 30 miles / 45 km often under fire, as a result he was awarded the Military Medal and promoted to Lance Corporal, he was still only 17 at the time.

James Marchbanks with service stripe on sleeve

The Germans were stopped but at great cost, James’ mentor Felix MacNamara was killed, as was Peter Cornwall from Gorebridge, Willie Scott from Bonnyrigg and many more.

It seemed that James had a charmed life, to survive from 1914 to 1918 but an unexpected foe almost killed him, Spanish Flu. James was hospitalised in September 1918 and sent to the Military Hospital in Barnet, he was still there recovering when the Armistice was signed on 11th November, 1918.

James was one of the lucky ones and recovered from the flu, he was sent back to France but never made it there, he was processed around various camps and sent home just before Christmas 1918, he was sent back to Barnet and on 23rd February 1919 he proudly recorded in his diary “The Day I put my civvy suit on.” He was 18 years, 8 months and 1 week old, he had spent 4 years and 7 months on active service, he had earned his right to put his suit on.

James lived the rest of his life in the area, and died just short of 76th birthday in Dalkeith, where he is buried.

His story may form part of the BBC Centenary programme on Boy Soldiers, it’s quite a story, I hope it does.

If you would like to hear James Marchbank talking about his war, just before his death, you can do so on my website.

Interview with James Marchbank

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Pte James Marchbank, Dalkeith’s boy soldier who went to war aged 14 Part 1 Early days

James Meldrum Marchbank was born on 14th June 1900 in Dalkeith Midlothian, he was one of a large family (7 children) and the son of a miner.

In 1913 he joined the local Scout troop in Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith and due to the influence of his Scoutmaster, an ex Indian Army officer, he joined the local territorial company of the Royal Scots, the 8th as a drummer and bugler. Despite his tender years and slight build he took to soldiering and enjoyed his time with the Territorial Force.

One year on having just turned 14 he left school and began a job delivering rolls and a paper round in the evening.

James’ life would soon change for ever, on the continent the storm clouds of war were gathering, at the 8th Royal Scots camp at Stobs near Hawick, rumours of war abounded, every man was ready to do their bit.

On the 4th of August, 1914 war was declared and James was served with his embodiment notice to join, it read

“Embodiment notice to join 4585 Boy J M Marchbank, 8th Royal Scots. The Army Council, in pursuance of His Majesty’s Proclamation, has directed you to attend for enlistment immediately. Bring rations and fuel light to last 24 hours. Here is the actual notice.

James Marchbank’s Embodiment notice from 1914

And with that James was off to France with the rest of the battalion to fight the Germans, or so they thought. Instead they went to Haddington to undertake further training and recruit more men. None the less on the 4th November, 1914 the 8th Royal Scots set foot on French soil.They had the honour of being the first Scottish Territorial battalion to land in France to join the 7th Division of the British Expeditionary Force.

For James his first experience of the French was far from favourable. At the docks a young French boy offered him the services of his sister, James declined but gave the boy 2/6d (12 1/2p) which an old lady in Southampton had given him as a gift. The boy was to get him bread with the money, instead poor James saw the boy thumb his nose at the corner and he was gone. Welcome to France.

The first casualties were not long in coming. Sgt David Grieve, who had played for Newtongrange Star, was killed by a sniper in their first stint in the trenches at Bois Grenier on 15th November,1914. He was followed by Sgt Dick Peacock from Newtongrange on 20th November, who also fell at the hands of a German sniper.

The lads got their first taste of battle on the 18th of December when they supported an attack by the Warwickshire Regiment and lost Lt Andrew Burt and three men killed. On Christmas Day 1914, the legendary truce took place when the Germans and British met in no mans land as brothers.

In the case of the 8th Royal Scots it appears that fraternisation was minimal, a few men went out and shook hands, and fags changed hands, James’s diary merely records “Christmas very quiet”. At any rate most men confirm that by lunchtime the shooting had started again. New Year’s Day was very different however, the pipes were played and the men in billets at Rue Batelle had a “Merry evening.”

The winter of 1914 was a bitter one, the main focus went away from fighting to just keeping warm and staying alive, many men were sent home with frostbite or trench foot, painful and debilitating conditions. This picture taken by Captain James Tait from Penicuik gives an idea of the dreadful conditions the men lived in.

Life in the trenches Winter 1914 -15 Courtesy Royal Scots Museum

For James at least, the war was still a bit of a Boys Own adventure, as the picture below, taken at Armentieres shows, he just looks like a wee boy, which is of course is exactly what he was.

James Marchbanks 1915

Early in 1915 he went back under fire to recover his bugle. The bugle remains in his family to this day.

In doing so however James picked up slight wound from a shrapnel ball and was sent home for a short while to recover.

You may be wondering what on earth was the recruiting Sgt thinking allowing James to go to France, clearly even if he lied about his age, it would be pointless, looking as young as he did.

The reality is the Territorials were allowed to recruit a number of boys into their ranks at the age of 14. There was no need to lie, everyone knew their age and young Master Marchbank when with the full blessing of his parents, indeed he suggested when interviewed in the 1970’s, just before his death, that they might have been happy to have one less mouth to feed.

However James did blot his copybook on one occasion though. One very cold and frosty evening James was on sentry duty in the front line trench. The Germans were very close, less than a hundred yards away, and in the still of the night James began to whistle the first bar of the Lorelei, a popular German folk song. In the distance his German counterpart whistled the second bar and James joined in. His Sgt got wind of this and he was severely reprimanded, despite his age.

And so ended the first 6 months of World War One, I will bring you more of ‘Marchbank’s War’ soon.

You can listen to James Marchbank talk about his war on my website.

James Marchbank interview

 

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Commander Ernest O Ballantyne, #Dalkeith. Lost at sea on HMS Viknor 1915

Commander Ernest Orford Ballantyne stayed at Ashbank in Eskbank, Midlothian. He was in the Royal Naval Reserve and at the outbreak of war was given command of the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Viknor.

She had been requisitioned by the Admiralty and assigned to 10th Cruiser Squadron blockading the seas between the North of Scotland and Iceland.

On January 13th 1915 Vicknor set sail from Londonderry in Ireland, and headed out into the Irish Sea to make for her patrol area. On board her were 22 Officers and 273 Ratings mostly from the Royal Navy Reserve. The weather was bad and the sea was very choppy indeed.

HMS Viknor never reached her patrol zone, a search of the area was made and scattered wreckage was found in the sea. There were no survivors. Mystery surrounds her sinking, it was thought at first that a U Boat had sunk her, however German records showed that no such craft were in the area until the end of January.

It was officially recorded that HMS Viknor has been destroyed by an enemy mine, somewhere of Tory Island and that no one had survived.  Over the next few days men from the ship were washed ashore and buried locally. In Bonamargie Friary there are  four unknown graves of seamen from H.M.S.’Viknor’ .

Seaman John Bowen Mercer, who is buried in Colonsay Military Cemetery, was one of 25 men from Newfoundland on board Viknor. The other 24 men are commemorated on the Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont Hamel, the famous Caribou statue. It must perplex a few people when they see that they are Navy men so far inland, but this is Newfoundland’s monument to all it’s citizens who have no known grave.

Ernest Ballantyne’s body was not recovered amongst his men, his folks back in Eskbank gave up hope of finding him, and a memorial service was held at St Mary’s Chapel on 5th February.

Questions were put to Winston Churchill in the Houses of Parliament regarding the sea worthiness of Viknor and there were calls for a board of enquiry, all of which were dismissed.

On the morning of the 12th of February, 1915 Sgt Angus McDonald the local Policeman on the island came across the body of a naval officer in Castlebay. It was dragged from the water and from his insignia and other effects the body was identified as Commander Ballantyne.

He was taken home and buried in Dalkeith Cemetery with full military honours. Indeed it was one of the biggest funerals seen in decades in Dalkeith and a reporter from The Dalkeith Advertiser was there to record events, unusually a local photographer was also present and captured this image of the funeral.

Here is the report of the funeral itself from the Dalkeith Advertiser.

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FOI request #Newtongrange War Memorial the answers and my thoughts on them

If you follow my blog on a regular basis you will be aware of the ongoing campaign to have men added to Newtongrange War memorial. A few weeks ago I sent in a request under the Freedom of Information Act, which you may have already read.

I received answers to the questions I posed today and here is what was said,along with my views on the answers given.

First off the Council have confined the answer to WW2 apparently which is not what I asked, my questions were regarding the war memorial not merely WW2.

1. Does the Council actually own the memorial or is it the Royal British Legion?

Midlothian Council         The Memorial to those who fell during the Second World War is sited on land owned by the Council.  Whether ownership transferred is not known but more than likely the local authority will have adopted it and this Council continues in that role, undertaking maintenance (as with all similar Memorials of its type in Midlothian) in terms of the Local Government (Scotland ) Act 1992. By extension, that includes consideration of any alterations to the Memorial.

John Duncan There is no separate memorial to WW2, there is a memorial erected by the British Legion and two stone tablets, one for WW1 and one for WW2 and other relevant conflicts.  I don’t dispute the ownership of the land, clearly that it owned by the council. However it seems vague whether it was previously adopted.

2. Who is responsible for repairs to the memorial?

Midlothian Council    Midlothian Council.

John Duncan   Good to know some of the lettering starting to fade a bit.

3. What criteria do the Council use for deciding who’s names appear on the memorial?

Midlothian Council     Whether the individual was killed in action or died of wounds in a theatre of war and the connection with the village eg place of domicile / residence where native, at the time of death

John Duncan    This is an interesting answer. Have the Council purposely referred to WW2 in the answer and applied these criteria to this war only, and not to WW1. If so it’s very strange and contradictory as the lists for both tablets were drawn up at the same time around 1999 / 2000.

There are men on the WW1 tablet who do not fit the above criteria, ie one that died of an accident and a number of men who died of illness on active service. Just to clarify I have always stated that these men should be on the memorial, I do not feel however that there should be a different set of rules for WW2. Why would you want to do this?

4. Who is responsible for the nomination / decision process?

Midlothian Council   Nominations are received from interested parties who may be the family of the individual or
others.  The decision process involves endeavouring to ascertain / corroborate the factors at 3 above.

John Duncan    Okay, so who is responsible for making the decision?  This does not answer the question. Is it Midlothian Council or is it the Community Council?

5. In the event of a dispute regarding a decision made regarding a nominee, what right of appeal is there?

Midlothian Council   There is no record of a dispute ever having arisen but, ultimately, it would be for the local authority to decide.

John Duncan   If the Council are making the initial decision then, clearly, it is undemocratic and unfair that they them make an appeal decision on their own decision.

Are they going to say on the one hand – “No this man can’t go on a memorial” and then on appeal say – “You know what we were wrong” and change their mind.

No chance, there should be an independent body, or the Community Council should make the initial decision and any dispute is resolved by Midlothian Council.

6. What procedures are in place for potential victims of current / future conflicts.

Midlothian Council   Currently, there is no provision for this locally, although it is known that in some instances, one or two names of those who fell during conflicts since the Second World War have been added to Memorials in other towns and villages.

The National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire records (a) those who have given their lives in the service of their country, (b) all who have served and those who have suffered as a result of conflict, and (c) others who for specific or appropriate reasons are commemorated on the site.

John Duncan  I will reserve judgement on this one, I would like to think that anyone that dies, through what ever means, in a conflict is remembered on our war memorial.

7. Does the council accept Commonwealth War Graves Commission data as evidence of eligibility?

Midlothian Council The question has never arisen but any information will be considered

John Duncan  Interesting, because it has arisen twice at least in the case of George Noble, once in 1999 and again this year by myself. You may recall the answer from Midlothian Council.

“As regards Pte Noble, I have a  record that states that he appears to have  died as the result of an accident aged 21 years on Salisbury Plains (parachute  failed to open) post the Palestine conflict. In the circumstances, a previous  request to have his name added to the Memorial was declined; and that  regrettably is the conclusion that must be reached on this occasion. I have  raised the question here about  additions in respect of post 1939 – 1945  war but have yet to obtain an outcome. Theoretically at least, the names of  those who were killed / died of wounds after WW2 in other conflicts are recorded  at the National Memorial / Arboretum.”

The Council also provided a potted history of the war memorial which I am a little bit confused by.

“In January 1934, the Memorial was unveiled in the Welfare Park – a rough silver granite pillar, to their memory – provided by the Women’s Section of the British Legion.” (This is correct)

“(In most cases, the decisions to erect or provide World War 1 memorials in public spaces were taken by the Council’s predecessor authorities; and the cost was met through public subscription; and adapted after World War 2. Unusually, in this case, the Memorial in respect of  World War 1 was in the Church and the complete rationale for the erection of the World War 2 Memorial in a public space is not currently available but it is thought likely that there would have been some form of public subscription albeit one organised by the British Legion.)”

The public war memorial was not held in the church. The memorial referred to bears the names of members of the United Free Church, including my Great Uncle Charles Gibson. This memorial was originally housed in the church at the foot of the village which is now the Masonic Hall. When the Church ceased to function as a church, the plaque was given to the Church of Scotland in the Main Street, Newtongrange for safe keeping, it remains there to this day.

When the memorial in the park was erected  in 1934, in the Welfare Park, it was intended as a place of Remembrance for all the village, not just the member of the United Free Church.

Given it was erected in 1934 it was clearly not intended as a WW2 memorial ,unless our forefathers predicted a second global conflict. The dates 1939 to 1946 were added at a later date post WW2, the memorial was designed pure and simple as a WW1 memorial which has been adapted twice as the years go by.

The tablets were added in 2000 as it was annoying most people that the inscription on the memorial read;

“To the memory of the lads from this Parish who fell in the Great War 1914 – 1918 & World War II 1939. Their name liveth for evermore.”

Finally lest it be thought I am being over critical, I think their gardeners do a magnificent job year in, year out making our memorial a fitting place to remember ‘our lads’.

Anyway we shall see what the Community Council make of this.

Newtongrange War Memorial

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Newbattle at war – The results of the WW1 Centenary Survey published on my blog

I recently ran a poll on this blog voicing my concerns that the Centenary commemoration was, apparently, getting a low priority from the Scottish Government amongst other parties.

I am delighted that 111 of you took the time to fill in the survey and giving me an insight into what was happening on a national and international basis.

So here are the results to the 10 questions I asked.

Question 1

Do you know it’s the Centenary of WW1 in 2014?

Yes 110 – No 1

A good start, public awareness seems not to be  a problem.

Question 2

Did a member of your family serve in WW1?

Yes 97 – No 14

A high percentage 87% had a family member who served in the Great War.

Question 3

How many members of your family served?

I used this question and questions 4 and 5 to assess the impact of WW1 on the extended family tree.

4 or more – 36%

2 – 20%

Don’t know 12%

1 – 11%

3 – 11%

None – 9%

Interesting that 4 or more was the most popular answer, showing the heavy involvement of the nation in the war effort.

Question 4

What relation were they to you?

Great Uncle – 31%

Grandfather – 28%

Other 25%

Great Grandfather – 10%

Father – 5%

Grandmother – 1%

Great Grandmother 1%

A significant percentage of those taking part, 5%, were the children of WW1 servicemen.

Question 5

Did any of your relatives die in WW1?

Yes 59% – No 41%

Six out of ten people taking part had a relative killed during the war.

I then moved on to the Centenary events themselves and public awareness, perception and opinion.

Question 6

Do you know of any Centenary Events in your area?

Yes 23% – No 77%

Three out of four do not know of any events in their area.

Question 7

Who is running the event?

There are no events in my area 70%

Local council 6%

Non UK Government 6%

Individual member of public or group of people 6%

Veterans Organisation other than British Legion 5%

Scottish Government 4%

Royal British Legion 2%

UK Government 1%

Comments

“Province of West-Flanders has put up a special commemoration committee. with as coordinator: Mr. Paul Breyne retired Gouverner to the King of the province of West-Flanders.In cooperation with the town councils of every city who was involved in the 1st WW, there will be commemorations of every big battle for over the 4 successive years to start in 2014: the first battle of Ypres. And so on until 2018.
Poperinge town council,Ypres town council.”

“I have also heard mention of the Centenary via the ‘Press’ etc but do not know of any confirmed celebration here in Australia as yet.”

“I AM A MEMBER OF THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES) ASSOC., AND THE WESTERN FRONT ASSOCIATION AND AM INVOLVED IN CREATING A CENTENARY EVENT.”

“I haven’t heard of anything official as yet but I am sure the British Legion will be doing something – with a little push from myself and Golspie Heritage Society.”

“There are several centenary events being organized by Heritage Lottery Fund funded groups working with Leeds University and Leeds City Council as part of a programme led by the university in partnership with the council.”

“Aberdeen Family History Society are already having articles in their 4 times a year journal. They will have talk(s).
The Gordon Highlanders Museum will have events.”

Question 8

If there was an event in your area would you attend?

Yes 95% – No 5%

There appears to be an enthusiasm for events amongst those that responded.

Question 9

Who do you think should be organising events?

UK Government 13%

Scottish Government 11%

Local Councils 4%

Community Councils 3%

Armed Forces 3%

Other 3%

A combination of the above 64%

It’s clear that the majority of people, around two out of three, feel the Centenary should be an event should be marked by a broad cross-section of the community and organisations. Around a quarter thought that Government should be taking a lead.

Here are some of the comments made

“The Great War does not belong to any one group. All were affected, and all should be part of the Commemoration.”

“Seems to me there should be a mixture – national events, organised by government, and smaller local ones organised by communities, schools, churches – any person or group of people who want to mark the centenary”

“The last survivor of WW1 Harry Patch, described it as organised murder. We should celebrate the end of WW1 not the beginning.”

“Should be involvement across wide spectrum of Scottish society. Schools, libraries, community groups, local history groups should be researching the people who fought and what happened at home during the war.  Councils and government should ensure the centenary commemoration events take place in appropriate locations on appropriate dates.  Armed Forces and British Legion should be involved in the commemorative events.”

“It would be awful if the centenary became a four year long Remembrance Sunday.”

“Impetus should come from Scottish government, providing guidance and finding for local organisations.

And the final question

Question 10

Finally where do you live?

Scotland 42%

England 34%

I don’t live in the UK 21%

Wales 2%

Northern Ireland 1%

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