EYEMOUTH WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2021

The Eyemouth war memorial is located outside the British Legion Club, Spiers Place, Eyemouth, Berwickshire. The memorial takes the form of a Celtic style cross made from granite with a a three sectioned plinth; the memoirla is inscribed with the names for World Wa r 1 on the front and for World War 2 on the back. The sculptor was Mr John Rhind. The memorial was unveiled December 1920 by Captain G. B. Balfour, Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Berwickshire. There are 64 names listed for World War 1, 28 for World War 2, one for Egypt and one for Iraq. The names within each conflict have been sorted into order for ease of reading and research. Cutting from local newspapers are replicated below.

Extract from Berwickshire News and General Advertiser - Tuesday 21 December 1920, page 7: EYEMOUTH Eyemouth War memorial was unveiled and dedicatd on Sunday afternoon in the presence of a very large concourse. A service in the Parish Church formed the prelude to the unveiling ceremony. A few minutes before theservice a procession was formed in Home Street, consisting of Eyemouth Ex-Service men, the members of Eyemouth Lodge of St. Ebba in full regalia under Mr David Gray, W.M., and Eyemouth Boy Scouts under Mr White. Headed by Pipe-Major Mackie the procession proceeded to the Church. The Provost and Twon Council, Parish Council, Harbour Trust, and School Management Committee also attended the service. Rev. W. B. Kennedy, B.D., presided over a crowded church. Order of service was: Psalm 124 (2nd version), “Now Israel may say”; Old Testament Lesson, Rev. J. P. Barton; hymn 477, “O God our help”; New Tetsament Lesson, Rev. D. Beale; prayer, Rev. W. F. Moore; hymn 339, “For all the saints”; offertory; Names of the Fallen, Provost Scott; Par. 66, “How bright these glorious Spirits shine!”; Benediction, Rev. J. Miller; Dead March. The United Choir was under Mr Muir Lang, while Mr David Dougal officiated at the organ. After the service the congregation assembeled around the Memorial, the relatives being lined up directly in front, with the Ex-service men and Masons behind. Provost Scott who presided, was supported on the platform by Capt. C. B. Balfour, Newton Don, and Rev. W. B. Kennedy, B.D., Minister of Eyemouth. He said Capt, Balfour was personally well known to the Eyemouth people, and was well known not only as Lord Lieut. of their county, but also as a Border gentleman of high repute, and as a patriotic British gentleman; and had taken great and active interest in alleviating the hardships and difficulties of those who were unfortunate to be disabled in the Great War. Capt. Balfour was present that day to help them in their efforts to perpetuate in Eyemouth the memory of those near and dear to them who had fallen in the Great War, and he was to unveil the Memorial which they had erected to remind them of those gallant and patriotic men who had not returned Home, and who had given their lives in a noble cause. The Provost called upon Capt. Balfour, who said they had done him great honour by asking him to come to Eyemouth to unveil the Memorial to those who had made the supreme sacrifice for the Homeland. They in Eyemouth had been near to the War than any other part of the County. They hereaway on Berwickshire Coast of the North Sea had known what War was. They know firth hand about the sinking of undefended ships by the brutal means adopted b the Huns, and had seen gallant men sent to destruction close to their own Homes. In Eyemouth they had answered the call in a remarkable way. He remembered well the good returns of the recruiting in Eyemouth in the early days of the War before conscription was introduced. Three hundred and twenty-two had joined the Navy and Auxiliary Forces, 201 had joined the Army, and 8 the Royal Air Force, making a total of 531. Out of these 62 had laid down their lives. Many of their gallant neighbours had gone forth familiar with their own element—the Sea—and joined the Navy in one form or another. He could tell them in Eyemouth that on stormy nights, their hearts had gone out to those brave men on the North Sea who were protecting their shores and their Gomes. They had justfied to the full that magnificent sentence which had appeared for 250 years, and which is the preamble of any Act in connection with the Navy which passes Parliament. The welfare and the well-being of the country depended upon those stout hearts who kept the enemy from their shores, amd whose great work for the Empire clminated in the Surrender procession of the german ships which sailed into the Firth of Forth, and which was one of the greatest naval surrenders ever known in the history of the World. Their men had kept watch over the Army crossing to France and Flanders. Imagine what would have happended if the enemy had been allowed to land on their shores. Those who sprang so nobly to arms took up a trade which they were totlly unaccustomed to. They knew nothing of the iron discipline they were to be subjected to, but they never thought of those things; they though(t) only of the best way they could defend their country. That day Eyemouth honoured for all time those who had fallen, and they had erected this memorial in order that they might not forget. But they also must not forget those who did not fall, and had come back to them. They and those who fell, had saved the country. Let that never be forgotten. He was glad to say that no Officer or N.C.O. in the county of Berwick was in necessitous circumstances or in need of help. But, alas, every place was not so, and they must all help the Country generally. That was aprt of the grateful duty laid upon eveyine of them. Those who had fallen had founght for liberty and freedom against might and tyranny. Liberty was triumphant and it was up to them now to maintain freedom. The aftermath of war was terrible, but if they all joined together, and stood shoulder to shoulder as true Britons, and did their best they would make the Country fit for men and women to live in.—Capt. Balfour read the names of the fallen, and thereafter the gathering stood in silence for a moment with bowed heads, as a reerant tribute to the dead.

Capt. Balfour then stepped forward and pulled the cord which undraped the Memorial which was covered with a Union Jack. United Choir rendered the anthem, “Blest be the Departed,” and after Dedicatory prayer by Rev. W. B. Kennedy, and the singing of the Doxology, Drum-Major Abbot and Bugler Plummer from Depot K.O.S.B., Berwick, sounded Last Post on the bugle, and this was followed by the playing of a lament on the pipes by Pipe-Major mackie. After the sound of Reveille on the bugles, Rev. W. B. Kennedey pronounced the benediction, and the singing of the National Anthem brought to a close one of the most impressive services ever held in Eyemouth, and which touched deeply everyone present. Relatives and other donors of wreaths then filed past and laid beautiful mementoes at the foot of the Memorial. Wreaths were from the following:—In loving memory of my two sons, John and William, from Mother. A token of love to Jimmie, from the family. “He died for Freedom and Honour.” In loving memory of William Maltman, from his aunt. In ever loving memory from, Mother and Brothers, 13th Nov., 1917, Victoria House, Eyemouth. In proud and loving memory of out brother and our friends who fell in the Great War. D.D., and J.N.D. From the Brethren of the Lodge of St. Ebba. “We should count time heart throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.” From the Eyemouth Branch of the Comrades of the Great War. 19th Dec., 1920. From the Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the Burgh of Eyemouth. From Eyemouth Choral Union. In Gratefull remembrance. “ Dare we gorget, who through their sacrifice. Alive, unscathed in this dear land remains. Freely inheriting the peace they died to gain.” Methodist Congregation, 1914-1918. Eyemouth Parish Church. United Free Church Congregation. Congregational Church Congregation, 1914-1918. Episcopal Church Congregation, 1914-1918. A tribute from the Eyemouth Boy Scouts. Pte Adam Miller, 21st Dec. 1919; In produc and loving memory of our dear Brother and his fallen Comrades; “Lo, I am with you always.” Kind remembrance from Mrs Wadell, Mrs. L. Waddell, and Mr and Mrs R. Waddell. In memory of Alexander Young, from Mrs R Young and Family. In loving memory of our dear Son, Peter—Mr and Mrs Richard Collin. In memory of Peter Cowe, from Mrs W. Cowe and family. The Memorial which takes the form of a Celtic Cross in Aberdeen granite and which was executed by Mr John S. Rhind, R.S.A., Edinburgh, stands 14½ feet high, and is on 3 bases. It is situated in an excellent posotion just back from the street and in front of the Parish Church. In front are the words “Sacred to the Memory of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of Eyemouth who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918.” Beneath are the words, “Lest We Forget,” and “Those who laid down their lives that we might live.” the names of the fallen are inscribed in black lettering. The names commemorated are:—Royal naval Reserve Trawler Section—Skipper Wm. Collin, Mates James Robert Collin, James Collin, George Craig, Robert Cowe, John Dougal, Daniel Stott. Seamen Robert Angus, George Cormack, James Collin, Peter Collin, Robert Crombie, Aleander Lough, William Maltman, John Patterson, Alex Patterson, John Swanston, James Swinney, John Waddell, James Windram, Andrew C. Young, Alexander Young, William Young, Royal Naval Division—Walter R. Davidson. Officers—Lieut. D. Robertson, M.C., K.O.S.B., Lieut. John Wood, K.O.S.B., Lieut. F. W. H. Renton, Border Regiment, 2nd-Lieut. Eric W. Wright Sandison, Royal Scots; 2nd-Lieut. Thomas Murray Millar, K.O.S.B. Non-Commissioned officers—Corpl. George Craig, K.O.S.B., Corpl. George Leith Dougal, K.O.S.B., Corpl. John Windram, Canadian Force, L.Corpl. Robert Craig, K.S.O.B., L.-Corpl. William Lough, K.O.S.B., L.-Corpl. Robert Thompson, M.M., Scottish Rifles. Private Peter Cowe, R.S., Thomas Arthur Dougl, R.S., John Blakie, K.O.S.B., Thomas Bolton, K.O.S.B., James Burgon, K.O.S.B., William Emslie, K.O.S.B., Alexander FairBairn, K.O.S.B., Joseph Gibson, K.O.S.B., George Johnston, K.O.S.B.; Thomas L Lough, K.O.S.B.; Robert Rae Lough, K.O.S.B.; George Paterson, K.O.S.B.; James Ewart Patterson, K.S.O.B.; David Ritchie, K.O.S.B.; John Waite, K.O.S.B.; Richard Armstrong, N.F.; John Armstrong, B.W.; William Crombie, Sea. H.; Robert Gillie, S.H.; Robert Waddell, A. and S.H.; Alexander Patterson,S.R.; Robert Collin, East kents; John Nurgon, Scots Guards; [J]ames Borthwick, Australian Forces; Alexander Windram, Canadian Forces; M. Macrae, London Regt.; Adam Miller, Australian Forces.

Extract from Berwickshire News and General Advertiser - Tuesday 3 December 1946, page 2: EYEMOUTH WAR MEMORIAL. IT IS INTENDED TO INSCRIBE on the present War Memorial the names of those who gave lives in the W'orld War 1939/45. In order that the necessary arrangements may be made, would relatives or friends of those who made the supreme sacrifice please communicate with the undersigned who requires information as to name, rank and service. J. CAMPBELL MUIR, Town Clerk, Eyemouth. Extract from Berwickshire News and General Advertiser - Tuesday 29 March 1949, page 3: Eyemouth War Memorial Because the Auld Kirk at Eyemouth was not large enough to hold the congregation on Sunday, March 20, a memorial service to the 26 local men who fell in the last war was relayed by loudspeakers to the crowd grouped around the war memorial outside the church. After the service, in which all the burgh ministers took part, Lord Haddington, Vice-Lieutenant of Berwickshire, unveiled the memorial. The service at the memorial was conducted by the Provost, the Rev. D. M. Balsillie. After paying tribute to those who had made the supreme sacrifice, the Earl of Haddington, who was accompanied by the Countess of Haddington, pulled a cord and the Union Jack fell from the memorial. Floral tributes were laid by the Provost on behalf of the Town Council, relatives of the fallen, Eyemouth branch of the British Legion, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts. A lament was played by Mr Alex. Thompson, Eyemouth, and three buglers from the Royal Scots sounded “Last Post” and “Reveille.” At the church service organist was Mr. David S. MacDonald. A retiring collection for Earl Haig Fund raised £10.

Photograph Copyright © Mel Gibbs 2019

SACRED
TO THE
MEMORY
OF OFFICERS
N.C.O.S & MEN OF
EYEMOUTH
WHO FELL IN
THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918

LEST WE FORGET

THOSE WHO LAID
DOWN THEIR LIVES
THAT WE MIGHT LIVE

Last updated 30 July, 2021