History
Aberdour War Memorial – WW2 People
Sergeant Andrew Scotland BEATTIE – Fife & Forfarshire Yeomanry
Born 10th August 1913 at Langlees, Torryburn, Fife to Walter Beattie (Farm servant) and his wife Helen (nee Scotland).
Married Lillian Alice Spittal More (Domestic servant) on 28th November 1934 at Chalmers Street, Edinburgh.
Lived at Black Lodge, Whitehill, Aberdour, 1939.
Died Killed in action on 7th August 1944, age 30, at Caen, Normandy whilst part of the Royal Armoured Corps.
Private John CHISHOLM – Highland Light Infantry CWGC
Born in 1925 to John Chisholm (Marine Engineer) and his wife Bessie (nee Robertson) at St Machar, Aberdeen.
Grandparents John & Isabella Chisholm lived at 2 Pentland View and Victoria Cottage, Coal Wynd, Aberdour, where young John spent much time and was well known in the village.
Joined the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in 1939, later transferred to an Anti-Tank, Platoon in the Highland Light Infantry.
Landed at Normandy and fought through France, Belgium and into Holland – 1944.
Died 19th March 1945, age 21. As part of the 52nd Lowland Division attached to the 7th Armoured (Desert Rats) he took part in Operation Blackcock in Holland, during these engagements reported wounded, then died of his wounds.
Flight Sergeant Walter Robert Laidlaw COLLYER – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve CWGC
Born 25th March 1919 at 4 Milton Avenue, Dunoon, Argyll to Walter Laidlaw Collyer (Motor mechanic) and his wife Margaret Eleanor (nee Mackereth).
Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in January 1937 as a pilot.
Working in the Civil Service at HM General Register House, Edinburgh, 1938
Died 13th June 1941, age 22, killed in action – pilot of a Wellington. ‘Training- Night flying exercise – on return to base at around 0150 and while in the airfield circuit was shot down by an enemy intruder, crashing at Mission 9 miles NNW from Retford ,Notts.’ more .
Buried Aberdour Cemetery.
Parent lived in Aberdour.
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Samuel Kingsley FOSTER – Royal Navy CWGC
Born 1903 to Frederick Sargent Foster (United Methodist Minister) and his wife Miriam Ada (nee Newton) at Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Family lived at The Manse, Codnor, Derbyshire, 1911 census.
At Newcastle University doing his Preliminary Examination in Arts – July 1923. At Leeds University doing his Pre-Registration Examination in Elementary Science, commenced Medical Studies, registered 22nd July 1924.
Lived at 19 South Parade, Doncaster – 1928.
Joined Royal Navy on 28th January 1931 as a Surgeon Lieutenant, specialising in Ear, Nose and Throat. Promoted to Surgeon Lieutenant Commander – 1937.
Served on HMS Caledonia, & Royal Naval Hospital Port Edgar, South Queensferry – 1939-41.
Married Barbara Moubray of The Cottage, Aberdour. (Father was Admiral Edward Herbert Moubray he was the brother of Captain Percy Lionel Moubray who died in WW1) on 10th August 1939 at St Columbu’s Church, Aberdour.
Served on HMS Exeter at Scapa Flow April 1941.
Died 10 May 1942, age 38 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh of a Melanotic Carcinoma of Brain & Tumour left forearm.
Flying Officer John Sangster GREIG – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve CWGC
Born 28th May 1916 to John Sangster Greig (Hotel Proprietor) and his wife Elizabeth Cameron (nee Anderson) at Station Inn, Aberdour.
Lived at Station Inn, Aberdour, father is Hotel Proprietor 1916-23.
Father owns Sunbeam Tavern, Jordan Road, Kennoway, Fife and John is employed in the Office at Cameronbridge Distillery, Windygates 1924-42.
Joins the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, after training attached to Coastal Command – 1939.
Mentioned in Dispatches whilst stationed in Iceland – 1940.
Married Section Officer W.A.A.F. Marjorie Keziah Harris at East Elloe, Lincolnshire – 1942.
Died 8th November 1942, age 27. Based at Gibraltar with 233 Sqdn Coastal Command he and his crew are on an ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Patrol in their Hudson III aircraft when they are believed to have been shot down in error by US Navy F4f Wildcats off Casablanca, French Morocco. The aircraft was seen to crash into the sea. more
Flying Officer George William de Vinchelez Le SUEUR – Royal Air Force
Born April 1914 to William Anley de Vinchelez Le Sueur (Civil Servant – Inland Revenue) and his wife Christina Mitchell (nee Young) at Paddington, London.
Family lived at Craighall, Seaside Place, Aberdour 1934–37.
Married Helen Marjory Stewart Legget age 20, of 8 Blinkbonny Crescent, Edinburgh at St Giles, Edinburgh 6th January 1937, while serving as a Pilot in the RAF based at RAF Grantham age 24.
Died 17th July 1939, age 25. Lost his life in an accident when an Aileron rod failed on his Gloster Gauntlet Mk II and aircraft dived into the ground. This occurred near Abu Sueir, Egypt. more
Leading Seaman Charles Reginald LEVEIN – Royal Navy CWGC
Flying Officer Douglas Haig McLAUCHLAN – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve CWGC
Born 9th April 1919 to John McLauchlan (Joiner) and his wife Agnes (nee Robertson) at Murrell Terrace, Aberdour.
Died 29 August 1943, age 24, Malta. Piloting a Wellington X on loan from 150 Sqdn from his base at Kairouan West, Tunisia (142 Sqdn) on a raid to Torre Annunziata, nr Pompeii, Italy, aircraft is “Lost without Trace”.
Sapper Joseph Brunton MURRAY – Royal Engineers CWGC
Born 13th October 1919 to Donald William Murray (Skilled labourer, dockyard) and his wife Marion (nee Brunton) at High Street, Aberdour.
Working as a painter.
Married Janet Lawrie Miller (Volunteer Women’s Land Army) on the 3th December 1943 at St Pauls Church, Gorebridge, Stobhill, Midlothian.
Died Killed in action 25th August 1944, age 24, North West Europe.
Warrant Officer Robert Craig RANKIN – Royal Ar Force CWGC
Born 20th May 1910 Robert Craig Rankin Aird (illegitimate) to Henrietta McPherson Aird (Housekeeper) at 28 Windmill Street, Saltcoats, Ayr.
Added note to birth certificate states that “Child Legitimated by subsequent marriage of parents”. Mother, age 26, marries Robert Rankin (retired engineer) age 73 and a widower on 10th June 1910, both are living at Seaforth Place, Prestwick Road, Ayr. He dies 3rd September 1910.
Lived at 120 Prestwick Road, Ayr, 1911 census.
Stationed at Donibristle Aerodrome a corporal in the RAF, marries Julia Somerville Duff (canteen waitress) from Ayr on 7th October 1936.
Lived at Married Quarters, Donibristle Aerodrome, Dalgety – 1938-39.
Died 24th May 1943, age 33. Died from a self inflicted gunshot wound, Bombay, India. more
Able Seaman James REID – Royal Navy Reserve CWGC
Born 3rd January 1910 (illegitimate) to Elizabeth Reid (Cotton weaver) at 10 Upper Craigs, Kilsyth, Stirling.
Appears at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on 9th October 1930, age 19 charged with stealing a Lady’s Bicycle from a house in Kincardine-on-Forth. Sent to prison for 10 days.
Joins the Merchant Marine at Burntisland on 30th November 1935 after lying about his DoB, and embarks on his first voyage as a Boy on SS Baron Kelvin.
Joins the Royal Naval Reserve on 31st August 1937, living at this time at 56 Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy.
Training at HMS Victory & HMS Curacoa (sea training) as Able Seaman.
Serves onboard ships; Baron Nairn, Alva, Baron Tweedmouth, Renside and St Kevin on both local and foreign voyages.
Training at HMS Victory, then joins HMS Queen of Bermuda (Armed Merchant Cruiser – Sea training) 9th October 1939.
Married Mary Orr (Domestic servant) age 28 at Kelty North, Church of Scotland on 28th April 1939.
After serving on various ships and living at 30 East Leven Street, Burntisland, transfers to the Royal Naval Patrol Service base at Lowestoft in 1942.
Serves on various Motor Mine Sweepers.
Died 27 December 1944, age 30, on HMMMS 167 – Rating reported to have been killed by a land mine explosion on the foreshore at Port St Louis du Rhone, France.
Wife Mary, living at 56 High Street, Aberdour is informed of his death on 1st January 1945.
Private John ROBERTSON – Home Guard CWGC
Born 1924 to David Robertson (Ploughman) and his wife Mary (nee Adamson) at Scoonie Fife.
Joins the 7th Battalion Fife Home Guard at age 18 in 1940.
Lived at Croftgary, Aberdour with parents, working as a miner – 1944.
Died 20th March 1944, age 20 Dunfermline Hospital of a Skull fracture, Thalamus and Hypo trauma. Buried at Aberdour Cemetery.
Guardsman William John Corbett THOMSON – Scots Guards CWGC
Born 9th April 1910 to William John Corbett Thomson (Working gardener) and his wife Williamina (nee Jamieson) at Whitehill Lodge, Aberdour.
Lived at Whitehill Lodge, Aberdour, 1911 census.
Wounded and captured by the German Afrika Corps at Gazala, Libya.
Died of wounds 5th February 1942, age 31, as a prisoner of war, Tripoli.
Nursing Sister Nancy Winifred Esme WAY – Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service CWGC
Born January 1911 to Wilfred Greville Martin Way (Lieutenant in Royal Navy) and his wife Lilian Beatrice (nee Davie) at Luton Bedfordshire.
Working as a qualified Nurse she is working at Convalescent Home, Corstorphine Road, Murrayfield, Edinburgh – 1932-33.
Working as a A&E nurse, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary – 1933-40.
Lived at “The Cottage”, Shore Road, Aberdour (home of her Aunt, Emily Elizabeth de Wilton).
Enrolled as a midwife – 1938.
Joins the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Navy Nursing Service 28th October 1942 as a Nursing Sister, allocated to W.R.N.S. in Greenock.
Served on H.M. Hospital Ship Vasna for the Burma invasion – 1944.
Died 7th April 1945, age 34, at Royal Naval Hospital Durban, South Africa from Pneumococcal Meningitis.
Commander Holly Reuben WHITEHOUSE – Royal Navy CWGC more & more
Born 14th April 1893, Dudley, Staffordshire to Joseph & Martha Whitehouse.
Married on 4th October 1922, to Marjorie Netta Temple Sinclair at Alverstoke, Hampshire. Father to one son & one daughter.
Served at MS Cochrane (RN base, Rosyth)] from 29th December 1936.
Served on HMS Resource (fleet repair ship) from 12th February 1940.
Served on HMS Barham (Queen Elizabeth class battleship) 15th October 1941.
Lived at Elmwood, 40, High St., Aberdour, Fife.
Died 25th November 1941, age 48, ship torpedoed and sunk by U-331 in eastern Mediterranean. Pathe news video, video of eyewitness account, and video of photographers account.
Major Will West MACHIN – Royal Engineers CWGC
Born 1910 Barrow in Furness to William (Hotel Keeper) and Elizabeth Machin.
Worked as a Civil Engineer, North Wales.
Joined the Territorials 5th June 1935.
Married Ella Stewart Rose (daughter of Rev Donald Stewart Rose minister of Dalgety on 18th April 1938.
Enlisted 5th June 1939.
Died 30th May 1942, age 32, Madagascar. On Dalgety Bay War Memorial.
Marine Robert MACKIE – Royal Marines CWGC
Son of James Mackie (Stevedore), and of Jessie Mackie (nee Parish).
Lived in Kirkcaldy, worked as a miner.
Married Ethel Rose Fotheringham (Canteen worker) of 2 Home Park, Aberdour (originally of Lowton St Mary’s Lancashire) at St Fillan’s Church on 17th June 1944.
Died 04 May 1945, age 19 at Southport of TB Meningitis, buried at Aberdour Cemetry.
Gunner Charles Mann SIMMERS – Royal Artillery CWGC
Born 2nd June 1916 at Brechin to the Revd. Charles Simmers, B.D., and of Isabella Barbara Simmers B.L. (Edin.), later lived in Aberdour.
Educated at Brechin High School and Edinburgh University, Bachelor of Law.
Died presumed killed in action at sea 23rd December 1941, age 26, commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt
This information was obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Additional information supplied by Jose Eglinton. Please send any corrections and/or additions to stfillanschurch@gmail.com.
Learn More
History
The Early Years
Restoration
Stained Glass
Inchcolm Abbey
Church Hall
The Hewitt Brothers