AITKEN family, West Linton, Peeblesshire

[Kimberley02]

Dear Danchaslyn,
Yes, my son (31, Dipl.-Ing.) will have to hold my hand, as I am very unsure about Chat etiquette. However, it has all been well worth it, thanks to the 5th Cavy photo of Lieut R.G.Aitken with ribbons up (although I fear the middle - Victory Medal - is incorrect: typical!). You asked about the Basra area fire incident. Now THAT would have fitted well into my article! He was in command of the Basra Fire Brigade with the title of Fire Expert, Mesopotamia, so his action is not surprising, indeed, was expected of him. No decoration or mention (such things are few and far between) and indeed his medals were British War Medal 1914-18, India General Service clasps Afghanistan NWF 1919, and General Service Medal clasp Iraq. His Second War medal entitlement was Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45, but these were forfeited by the War Office after his being cashiered. The comment in the Chat that he spent money like water and was always running up bills, fits the picture, as you will see when you read my article. How can I send you photocopies?)
Kindest regards,
Kim aka Kimberley02 

Hello Kimberley02

At last Robert Gordon Aitken has received recognition.  Congratulations! Haven't yet read your article,  but shall try to find it online, failing which I'll try to obtain a copy of the Journal of the Orders & Medals Research Society.

Please can you post here as soon as possible which military awards RGA received?  I've been fascinated about his rescue of the women from the bazaar fire in India as kindly posted by WG.

After your next post we will be able to communicate per Roots Chat personal Message....please have your son to hand to help you, ha ha!

Cheers
Danchaslyn

[Danchaslyn]

Hello Kimberley02

What a wealth of information you have, thank you SO much!

I'm still trying to take it all in.

Will send you a Personal Message in RC now.....

Best wishes
Danchaslyn

[casman69]

hope this helps
http://baptistunionhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2011/12/rev-thomas-aitken.html

[Danchaslyn]

Thank you, casman69!

[bedfordshire boy]

I wonder whose child Winifred Bateman is?  She may have been a second cousin, not a first cousin.

Danchaslyn       

Your mother's mother was née Edith Mary Short. Winifred Mary Bateman's mother was née Amy Elizabeth Short, Edith's sister. So your mother and Winifred really were first cousins.

Winifred appears to have been born in England per the 1900 census, and Amy and her four children sailed from New York to England in May 1899 arriving in Liverpool on 27 May when Amy would have been seven months pregnant.I don't know where Amy Short, who was born on St Helena, married Francis Richard Bateman, who was born in Aston Warwickshire. He too was a clergyman in 1900.

[cagawama]

Hi Danchaslyn

I am a descendant of John Aitken's son, John Aitken ( born 1861 from his first marriage). I found this forum accidentally. I hope this thread is still active.  Carol