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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Dunbartonshire => Topic started by: HOUSE2000 on Tuesday 04 October 16 14:54 BST (UK)
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My Grandfather's cousin John Colquhoun was killed in the 1st WW in 1917. John was a Private in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and he is buried at Arras, France. His home address was Drumfad Farm, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire which I believe is/was in the Parish of Row/Rhu at the time. I've searched online for images of the Rhu War Memorial but I can't see his name. The images for the Helensburgh Memorial aren't very clear so I'm unable to see if his name is there or not. As I don't live in the area could I ask if anyone could check if his name is on one of the memorials. Thank you.
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Will have a look for you this week
Rosie
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Thank you Rosie! This is only part of a very sad family story which you may have heard before. Apart from John who was killed in 1917, his father, three brothers and his sister all died from 'flu in 1919. They died within the space of eight days - two on the same day. Almost the whole family wiped out with only three sisters left. Thank you for your offer of help Rosie.
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That's so sad his army records are on Ancestry and where he is buried on www.findagrave ..My husband has a book Roll of Honour .will have a look and see if he is in it ..lots of Helensburgh people in it ...The only problem now Cathy is the gates are closed at the memorial most of the time will check anyhow
Rosie
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Yes I found the records on Ancestry thanks Rosie. I thought I'd then try to find his name on the War Memorial but no luck. On the death certificates for the family members who died from 'flu, Drumfad comes under the Parish of Row. I thought his name should be on the Row memorial. I remember my Mum speaking about the Drumfad Colquhoun's who died of the 'flu but it's only after doing some research for my family tree that I've uncovered the whole story - well almost! One brother who died lived at Tamnavoulin and he was married and left a widow and four sons under the age of six. Very sad story indeed.
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Is the memorial at Rhu on the corner before you head for Shandon ? Or in the Church Yard
Rosie
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I've just googled it and it says it's on Church Road. Hope that helps.
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Just found that it stands in front of the church
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I've just googled it and it says it's on Church Road. Hope that helps.
Snap just googled it myself ;D hubby out there on Friday so will get him to look
Rosie
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Hi Cathy just checked the Helensburgh Roll of Honour book so his name will be on the Memorial Hermitage Park ...In the book listed under Glenfruin Pte .Colquhoun J,,Royal Scots Fusiliers ....entered into rest 3rd May ,1917 ...There is a picture of him if you want a copy just PM e-mail address don't think I have it any more
Rosie
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Thank you so much Rosie for the information. I'll pm my email address and I'd be very grateful if you could send me a photo of John.
Cathy
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Glad to have been able to help Cathy :)
Rosie
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Hi Cathy,
There's a headstone that names John Colquhoun son of Maggie Brown & Archibald B. Colquhoun who died at Arras, 7th of April 1917 in New Kilpatrick Cemetery in Bearsden. Its also the resting place of John's sister Margaret B. Colquhoun. Spanner in the works is the father died in 1952.
Its a strange coincidence the name, year of death and place of death is the same, but father and sister definitely didn't die in 1919. I take it this is not the same John Colquhoun?
Chris
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Thank you Chris5856 for your reply. Although the John Colquhoun you mentioned is not my Grandfather's cousin it certainly is a coincidence that a lot of the details are similar. My relative was killed on 3rd May 1917 and his parents were John Colquhoun and Janet Coubrough. Thank you again.
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Just to explain that in fact John has no known grave. The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918 and have no known grave. I hope that helps.
Imber
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As Imber explained, John has no 'known' grave, but there's a chance that he might be listed on a family gravestone somewhere. He'll obviously not be buried there, but this would be classed as a commemoration.
An example of this can be seen here: http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=950&highlight=colquhoun&mforum=scottishwargraves
Anne
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Thank you for the replies to my post. I've recently been given a photo of the family gravestone and John is listed on it along with all the other family members.
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Thank you for the replies to my post. I've recently been given a photo of the family gravestone and John is listed on it along with all the other family members.
That's good news Cathy :) :)
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He is also remembered at the Scottish National War memorial in Edinburgh Castle:
https://www.snwm.org/content/roll-search/?id=939474&searchid=e3de901f822511684480736bc742b5e1&page=2
Imber
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Thank you IMBER
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This is the family headstone in Helensburgh Cemetery where John who was killed in 1917 is named as as his mother Janet who died in 1902. Also named are John's three brothers Walter, William and James, his sister Flora and his father John who all died within the space of eight days in 1919 from 'flu. John's eldest sister Margaret is also named. Only three girls, Margaret,Janet and Jean survived. Such a sad family story.
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Was he the son of Adam Colquhoun, the Iron Founder?
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No his father was John Colquhoun who was a farmer.