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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: Countryquine on Monday 12 November 18 21:19 GMT (UK)
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I have a copy of a photo with my great uncle who was in the Gordon Highlanders.
There are 3 other soldiers in the photo, named on the back.
James Mackie, Springbank Cemetary Lodge
Alex Cameron, Pinewood by Mannofield
James Mitchell, Mannofield
I have looked up the census for 1911 and found a James Mitchell with his widowed mother at 532 Great Western Road, which is only a few doors away from my great uncle's family at 557. Of course this may be coincidence.
It looks like they had been friends from before enlistment though again I can't be sure.
I wonder what happened to these lads - great uncle was killed in action at the battle of Arras aged 19. I have been looking up various war records but the names are fairly common so nothing really concrete to go on.
If anyone thinks any of these other three are relatives I will pass on the photo. They are are standing some distance away from what seems to be a long narrow structure, open sided with a pitched roof - it could well have tables and chairs but hard to see. The lads are in the kilt and standing with their rifles in their hands, rifle butts on the ground.
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James Mackie, Springbank Cemetary Lodge
In the 1901-2 Post Office Directory for Aberdeen, https://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/archive/84838574?mode=transcription there is this entry:
Superintendent— James Mackie, the Lodge, Springbank.
If the man in the photo was young, maybe his father?
Monica
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Meant to add this yesterday on James Mackie.
There is a young James showing in the household of James Snr. in 1901:
James Mackie 40 Cemetery Superintendent
Marjory Mackie 36
Alexander Mackie 13
Catherine Mackie 11
George Mackie 9
Jane Mackie 7
Margaret Mackie 5
James Mackie 3 b. Aberdeen
Alice Mackie 1
Address: Springbank Cemetery Lodge Countesswells Rd
Monica
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A family tree gives this info for him:
Father: James Mackie
Mother: Marjorie Chisholm
Birth: 1897 Scotland
Death: 9 Apr 1918 France
May connect to this www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results?firstName=james&lastName=mackie&country=France&war=1
Also:
Name: James Mackie
Birth Place: Aberdeen
Death Date: 10 Apr 1918
Death Place: France and Flanders
Enlistment Place: Stonehaven
Rank: Private
Regiment: Gordon Highlanders
Battalion: 7th Battalion
Regimental Number: S/43419
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre
Monica
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Not sure on the discrepancy of the day, 9th and 10th.
From here http://armyancestry.blogspot.com/2016/12/city-of-aberdeen-roll-of-honour.html
Private James Mackie Gordon Highlanders; Springbank Cemetery; died 9th April 1918
Monica
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Thank you, Monica, for those pieces of information. I did find out today from another source that James Mackie had been killed in action. Sad, as a 61 year old mother, they look just like young boys to me. I am pleased to have some more information - I shall keep it with the photo, it is good to know the background to their lives such as can be gathered, and to know they are not just faces on a faded photograph.
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This is a very useful tool for finding WW1 dead by addresses
https://astreetnearyou.org/?fbclid=IwAR3-HDk4NRo--GbGjkkwGMkoduB4BYb-ottN44OHQ62f-1xxYGZaTU2sZ9I#=undefined&lat=47.34092619071064&lon=32.16796875000001&zoom=3
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It would be a good idea to amend the title to include their names...that way, if any family members google their name, they will be brought here.
Carol
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Sorry Carol (or anybody else?), can you advise how to amend the title to include the names of the lads in the photo.
I can't seem to find a way of amending the original post I made. I could do a completely new one but then would have to hope that one of the admins linked it back really, wouldn't I?
All advice welcome!
Thanks
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You can only modify your post within the first 24 hours of posting, but, if you use the "Report to Moderator" button you can ask for the title of your post to be amended.
Carol
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Topic heading amended!
flst
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Thank you!
Would be nice if any relatives came across this post.
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Thank you!
Would be nice if any relatives came across this post.
Don’t know if you are on Facebook, but if your are there are 3 sister sites called Aberdeen History and photos/stories/family photos. Likely the first or last would be best to post on.
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Thanks Grothenwell, I am indeed on Facebook and a member of those sites already. Will post on there.
Would love to 'reunite' the other lads with relatives.
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Not too sure whether this adds anything.
43419 James Mackie 10 April 1918 that MonicaL picked out had a father James according to the Register of Soldiers' Effects which would fit. The effects register has 10 April 1918 but I suggest the one day discrepancy can be ignored, often happens especially as here where the date is presumed rather than exact. The Springbank Cemetery foxed me for a bit until I see it is his address!
MaxD