Lochmaben Cemetery MIA Name

[Mairi Coyne]

He always alleged he didn’t ever know his father’s name.

[Rosinish]

How do you know you were at the correct grave if he didn't know the name of his father?

Annie

[Rosinish]

Were his g/parents deceased when he immigrated to Canada or did they remain in contact by airmail?

Annie

[Mairi Coyne]

His father was deceased but he stayed in touch with Janet Smith (his mother) until she died.

[Rosinish]

I think you misread my message asking if the g/parents were deceased when your g/father immigrated?

Was hoping there may have been letters with names/adresses?

Annie

[Mairi Coyne]

Sorry! My great grandmother Janet was alive when my grandfather Alan came to Canada. His father, whose name we don’t know, was dead by then.

[Rosinish]

No, Alans' g/parents, parents of his deceased father who died in action, were they still alive, was he in touch with them?

Annie

[Smith.hx]

We believe at least one of his paternal parents was alive in 1941. They are both buried beside his grave marker. Alan G Smith father only has a grave marker in Lochmaben. It has his name. Missing in action. 1941. Palestine Police Force and we believe it says RAF. 

And he had contact with them until they died.

[IMBER]

I'm just catching up on this query so may be missing the obvious but if he was "missing in action" then how were his remains recovered? If, however, they were recovered the fact that he had died in action means that it was probable that he died outwith the UK. If so then he would have been buried overseas as the policy was not to repatriate. If that were the case could it be that his name was added to a family gravestone? That was quite common.

I imagine this is the Edinburgh war memorial you mention:

https://www.snwm.org/roll-search/

Imber