Lochmaben Cemetery MIA Name

[Rosinish]

Imber, I agree it does seem to be a family stone?

Mairi,

I don't know how large Lochmaben Cemetery is but it may be worth posting a request for someone to have a look for the stone with all the info. you have as with no name it's very difficult to speculate?

Annie

[Smith.hx]

We believe his name is Robert Rutherford. He went missing in action in 1943.

[IMBER]

This chap seems the nearest fit:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1282433/rutherford,-robert/

But note that he is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial because he has no known grave. As mentioned earlier, it was sometimes the case that such persons were also named on family headstones. However, the Scottish Military Research Group has recorded all the CWGC headstones in Lochmaben Cemetery AND all the private headstones that have a mention of war dead. They appear not to have found any reference to Robert Rutherford, and they are very thorough. So, something doesn't fit. If the name is correct then could it be in a different cemetery? There is also another Robert Rutherford who died in 1941 but was in the army. Oddly he too has no known grave and is also commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.

Imber

[IMBER]

Note the place of birth:

https://www.snwm.org/roll-search/?id=745660&searchid=2f78ad1d13d9eeb2be03219acde6257d&page=1

Imber

[Rosinish]

From Service Returns on scotlandspeople.gov.uk

RUTHERFORD ROBERT 35
1943
157/AF 100
Service Returns

Unfortunately, I don't know what info. would be on there but may be worth chasing for any small clue to work out whether or not it is him?

Annie

[Rosinish]

This looks to be him & the only birth in Dumfries 1906 - 1910?

RUTHERFORD ROBERT 1907
847/ 12
St Mungo (Dumfries)

Annie

[IMBER]

Came across this on the internet:

"Rob Milton writes: 
I started to look for the history of my mother's father who was Sgt. Robert Rutherford,1367207,RAFVR.   
I found as much as he was killed in action aged 25 on 23 March,1943. I haven't been able to find out much more than that but I know he is remembered with honour at the Alamein Memorial with the sterling help of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.   I hope this will help you and if I find any other info, I will most certainly pass it on to you."

Looks like the right chap, but he seems to have got the wrong age.

Imber


 







 

[Smith.hx]

These are the notes my sister took when she was at the cemetery. We are assuming they are mostly correct.

New Lochmaben Cemetery:
Newer section:
“In loving memory of Thomas McMinn who died 4th February 1937 aged 63 years. Also his wife Esther Carruthers died 16th November 1940. Also their son Abraham G. McMinn died 21st March 1996, aged 91. Also his beloved wife Jessie D. Anderson sho died 8th March 1997, aged 88.”
 
-Robert Ruthersford sonf of John and Margaret Stirling. Robert, SECT. W/O. A. G. reported missing in middle east 22nd March 1943. Aged 35 years.
 

The McMinns are descents in my father’s maternal side. 

We have followed Robert and his wife Isabella for a few generations but without accessing the Palestine Police Force Nominal Roll, it’s a guessing game. 

[IMBER]

You seem to have a lot of information on Robert. What is it you are still trying to find out?

Imber