Inverkip War Memorial Forum

Click to see Thomas's bio page & photos • Thomas Evans • Died: 22nd January 1944 • 2nd Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers 3324914 Click to expand Thomas's story Thomas was born on 24th December 1910 at 43 Belville Street, Greenock. His father, Thomas, was a joiner and his mother was Christina (m/s McNeil, previous surname Brown). They were married in Greenock in 1908. On the 1911 census, the family were living at 38 Nicolson Street, Greenock, with Thomas's elder sister, Catherine, and his uncle. At some point between 1911 and 1917, the family moved to Inverkip where Thomas' sister, Christina was born. Another sibling, Martha, was born in 1921. Thomas' mother died in 1924 at Ferguson Place, Inverkip when he was just 14. The site of Ferguson Place is to the west of the Inverkip Hotel, where flats are now built. In 1939 when his sister Christina was 18, she had a son, Thomas, who died when he was just 4 months old, at Ferguson Place. The cause of death is recorded as broncho pneumonia . No father is named on the death certificate. Thomas' father died in October 1947 at Larkfield Hospital. His address at the time of his death was 12 Lyle Street, Greenock. Thomas served as a Private in the 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers. His Battalion were in India when the Second World War broke out; they then sailed to Burma in September 1943. Thomas died of wounds there, aged 32, in 1944. He is remembered in on the Inverkip War Memorial. Please use this thread to discuss all things relating to Thomas Evans, especially any fresh information.

Click to see Archibald's bio page & photos • Archibald Stewart • Died: 7th January 1943 • 2nd Battalion Scots Guards 2697387 Click to expand Archibald's story Archibald Stewart was born on 30th August 1914 in Houston, Renfrewshire. His parents were Alexander, a gamekeeper and Marion, m/s Whyte, who were married in Cumbernauld in the same year. The family moved to Inverkip where it is likely Alexander was a gamekeeper on the Ardgowan Estate. On 24th July 1940, Archibald married Mary (May) Harrison Dunnachie from Cameron Place, Inverkip. Her occupation is recorded as a waitress, perhaps at the Inverkip Hotel as Cameron Place is close to the hotel. However, it is also known she worked in the ticket office at Inverkip station during the war. The marriage ceremony was conducted by Rev William Crawford and took place in the Manse. Archibald's address on the marriage certificate is given as Pirbright Camp, Surrey and his occupation is a Corporal in the Scots Guards. Archibald served in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards and died in a POW camp on 7th January 1943, aged 28 and is remembered in the Caserta War Cemetery, Italy and on the Inverkip War Memorial. The inscription on his headstone reads 'Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away'. After Archibald was posted as missing and then when news of his death was received, Mary found life very difficult. Her mental health deteriorated significantly and she sadly suffered from depression for the rest of her life. She died in October 1981 at Ravenscraig Hospital, Greenock. The informant of her death was her brother, Joseph Dunnachie, whose address is recorded as 18 Daff Avenue, Inverkip. It appears he died in Largs in 1998. Thanks to Mrs Helen Davidson m/s Dunnachie for providing additional information on Archibald and Mary. Please use this thread to discuss all things relating to Archibald Stewart, especially any new information.

Click to see Roderick's bio page & photos • Roderick Devlin • Died: 17th June 1943 • Fourth Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy Click to expand Roderick's story Roderick Devlin was born in 1919 in Greenock. His parents were Kennedy Little Devlin and Margaret McKenzie who were married on 15th June 1916, at the Central Halls, Bath Street, Glasgow. At the time of his marriage, Kennedy’s occupation was a postman and his address was given as 48 Ann Street, Greenock. According to the 1911 census, Kennedy’s address was 7 Shaw Place, Greenock and was the son of the head of the family, Ann Chambers. Roderick had a younger brother, Kennedy and two younger siblings who both died in infancy (one was also called Kennedy). The family moved to Binnie Place, Main Street, Inverkip in 1936. Roderick served in the Merchant Navy as a fourth engineer officer. He was originally posted on another ship which made it back home safely. In September 1942, Roderick’s family were informed he had moved to the SS Yoma and were advised of a new address to send letters to. The SS Yoma was built in 1928 by Wm Denny and Bros. at Dumbarton. On 17th June 1943, the ship was carrying troops back from Algeria to Alexandria when it was hit by two torpedoes in the Indian Ocean, killing 451 men. It took just six minutes for the ship to sink. Roderick was 23 years old. His mother received a visit to tell her what had happened to her son. It was not until 1950 that Roderick’s family received his Seaman’s discharge book and then it was not the original. Roderick’s mother was a regular churchgoer and rarely missed a Sunday service, however, she did not attend the annual Remembrance Day service, finding it too painful. It is poignant to note that she died one Remembrance Sunday. Roderick is commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial in London and is remembered on the Devlin family headstone in Inverkip cemetery. Please use this thread to discuss all things relating to Roderick Devlin, especially any new information.