Research on the fifteen men listed in the section of the East Linton War Memorial that relates to WW II  has now been undertaken using information recorded in the Commonwealth War Graves data base.  Three of the names are listed in a Memorial in Prestonkirk Church.  One name, that of a John McNaughton is not listed on the Memorial in the Memorial Park. In addition, there is a family gravestone which mentions  a Robin (or Robert) Summerfield who is not listed on any of the two  East Linton memorials. There were similar discrepancies found when the names recorded for WW I,  were researched in 2014. We now know that out a total of seventeen  men,  16 men  died in the WWI II conflict and that one civilian was killed by the enemy as he carried out his  employment with the London and North Eastern Railway. Another civilian was killed when an aircraft from East Fortune crashed on the potting shed at Kingsburgh market garden in 1943 but this was not caused by enemy action. If it had been, an application to have the deceased listed as a war casualty could have been considered.

The records give the details of five men who died while serving outwith the European area of conflict, later called the Forgotten Army. An age analysis has been possible for thirteen men.   The name of William Craig has so far been difficult to research. A L/Cpl William Craig of the 8^th Battalion Royal Scots was married in Edinburgh Registry office on the 21^st March 1940. He is referred to as a butcher. His wife was a Margaret Herkes, a domestic servant resident at 11 Boroughdale, Dunbar. ( The Courier report gives her address as Doune Avenue.) Her father was an Alexander Herkes , General Labourer, and her mother was an Agnes McKenzie. An entry in the Courier about the wedding discloses that he was the only son of Mr and Mrs J.  Craig of Kingsburgh, East Linton. The Marriage register gives his father’s occupation as a Gardener and his mother’s name as Annie Craig, nee Bald. It has not been possible to locate a reference to his death in the Commonwealth War Graves data base or on the Scottish Roll of Honour. The deaths of his parents in the Scotland’s People records have not been found as having taken place in East Linton. There is a record for another L/Cpl William Craig in the CWG data base but his family lived in Fife. Research continues.

The East Linton Horticultural Society have installed two large floral baskets at the  War Memorial to mark the 75^th anniversary of VJ Day. Further displays will be installed as an Act of Remembrance.

David Affleck

7^th August 2020

Additional  Names.                                                                                                                                                                                                    Robin Summerfield  died at Arnhem  20^th Sept. 1944.  See stone 392 in Prestonkirk. The web site lists him as Robert and that his parents lived at Gullane East Lothian . He may be listed at Gullane.                                                                                                              John McNaughton  RAF.  Listed on PrestonkIrk Church memorial . A CWGC  listing has a man with that name who died on the 11^th April 1944 aged 22. He was a wireless operator. His parents, John and Annie McNaughton lived in Cardonald, Glasgow. The link with the Kirk is not known.

Compiled by David Affleck  7^th August  2020

[1] His mother died in July 1938. She is buried at Whitekirk

[2] See Stone 508 Prestonkirk

[3] See Stone 26  Prestonkirk

[4] See stone 443 Prestonkirk

[5] Courier sources

[6] See separate report