LODGE ERCILDOUNE
‘Lest we Forget’
Within the Lodge of Ercildoune we have a Roll of Honour mounted in a specially carved board, the design and execution were completed by Br. George Hope Tait, the names of the brethren who served and fell are inscribed on an art work on velum, alluring to the Masonic Craft the District and the Lodge.
There are four names inscribes in red, we can only surmise that these brethren are the ones that had fallen in the line of duty. (See citations)
Their names are as follows....
Henry R. Aikman
James Gladstone
John Rutherford
James Whiteman
William Russell
James Kerr
Joseph Dougal
Thomas J. Fleming
Andrew A. Mack
William Mather
Thomas Turnbull
John Cummings
Charles C. Fisher
Robert Garrioch
Thompson B. Johnston
W. Scott. Donaldson
Edward W.S. Weatherlie
Andrew Robertson
Stewart Paterson
Alan M. G. McNiven
George Aitken
James Allan
George Cessford
William S. Crockett
John Donaldson
Thomas Hewatt
John S. Thompson
Maxwell C. Wilson
Henry Fleming
John Aikman
Robert McQuillan
Andrew J. Morris
James D. McDonald
Charles E. Lloyd
Robert P. Smith
Alexander Wilson
John T. Wilkie
James Lamb
George F. Fisher
George Henderson
Adam Mather
Thomas Macchlan
Hardie Readman
Peter Dickson
John R. Gladstone
James Gibson
Alexander W. Kerr
Thomas Mc Dougal
William Roger
James S.T. Patterson
John Paterson
Thomas S. Archibald
Robert W. Brotherston
John Burrell
James Bums
Walter Donaldson
George M. Roger
Robert S. Steedman
Adam N. Tolmie
Born: Galashiels 4371 Sergeant. D Company 4th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borders
155th Brigade 52nd Division.
Missing, presumed killed: 12th July 1915. Commemorated Helles Memorial Dardanelles.
He was the son of Henry and Lavinia Aikman of Brookland Cottage, Earlston, he worked
at Rhymers Mill. Before the war, at the age of 16, he had joined the Earlston Territorials
and became one of the best shots in the company. At a Border meeting at Melrose,
he won the bronze medal for Berwickshire. Aikman was a good all-
No information available
Captain, Royal Air Force, 62nd Training Squadron.
Died: 8th August 1918, flying accident, Hounslow.
Buried: Earlston Churchyard.
The only son of Dr John and Margaret Young, The Thorn, Earlston, and brother of Marion. He joined the Lothians and Border Horse, and spent a year with them at Haddington before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. After training at Hendon Aircraft Training School, he was posted, early in l916 to a squadron in France. He was shot down twice, but was unwounded and so managed each time to reach friendly territory. On the third occasion when ’spotting’ over German lines he had the misfortune to have his left lung badly punctured. His plane’s petrol tank was also punctured but he managed to land behind French lines. He received an ovation from friendly “poilus” (French soldiers) who had watched his manoeuvring into safety with interest. After a critical day or two, he was pronounced fit to travel, and arrived at a Glasgow hospital on 4th November 1916. This detained him for some time. On returning to duty in spring 1918, he gained his captaincy and was promoted to acting flight commander, he was back flying in France, with the job of selecting fresh ‘flying camps’ to replace those lost in the disastrous March ‘breakthrough’. He had come back to Britain as Wing Examining Officer at Hounslow Flying School and on the 8th August he had gone up alone to practise shooting at ground targets when, without warning, his plane was seen to collapse and nose dive into the ground. He was killed outright. He was buried with full military honours in Earlston Churchyard.
Born: Galashiels
Enlisted: Earlston
4049 Company Sergeant Major, 4th King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Died: at Earlston 10th January 1916.
Buried: Earlston Parish Churchyard (not a war grave stone).
The husband of Mrs Alison Wilkie of 50 High St Earlston, Colour Sergeant Wilkie had served for many years both in the Volunteers and the Territorials, and possessed a long service medal. He was one of the mainstays of the Territorials and his enthusiasm and untiring efforts contributed to its popularity locally. When war broke out Wilkie was called up and, after some time at Galashiels, was sent to Cambusbarron. Here he contracted a cold which may have been the origin of his illness. He was transferred back to Galashiels where his health continued to decline, and he was invalided home. An internal disease manifested itself and gradually worsened. His illness was borne with great patience and he died on Monday 10th June 1916. He had for many years been employed at Rhymers Mill.
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