Tower Hill Memorial - 22/3/23
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On Wednesday 22nd March, the representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun visited Tower Hill Memorial in London to pay tribute to the fallen from his constituency.
The Memorial commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave.
Mr Brown was invited to visit Tower Hill by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Of the many names listed, 13 are associated with the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency.
One of the fallen was Benny Thomson, a winger who played for Kilmarnock Football Club during the 1930s and scored in the 1938 Scottish Cup Final against East Fife.
He served as a fireman and trimmer in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War. Thomson was posted aboard the steamer SS Balmore and was killed in action when the ship was sunk by German aircraft in the North Atlantic Ocean in November 1940, at the age of just 27.
The 13 servicemen commemorated were connected with the town of Kilmarnock as well as the Irvine Valley and Ballochmyle areas of the constituency.
Commenting, Alan Brown MP said:
“I was proud to attend Tower Hill and I thank the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for reaching out and highlighting the connection with my constituency.
“As MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, it is important to me to honour the war dead from our constituency and to pay tribute to their sacrifice.
“The Tower Hill Memorial is particularly significant to our community as it commemorates 13 individuals who were connected to our community, either by birth, schooling, or residence.
“One of the casualties remembered is Benny Thomson, a Kilmarnock F.C. player who served as a fireman and trimmer during the Second World War. The fact that just two years before his death he was playing - and scored - in the Scottish Cup Final is almost unthinkable in modern times - it sends shivers up your spine. His loss is a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by so many young men during that conflict.
“It was humbling to see the names of these brave men and women who gave their lives in service to defend the country during these torrid times. I am proud to say that I lay a wreath every year at Remembrance Services across our constituency to ensure that their memory is never forgotten.
“It is also worth noting that my Great Uncle, Hugh Wilson, is amongst the names of the fallen at the Newmilns Memorial. The sacrifices made by the people of Kilmarnock and Loudoun during both World Wars cannot be overstated, and it is a privilege to represent a community with such a strong connection to the country’s military history.”
The names and details of all the fallen connected with Kilmarnock and Loudoun listed at the Memorial:
James Howat Edington
Rank: Radio Officer
Unit: S.S. Narva (Glasgow)
Regiment Squadron or Ship: Merchant Navy
Manner of Death: Lost when the ship he was in was mined
Date of Death: 15 January 1945
Age: 23
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2785962/james-howat-edington/
Donald Weaver MacLean
Rank: First Radio Officer
Unit: M.V. Tricula (London)
Regiment Squadron or Ship: Merchant Navy
Manner of Death: Lost at sea
Date of Death: 3 August 1942
Age: 24
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2799867/donald-weaver-maclean/
Adrian Archibald Taylor
Rank: Fourth Engineer Officer
Unit: S.S. Empire Citizen (London)
Regiment Squadron or Ship: Merchant Navy
Manner of Death: Lost with his ship when torpedoed amidships during an Atlantic gale
Date of Death: 2 February 1941
Age: 21
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2363878/adrian-archibald-taylor/
Benjamin Thomson
Rank: Fireman and Trimmer
Unit: Merchant Navy
Squadron or Ship: S.S. Balmore (Glasgow)
Date of Death: 12 November 1940
Age: 27
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2364257/benjamin-thomson/
William Guthrie
Rank: First Engineer
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: S.S. "Membland" (West Hartlepool)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 15 February 1915
Age: 34
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2887428/william-guthrie/
Robert Winning Wyber
Rank: Fourth Engineer Officer
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: S.S. "Baron Ogilvy" (Ardrossan)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 27 June 1917
Age: 24
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2970414/robert-winning-wybar/
Allan Collins
Rank: Second Engineer
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: S.S. "Vienna" (Glasgow)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 11 September 1917
Age: 28
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2977753/allan-collins/
William Alexander
Rank: 2nd Steward
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: "Lodaner" (London)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 14 April 1918
Age: 22
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2978903/william-alexander/
William Hew Black
Rank: Fourth Engineer Officer
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: S.S. "Glenart Castle" (Southampton)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 26 February 1918
Age: 29
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2979632/william-hew-black/
John McAllister
Rank: Fireman
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: S.S. "Kish" (Glasgow)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 17 April 1917
Age: 21
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3059808/john-mcallister/
William Lucas
Rank: Third Engineer
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: S.S. "Mangara" (Glasgow)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 28 July 1915
Age: 28
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3059758/william-lucas/
Hugh Macdonald
Rank: Master
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: "Garmoyle"
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 10 July 1917
Age: 39
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3059962/hugh-macdonald/
Alexander Crespo
Rank: Fireman
Unit: Mercantile Marine
Squadron or Ship: S.S. "Mangara" (Glasgow)
Manner of Death:
Date of Death: 28 July 1915
Age: 22
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2978039/alexandro-crespo/
