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Remembered Today:

Minesweeper, Duchess of Montrose


larneman

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i was wondering where you got all of the info from>?

Mostly here :)

Other than the thread itself I've pestered quite a few people by PM - everyone I've contacted has been accomodating, polite and as helpful as anything.

I've also contacted various museums that I thought could be helpful and a few specialist sites - and quite often I've been refered back to here :lol:

I'm pretty amazed at how much information I've gleamed from such an 'insignificant' sinking - I've discovered stuff that's made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and also an account of the sinking that's had me lying awake at night.

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I note that D.MacLennan,does have a Grave,but is Buried back in His Native Scotland,I thought this was little odd as i always believed that the CWWGC operated a strict no repatriation policy,has anyone any ideas as to why this Sailors Body was actually sent Home for Burial ??????

I stumbled upon a site recently that featured the site of Donalds grave, I contacted the couple running the site (www.northernlight-uk.com) and they very kindly sent me some additional pictures:

Picture One Picture Two Picture Three

I was struck by how remote, rugged and quiet the area looks - like nearly everyone we discuss on this site Donald's home was far removed from the place he fought and died.

And on the subject of repatriation I knew that Norman MacDonald was buried in Dunkirk, which is the nearest cemetery to the sinking, but I very recently discovered that Cyril Hambly Panther is buried in Lewisham : WGPP Link

Just how common was repatriation?

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Hello All, just something you may find interesting - award for services with DUCHESS of MONTROSE ;

THOMSON Alexander D N/E Lt. RNR 84Q025 H.M.P.M.S. Newbury

Vice Admiral Dover 02.07.17 Gazetted

Minesweeping Operations 01.07.16 - 31.03.17 DSC

His zeal and attention to duties are above the average, and I have had personal experience of his coolness and resource. He was blown up in P.M.S. "Duchess of Montrose" and 10 days afterwards as soon as a ship could be found for him, he was again sweeping in the area in which he was blown up.

Regards Sadsac

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Ned, it was official policy not to repatriate bodies to the UK. However, in the case of seamen, both RN and MM, if the body was picked up by a ship heading for the UK, and the journey was very long, then it would bring it back.

Best wishes

David

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Hello All, just something you may find interesting - award for services with DUCHESS of MONTROSE ;

THOMSON Alexander D N/E Lt. RNR 84Q025 H.M.P.M.S. Newbury

Vice Admiral Dover 02.07.17 Gazetted

Minesweeping Operations 01.07.16 - 31.03.17 DSC

His zeal and attention to duties are above the average, and I have had personal experience of his coolness and resource. He was blown up in P.M.S. "Duchess of Montrose" and 10 days afterwards as soon as a ship could be found for him, he was again sweeping in the area in which he was blown up.

Regards Sadsac

Thanks sadsac - I've found the relevant page in the London Gazette : Gazette Issue 30159 published on the 29 June 1917

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  • 3 years later...

I have gathered that the minesweeper, Duchess of Montrose, struck a mine off the coast of Belgium sometime in April 1917.

It seems that FULTON, William James :- Engineer, Royal Naval Reserve, aged 40 years was killed then.

I can find no record of him on the CWGC.

Any information or corrections would be welcome.

Liam

So the thread's seven years old, and for those of you who are interested, it turns out that Liam's 'Willaim James Fulton' and the 'William James Brown' are one and the same person -

'Fulton' is William's Mother's surname, and he was originally from Portstewart as per Liams original search !!

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  • 4 years later...
  • 1 year later...
On 17-9-2008 at 16:11, sadsac said:

Hello All, just something you may find interesting - award for services with DUCHESS of MONTROSE ;

THOMSON Alexander D N/E Lt. RNR 84Q025 H.M.P.M.S. Newbury

Vice Admiral Dover 02.07.17 Gazetted

Minesweeping Operations 01.07.16 - 31.03.17 DSC

His zeal and attention to duties are above the average, and I have had personal experience of his coolness and resource. He was blown up in P.M.S. "Duchess of Montrose" and 10 days afterwards as soon as a ship could be found for him, he was again sweeping in the area in which he was blown up.

Regards Sadsac

 

2018-04-17 15.09.09.jpg

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  • 2 months later...

Late but nevertheless should be remembered. 

Dangerously Wounded 18.03.1917 when the H.M.P.M.S. Duchess of Montrose sunk by a mine
SWALES, John Thomas (34) Trimmer O.N. 525 ST. RNR.
Born: 01.01.1883 Whitby, Yorkshire 
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8557903

 

Terry

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13 hours ago, Ned said:

Thank you Sas very interesting, may I ask where you found it ?

Hi!

I found it in a autograph book of a vad nurse called Nancy Johnson. She worked in the 1st. Londen General hospital in Camberwell. 

Edited by Sas1981
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  • 1 year later...

Hello,

I can add a bit more to the story of one casualty on board the Duchess of Montrose. I had been researching 1802 Pte. William Fair some time ago. He had joined the 9th Highland Light Infantry- Glasgow Highlanders, T.F. in 1913 and was mobilised on the outbreak of war. He was deployed to France 4th November 1914 and suffered a gunshot wound to the neck on 31st December. He was invalided out on 4th March 1915 and awarded a pension.

 

On checking the pension records, I see that his Mother received a dependents pension, and William Fair was stated as having "drowned". I have since discovered, that although apparently unfit for Military service, he was on board the Mine Sweeper HMPMS Duchess of Montrose and lost at sea when it went down on 18th March 1917. Before the war, William, a native of Newcastle upon Tyne, was a fitter at Yarrows ship yard. His father served with the Royal Engineers.

 

I imagine that there is more to this story.

 

I hope that this is if interest.

 

Owain.

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William FAIR, 3rd Engineer, Mercantile Marine Reserve (MMR), is listed as a casualty in the DUCHESS OF MONTROSE.

His Victory and British War Medals were never claimed or issued.

Edited by horatio2
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Hello,

Thanks for the information. I am wondering if William Fair disclosed his service with the HLI in France when he joined the MMR. I have his medal index card confirming award of the 1914 star, war medal and victory. In addition, I also have the covering note that accompanied his 1914 star, dated 27th may 1919 which is addressed to William and not either of his parents. I also have the named lid to the cardboard medal box that I assume is for the BWM and VM.

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