Remembering the fallen: Alexander McWilliam

Pte S/9351 Alexander McWilliam, serving in the 1st Gordon Highlanders, fell in action on 2nd August 1915.  He was the son of James McWilliam whose home was at 3, North High Street, Portsoy.

Alexander's grave lies at the Chester Farm Cemetery at Ypres in Belgium, where over 400 casualties are commemorated.

CURIOS about Portsoy: come and see the results!

The Salmon Bothy has been working with a team from the dot.rural project at Aberdeen University to develop an online cultural heritage resource for Portsoy and the surrounding area.  With input from a small number of volunteers we have gathered  material centred on the 1861 census and local WW1 casualties.  The CURIOS team have now brought together our data in a form which can be made available online and this will be demonstrated to all those interested at the Salmon Bothy on Wednesday 22nd July at 7pm.

The huge advantages of this resource are its flexibility and potential.  We have started with a small amount of information about individual families, but there is scope to share knowledge about many other aspects of local heritage, such as buildings, businesses and organisations.  Images and audio or video clips can also be used to complement and enhance written material.

The Portsoy community has been fortunate to benefit from the skills and funding made available through the dot.rural project.  We now have a unique opportunity to build on what has already been achieved and create something which will serve as a valuable tool for anyone interested in Portsoy's heritage.

Please come along to the Salmon Bothy at 7pm on Wednesday 22nd July and find out more!  Tea and coffee will be available on arrival.

Merchant Navy crew lists

An invaluable online resource is now available for researchers whose ancestors served in the Merchant Navy in 1915.  The National Archives and the National Maritime Museum have completed a project to transcribe Crew Lists and Agreements for 1915, creating a database which names almost a million seamen who served in the Merchant Navy.  Although images of the original records are not available, it possible to search the transcriptions using personal names or the name of a vessel.  Perhaps the best news of all is that there is no charge for access to this information!

Family history advice

Do you have an ancestral connection to the north-east of Scotland?  Would you like expert advice on how to go about researching your roots in this area?  Then come along to Portsoy Salmon Bothy, where our local genealogy professional will be on hand to provide guidance.

Sessions run each Friday throughout July and August from 2pm to 4pm.  No need to book - just drop in to the wee bothy.

This service is offered in conjunction with Gene Genie Scotland  

James C. Forbes

Our thoughts today go to James C. Forbes, Pte 1226 Gordon Highlanders, who was 21 years of age when he lost his life near Ypres on 17^th June 1915.  James was the son of William & Agnes Forbes, who farmed at Cowhythe, Portsoy.  He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium and on the memorial at Portsoy School.

In memory of Alexander Gray

On this day we remember the loss of Alexander Gray.  At the age of 18 Alexander was serving in the Royal Naval Reserve when, on 9^th June 1915, he died of wounds sustained in action in the Dardanelles.  A gravestone is dedicated to him at Mudros in Greece and he is also commemorated on the family gravestone in Portsoy cemetery.  Alexander was the son of John and Maggie Gray who lived at Muir of Glassaugh, Fordyce.

Remembering Hector Guthrie

One hundred years on, Portsoy remembers Hector M. Guthrie, Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers.  After graduating with 1st Class Honours from Aberdeen University, he was 22 years of age when he became a casualty of the Gallipoli campaign on 4^th June 1915.  He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial as well as in Aberdeen University Roll of Honour.  Hector’s parents, James & Bella Guthrie, lived in Roseacre Street, Portsoy.