327334 Lieutenant James McKILLOP, 1 Black Watch (Royal Higlanders): 11/01/1945

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Patte62, Apr 19, 2020.

  1. Patte62

    Patte62 Member

    Dear all,

    Looking for more information about Lieutenant James McKillop of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) who is buried @ CWGC Geel War Cemetery. James McKillop is the only soldier of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) who is buried on this Cemetery. Any information is welcome.

    That's the intel I've already found out about James:
    Casualty Details | CWGC
    Name: James McKillop
    Age: 33
    Address: 7 Thistle Street
    Next of Kin: Son of James and Mary McKillop; husband of Jane Adam McKillop of Dundee
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Number: 327334
    Served With: 1st Bn., Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
    Force: Army
    Date of Death: 11/01/1945
    Place of Death: in Western Europe
    Historical Information: unknown
    Cemetery/Memorial: Geel War Cemetery, Geel, Antwerpen, Belgium
    Memorial Ref: 1 .A. 25.
    Location Details: unspecified
    Information Source: People's Journal 03/02/1945

    All kind of intel is welcome, photos, family intel, documents, picture of the headstone of James McKillop.
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  3. Patte62

    Patte62 Member

    No I didn't see this post, and immediatly very important facts into this documents …. KIA in the nearby of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes in Belgium, about 160 km of the place in Geel War Cemertery were James McKillop is buried and commemorated. Those extracts are very hugh stuff of information in my research about the whereabouts of James McKillop. I didn't find anything around Geel, now I have the reason why. Many thanks Owen :army:;)
     
  4. Patte62

    Patte62 Member

    According to Military Archives another Black Watch soldier was killed at the same spot as Lieutenant McKillop, his name was Sergeant William James Keith. Both were temporary buried in the Ardennes near La Roche in a small village called Rendeux. Lieutenant McKillop was reburied in Geel War Cemetery whilst Sergeant Keith was reburied at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery. Did anyone in this group has furter information about Sergeant William James Keith, 1st Bn Black Watch (Royal Highlander), Service number 2760927, died 11th January 1945, age 32, son of James and Margaret Anne Keith, husband of Elizabeth Cranston Keith, of Galashiels, Selkirkshire, buried Leopoldsburg War Cemetery VIII.D.13. Further information about William James Keith is that he is commemorated in the Cemetery of his hometown Galashiels. If anyone can send me more information about both it will be a massive help in my research. I'm also curious if there are known relatives of James McKillop and William James Keith?
     
  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Sorry, I have no further info on that, other than that three soldiers of the 1st Bn Black Watch were killed in the fight for the town of La Roche-en-Ardenne:

    001 CHALMERS JL 2758441 1ST BN 11/01/1945 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
    002 KEITH WJ 2760927 1ST BN 11/01/1945 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
    003 MCKILLOP J 327334 1ST BN 11/01/1945 BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)

    Chalmers also was laid to rest at the Rendeux cemetery and was reburied at Leopoldsbrug in March 1947. All three are also commemorated on the 51st HD Memorial at La Roche. See: Ardennes 1945, 51st Highland Div. Maybe the local 'Musée de la bataille des Ardennes' in La Roche can help you out.

    For some context of the operations of the 51st HD in the Ardennes, see: 16th December 1944 Battle of the Bulge begins
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2020
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  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: James McKillop
    Given Initials: J
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Death Date: 11 Jan 1945
    Number: 327334
    Birth Place: Glasgow
    Residence: Dundee
    Regiment at Enlistment: Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
    Regiment at Death: Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    Maybe worth applying for his service records??

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: William Keith
    Given Initials: W J
    Rank: Serjeant
    Death Date: 11 Jan 1945
    Number: 2760927
    Birth Place: London N
    Residence: Carlisle
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
    Regiment at Death: Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current
    Name: Sgt William J. Keith
    Birth Date: 1912
    Death Date: 11 Jan 1945
    Cemetery: Alva Cemetery
    Burial or Cremation Place: Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland
    Has Bio?: Y
    Father: James Keith
    Mother: Maggie A. Keith
    SGT William J. Keith (1912-1945) - Find A Grave...

    From a family tree:
    William J. Keith
    –1945
    BIRTH London N
    DEATH 11 JANUARY 1945 • La Roche-en-Ardenne, Luxembourg, Belgium

    This birth would fit the bill but needs confirmation:
    England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
    Name: William J Keith
    Mother's Maiden Name: Pirie
    Registration Year: 1913
    Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
    Registration district: Islington
    Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
    Inferred County: London
    Volume: 1b
    Page: 373

    which leads on to:
    1939 England and Wales Register
    Name: Wm J Keith
    Gender: Male
    Marital status: Single
    Birth Date: 23 Apr 1913
    Residence Year: 1939
    Address: Howard Cottage
    Residence Place: Border, Cumberland, England
    Occupation: Tweed designer

    This would tie in with the Roll of Honour saying his residence was Carlisle


    TD
     
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  7. Patte62

    Patte62 Member

    Thanks for sharing all this intel guys ;)
     
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