World War 1 Commemorations 2019

The Deerness World War 1 project draws to an end in 2019 when we remember the last two boys on the War Memorial. Firstly, we remember James Clouston Dick who contracted TB whilst in the Royal Navy, and died on 28 September 1919 in the Seaforth Sanatorium, Dingwall and is buried in Mitchell Hill Cemetery there. We have no photo of James Dick, nor do we know much of his story prior to joining the Royal Navy in 1916. We have searched far and wide for a photograph -- if you have any ideas where we might find one, please get in touch. He is the only one of the 13 boys on the Memorial for whom we have no picture. 

Then, last of the 13, we remember James Cromarty who died on 19 December 1919, of septicaemia, in Craigleith Hospital,Edinburgh. A wound refused to heal and James, first cousin of three others on the Deerness Memorial,  William and James Craigie and David Linklater, slipped away just before Christmas 1919. 

In the past year we have remembered David Linklater who was killed in Salonika, and John Wick, Australian Army, shot in France. A good-sized group also gathered at 0600 in the dark on Sunday 11 November to remember the centenary of the Armistice, whilst Raymie Peace played the Battle's O'er. It was a most moving event, followed by another big turn-out for the 1100 service, led by Rev Wilma Johnston. 

The aim is to have the stories of all 13 on the website and in a booklet, to be produced sometime in 2020. In the meantime, join us for a talk about all the boys, and some of those who served and survived, at St Ninian's at 7.30pm on Wednesday 10 July.

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Deerness Remembers - 100 years on......

St Ninians Kirk

This poem was written by Huw Gwynn-Jones and inspired by the war memorial in St Ninian's Kirkyard.


As I was blown down the hill to Ninian’s,
Eastern outpost, land’s end and graveyard, 
shrine to Deerness lads conscribed to die 
in a cause they were told was common,
marching at the beck and call of the times to
a waiting patch of Orkney green,
their death’s forgiving shore,

I passed through sided fields, clustered homecomings
of lapwings, blood red shanks and curlews,
beaks bowed respectfully to the ground, and sensed
the nightly line of old familiars
wake to fill their lungs with damp ground air
and stretch their legs. And I wondered to myself,
“Why are they still in uniform?”

And I wondered what they do down here 
in the night’s ambivalence, in simmer
dim and the sad Remembrance light.
Do they still dream of spent days and lives
and laughter, now set neglectfully
in aspic? Do they dance a while, or feel 
the sting of still salty tears? 

Where do they smoke and suck
their empty pipes now,
play their cards, brew tea and
cast their lots?

Today, as we remember, their Last Post 
is a haunting, the uncaught
song of a lonely seal 
in slow surrender to the waves.

 

The Linklater Brothers from Upper Braebuster

Attached are photographs of the 5 Linklater brothers from Upper Braebuster in Deerness.

 

David Linklater

David was killed in Salonika on 18 January 1918 [exactly 100 years ago this week]. His 4 brothers survived World War1.

Robert Linklater

Robert emigrated to Canada pre-1914 and served with the Canadian Army.

James Linklater

James served in the British Army and subsequently emigrated to Canada.

Alfie Linklater

Jock and Alfie remained in Orkney and

Jock Linklater

Jock's family still farm Upper Braebuster in Deerness.

We will be remembering David and his brothers later this year, in early April, in St Ninian's Kirk, when we also remember John Wick, another Deerness boy killed during WW1.

In the meantime we're looking for any photographs, documents, information relating to the Linklater boys and their service in World War 1 and we'll be glad to hear from anyone who can add anything to their stories.

Email on info@deernessorkney.co.uk or PM on Faceook 

The Linklater Brothers from Upper Braebuster

Attached are photographs of the 5 Linklater brothers from Upper Braebuster in Deerness.

 

David Linklater

David was killed in Salonika on 18 January 1918 [exactly 100 years ago this week]. His 4 brothers survived World War1.

Robert Linklater

Robert emigrated to Canada pre-1914 and served with the Canadian Army.

James Linklater

James served in the British Army and subsequently emigrated to Canada.

Alfie Linklater

Jock and Alfie remained in Orkney and

Jock Linklater

Jock's family still farm Upper Braebuster in Deerness.

We will be remembering David and his brothers later this year, in early April, in St Ninian's Kirk, when we also remember John Wick, another Deerness boy killed during WW1.

In the meantime we're looking for any photographs, documents, information relating to the Linklater boys and their service in World War 1 and we'll be glad to hear from anyone who can add anything to their stories.

Email on info@deernessorkney.co.uk or PM on Faceook