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Second Lieutenant R. J. Gibson-Craig, Royal Scots - died at Naauwpoort 23.4.1900 4 years 10 months ago #68017

  • BereniceUK
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Robert James Gibson-Craig was born 5th June 1882, and died of dysentery 23rd April 1900, so was only 17 years old at the time of his death. Most online mentions of him state that he was killed in action.
www.geni.com/people/Robert-Gibson-Craig/6000000055074806972

The Gibson-Craig Memorial Hall is owned by Currie Kirk, though whether that was originally the case I don't know. It's a Category C Listed Building. www.curriekirk.org/our-buildings/ Currie is approximately 7 miles south-west of Edinburgh city centre.

He's remembered at the Gibson-Craig Burial Ground, Edinburgh,
www.memento-mori.co.uk/73.pdf

and also, I assume, on Harrow School's ABW memorial.











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Second Lieutenant R. J. Gibson-Craig, Royal Scots - died at Naauwpoort 23.4.1900 4 years 10 months ago #68018

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Thanks Berenice, an imposing memorial.

I wonder where the KiA info really comes from, even the casualty roll states he died of disease.

He is on the Harrow memorial and also his prep school Windlesham House which is not far from where I live.
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Second Lieutenant R. J. Gibson-Craig, Royal Scots - died at Naauwpoort 23.4.1900 4 years 10 months ago #68019

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A picture of his grave, courtesy of Elmarie.

Dr David Biggins
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Second Lieutenant R. J. Gibson-Craig, Royal Scots - died at Naauwpoort 23.4.1900 4 years 10 months ago #68024

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The initial report in the Edinburgh newspaper says "dysentery"; I wonder if someone in the family might some time have later changed the family history to 'killed in action', as being more fitting to the memory of the dead youth?
_____________

THE DEATH OF LIEUTENANT GIBSON-CRAIG.
....The news of the death of Lieutenant Robert James Gibson-Craig, at Naauwpoort, South Africa, on 23d curt., of dysentery, was received in Currie last evening with sad surprise, mingled with the profoundest sympathy for Sir James and Lady Gibson-Craig. The Lieutenant was at Harrow when his appointment as second lieutenant in the 3d Battalion of the Royal Scots was gazetted in October of last year. When the 3d battalion was asked to volunteer for service at the seat of war, Lieutenant Gibson-Craig came forward at once, being proud of the opportunity of getting into active service. It was only on the 3d of last month he sailed from Queenstown for the Cape, where on arrival his regiment was ordered up to Springfontein to guard the line of communications. The deceased while at Harrow was an enthusiastic member of the Cadet Corps. Many of the parishioners of Currie will remember his first public appearance, which was his last, when in December last in Currie school at a concert organised by his parents, in aid of our soldiers' families, he sang with much spirit, "The Soldiers of the Queen."
Edinburgh Evening News, Friday 27th April 1900


THE LATE LIEUTENANT GIBSON-CRAIG.
....A memorial service for the late Robert James Gibson-Craig, younger of Riccarton, second Lieutenant, 3d Battalion Royal Scots, who died on the 23d April last at Naauwpoort, South Africa, was held yesterday afternoon in the Parish Church, Currie. The service, which was largely attended by all classes of the community, was conducted by the Rev. D. C. Stewart, M.D.
Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday 5th May 1900


GIBSON-CRAIG MEMORIAL HALL, CURRIE.


....The above is a sketch of the Gibson-Craig Memorial Hall, presently in course of erection from the design of Mr McIntyre Henry, architect, Edinburgh. The proposal to erect a hall originated with the kirk-session and congregation of Currie Church in the beginning of last year, such a building being required to carry on the congregational work. The death having occurred in South Africa of Lieutenant Robert James Gibson-Craig, younger, of Riccarton, in the spring of hat year, it was resolved, as a sympathetic tribute to a family who for generations have been intimately connected with the parish, and who, in addition, have in various spheres rendered valuable public service, to associate the name of Gibson-Craig with the hall. The building includes a large hall capable of seating 350, a small hall behind to seat 60, with kitchen and lavatory accommodation, and is to cost about £1680. The hall will be available as a parish hall. In addition to granting a free site in the centre of Currie, Sir James Gibson-Craig has contributed to the building fund.
Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday 8th June 1901


THE GIBSON-CRAIG MEMORIAL HALL AT CURRIE.

....Lady Gibson-Craig yesterday laid the foundation stone of the Parish Hall at Currie, which is being erected to the memory of the late Lieutenant Robert J. Gibson-Craig, of the 3d Battalion of the Royal Scots, who died at Naauwpoort, South Africa. The ceremony was witnessed by a large company, who had assembled in the church, and then marched in processional order to the site of the hall. Lady Gibson-Craig was accompanied by Sir James and their daughters. Mr Malcolm W. Scott, secretary, on behalf of the building committee, gave a brief narrative of the hall scheme. He said that it was resolved last summer to erect a hall in connection with the church, and when the death of Lieutenant Gibson-Craig occurred it was deemed a fitting and sympathetic tribute that the name of Gibson-Craig should be associated with the hall. The Rev. D. C. Stewart, minister of the church, then presented to Lady Gibson-Craig a silver trowel with which to lay the foundation stone. He said that trying though the circumstances must be, he trusted that the proceedings would have their own peculiar pleasure, telling her once again that her friends had not been unkind to the memory of the dear departed, and had not been unsympathetic in the hour of their trial, had not been wanting in respect to a house bearing an honoured name, and had not been ungrateful for the many services rendered by the family of Riccarton to that community. Lady Gibson-Craig, after the stone had been placed in position, declared it well and truly laid. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr Jamieson, Portobello, and thereafter the Rev. Dr Mitchell, South Leith, delivered an address suitable to the occasion. He said the hall would be raised to the memory of one whose short life was an example of what each of them ought to be, namely, anxious to do their duty in whatever sphere they were called upon to fill, their duty to God, their duty to those around them, and their duty to themselves. The hall would be of very great service in connection with various organisations whose work could not be comfortably be conducted in the church, and as it was also to be available for public discussion of parochial questions, the hall would be a valuable bond of union among the parishioners. He thanked them for having associated his name with that of a family which had been a token for all that was good, both in Church and State.
....After the ceremony, Dr Mitchell opened a sale of work held in the schoolroom, in connection with the hall building scheme.
Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday 22nd June 1901


....The two days' sale of work held in Currie school of Friday and Saturday in aid of the Gibson-Craig Memorial Hall Building Fund realised £273 18s 11d.
Edinburgh Evening News, Monday 24th June 1901


....The drawings at the sale of work to clear off the debt on the Gibson Craig Memorial Hall at Currie were £141 15s.
Edinburgh Evening News, Monday 26th October 1903

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Second Lieutenant R. J. Gibson-Craig, Royal Scots - died at Naauwpoort 23.4.1900 4 years 10 months ago #68028

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3rd Batt. Royal Scots - St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

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Second Lieutenant R. J. Gibson-Craig, Royal Scots - died at Naauwpoort 23.4.1900 4 years 10 months ago #68030

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Foundation stone of the Gibson-Craig Hall being laid in June 1901. At the turn of the century a fund was set up for a public hall. this had been set going by Sir James Gibson Craig, seen here with Lady Gibson Craig - who laid the foundation stone - and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Right Reverend James Mitchell, D.D. The minister of Currie Kirk, Reverend D. C. Stewart, is standing with his Session behind him. During the time that the hall was being built, news came from South Africa of the death of Robert Gibson Craig, and so it was named the 'Gibson Craig Memorial Hall'. the background area of fields and trees is now filled with streets and houses.

Taken from "Currie in old picture postcards," by John Tweedie, courtesy of Currie & District Local History Society.
__________________________

The Memorial Hall was built at the turn of the century, and it is interesting to know how it came into existence. At one time there was a system of patronage in the Church of Scotland, and when that was discontinued, the patrons received back a sum of money. Sir James Gibson-Craig decided to use his (about £300) to help the community, and so he wrote to Mr Stewart the minister and asked for suggestions. Mr Stewart took it to his Session, and it was decided that a hall would be most appropriate. Sir James allocated a feu and built a wall round it, and a public fund was set up to find the balance of the required amount. Just at that time, Sir James's eldest surviving son, Robert, was killed in the Boer War, and the Session decided to suggest the name which the Hall still bears, in his memory. The foundation stone was laid in 1901 by Lady Gibson-Craig in the presence of a fully representative gathering, and the address was given by the Rt. Rev. James Mitchell, D.D., Moderator of the Church of Scotland. A group of the First Boys' Brigade Group in Currie was also there. The whole project must have been quite a strain for the new minister, Rev. D. C. Stewart, who had come just two years before (1898). Sixty years later, it was decided to extend the facilities of the hall, and an appeal was sent out to every household. The estimate was for £5000 and, though the actual cost was somewhat larger, the money was all collected in two years by his successor, Rev. W. C. B. Smith.

Taken from "Our District," by John Tweedie and Cyril Jones, courtesy of Currie & District Local History Society.
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