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Memorial details

Memorial type
Cairn
District
Cunninghame
Town
Dundonald
County
Strathclyde
Country
Scotland
Commemoration
Second World War (1939-1945), Regimental Memorials
Ceremony
  • Dedicated
    Date: 1997
    Attended by: Reverend Bob Mayes, the Parish Minister, dedicated the memorial
Lost
Lost
WM Reference
6048

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Current location
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Previous locations
  • Overlooking the former airfield of RAF Dundonald
    6
    Frasers of Dundonald 'Eden' Garden Centre
    Ploughland (junction of the A759 and B730)
    Dundonald
    Cunninghame
    Strathclyde
    KA2 9BW
    Scotland

    OS Grid Ref: NS 36285 35131
    Denomination: Undefined
Description
Cemented stone cairn, beside two static aircraft.
Inscription
[unknown]
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Regimental Memorials
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Cairn
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone, Cement
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Brass
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • Royal Air Force Association AIRForce Magazine, 1997 January-March edition, page 46 ('Bill Berry's Diary') reported: 'CAIRN DEDICATED. A Cairn commemorating those who served with 516 (Combined Operations) Squadron has been dedicated at Fraser's garden centre, which overlooks the squadron's old airfield at Dundonald, Ayrshire. Seven former members of the squadron, including R D 'Tiny' Cooling and Les Lobban, who came from Canada, were present with their wives to see the cairn dedicated by the Rev Bob Mayes, the parish minister. 'Tiny', who thanked all those who had made the ceremony possible, describes the occasion as "a moving, warm, comradely gathering. It was heartening to know that the people of the village wanted to commemorate those who once lived amongst them", he says. The guard of honour provided by Irvine squadron of the ATC is seen here in the picture taken by Les Lobban. The ceremony was capped by a fly-past by 819 Squadron FAA from HMS Gannet. The death in a forced landing on the island of Coll of Warrant Officer J E Stephen, a 516 Squadron pilot, in February 1944, prompted Joy Caldwell, whose husband was the island doctor in the 1970s, to recall in the July Diary, a strange telephone call, allegedly from Prestwick Control. She wondered in Prestwick would have been in control at the time of the crash. 'Tiny Cooling says the short answer is No. "There was no air traffic control in today's sense in 1944 and in any case it would not have been heard at the height Warrant Officer Stephens was flying" he says. As reported in the January Diary, Philip C Jones, of Glenborrowdale, Argyll, was responsible for providing a plaque on the Ardnarmurchan Peninsula dedicated to the memory of W/O Stephens and to Flt Lt Johnnie Woodgate, RNZAF, another 516 Squadron pilot. He says it was noted at the enquiry following W/O Stephens' crash that the use of the World Guard Frequency should be taken up with Combined Operations HQ for use by 516 Squadron'.
  • Further information re RAF Dundonald can be found at www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/RAFDundonald
  • warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic5889.html An exchange re the erection of a new memorial to 516 Squadron at Dundonald in October 2020 refers to this 'Lost' memorial: dalblair posted: 'The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust will be unveiling a memorial to 516 Squadron who flew out of RAF Dundonald Airfield on Sat 16th October 2010 at 11am at the entrance to the Olympic Business Park, Drybridge Road, Dundonald, Kilmarnock KA2 9BE' spoons commented in response: 'blast, I won't be able to go as I will be travelling down to Hampshire that day. I suppose it is to replace the previous memorial in the garden centre? warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=3138 Do we know if it will contain the original brass plaque? I have been unsuccesful in my attempts to locate it'. (No reply re the original brass plaque was posted).
  • warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=3138&mforum=warmemscot Post dated 27/2/2008 by 'Paul' stated: 'This memorial was originally located at Frasers Garden Centre at the junction of the A759 and B730. OS Map Ref NS363351. UKNIWM describes it as a cemented stone cairn overlooking the old airfield. The memorial was beside 2 (?) static displayed aircraft. The memorial and aircraft were removed in around 2003, one aircraft went to the Aviation Museum at Dumfries and the other went 'down south'. Unfortunately those staff who had any knowledge or interest in these things have long left the garden centre. Whether the memorial itself was moved elsewhere or dismantled and disposed of is not known, so this should be considered a lost memorial (either temporary or permanent). There was certainly nothing visible in the Dumfries Aviation Museum when I visited last year'.

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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