John Roberts, who has been in contact with us a few times with interesting historical information from his research has been in touch again with some more information about his relations in Caerlaverock.
This was very timely, as we will be marking the remembrance on the 11th in various ways. Full details coming soon.

“Following Adrianne Prinsen’s request for information about the Hunter family in May this year, I made contact with her and try as we might, to date we have not been able to find any connection between our Hunter families, however a photo she had of the Caerlaverock Parish Memorial struck a chord when I saw the name of Robert Hunter on it, relating to those killed in World War I.
This is timely as the remembrance service on 11 November this year will be 100 years since the end of WWI.
From my genealogy research I found that Robert Hunter was my first cousin (2 generations removed). He was the son of Captain James Hunter and his wife Elizabeth Hunter (nee Coulthart), who lived in Wellington Street, Glencaple.
Robert served as an apprentice, aged 16, on the Merchant Navy ship S.S. Highbury, 4831 gross tons.  The Highbury was posted missing since sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia on a voyage from Antofagasta to Birkenhead with a cargo of Nitrate subsequently to have been torpedoed by German U boat, U-82 and sunk on 14 June 1917, approx. 100 miles WSW of Bishop Rock.
Location 48 degrees 25 N 10 degrees 28 W
All 40 crew were lost…
Robert was the second youngest on board at the time.
All crew members are highlighted under Highbury on the Tower Hill Memorial in London.
We shall remember them
There is another Hunter, James Hunter on the memorial but I have not found a connection, perhaps relating to Adrianne’s Hunter family?“

John then got in touch with some additional information:

“I have just discovered my second cousin (x1 removed) Angus Dalgleish (1916 – 1942) is also on the memorial but World War 2. Angus Dalgleish, Second officer, Merchant Navy, MV Anadara, Age 26, son of Captain Robert John and Jane Dalgleish nee Hunter of Glencaple, 24 Feb 1942.

At Sea in WW2, Russian conoy route. The MV Anadara was torpedoed and damaged by gunfire from the german submarine U.558 (Krech) and attacked later the same day by U.587.

Finally sunk by U.558 east of Halifax, Nova Scotia in position 43.45N 42.15W while on voyage Heysham to Curacao in ballast.

I attach a photo of him on board his ship in 1939. [above]

A very sad end to two relations so young, both from Glencaple and both related through the Hunter family. Robert would have been Angus’s wife Jane (Jeannie) Hunter’s cousin.”

Many thanks again to John for all of his research, and for keeping in touch.