Tributes to Cumbrae islander behind war memorial campaign

Islander Andy Bryan, who died recently aged 89, was the son of a Battle of the Somme survivor blinded by a mustard attack.

He was the driving force behind a campaign to have the names of 17 men with strong connections to Cumbrae added to the island's war memorial.

Andy joined respected local historian and author Ian McIntosh MBE in piecing together some of the fascinating history of the fallen soldiers with an island connection, with a little help from the archives of the Largs and Millport News.

All were born, or lived for some or all of their lives, in Millport, or were related to people who were born, or lived, on Cumbrae.

The 89-year-old was the driving force in getting the names added to the island's war memorial (Image: Newsquest)

The dedicated campaigner, who also lobbied for improvement work to Millport memorial, had a close connection with the armed services through his two years of national service and three years in the Territorial Army.

Andy was also a member of the island's Royal British Legion for several years and until his death was part of the Cumbrae Veterans Association.

During the last Cumbrae Community Council meeting, island-based councillor Todd Ferguson announced the sad news of his passing and paid tribute to him.

READ MORE: Son of World War One hero blinded in battle renews fight for war memorial recognition

He told the group that he was working with North Ayrshire Council to ensure Andy's work was remembered and would keep the community council updated.

He said: "A bit of a sad but positive story is the passing of Andy Bryan. He had been working very hard to put together a list of names that were missing from the Cumbrae war memorial.

"I have been kindly passed on that information, and I'm working with North Ayrshire Council's bereavement team to see whether there is any possibility that we could get some of these names up for Andy.

"I think it would be a really nice legacy because amount of work that he put into that."

Speaking to the News in 2021 about his campaign, Andy said: "We are talking about young lads in their early 20s who laid down their lives so we could have our freedom.

"We mustn't forget that."

The full list of names Andy wanted to see added to the island's memorial is as follows. 

Private David Park Brown, 15th Battalion Highland Light Infantry; Second Engineer John Buchan, Mercantile Marine; Corporal John Fawcett Craig, 1st/7th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles); Captain Alexander Basil Crawford, 17th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own); Private Hugh Elliott, 18th Battalion Highland Light infantry; Lieutenant (Doctor) Neil Murphy Gavin, Royal Army Medical Corps; Private Frederick Charles Goldsmith, 1st/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment); Corporal Thomas Hunter, 4th Battalion, South African Infantry; Private James Hamilton McDonald, 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force; Corporal Joseph Anderson McEwen, 1st/8th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles); Private Duncan John McKellar, 1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers; Second Lieutenant Jack McMurdo, 1st/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers; Private Alexander Mitchell, 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs); Gunner Andrew Mitchell, 8th (Mountain) Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery; Private William Russell, 17th Battalion Highland Light Infantry; Private Andrew Mansfield Slater, 14th (Fife and Forfar Yeomanry) Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders); and Gunner John Williamson, 162nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.