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Press and Journal
25-04-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Was your Aberdeen street hit by tragedy in WW2? Our map shows addresses of more than 1,000 victims
'At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember you.' The sombre line from poet Laurence Binyon is inscribed on the grave of Private James Napier – just one of the 2,955 men and women from Aberdeen who died in the Second World War. Almost every corner of the city lost a loved one or a neighbour as the conflict raged. In some cases, such as the Rubislaw Park Road home of Private Napier, there were multiple casualties. Eighty years later, the stories of the ordinary people on the city's roll of honour live on. Like James Napier, of the Gordon Highlanders, who died aged 31 in 1944. The map shows that he wasn't the only toll for the Aberdonian family living at the address. His brother Robert died a year later at the age of 25. There are nearly 3,000 people on Aberdeen's roll of honour, and the address is recorded for less than half – 1,312. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war – commemorated across the country on Victory in Europe (VE) Day. For the occasion we have created an interactive map paying tribute to Aberdeen men and women who lost their lives as a result of the conflict. That includes nursing sister Christina Margaret Nicolson, of 51 Hilton Street. She died aged 22 on the sinking of SS Ceramic in 1942 – a year after becoming a registered nurse. The ship was on its way from Liverpool to Australia when it came under a torpedo attack in the middle of the Atlantic during a stormy night. Christina was one of 654 people who died. It was the second tragedy to hit the family within years. Her father, James Henry Nicolson, a Master in the Merchant Navy, died at the start of the war in November 1939. From sister to corporal, there are at least 13 women on the Aberdeen roll of honour. Find out the names of the Aberdeen Second World War victims who once lived in your neighbourhood or area by using the map below. Addresses from the list were matched up with map coordinates electronically, but were manually checked and corrected where needed. Additionally, only addresses within the north and north-east of Scotland were kept on the map. David Cameron, Lord Provost of Aberdeen, told us: 'It's as important as ever that we honour and remember the sacrifices made during the Second World War. 'The map provides a sobering view of the impact the war had on Aberdeen, reminding us that we're not immune to the effects of global crisis.' Each month of the war saw casualties among Aberdeen soldiers. But the Battle of France coincided with the biggest spike in deaths with 132 recorded in June 1940. Markedly, 44 of those deaths were recorded between June 10 and 12. A year before the end of the war there was another spike with 128 deaths in September 1944. However, the highest daily death toll for Aberdeen soldiers was recorded on September 21, 1944. All but one of the 25 soldiers were part of the same regiment – the Gordon Highlanders. The regiment stood out with a strong sense of identity, according to Jamie Hyde, curator at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen. He said: 'I think that applies a lot to the Highland regiments, but the Gordon Highlanders were and, still are, particularly fond of their identity.' That includes the recognisable Gordon tartan and 'pretty iconic' cat badge with a stag. 'Above anything,' he added, 'it is their tenacity and also sometimes their kindness of rescuing German prisoners of war and bringing them back to health.' Almost a fifth of all the people on the roll of honour were under the regiment (18.1%). The most common rank was that of private. But there were 203 unique positions on the Aberdeen roll of honour. Including 71 roles only appearing once on the list such as carpenter or aircraftwoman 2. The Gordon Highlanders Museum strives to ensure the connection with the real life stories of the past. 'A big part of it is being as humanist as possible and retelling the story of ordinary people enduring unbelievable experiences,' Jamie added. 'These were normal people from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and that really resonates with people.' We could not include every Aberdeen roll of honour entry on our map due to missing address information. Nonetheless, each person on the roll of honour has a story worth remembering. So to show the full extent of loss Aberdeen saw in the Second World War, we created a digital memorial garden. 'It is important that as many people acknowledge what 80 years of the Second World War means and reflect on what the war represented,' Jamie added. '80 years wasn't that long ago, it is in living memory. 'I think it is vital to keep it in living memory with the lessons learned from it and the stories of the people who sacrificed themselves for what we have today.' It shows each Aberdeen war victim alphabetically as a poppy – with the size of the flower indicating when they died. Dr Claire Armstrong, chief executive of The Royal British Legion Scotland, urged people to take a moment this VE day to 'remember the fallen'. 'This VE Day roll of honour is the perfect example of respect, reflection and remembrance for the people of Aberdeen who sadly lost their lives during conflict,' she said. If you are looking for a specific soldier, or civilian, search the full table below. The victims came from all walks of life. Our Archives team has collected records of past employees who lost their lives during the Second World War – aged from 23 to 70. Andrew Webster, 70, died on the night Aberdeen faced the most prolonged attack of the war on April 21, 1943. High explosives, phosphorus, and cluster bombs rained across the city with more than 130 devices hitting in a single night. The 70-year-old is said to have helped his neighbours hide safely in the cellar of a house on Stafford Street before it was hit by two incendiaries. But he left the shelter when another explosive fell on the house. Andrew was a commissionaire according to the Aberdeen Journals roll of honour. Some of the men featured above also have a permanent tribute within the Press and Journal offices. Previously, we mapped out thousands of victims from Aberdeen's First World War roll of honour. In pictures: Aberdeen at war seen in colour for the first time I spent a week living on my Aberdeen grandma's wartime rations and recipes: Here's what I learned
ABC News
23-04-2025
- General
- ABC News
What day of the week is Anzac Day this year? Where is a dawn service or parade near me?
Australians around the country will tomorrow pause to reflect on Anzac Day and commemorate the work of those in the defence forces. The day will also bring with it a second long weekend for much of the country, and public holiday hours for shopping, businesses and services. Here's what you need to know about one of the most solemn days on Australia's calendar. How is Anzac Day commemorated? There are many traditions associated with the day, but the two key events are a memorial service at dawn and a march later in the day. Dawn services are symbolic of the time Anzac forces originally landed on the shores of Gallipoli. These ceremonies typically involve the laying of floral wreaths, a moment of silence and a rendition of The Last Post — which is played on a bugle. If you do go to a dawn service, you may want to stick around for a feed — called a gunfire breakfast — afterwards. Usually this will be held by the Returned Services League (RSL) sub-branch as a fundraiser, so have some cash on you. "A gunfire breakfast typically involves rum-laced coffee or tea, hot food such as bacon and eggs, and is a chance for veterans – and often other community members – to enjoy shared camaraderie," the RSL website says. "The custom stems from 'gunfire' [which is] a mix of rum and black tea dating back to at least the 1890s. "It was made by British Army soldiers – likely as a warming dash of morale or liquid courage ahead of the day's battle – and later adopted by Australian and New Zealand forces." Later in the day, former and current military personnel and family representatives march in a parade and gather with the public for a formal memorial service. Anyone can go to the public services, which are typically held in central areas. You'll hear the phrase "Lest we forget" said quite often. The phrase is uttered in response to the Ode, which is typically read out at every Anzac Day service. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. The speaker will then say "Lest we forget", which is then be repeated by the crowd. The Ode is actually the fourth stanza of a longer poem by Laurence Binyon called For the Fallen. How can I find an Anzac Day service near me? The easiest way is to check out the Returned Services League's (RSL) website. Select your state or territory on the map then, once prompted, enter your postcode or suburb. The website should show you a list of services in locations near you. If you're unable to make it there in person, the ABC always broadcasts a service, which you'll be able to watch free-to-air on ABC TV or on ABC iview. Why is Anzac Day on April 25? It's the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand armed forces during World War I. On April 25, 1915, the soldiers landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula, in what was then known as Turkey (which is now officially known as Türkiye). More than 8,000 Australian soldiers died during the campaign and the military operation had a profound impact on Australians at home. Why is Anzac Day a public holiday? It's our national day for honouring people who fought for and aided Australia's armed forces. You could liken it to America's Veterans Day or Armed Forces Day in the UK. While the day is the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in 1915, it's been broadened out to commemorate the efforts of any Australian in any military action. So it's not just about people involved in the Gallipoli landing or even World War I, but every military effort. This year, it falls on a Friday. Friday will be a public holiday for every state and territory, meaning many people will be have a long weekend. That's not always the case, however. If Anzac Day is on a weekday, all states and territories have a public holiday on April 25. But if it falls on a weekend, some jurisdictions will have a public holiday on the following Monday, but others won't. When Anzac Day fell on a Sunday in 2021, for example, most jurisdictions had the Monday off — except NSW, Victoria and Tasmania didn't. The dawn service is a solemn and moving way to mark Anzac Day. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor ) What does ANZAC stand for? Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. This was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers grouped together in Egypt before heading to Türkiye to land in Gallipoli. What shops are open on Anzac Day? What are the opening hours? While many shops are typically open on other public holidays, Anzac Day might be a bit different depending where you live. Here's a state-by-state breakdown of Anzac Day trading hours.
