Andrew Waldie Cairns

This story  and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher with thanks to the davidbfpo on the WW2 Talk Forum and pikieb from the Royal Pioneer Corps Association

Andrew Waldie Cairns was born at 4am on the 7th of June 1921, at 15, Auldhill Entry, Linlithgow, the son of Andrew Waldie and Helen Pringle Cairns (née McGill), who married on the 5th of March 1915, at Ecclesmachan, West Lothian. Andrew Cairns Snr was a Shale Miner for the Mineral Oil Trade and he worked for J. Ross & Co. Oilworks.

The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, shows the family living at 15, Bridgend, Linlithgow. They had four childre: Janet Cairns, aged 5 years and 10 months; Robert M. Cairns, age 2 years and 9 months; William Cairns, 1 year and 11 months old; and Andrew Cairns, under 1 month old, all born in Linlithgow.

Andrew Waldie Cairns Jnr was working in the building trade before the war but he then enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) on the 19th of June 1941 and transferred to the Pioneer Corps on 31st Aug 1941. I have no further information about Andrew Cairns, until he married Emily Jane Rebecca Helen Roberts on the 7th of August 1943 at St. Ninian’s Church Manse, Arbroath. The marriage register states that Emily Roberts was living at 35 Union Street East, Arbroath and working as a Canvas Weaver and Andrew was working as a joiner in the Pioneer Corps. His home address was 28, Auldhill Avenue, Bridgend, Linlithgow but it was noted that he was on war service.

Andrew Cairns was serving with 170 Company, Pioneer Corps. They landed on Nan Red and White Sectors, Juno Beach on the 6th June and the unit war diary reports that some men were wounded as they landed. Whilst Andrew is not mentioned by name it is likely that he is the one who is mentioned in this entry:

Serial 1518 – Lt J Bonney – LCI struck a submerged mine on landing which blew in the starboard side, injuring 2 ORs who were evacuated (one since died of wounds) a third OR was found to be missing after disembarkation (it is now known he was killed)

The British Army Casualty List tells us that he died of wounds on the 8th June 1944. News of his death was reported in the Arbroath Herald of the 17th June along with a photo of him.

A year after his death, Andrew's wife inserted this in Memoriam notice in the Arbroath Herald of 08 June 1945.

IN MEMORIAM
CAIRNS - In loving memory of my darling husband, Andrew Waldie Cairns, died of wounds, June 6th, 1944 and interred in Ann's Hill Cemetery, Gosport, Hants.

Though tears in my eyes do not glisten,
And my face is not always sad,
There is never a night or morning,
But I long for the loved one I had.

Inserted by his Loving Wife, Emily

On his headstone she had these words inscribed:

MY DARLING HUSBAND
WHO DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY
NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN
BY HIS SORROWING WIFE EMILY

Source: Soilsister, FindaGrave.com

 

On the 8th June 1951 Andrew’s family left 2 notices in the West Lothian Courier. It is from this notice that we discovered that he was serving in 170 Company of the Pioneer Corps. As a result, we were able ascertain his circumstances of  death.