John Meins Wightman

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Gina Stevenson, niece of John Wightman. Photo source: Andrew Ross, FindaGrave.com

Remembering John Meins Wightman, died of wounds, 16th July 1944.

John Wightman was serving in the 8th Battalion, Royal Scots Regiment. Before the war he was a ploughman. He was wounded in Normandy in late June 1944 and died from his wounds in Killearn Hospital, Stirlingshire on 16th July 1944. His death certificate records the details of his cause of death: Gunshot wound to the abdomen, left hand and right shoulder 18 days before. The day before he died he contracted Peritonitis. He died at 5.45 PM in Killearn Hospital.

My uncle and my mother were very close. I was born after he died so I did not know him but I know how she felt about him. I have a letter he wrote to her from hospital on 10th July 1944. He tells her of his injuries and is sure he is going to get better but dies 6 days later. He was annoyed that he was invalided out after only the 3rd battle!

Notice of John Wightman's death appeared in the Roll of Honour in the Berwickshire News and General Advertiser on the 25 July 1944. It reads:

WIGHTMAN.—Died of wounds in Hillearn (sic) Military Hospital, Sgt. John Meins, Royal Scots, beloved husband of Jean Tait, Woodville, Earlston, and oldest son of Mr and Mrs Wightman, Trabroun, Haddington; grandson of the late John Meins, Cockburn Mills.

He was buried in Earleston Parish Churchyard, Berwickshire.