George and Charlesina Smith Love Findlay - Final Resting Spot

On our must-see list on our most recent trip to Aberdeen, in May 2017, was the final resting place of Ella’s paternal grandparents, George and Charlesina Findlay.

George and Charlesina Findlay - 1956

Charlesina Smith Love, daughter of Alexander Love and Caroline Love (M.S. Smith), died on 5 January 1960 at 76 years old. Per the death registry, she passed away at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen of generalized atherosclerosis, cerebral thrombosis, and bronchopneumonia.(1)

Charlesina was cremated at Kaimhill Crematorium in Aberdeen and her ashes were scattered (can we assume by family?) at the Garden of Rest, which surrounds what is now the Kaimhill Funeral Home. (That particular crematorium is no longer in use, having closed in 1975).(2)

Just about 5 years later, her husband George Findlay died on 29 December 1964 at 85 years old. He was the son of Walter Findlay and Elizabeth Findlay (M.S. Taylor). Per the death register, he died of coronary thrombosis (a heart attack) and senility.(3)

Like his wife, George was also cremated at Kaimhill Crematorium, on 31 December 1964, and his ashes were subsequently scattered at the Garden of Rest.(4)

The Kaimhill Funeral Home in Aberdeen - May 2017

When we arrived at the Kaimhill Funeral Home, we visited the Hall of Remembrance, where plaques on the walls commemorate the lives of deceased loved ones - almost like gravestones, with names and dates, but for persons who were cremated. There is also a beautiful, large Book of Remembrance in the hall, several volumes in fact, with one volume displayed in a glass case, and with persons names detailed in a stunning hand-penned script.

Ralph and Ella in the Hall of Remembrance
at the Kaimhill Funeral Home - May 2017

Book of Remembrance, in the Hall of Remembrance at Kaimhill - May 2017

We lingered in the Hall of Remembrance, reading the names on the walls and hoping to find plaques for George and Charlesina. The caretaker also opened up the Book of Remembrance for us (ever so gently, wearing white cotton gloves so as to help avoid dirt and oil from bare hands tarnishing the pages), but we didn’t find reference to them in either place.

However, while we were in the Hall of Remembrance, we did find a plaque for another relative - Alexander Love Findlay, son of George and Charlesina and Ella’s uncle. “Alec” as he was often called, was born 29 June 1906 and passed away on 28 December 1960 of carcinoma of the bronchus (lung cancer). He was 54. He was cremated at Kaimhill Crematorium on 31 December 1960.(5) Alec died without having any children, and what I hadn’t realized previously was that he passed away just about a year after his mother Charlesina. It was nice to remember him this day as well.

"Alexander Love Findlay, Died 28th December 1960, Aged 54 Years"

Ella's uncle Alec Findlay, walking down Union Street
in Aberdeen. Date unknown. Image source: This photo was
shared with us by Cousin CS in May 2017.

We also took time to wander through the Garden of Rest, particularly on the grounds to the right of the funeral home, and we silently paid our respects to Ella’s grandparents. The garden is a peaceful place with paths to meander around and benches on which to sit and stay awhile. It’s also a public space and ashes may be scattered anywhere, so there’s no way to know for sure where George and Charlesina’s ashes are (unless a family member might anecdotally know that detail.)

Ralph and Ella at the Garden of Rest, on the grounds of the
Kaimhill Funeral Home - May 2017

Inside the Hall of Remembrance, and a peek at the Book of Remembrance, 

at the Kaimhill Funeral Home - May 2017

A view of the exterior of the Kaimhill Funeral Home and the Garden of Rest - May 2017

Notes and Questions:

1. See the death registry for Charlesina Findlay, included in this blog post, below.
2. Charlesina Findlay’s cremation and confirmation of her ashes being scattered at the Garden of Rest received via email with a Support Assistant in Bereavement Services, Marischal College, Aberdeen, on 8 March 2017. However, I’m not 100% sure of the cremation date as I’ve been told it’s 7 January 1960 as well as 9 January 1960. It’s a non-essential detail but I wanted to make sure that what details we have are correct.
3. See the death registry for George Findlay, included in this blog post, below. Can anyone decipher what where George passed away? 64 [street name] Crescent, Aberdeen?
4. George Findlay’s cremation date and confirmation of his ashes being scattered at the Garden of Rest received via email with a Support Assistant in Bereavement Services, Marischal College, Aberdeen, on 8 March 2017.
5. Alexander Love Findlay’s cremation date received via email with a Support Assistant in Bereavement Services, Marischal College, Aberdeen, on 30 May 2017. However, I have not confirmed whether there’s any record of his ashes also be scattered at the Garden of Rest, or whether his name is recorded in the Book of Remembrance that is kept at the Hall of Remembrance in the Kaimhill Funeral Home.

Death Registry for Charlesina Smith Findlay - 1960
Click to enlarge.

Death Registry for Alexander Love Findlay - 1960
Click to enlarge.

Death Registry for George Findlay - 1964
Click to enlarge.

At Home and Abroad: Family Members' Military Service in WWII

With thoughts of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday on my mind, I asked Grandma Ella if there were any ancestors in our family who served in World War II (1939-1945). Why yes! Two uncles and two aunts, siblings of her father George Findlay (1903-1970).

George Findlay's youngest brother, John Heatherwick Findlay (1921-1999), who was always fondly called "Jack", served in the British Army stationed in Burma. He was aged 18-24 during the war. He left for the war by boat, and returned home by airplane. Upon his arrival home, he presented a most-exotic surprise to the family from his travels abroad...bananas! Young Ella had never seen such a treat before.

George Findlay's brother that was just younger than him, Alexander Love Findlay ("Alex") (1906-1960) also served in the British Army. He would have been aged 33-40 years old. Perhaps stationed in England? Grandma isn't sure.

Two of George Findlay's younger sisters (he was the oldest of 11 children) - Elizabeth Love Findlay ("Lizzie") (1917-1991) and Marjorie Love Findlay ("Madge") (1925-1994) - served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). This was the women's branch of the British Army during World War II, which women between between the ages of 17 and 43 could join.

Image Source

Women were barred from serving in battle, but due to shortages of men, ATS members, as well as members of the other women's voluntary services, took over many support tasks, such as radar and searchlight operators, forming part of the crews of anti-aircraft guns and military police. ATS members also served as clerks, cooks, telephonists and waitresses. (Source)

Both Lizzie and Madge served in England (some ATS members served abroad), and Ella's not sure what role they had - perhaps as telephonists? Lizzie would have been aged 22-28 during the war; Madge as 14-20 (because of the age restriction, she must have joined after age 17, at least halfway through the war).

And we can't overlook Ella's father, George Findlay, and his contribution to the war efforts. As a shipwright (ship's carpenter) in Aberdeen, he helped to repair the fishing trawler boats that had been damaged by the mines that the Germans planted in the waters off the coast. Fish was such a staple of the local diet that this job was critical to the general welfare of the population.

Source: From a telephone conversation with Ella, recorded 18 May 2014.