UPDATE FROM AUSTRALIA:

  1. Normally one would expect that overseas entries will be submitted by overseas members. Just to prove the exception our first entry, which is definitely "about" Australia, has actually been sent in by John S. Scrimgeour of Corby, Northants in the UK. It also bears with it an intriguing story ofcoincidence. He writes:
  2. "My son Neil is a keen plastic model maker and was working on a model of a Mark 8 Spitfire.

    When he came to apply the identification markings supplied with the kit, he found they were for aircraft VZP of 457 Squadron R.A.A.F. flown by F-Lt. Scrimgeour and responsible for shooting down the last Japanese aircraft in World War II.

    Intrigued, he sought further information through the columns of the magazine of the International Plastic Modellers Society and received the following from a fellow member in Sweden. Extract from a book Air War Against Japan 1943-45 published by Australian War Memorial. Paragraph dated 20.06.45

    Two Spitfires of No. 457 Squadron, which was on ground, alert were ordered into the air on the 20th when an enemy raider approached. They c1imbed to 13,000 feet and while circling near Sipitang village, sighted a Dinah some 1,000 feet below. Flight Lieutenant Campbell made an attack on the enemy from below, opening fire at 250 yards and closing to 50 yards. Then Flight Lieutenant Scrimgeour* made an attack from slightly below and at the rear, opening fire at 350 yards and closing to 50 yards. When the second attack was broken off the port engine of the Dinah was on fire, with pieces flying from it. Both pilots made further attacks and scored hits. They followed it down and saw it crash and explode on the ground fifty-five miles east of Labuan. This was No. 457Squadron'sflrst air combat since 1943 and boosted the spirits of the men considerably.

    * F-Lt. S. G Scrimgeour 402906 of 453. 24 and 457 Squadrons. Previously a clerk , born Newcastle, NSW in Waratah, NSW. , 12 December 1920"

    One wonders if former F-Lt. S. G. Scrimgeour is still living or if there are direct relatives in Australia today. Enquiries in this direction have so far been unsuccessful. Can anyone comment with further information?

    John S. Scrimgeour of Corby UK writes further: "The coincidence of the episode grows when you consider that I was born in Sydney, my mother and I returning to this country [i.e. the UK] after my father's death when I was six years old." As a further coincidence, John learned of the clan association through a cousin, a sea going engineer, who had met Murray in the Far East. John, known in his family as Ian, is now an avid reader of the Skirmisher!

    His letters continue on the genealogical side, explaining that in his own research he has extracted all the Scrimgeours (and other spellings) from the census records for Crieff from 1841 -1881 inclusive and volunteers that this information may be of interest to other members. For example, this information has already been provided to Alexander Scrimgeour of Sarnia in Canada, known to have also been investigating this same area. It also may be of interest to New Zealand members as it appears to shed some light on the origins of the two Scrimgeour brothers, William and James, who emigrated to New Zealand from near the Crieff area and who are the ancestors of many Scrimgeours living in New Zealand today.

  3. Considerable correspondence has gone back and forth between your editor and Bob Scrymgeour of Pit Town NSW Australia who is searching for the origins of his family. A number of similarities suggest that we may have some form of connection. One of the similarities is that his great grandfather, John Scrymgeour (born Kirriemuir 1827) became the owner of a bakery on Nethergate in Dundee at very much the same time as when my great grandfather (also descended from Kirriemuir) founded the wholesale grocery firm John Scrimgeour & Sons located in Dundee just a few blocks away.
  4. Among the several enclosures exchanged, Bob has provided copies of newspaper obituaries of his great grandfather and of his great grandmother. His g. grandfather initially went to Australia in 1852 where he was successful in amassing a considerable sum during the gold rush. Following this he returned to Dundee in 1861 and then acquired the bakery business, this being a trade that he had learned earlier. In addition to the bakery business, and until his death (believed to have been in 1891), he was very active in Dundee trade affairs, as a Harbour Trustee, and as a Governor of the Morgan Hospital in addition to being active in other public, social, welfare and church organizations. Bob's great grandmother (nee Jesse Colville Boyd) pre-deceased her husband by a year as a result of a tragic bus accident that occurred near Loch Lomond in August of the previous year. Although many others escaped unhurt, this occurred during a holiday outing when the horse drawn bus in which they were traveling was crowded off the road and overturned. Bob is continuing to search for information concerning his family roots and would be delighted to hear from anyone who has further information.
  5. Several members in Australia have responded to a letter inviting them to act as "overseas contact persons" for items of general news. Among them:
  • Among this family of entrepreneurs, a married daughter in New York USA has her own graphic design business, a daughter is in Sydney with her own interior design business and "Jenny" is still working as manager of a crafts shop specializing in glass, ceramics, leather, jewelry, wood carving and metal products etc. The Internet seems to be a mode of connection convenient for this active and far flung family.
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  • Additionally, David describes the thrill and insights gained last year while meeting his mother's brother's grandson, Ian Scrimgeour from Utah (touring in Australia with his high-school rugby team), and at the same time meeting his great aunt, also from the USA.
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  • Additionally, she writes: "There are very few Scrimgeours in South Australia and they are mostly our family and the families of Bert's two brothers --- We also know little of Bert's father's family. His father, Donald came to Adelaide from Perth, Scotland in 1910 and was followed four years later by his fiancée, Jessie Anderson. In 1924 Donald died, leaving his widow with three young boys. Jessie lost contact with the family in Scotland and also with William Scrimgeour, Donald's brother, who had migrated with him but stayed in New South W ales. Several years ago my husband had tried to find William or his family but apparently he had changed his name! Bert intended to continue the search but did not do it." One feels certain that Mrs. Scrimgeour would welcome any information from members that might be available on the above points, particularly in view of the loss of her husband.
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  • Peter adds that there is an additional member of the clan, his daughter having given birth to a baby girl on the eve of Dec. 31, 1995. Further, he notes that: "A friend of mine visited Birkhill last year, and Lady Dundee allowed him to photograph paintings of some of my ancestors including Sir Alex Wedderburn of Kingennie who died in 1626. He signed the Union of Crown Charter "
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