A CAMPAIGN is underway to get the name of a girl who died in a wartime accident added to a war memorial in the region – and the hunt is on to find any of her living relatives.
Christina Caldow was just 18 when she died after inhaling tetrachlorethane fumes whilst working at the Arrol Johnston factory in Heathhall in 1915 as a munitions girl.
The toxic chemical damaged her liver and gave her jaundice and meningitis. She is buried in Dumfries Cemetery.
Her name was put on the Scottish National War Memorial Roll of Honour in 2019 after research by engineering historian Dr Nina Baker.
But now one Dumfries man is campaigning to also see her recognised on the Maxwelltown memorial in her hometown.
And Frank Roy hopes that can be achieved in time for this year’s Armistice Day.
In addition, he is keen to trace any of her ancestors who may still be living in Dumfries and Galloway and has released details of her family tree to try and locate some of them.
Christina’s parents were William Caldow, who died in March 1950 aged 81, and Christina Carroll, who was 88 when she died in February 1955.
Her brothers were James Boyce Caldow who married Jean Mayes; and William John Carroll Caldow who married Edith McDonald Smith.
Her sister Janet Sawyer Caldow married MJ Hannah and they had a daughter born in 1918 and named after Christina. She married Alexander McCall Leekie, of Dumfries, and died in Thornhill in 1978, aged 60.
Another sister was Mary Carroll Caldow who married William Bryce Watson.
Mr Roy has also found a Kenneth Hannah Leekie who married Norma Grace Pringle in Thornhill in 1973, as well as a Claire and Diane Leekie, both born in Dumfries in 1978 and 1980 respectively.
If you know any of them, or can help piece together the puzzle, please call Frank on 01387 710110.
Furthermore, he would like to hear from anyone who can help with the distribution and collection of poppy cans locally in October and November.
