Search Gibraltar, St Andrew's Kirk Burials
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These burial records are from the Presbyterian St Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Gibraltar from 1852 to 1969. The records date back to a couple of years before the building of the church. There is a long history of Presbyterianism in Gibraltar which is closely linked to the many Scottish regiments which served in the colony. Gibraltar is located on the Iberian Peninsula and its commanding position has made it an important naval base in British history.
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Gibraltar is a small peninsula located on the Iberian coast, south of Spain. Its strategic position, at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea, has given it great significance in European history. It is sometimes referred to as The Rock or the Rock of Gibraltar because of the large limestone which forms part of the Betic Cordillera mountain range. The upper area is a nature reserve and home to about 250 Barbary Macaques, the largest wild monkey population in Europe.
The territory was ceded to the British from the Spanish after the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Through the next century there followed three sieges by the Spanish, and conflicting interests in religion, commerce, and military power all contributed to make life in the colony hard and at times brutal. It was a major base for the British forces during the Peninsular Wars. Through the centuries, it has shown its strength as a military base during the Napoleonic wars and later during both world wars.
After the Napoleonic Wars, the peninsular became home to a variety of immigrants. Genoese, Italians, Jews, Portuguese and of course Spanish and British all lived on the peninsula. Early in the 19th century outbreaks of yellow fever and cholera killed thousands. In 1804 almost 6,000 of the 15,000 population died in a few weeks as a result of fever, and many thousands died of disease in 1813, 1814 and 1828. In 1865 more than 500 people died of cholera in a few months. Sanitation and sewer systems were a concern. The town had small and crowded dwellings which assisted the spread of disease. In 1865 a new Board of Sanitary Commissioners was established to create new drainage and better water supplies.
Since the Treaty of Utrecht, Gibraltar has been under the responsibility of the British government. In 1965 and again in 2002, public referendums decided that the people of Gibraltar wanted to remain part of Britain rather than join Spain.
The history and work of the Church of Scotland in Gibraltar is closely linked with Scottish Infantry Regiments who have been stationed on the Rock during the last 230 years.
These men and their families have always been foremost in giving of their best for the benefit of the Church. The records are incomplete on the names of early Ministers, but it is known that Presbyterian chaplains were usually attached to Scottish Regiments during their tour in Gibraltar and also ministered to the civilian congregation long before the Church was built.
It is of interest to note that the badge of the Highland Light Infantry is the Castle and Key, superscribed `Gibraltar 1780-1783'. This distinction was awarded for the gallant part played by the Regiment during the last Siege of Gibraltar. The Presbyterian Chaplain during these years was the Rev. Aeneas MacLeod.
There are two memorial tablets in the church for men of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders who died during the periods 1841-1847 and 1879-1882. In 1863 a tablet was erected by the Gordon Highlanders in memory of their comrades who died at Gibraltar and in the Crimea between 1853 and 1858. A second tablet was erected in 1937 to the memory of those who died at Gibraltar during 1934-1937. This tablet was unveiled by General Sir Charles Harrington, who quoted a translation of the Regimental Toast:
Land of Bens and Glens and Heroes,
Land where the ptarmigan flourishes,
And the Stag finds shelter
While mist enfolds the mountains.
And water flows dawn the glen
The memory of the brave shall endure
Health and Victory forever,
To the lads of the Marquis of Huntly.
The names of the men of the 4th Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) who died at Gibraltar during 1940-1943, are recorded on a brass plate on the North wall.
Scottish regiments stationed in Gibraltar
The King's Own Scottish Borderers 1726-1736
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Feb 1727 - Jun 1738
The Royal Scots Fusiliers 1751-1759
The Highland Light Infantry 1780-1783
The King's Own Scottish Borderers Oct 1782-Mar 1792
The Gordon Highlanders Sep 1794-Jun 1795
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) May 1796-Jun 1800
The Black Watch May 1796-Oct 1800
The Gordon Highlanders Oct 1796-Mar 1798
The King's Own Scottish Borderers Nov. 1801-Jun 1803
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regt.) Dec 1801-1803
The Seaforth Highlander 1805- 1806
The Black Watch Nov 1805-Jul 1808
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Jun 1812-Sep 1822
The Gordon Highlanders Sep 1821-Dec 1823
The Black Watch (42nd) Oct 1825-Feb 1832
The Black Watch (73rd) Sep 1827-Dec 1829
The Gordon Highlanders Mar 1834-Jan 1836
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regt.) Nov 1839-Feb 1846
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Jan 1841-Jun 1848
The Seaforth Highlander Dec 1844-Feb 1848
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Mar 1850-Apr 1853
The Gordon Highlanders Apr 1853-Aug 1855
The Gordon Highlanders Jun 1856-Jan 1858
The King's Own Scottish Borderers Jan 1858-Jun 1862
The Seaforth Highlanders Aug 1865-Jul 1867
The Gordon Highlanders Apr 1867-Oct 1868
The Highland Light Infantry (74th) Feb 1868-Feb 1872
The Highland Light Infantry (71st) Oct 1868-Apr 1873
The Black Watch Nov 1878-Jun 1879
The Highland Light Infantry Dec 1878-Mar 1880
The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Jan 1879-Mar 1881
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Jun 1879-Aug 1882
The King's Own Scottish Borderers Feb 1886-Jun 1886
The Black Watch Aug 1889-Jan 1893
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Feb 1895-Oct 1897
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Oct 1899-May 1902
The Royal Scots Fusiliers Jan 1914 - Sep 1914
The Gordon Highlanders Oct 1934-Mar 1937
The Black Watch Jul 1940-Dec 1942
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regt.) Apr 1943-Jul 1944
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Fe. 1945-Nov 1948
The Liverpool Scottish (T.A.) Dec 1945-Feb 1947
The Seaforth Highlanders Aug 1955-1957
The Royal Highland Fusiliers 1968
The Black Watch 1970
Occasionally detachments of Scottish Regiments and Scottish Territorial Regiments have served in Gibraltar for short periods.
