While researching the list of Veterans the committee uncovered some anomalies in the names on the Memorial. This is probably not too unusual because time had taken its toll on the memories of those involved and accurate written records were, and still are, scarce. It was decided that we could not change the Memorial in any way other than to add names but that we would record the anomalies.

J Donald of Methilhill and James Donald of Methil are most certainly one and the same man. We could only find mention of the Methilhill James Donald in records and newspaper articles. His was a particularly sad story, having gone to Spain his parents were informed that he had been killed only for him to be reported alive some time later, indeed Hugh Sloan went to his memorial service before going to Spain and then actually met James Donald after he arrived and told him the story of his demise. James did write to his parents after that but he was killed some time later, exact details about the death of James are unavailable. In the letter James sent to his parents he also mentioned Malcolm Sneddon whose parents had also been told their son had been killed but thankfully that information proved also to be incorrect. Malcolm had been injured but returned alive from Spain.

Hugh Sloan and Hugh Smith of Methil are also the same person. Hugh Sloan is well known locally and it appears he went to Spain under the name H Smith, his adopted brother was George Smith, and is named at least once in other records as Hugh Smith-Sloan. Apart from the duplication of these two names we believe the list is complete as far as is possible with the information available to us. 

The new names on the memorial and their origins.

Named on the list supplied by the International Brigade Memorial Foundation

Frank Cairns

John Collier

Alex McKay

George Cornwallis

John Leith Walker

Wilfred F Macartney

Named in Leven Mail articles and letters

James Haig

Sister Winifred Wilson

Named on previous memorial event literature

G Robbison

Named on a copy of a period list of Scottish Veterans held by Cllr Alex Maxwell

Guy Stewart

John L Walker and Wilfred F Macartney are also named in the Bill Alexander book British Volunteers for Liberty. G Robbison was named on previous Memorial event literature from 1986 and 96, it can only be assumed that his name was discovered after the plaque was manufactured as he was not named on it.