THREE Towns historians might have helped solve a family mystery concerning an Irish grandfather buried in Ardrossan.

The Herald reported last week that Brendan Parkes and Joan Brennan, a brother and sister from Athlone, were trying to find out what happened to their paternal grandfather who was buried in Ardrossan Cemetery.

James Parkes came from Belfast and was on a ship called the HMS Perth before he died in 1915. Somehow, he came to be buried in Ardrossan, but no one in the family knows why.

But since our article, several people have got in touch with information they have found.

According to records found by local amateur historians, James was a stoker onboard the HMS Perth and died from an undisclosed illness while at sea. He apparently joined the ship at Dundee and may have come to be buried in Ardrossan because it was the nearest port at the time of his death.

Diana Pirrie, a local pensioner, remembers a type of hospital at Ardrossan South Beach which treated ships’ crew.

She said: “I was curious about this as I am an amateur researcher in family history but for nothing other than as a hobby. I was drawn to the article in the Herald last week and thought I would pass on some thoughts.

“I can recall knowing about some sort of ‘hospital’ or ‘places for sick people’ brought in if their ships came into Ardrossan Harbour. This was during or just after WWII. The place was located at South Beach, just along from St Peter’s Church. I am inclined to think perhaps it was in conjunction with the RNVR?

“He may have died at sea. As it was in those days, they were buried near where they died.”

Les Cogan, who is researching his own family in Saltcoats, also got in touch. He said:“If he died at sea, he might have been buried in Ardrossan because it was the nearest port.

“From what I can see I think he joined the ship at Dundee. He might have been working for the Dundee and Perth Shipping Company. It was a civilian ship initially. I think it was a fleet auxiliary and then it was called up for war.”