Newbattle at War a history of the Parish at war   

Tucked away in a corner behind the organ lurks a cupboard, harking back to the days when the organ was supplied with air pumped by hand. Over the years a number of young lads and RAMC servicemen stationed at Newbattle Abbey have taken their turn on duty there.

Some of them left behind a momento of their visit in the form of grafitti. Most of it is "Joe Bloggs was here 1940" style and you can probably guess what Tommy White did in the middle of the night!

However a  visiting navy rating left a more poignant message to his shipmate Able Seaman Trist who was killed in a daring attack on Sydney Harbour by Japanese midget submarines.

The message from Chief Petty Officer W Ross, HMS Hawkins reads as follows

"AB D Trist (18) Killed 1st June (Late of HMS Cornwall, Cossack and Aurora) through enemy action at Sydney Harbour, Austrailia. Buried 3rd June,1942 at Royal Naval Cemtery, Sydney" date 2/10/42 CPO ross was himself a young man he inscribed his date of birth, 5th July 1920, so a 22 year old CPO.