FR Coles

Frederick Rhenius Coles was born in Bellary, East India in 1854, although the family home was in the parish of Tongland.  He married Margaret Blacklock from Kirkcudbright, and the couple had two daughters and three sons. Frederick became Assistant Keeper at the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland during the early 1900s.  He is best remembered for his studies of Scottish stone circles, which included meticulous and accurate plans and drawings.  Many of these were published inThe Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and some are in the collection of The Stewartry Museum, which also holds his herbarium.  Anecdotal accounts record that Frederick took his family along on his travels, and his sons helped him record the measurements. Frederick was a contemporary of the artist E A Hornel, and exhibited in the Kirkcudbrightshire  Fine Art Association shows.  His son, Cecil, came to attention during the late 1990s as a forgotten First World War composer.  Even when on active service, Cecil continued to compose, sending manuscripts home to his friend Gustav Holst.  He was killed by German sniper fire on the Western Front, while helping recover casualties.