1914-1918 Remembered

1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

Died 11 November 1914

John Flynn was born on 25 February 1891 at 49 St Michael Street, Dumfries, the illegitimate son of Jane Flynn, a weaver. By 1901 John and his sister were boarding with the Gilmour family at 14 Bank Street, Wigtown. In December 1909, while working as a farm servant, he enlisted with the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers using the name John Thomson. The battalion was stationed at Gosport in Hampshire when war was declared. He was soon sent to France, arriving at Le Havre on 14 August. This initial tranche of the British Expeditionary Force was to gain the nickname, The Old Contemptibles. German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm, dismissive of the BEF, reportedly issued an order on 19 August 1914 to “exterminate…the treacherous English and walk over General French’s contemptible little army”. In later years, the survivors of the regular army dubbed themselves “The Old Contemptibles”.

On 11 November 1914, three months after arriving in France Private Flynn was dead, falling in the Battle of Nonne Bosschen, becoming the third man associated with Wigtown to be killed in the war. His body was not found and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres which bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known.

On 15 April 1915 his outstanding pay of £3 1s was passed to his widow, Jessie Marshall Thomson. After the war she was paid a War Gratuity of £5.

2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

Died 31 October 1914

The second soldier from Wigtown to die in the Great War was Private 12078 John Briggs, a member of the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. The battalion formed part of the British Expeditionary Force, which landed at Boulogne on 14th August 1914, shortly after the declaration of war. He was the son of James Briggs, a labourer, who lived at 12 High Vennel, Wigtown.

John died in the First Battle of Ypres on 31 October 1914 from the effects of wounds received in battle. It took some time for the news of his death to be confirmed. On 5 December 1914 the Galloway Gazette reported that he had been wounded but it wasn’t until 6 March 1915 that it reported:

Mr James Briggs, labourer, Wigtown, has received information from the War Office that his son, Private John Briggs, HLI, died from the effects of wounds at Ypres on 31st October last. He was 21 years of age.

On 13th October troops of the French and British Armies arrived in Ypres, passing through the town to the east and taking up defensive positions to hold up the advance of the German Army. From that time the town was to become embroiled in war for the next four years. Almost every building would be razed to the ground by November 1918. On 20th October the German 4th Army encountered the experienced, well-trained soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force who were holding a series of positions making up the forward British Line north-east and east of Ypres. So began the First Battle of Ypres. The Commander-in-Chief of the British forces, Sir John French, saw 31 October (the day John Briggs died) as the critical day when the British line was broken but restored in a brave counter-attack by the Worcestershire Regiment.

All soldiers carry two identity discs, each giving their name, regiment and religion. If they are killed and their bodies found and identified, they are given a brief burial service according to their religion, if there is time. One identity disc stays with the body and the other, along with any personal possessions, is sent home. Many are killed without trace; thus their names appear in thousands on memorials, as does John Briggs whose sacrifice is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres which bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known.

The Gazette also reported that John Briggs had an elder brother, who survived the war. He was in the Navy and was a crewman on HMS Aboukir, which was sunk on 22 September 1914 by torpedoes fired by a German U-boat with the loss 1,459 men. John Briggs’ brother was one of the 837 men rescued.

1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders

Died 14 September 1914

With the war barely two months old, Wigtown heard of the first of many deaths from amongst the young men associated with the town. Charles Boyd was the son of Charles Boyd, a baker in Wigtown, and his wife Janet. Charles jr showed himself to be a promising pupil at school here and enlisted with the Cameron Highlanders at Edinburgh Castle around about 1911. It appears he had quite a talent as an instructor and soon became assistant teacher before moving to the Cameron’s barracks at Blackness Castle where he led a squad and achieved the rank of Lance Corporal.

Within a week of war being declared the 1st Battalion, including Corporal Boyd, landed at Le Havre as part of the British Expeditionary Force. By the beginning of September the German Imperial Army had swept through much of Belgium and north eastern France and was fast approaching Paris. By 3 September, the British and French forces had been retreating south west for over two weeks and German victory was a definite possibility. As night fell on 5 September, the men of the British Expeditionary Force began to halt approximately 40 kilometres south east of Paris and their gruelling retreat was at an end. For the next two days the British advanced north eastward, encountering only minor resistance from the German forces in the area. On 8 September, British infantry brigades advancing toward the River Marne came under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire from German units in La Ferté sous Jouarre. After heavy fighting they crossed the Marne on 10 September.

The Battle of the Marne, referred to in the French press as the ‘Miracle of the Marne’, halted the month-long advance of the German forces toward Paris and decisively ended the possibility of an early German victory. The battle also marked the beginning of trench warfare and by November battle lines had been drawn that would remain virtually unchanged for almost four years. The British Expeditionary Force suffered almost 13,000 casualties during the Battle of the Marne, of whom some 7,000 had been killed. Although the Battle ended on 12 September 1914 sniping and occasional shelling will have continued and it is possible that in this way, on 14th September, and only a month after arriving in France, that Charles Boyd was killed in action, the first of Wigtown’s soldiers to die. His body was never found and his death is commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. This Memorial commemorates 3,740 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force who fell at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne between the end of August and early October 1914 and who have no known graves.

1st/5th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Died 7 November 1915

Corporal 4102 Thomas McCaskie served with the 1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was born on 13/2/1890 at Dunragit Lodge, Old Luce, the son of Margaret and Thomas McCaskie. The family lived at 4 High Vennel in Wigtown before the war and Thomas was employed as a clerk at Bladnoch Creamery as well as playing football for Wigtown Utd. He enlisted with the KOSB at Wigtown.Corporal McCaskie Photo

On 24 May the Battalion sailed from Liverpool for service at Gallipoli, landing there on 6th June. At some time during the campaign Thomas fell ill and was evacuated back to Britain where he was treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley, near Southampton. Some 50,000 patients were treated at Netley during the war. Sadly, Thomas did not survive, dying on 7 November 1915. His body was brought back to Wigtown where he is buried in the cemetery.

On 30 November 1915 the Galloway Gazette reported:

Great regret was felt throughout Wigtown and district this week when word was received that Corporal Thomas McCaskie of the 1/5th KOSB had died at Netley Hospital on Sunday. He had been to the Front, and it is understood that he was suffering from dysentery. Corporal McCaskie, prior to mobilisation, was a clerk at the Creamery, Bladnoch, and was a great favourite of the district. He was about twenty five years of age. The funeral took place on Thursday, and was very largely attended, among those present being several of Corporal McCaskie’s comrades who are at present invalided home from the Dardanelles. The remains were accompanied to Wigtown Cemetery by the Town Band playing the Dead March from “Saul”. The utmost sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents and family. As a mark of respect all places of business were closed during the funeral service.

Thomas McCaskie’s grave can be seen in Wigtown High Cemetery. His brother, David, is also commemorated on the gravestone. David was killed in action in France in April 1918.

Photo of Corporal McCaskie Headstone in Wigtown CemetaryA good number of Wigtown soldiers fought at Gallipoli, one of the British army’s greatest disasters. Brilliant in concept it turned into a classic example of muddle and miscalculation. Of the 489,000 Allied soldiers involved, just over half became casualties, many from disease. Although British, Australian, New Zealand and French troops managed to land the troops failed to penetrate inland and were pinned down on the beaches by resolute Turkish defence. The troops showed outstanding courage and were to be later withdrawn.

7th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Died 27 September 1915

James Todd was born at Kirkurd, Peeblesshire, the son of John Todd, and his wife, Jane Wilson Todd, on 21 June 1891. James Todd’s link with Wigtown comes from the fact that his parents were living at West Kirkland farm at the time of his death. James was living in Castle Douglas when he enlisted in the army.

James served with the 7th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, which was raised in August 1914 when the war broke out. After training on Salisbury Plain in early 1915 the Battalion landed at Boulogne on 10 July 1915. They fought in the action at Hooge in later in the month, being the first division to be attacked by flamethrowers. On 25 September the battalion were at the Battle of Loos and it is likely that it was here that James Todd, by then an acting Sergeant, received the wounds that were to lead to his death two days later. He is buried in Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery near the French town of Bethune along with 645 other casualties. His outstanding pay of £17 was paid to his mother and she also received a War Gratuity in 1919 amounting to £6 10s.

It was at the Battle of Loos on 25 September that one of James Todd’s fellow soldiers of the 7th Battalion, Piper Daniel Laidlaw, won the Victoria Cross. Prior to an assault on enemy trenches and during the worst of the bombardment, Piper Laidlaw, seeing that his company was shaken with the effects of gas, with complete disregard for danger, mounted the parapet and, marching up and down, played his company out of the trench. The effect of his splendid example was immediate and the company dashed to the assault. Piper Laidlaw continued playing his pipes even after he was wounded and until the position was won.

10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

Died 25 September 1915

David McGaw was a Kirkinner man, born and bred but his link with Wigtown was through his employment at the Co-operative Creamery at Bladnoch. He was the eldest son of Alexander McGaw, a mason, and his wife, Helen, and was born in 1893. In 1901 the family were living at Braehead but by 1911 David, then 18, was working as a farm hand at Knockann farm. He subsequently worked at the Creamery.

With the outbreak of war he was quick to volunteer for service. The Galloway Gazette (26/12/1914) reported his enlistment with Kitchener’s Army, an all-volunteer force formed following the outbreak of hostilities. David was to join the 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. After a period of training in England the 10th Battalion landed at Boulogne on 12th May 1915. As part of the British First Army, the Battalion was involved in the Battle of Loos which began on 25th September 1915. Loos was to be the first time the British army used poison gas on the battlefield.

David McGaw was to be among the many men killed on the first day of the Battle. His body was not identified and he is remembered on the Loos Memorial, which commemorates 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave. Most of the servicemen named on the Loos Memorial fell in action during the Battle. Many had died in what was to become the new strip of No-Man’s-Land between the Front Lines east of Loos by the end of this battle. After the Battle of Loos the Front Lines changed very little in this sector and it was not possible to recover or bury many of the fallen here until the battlefields were cleared from 1919. In that time, the best part of three years, unburied remains would have been subject not only to their natural decomposition, but any means of identifying an individual from his uniform or kit was exposed to the weather and shellfire.

David McGaw is also commemorated on Kirkinner War Memorial. His outstanding pay of £2 6s 11d was paid to his sister, Mrs Mary McCreadie, on 17 February 1916. She was also to receive his War Gratuity of £3 after the end of hostilities.

6th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Died 25 September 1915

David Connell was born at Maidland Farm, Wigtown, the son of David Connell, a dairyman, and his wife, Elizabeth Connell nee Hamilton, on 20 November 1896. In 1901 the family were living at Balsier Dairy, Sorbie; by then David had three sisters and a brother, Andrew, who would also enlist and fight in the War.

With the outbreak of war he was quick to volunteer for service, enlisting at Dumfries with the 6th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. After a period of training in England the 6th Battalion landed at Boulogne on 12th May 1915. As part of the British First Army, the Battalion was involved in the Battle of Loos which began on 25th September 1915. Loos was to be the first time the British army used poison gas on the battlefield.

David Connell, then aged 19, was to be among the many men killed on the first day of the Battle. His body was not identified and he is remembered on the Loos Memorial, which commemorates 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave. Most of the servicemen named on the Loos Memorial fell in action during the Battle. Many had died in what was to become the new strip of No-Man’s-Land between the Front Lines east of Loos by the end of this battle. After the Battle of Loos the Front Lines changed very little in this sector and it was not possible to recover or bury many of the fallen here until the battlefields were cleared from 1919. In that time, the best part of three years, unburied remains would have been subject not only to their natural decomposition, but any means of identifying an individual from his uniform or kit was exposed to the weather and shellfire.

David Connell’s outstanding pay of £3 17s 8d was paid to his father, with a further 13s 10d shared with his brother, Andrew, and sister, Marion. His father was also to receive a War Gratuity of £4 after the end of hostilities.

Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force

Died 15 July 1915

John Murray Gow was not a native of Wigtown but it appears that he lived here for a short time before emigrating to New Zealand. He was born in Glasgow, the son of a Collector on the Clyde Trust Ferries. In August 1915 the Wigtownshire Free Press, reported: “Private Gow, who went to New Zealand a short time ago, and came over with the New Zealand contingent, is also among the killed.”

Records in New Zealand show that his brother, George, lived at Harbour Road, Wigtown. The 1911 Census records his mother and another brother, James, living at 20 Harbour Road. So it appears that John Gow may well have lived in Wigtown for a short time before emigrating to New Zealand before the outbreak of war. While there he lived at Timaru in New Zealand where he worked as an engineer before enlisting in the army. From his enlistment papers we know he was 5ft 9¾in tall, with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. After a period of training he embarked at Wellington on 14 February 1915 with the 3rd Reinforcements, bound for Gallipoli. He was admitted to hospital on 8 July with enteric fever (typhoid) and became dangerously ill. Despite being evacuated to Greece, he died at the hospital in Mudros, on the island of Lemnos, on 15 July 1915 aged 32. He is buried at the East Mudros Military Cemetery which was begun in April 1915 and used until September 1919. It contains 885 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. His medals, the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star were sent to his brother, George, after the war who, by that time, was living at the Auchentoshan Distillery.

5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Died 14 July 1915

Private 993, James McNeil, served with the 1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, the fourth child of Andrew and Margaret McNeil of Bladnoch. Prior to enlistment James lived at 10 North Main Street and worked as a cooper and lorry driver at Bladnoch Creamery. Like many local young men he enlisted with the local regiment, the Kings Own Scottish Borderers.

On 24 May the 1st/5th Battalion sailed from Liverpool for service at Gallipoli, landing there on 6th June. Only a few weeks after landing at Gallipoli, aged only 22, James McNeil was dead. A letter to the family (below) was published in the Galloway Gazette. Although it is apparent from Major McIntosh’s letter that James McNeil was buried in a small graveyard, official records indicate that he has no known, official grave, and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey which bears more than 21,000 names.

Dear Mr McNeil,

I feel I would like to write to you just a few lines about your poor boy James, as I was with him just after he was struck, having been covered with the earth and dust from the same shell. He was busy working in the kitchen “dug-out” at the time, doing all he could to add to our comforts, so you may well say “He died doing his duty”. It is the highest praise one can give any soldier, and none ever deserve it more than he did. Although he was Major Chino’s personal servant, I knew him very well too, and I have to thank him for many a kind service and many a cheery word. When he accidentally cut his hand a few weeks ago, he showed me what stuff he was made of, for he never said a word when I stitched it up for him, and, in spite of my orders to the contrary, did most of his duties for Major Chino. He was struck in the neck by a shrapnel bullet, and by God’s will it struck a vital nerve, and he died within a few minutes, but I am glad to be able to say that he suffered no pain. Just when the bullet struck him he said, “Good-bye, chaps” so that he probably realised he was severely wounded. He almost immediately lost consciousness, and passed away very quietly and peacefully three or four minutes later. I think this is all I can tell you about him, except to say that we all liked him, for he was always bright and cheery, going about with a smile on his face and a kind word for everybody. We brought his body down from the gulley, and buried him in the little graveyard we have formed in the open beside the camp, in full view of the hill he, like us all, wished to get to the top of, and which we will ultimately gain and so avenge the losses we have sustained.

I am yours faithfully

(signed) A M McIntosh Major

1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Died 12 July 1915

Sergeant 4003, William Edwards served with the 1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was born at Marloes in Pembrokeshire, the son of Thomas Edwards (a blacksmith) and his wife Eliza. William married Margaret Nicholson Inglis in 1896. The Edwards’ had three children, Edwin, Annie and Ruby. Prior to enlisting in the army at Wigtown the Edwards family lived at Bladnoch with William working as a margarine maker the Creamery.

On 24 May the 1st/5th Battalion sailed from Liverpool for service at Gallipoli, landing there on 6th June. Barely a month after landing, on 12 July, Sergeant Edwards, aged 46, was dead. The Galloway Gazette published the text of a letter sent to Mrs Edwards from a Lieutenant Salmond:

Dardanelles, 18th July 1915

Dear Mrs Edwards – Kindly allow me to express to you and your family my sense of deepest sympathy in the great loss you have suffered. Your husband was my platoon sergeant, and I miss him very, very much; but, of course, my loss in incomparable to yours. He was one of the finest non-commissioned officers in the battalion – loved and respected by all who knew him. I have sent in his name to my superior officers in order that some mark of distinction may be awarded in recognition of his gallant and faithful work, in the discharge of which he met his death, and I trust my application may be successful. May you be given strength to bear up under your great affliction. With deepest and kind regards – I remain,

Yours sincerely (signed)

George Salmond,

Lieut 1-5th KOSB

Photo of Sergeant William EdwardsSergeant Edwards died fighting in the Gallipoli campaign. A good number of Wigtown soldiers fought at Gallipoli, one of the British army’s greatest disasters. Brilliant in concept it turned into a classic example of muddle and miscalculation. Of the 489,000 Allied soldiers involved, just over half became casualties, many from disease. Although British, Australian, New Zealand and French troops managed to land the troops failed to penetrate inland and were pinned down on the beaches by resolute Turkish defence. The troops showed outstanding courage and were to be later withdrawn.

Like many of those killed at Gallipoli, William Edwards’ body was not found and so is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, which bears more than 21,000 names. William is also remembered on the family headstone (right) in Wigtown’s High Cemetery.

5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

Died 4 July 1915

Private 2046 Edward Kilpatrick served with the local regiment, the 5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. Before the war Edward lived with his mother, Maggie, an outdoor worker on a farm, and brother, William, at 21 Botany Street, Wigtown. Edward had played football for the local team, Wigtown Utd, and worked as a general labourer.

On 24 May 1915 the 5th Battalion sailed from Liverpool for service at Gallipoli, landing there on 6th June. Barely 6 weeks after landing, on 4 July, Private Kilpatrick, aged only 19, was dead. His death was announced in the Galloway Gazette on 7 August 1915 at the same time that news was received that his brother, William, had been badly wounded. William was to die later in the war.

A good number of Wigtown soldiers fought at Gallipoli, one of the British army’s greatest disasters. Brilliant in concept it turned into a classic example of muddle and miscalculation. Of the 489,000 Allied soldiers involved, just over half became casualties, many from disease. Although British, Australian, New Zealand and French troops managed to land the troops failed to penetrate inland and were pinned down on the beaches by resolute Turkish defence. The troops showed outstanding courage and were to be later withdrawn.

Edward Kilpatrick is buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery (named after the Lancashire Fusiliers). There are 1,237 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated there.

In July 1916 the Galloway Gazette carried the following tribute from his mother:

Had I but seen him at the last
Or watched his dying breath
Or heard the last sighing of his heart
Or held his aching head

My heart would not have felt
Such bitterness of grief
But God had ordered otherwise
And now he rests in peace

Often here my thoughts do wander
To that grave so far away
Where they laid my dear son Edward
Just a year ago today

His King and country called him
That call was not in vain
On Britain’s roll of honour
You shall find our hero’s name.

2nd Battalion, Scots Guards

Died 16 May 1915

Private 10634 James Loan, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, was born in Whithorn, the eldest son of James Loan, a traction engine driver, and his wife, Mary. He had two sisters and a brother and lived in George Street, Whithorn, but had left Galloway for Edinburgh before the start of the war and had married Margaret Darward. He worked at the St Cuthbert’s Co-operative Society store in Edinburgh and, at the outbreak of war, he enlisted with the Scots Guards. After initial training he arrived in Belgium on 26 March 1915.

On 29 May 1915 the Galloway Gazette announced that Pte Loan had been killed in action on May 16th. The following week it carried the following tribute to him:

At the close of his sermon on Sunday last at Whithorn Parish Church, the Rev D M Henry, after referring to the late Captain Johnston Stewart said:- We also remember here today another who was a native of Whithorn and who was killed at the front on the day before Captain Stewart – Private James Loan, son of Mr & Mrs Loan, Bladnoch. Sad it is to think of the fine young life cut short, but all the same it is splendid to think that he has lived and died so well. He is an honour to his parents, his native place, and to his country: we who knew him will always think of him as a hero, for he has done his part as bravely and as nobly as the bravest of them. And our sympathies go out this day to his bereaved parents and family.

Private Loan’s body was not found and he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France which commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to late September 1915 and who have no known grave. He is named on Wigtown War Memorial because his family lived in Bladnoch and on Whithorn’s, his birthplace. In October 1915 his widow, Margaret, was sent the outstanding pay due to James, £1 0s 7d (£1.03). After the war she was paid a War Gratuity of £3.

Australian Imperial Force

Died 8 May 1915

On 23 December 1914 at Rochford, Victoria, Hugh Jamison joined the Australian army stating that he was born in Wigtown, was 40 years old and had no living next of kin. Almost 6 feet tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and iron grey hair he began a short period of training. On the 5th April 1915 he embarked on the SS Mashobra bound for Gallipoli. A month later, on 8th May, he was reported missing and was never seen again. He was declared dead by a court of enquiry a year later. A fellow soldier claimed to be Jamison’s friend and the beneficiary of his will as there was no known living relative.

After the armistice Mrs Mary Ann Muir approached the Australian authorities. Living in Liverpool she stated that Hugh Jamison was actually her husband, Hugh Muir, and produced an extract of his will stating that she was his beneficiary.

Hugh Muir was born in Wigtown round about 1868, the son of Samuel Muir and Helen Muir (nee Jamieson). In 1871 the family was living at South Main Street and in 1881 at Salt Box Brae, Newton Stewart. By 1891 Hugh was a printer compositor and lodging at Arthur Street. At the end of December 1900 he married Mary Ann McClory at West Derby, Liverpool; the census of 1901 shows the Muirs living in Liverpool with Hugh continuing his printing work. Four children were born to the Muirs in the next ten years, the eldest being Alexander Jamieson Muir. However, the 1911 census shows Mary Ann living in Liverpool with the children, but no sign of her husband. Emigration records show a Hugh Muir of around the right age sailing from London on the SS Fifeshire on 21 August 1910, bound for Melbourne.

It appears that there was some sort of family rift which led to Hugh Muir leaving for Australia and adopting his mother’s maiden name. How Mary Ann discovered her absent husband’s death is not known. Hugh Jamison is remembered on the Helles Memorial which serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. The memorial bears more than 21,000 names.

Royal Army Medical Corps

Died 7 January 1915

Born in Renfrew in 1883, Private 18941 Alexander Paterson Tennant was the son of the area weights and measures inspector. He was educated in Wigtown and was employed in the chemist shop of Mr Starke and, later, Mr Nicholson. He went on to serve his apprenticeship in Newton Stewart, taking charge of the shop in Albert Street. At the age of 18 he went to Glasgow to further his education before joining the Royal Army Medical Corps with which he served the standard three years. After leaving the army he returned to Glasgow and qualified as a chemist before moving to Dumfries.

Following a move to England he accepted a lucrative job offer in South Africa where he married Henrietta Changuion. They lived in Transvaal and had two children. At the outbreak of war he returned to England to re-enlist, leaving behind his family, including a fifteen day old baby.

He was among some of the first troops to go over the Channel with the aim of relieving the siege of Antwerp. However the city had fallen to the Germans before he arrived and he was diverted to Dunkirk, then Boulogne, where he worked in one of the hospitals. On 3 January 1915 he was stricken with a severe form of blood poisoning and, despite all efforts, he died on 7 January. Private Tennant is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

14th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Died 3 September 1916

A gravestone in Wigtown High Cemetery is the only indication of a connection between John Ross and Wigtown.
It reads:

In memory of Mary Mayor wife of Alexander Ross died at Stranraer 9th July 1907 aged 41 years. Daughter Christina Mayor died at Wigtown 10th January 1897 aged 8 months. Son John Alexander, Sergeant, Hampshire Regiment, killed in action Somme 3rd September 1916 aged 22 years.

John was born on 18 September 1893 at the Court Building in Banff, the son of Police Constable Alexander Ross and Mary Ross, nee Mavor. Alexander and Mary had only been married for a month prior to John’s birth and, from that point onwards, Mary seems to disappear. In the 1901 census young John, then aged 7, still lived at Banff with his grandparents and aunt, Christina. In 1911, aged 17, he had joined the army: the census shows him living at the barracks in Berwick.

It is possible that, after a spell in the army, John left and returned to Stranraer where his family lived, his father being a Police Superintendent. However, at the outbreak of war he re-enlisted, at Portsmouth, and joined the Hampshire Regiment. The 14th Battalion was raised in September 1914 and remained in Britain until March 1916 when it crossed to France.

1st/16th Battalion, London Regiment
Died 10 September 1916

It is not immediately apparent why Rifleman 2096 Stanley Taverner Rolfe should be commemorated on Wigtown War Memorial. A soldier with the 1st/16th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) whose parents lived in Shepherd’s Bush, London, Rifleman Rolfe died at the age of 25 on 10 September 1916. However, investigations show that Stanley Rolfe was popular and well known in Wigtown from the time he spent working at the local branch of the Clydesdale Bank in the town (now 29 South Main Street, next to the Post Office). During that time he lived with his aunt, Mrs Anderson, of Broadfield farm, before moving back to London prior to enlisting in August 1914. He landed at Le Havre with his regiment in November that year.

News of Rifleman Rolfe’s death was reported in the Galloway Gazette on 11 November 1916:

Official intimation has been received that Private Stanley Rolfe, Queen’s Westminster Rifles, was killed in action on 10th September last. The first report received was to the effect that he was missing, but subsequently his body was found and was identified by means of his pay-book. Private Rolfe, who was a nephew of Mrs Anderson, late of Broadfield, was trained in the Clydesdale Bank, Wigtown, and previous to enlisting he was on the staff of a London Bank. Shortly after the outbreak of war, he joined the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, and was nearly two years in France. He was well known in Wigtown and neighbourhood, where his kindly disposition and pleasing manner made him a general favourite.

Despite that report it appears that Stanley Rolfe’s body was buried in an unmarked grave, or its location was lost, as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. It bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died 14 July 1916

James Milroy was born on 14th May 1895 at Station Cottage, Wigtown, the son of James Milroy, the Stationmaster, and Annie Milroy, nee Gordon. By 1901 James Milroy Snr had left the railway and was running a grocer’s shop in Kirkinner. James junior also helped in the family shop but later became a postman in Newton Stewart. On 10 December 1915 James enlisted at Wigtown with the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.

After a period of training Private 20804 James Milroy went to France, arriving there on 16/5/1916. In the first two weeks of July that year the 1st Battalion was in action in the Battle of Albert, the first two weeks of the allied offensive on the Somme. The second phase of the Battle of the Somme was at Bazentin Ridge where, on 14 July, the allied infantry was, initially, successful. However it was there that James was killed in action. His body was not found and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

James is also commemorated on Kirkinner War Memorial. His outstanding pay was shared between his father, who received £3 9s 6d, and his brother, Hugh, who received 9s 11d. After the war a gratuity of £3 was paid to his father who, by then, was living in Canada.

1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Died 13 November 1916

Before the start of the Great War James McCulloch, the third son of John McCulloch of Cairnpat, Lochans, worked for the Nicholsons of Kidsdale Farm near Whithorn. After the outbreak of war it was not long before James, on 7 January 1915, enlisted at Ayr with the 1st Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders, leaving behind a wife and young daughter (both named Annie). James’ wife, Annie Malone, was to lose two brothers in the conflict (Blain and David).

Private McCulloch arrived in France on 18 January 1915 and was quickly into action and wounded. Indeed in August the Galloway Gazette reported that he had been wounded three times. In September 1915 the 1st Battalion was involved in the Battle of Loos and suffered terrible casualties. It is possible that, as a consequence of the wounds he suffered in August, that Private McCulloch was spared the horrors of Loos. However in December 1916 the Galloway Gazette reported that he had been wounded four times on 13th November 1916. As may be expected in time of war there was considerable confusion over casualties. Although the above report implies that, though wounded, the whereabouts of Private McCulloch were known, this does not seem to be the case. On 10 March 1917 the Gazette reported:

Considerable anxiety is felt as to the fate of Private Jas McCulloch, Gordon Highlanders, who has been missing for four months. He had been at the front for two years, and has come through some of the fiercest fighting. Any information as to Private McCulloch will be thankfully received by Mrs McCulloch, High Vennel, Wigtown.

On 29 December 1917 that the Gazette confirmed Pte McCulloch’s death, at the age of 34. His body was not found and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. It bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

The Galloway Gazette (13 November 1920) carried the following:
“In loving memory of my dear Daddy, Lance-Corporal James McCulloch, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme on 13th November 1916.
Far from his home he lies at rest,
And strangers tend his grave;
But still in hearts that loved him best
Is dear the life he gave.
Inserted by his wee daughter, Annie, 21 Harbour Road, Wigtown.”

1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders
Died 24 November 1916

Private S/17892 Ernest McClelland was from farming stock, the son of Andrew and Mary McClelland and one of four brothers who enlisted. Whilst still quite young, and with his brothers having emigrated, he had managed his father’s two farms (Carslae and Glenturk) during his father’s illness. He played football for Wigtown United and attended the Ewart High School where his name can still be seen on the school’s memorial plaque. Shortly after the outbreak of war he joined the Scottish Horse before transferring to the 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders in April 1915.

In October 1915 the Galloway Gazette reported that Ernest had been wounded:

Mr & Mrs McClelland, Dunmore, Wigtown, have received a letter from their son, Private Ernest McClelland, 1st Cameron Highlanders, in which he states that he was wounded in action in France on 26th September, and is now in hospital suffering from a shot wound in the foot and slight shrapnel wounds in the legs and neck. Shortly after the outbreak of war he joined the Scottish Horse, and transferred to the 1st Cameron Highlanders in April last.

He recovered from his wounds and returned to duty but in November 1916 news was received that he had been seriously wounded and was being treated at a Casualty Clearing Station. This time there was to be no recovery and on 24 November Ernest McClelland died of wounds received. He was 25 years of age. On 2 December 1916 the Galloway Gazette reported:

There was much regret in Wigtown and neighbourhood when the news was received on Wednesday that Private Ernest McClelland, Cameron Highlanders, son of Mr Andrew McClelland, late of Glenturk, had died on 24 November, at a Casualty Clearing Station in France, of wounds received in action some five days previously, and much sympathy was expressed for Mr & Mrs McClelland and family. It is not too much to say that Ernest McClelland (who was just 25) was one of the flower of the young men of the Machars. Bright, modest and manly he was a favourite of everybody, and his fine winsome figure will be much missed in the district. Some years ago, when a mere lad, his management of the farms at Glenturk and Carslae, during his father’s long illness evoked great admiration and was much talked about. Ernest and three brothers (two from South Africa and one from Australia), all joined the colours early in the war before compulsion was talked about. He was wounded in France in September 1915, and after recovering went back to the front. His three brothers are at present on active service, one in France, another in the Balkans, and a third in Egypt.

He is buried at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension. The McClelland family headstone in Wigtown’s High Cemetery includes a memorial inscription to him.

Post Office Rifles
Died 14 October 1916

Alexander McClelland was born on 5 August 1882 at Bladnoch, the son of Alexander McClelland, a general labourer, and his wife, Jane (nee McGinn). Soon after Alexander’s birth the family moved to Whithorn where they stayed until the outbreak of war. The 1901 Census shows young Alexander living with his parents at 8 George Street and working as a rural postman. Ten years later he was still living with his parents and still working as a postman, though they were then living at 49 St John Street.

Shortly after the outbreak of war Alexander enlisted in the army with the Post Office Rifles, a volunteer unit formed in the 1860s and composed mostly of Post Office employees. By 1914 the unit provided most of the riflemen for the 1/8th battalion of the City of London Regiment. Alexander arrived at the Western Front in March 1916. However, the Battalion did not see action at The Somme until October 1916 but still sustained 40 dead, 160 wounded and 200 missing. Alexander McClelland was to be one of those wounded in the action and was evacuated back to Britain where he was treated at Perth Hospital. Sadly he died on 14 October from septicaemia and gunshot wounds as a result of the wounds he had received.

His body was returned to Whithorn and he was laid to rest in Whithorn Cemetery. He was 32 years of age. His name appears on Whithorn War Memorial.

2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died 30 July 1916

James Love is named on Wigtown War Memorial but it is only after extensive research that his background has been discovered. It appears that he was born as James Thomson Love in 1890 at Mochrum, the son of Agnes Love. In 1892 there was a legal judgement which named James Thompson (sic) of Loch Head, Mochrum, as James’ father. Young James lived at Elrig with his three half-siblings before moving to High Milton Cothouse at Mochrum where the family was living in 1901.

Private 20961 James Thomson Love enlisted with the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Elrig under the name of Thomson and served with the 2nd Battalion. On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The Battle of the Somme finally ended on 18 November with the onset of winter. It is here that Private Thomson fell in action on 30 July. His body was never found and his sacrifice is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. It bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

Agnes Love was paid James’ outstanding pay of £2 6s 5d on 9 October 1917 and received a further £3 War Gratuity in 1919. As yet James’ link to Wigtown has not been established.

31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Died 6 June 1916

Private 446910 Alexander Laurie served with the 31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He was born on 9th October 1891 at East Drummodie, Glasserton, the son of Alexander Laurie, a farmer, and Margaret Laurie, nee McWilliam. At the time of his death his mother lived at 13 South Main Street, Wigtown. Alexander emigrated to Canada some time before the war. He enlisted on 14 May 1915 at the age of 22 years 7 months. His battalion sailed for France on the RMS Carpathia on 17 May. By October they were on the front line at Ypres but did not suffer significant casualties until April 1916 but thereafter suffered great losses.

Alexander Laurie fell in action on 6th June 1916, possibly at the Battle of Mount Sorrel where the Canadians were heavily involved. One of his comrades wrote to Mrs Laurie:

On behalf of the boys in my platoon, I would like to extend to you our sincere sympathy on the death of Alex. We joined this battalion at the same time, and since that have been the greatest of friends, and I, in particular, feel his loss keenly. Alex was one of the most popular boys in the Company, and one in whom his superiors placed more than usual confidence. He was killed during an exceptionally heavy bombardment, by shrapnel and concussion from a high explosive shell, and, for his sake, I am glad to say that death was instantaneous. Owing to the number of casualties, I am unable to give you any information as to where he was buried, but you will be advised of this later, at which time you should receive his personal effects, as they have been turned over to our Paymaster. If I can be of any service to you, please do not hesitate to ask for any further information that may be in my power to give.

Alexander Laurie’s body was not fund and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres which bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known.

15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Died 3 July 1916, Battle of the Somme.

John Harvey was born at Sorbie, the son of James and Margaret Harvey. By 1891 the Harveys were living in Wigtown where they stayed at 9 South Back Street with James working as a shoemaker. After he left school John got work as a tinsmith and the family continued to live at Wigtown: in 1911 they were living at 21 Harbour Rd.

John Harvey enlisted in Glasgow and may have worked for the tramways company along with fellow Wigtown man Leslie Kennedy. He joined the 15th (Service) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. The battalion was raised in Glasgow in September 1914 by Glasgow Corporation employee Mr. Jimmy Dalrymple, the manager of the Tramways Department. Prior to finishing his shift one afternoon he phoned around all the Tramcar Depots and asked ‘see if any of the men would be interested in joining a battalion made up entirely of men from the ‘Caurs’. On returning to his office the next morning, some sixteen hours later, there was a list on his desk with the names of 1100 volunteers wanting to enlist. It is reckoned that the 15th were the fastest recruited Battalion in the history of the British Army.

The 15th Battalion were ‘blooded’ at the Somme in 1916 and it was on the third day of the battle that John Harvey died on 3 July 1916. His body was not found. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. John’s outstanding pay – £9 9s – was paid to his brother, Patrick as, by then, his father had died. A further payment of £8 War Gratuity was paid to Patrick in 1919.

15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Died 9 July 1916

Leslie Kennedy was born on 14 September 1892 at High Street, Wigtown, the eldest son Alexander Kennedy, an agricultural labourer, and his wife, Martha Kennedy, nee White. He enlisted in the army at Glasgow and may have worked for the tramways company along with fellow Wigtown man John Harvey. He joined the 15th (Service) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. The battalion was raised in Glasgow in September 1914 by Glasgow Corporation employee Mr. Jimmy Dalrymple, the manager of the Tramways Department. Prior to finishing his shift one afternoon he phoned around all the Tramcar Depots and asked ‘see if any of the men would be interested in joining a battalion made up entirely of men from the ‘Caurs’. On returning to his office the next morning, some sixteen hours later, there was a list on his desk with the names of 1100 volunteers wanting to enlist. It is reckoned that the 15th were the fastest recruited Battalion in the history of the British Army. The 15th Battalion was ‘blooded’ at the Somme in 1916 and it was in that action that Leslie Kennedy was killed. His body was not found and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave
The family gravestone in Wigtown’s High Cemetery also contains a memorial inscription. In July 1918 the Galloway Gazette carried the following message from Leslie Kennedy’s family:

In loving memory of our dear son, Leslie Kennedy, who was killed in action on the 9th July 1916, aged 23 years.
We do not know what pain he bore,
We did not see him die,
We only know he passed away
And could not say good-bye.
He never shunned his country’s call,
But gladly gave his life for all;
He died the helpless to defend –
A British soldier’s noble end.

6th/7th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died 16 September 1916

William McHaffie Black was born on 5/10/1886 at Craigoch Park Farm near Portpatrick, the son of William Black (a ploughman) and Janet Black nee Mann. William snr’s work as a ploughman meant the family moved from farm to farm with great regularity. Census returns show them at Inch (1891) and Kirkmaiden (1901). By 1911 William McHaffie Black was living at Slochabert near Kirkinner where he lived with his wife Helen Nicholson and worked as a cattleman. The couple had been married for a year by then but had already lost one child.

William’s army papers still exist and show him signing up on 10/12/1915 when he was living at Auchleand, Wigtown. He enlisted with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and, after a period of training, arrived in France on 1 July 1916. On 10 August he was wounded with a gunshot wound to his left eye, returned to the line but was wounded again, dying on 16 September at a Casualty Clearing Station. His wife was sent a telegram stating: ” Much regret to inform you that your husband 22998 Pte W Black Royal Scots Fusiliers died on 16th September from wounds in No 1/1 Casualty Clearing Station France.” In January 1917 his personal effects were returned to Helen comprising: Disc, Letter, Postcards, photos, belt, testament, brush, gospel, badge, comb, razors. Mrs Black was awarded a pension of 10s per week from 26/3/1917.

The Galloway Gazette (7 October 1916) reported: On the 16th ult in Casualty Clearing Station, France, died of wounds received in action, Wm Black, son of Wm Black, Carslae, Wigtown and husband of Helen Black, Mill Airies, Sorbie:

No mother’s care did him attend
Nor o’er him did a father bend
No sister by to shed a tear
No brother by his words to hear.
Sick, dying in a foreign land
No father to take him by the hand
No mother near to close his eyes
Far from his native land he lies.
He is buried at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension and is named on Wigtown and Kirkinner War Memorials.

2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Died 26 April 1916

John McDowall was born on 12 September 1880 at Elrig, the son of farm labourer John McDowall and his wife Jessie McDowall (nee McCreadie). He was part of a large family with 5 brothers and 2 sisters. His early years were spent in Mochrum but, by 1911, John and his parents had moved to Wigtown, living at 19 Harbour Rd with John working as a baker. However it was not long before he emigrated to Canada.

On 22 September 1914, shortly after the outbreak of war John McDowall enlisted with the Canadian East Ontario Regiment. His Attestation Papers show that he was working as a bar tender at the time, stood 5ft 3½in tall and had dark hair and hazel eyes. The Regiment was part of the first 32,000 Canadian soldiers to travel to Europe from Canada, arriving at Plymouth on 25 October. After a period of training they arrived in France and were in action at the Second Battle of Ypres.

John McDowall was killed in action on 26 April 1916 and is buried at Woods Cemetery, near Ypres. The cemetery contains 326 burials from the First World War and includes numerous burials of John’s comrades from the 2nd Battalion, including Thomas McCheyne, who died on the same day and who is named on Wigtown War Memorial.

2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Died 26 April 1916

Private 81625 Thomas McCheyne was born on 18 August 1889 at Kirkinner, the son of Thomas Candlish McCheyne (a gamekeeper) and his wife, Elizabeth (nee McClelland). He was one of four local men to die in the war who had emigrated to Canada, and enlisted when war broke out, returning to fight for the mother country. Thomas had emigrated in about 1906 along with some of his siblings and enlisted on 12 December 1914 having had 3 years service with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment).

The first contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, (including the East Ontarios) sailed on October 3 1914, comprising the 1st to 17th battalions. (By the end of the war there would be two hundred and sixty numbered battalions in existence.) Training and reorganization commenced upon arrival in the United Kingdom and it was not until 26 January 1915 that the Division was officially organized and moved to the Ypres Salient in April. The Canadians withstood German attacks – aided, for the first time on the Western Front, by the use of poison gas – and finally retired to secondary positions on 26 April, where they held on until 4 May.

Two weeks later, the Division was in action again at Festubert. Aiding in a diversionary offensive by the British armies, the Canadians suffered 2,204 casualties for gains of only 600 yards. Another futile attack was launched at Givenchy in June 1915, after which the Division moved to Ploegsteert. The Canadians began a long period of static warfare which would last them throughout the winter. Active operations resumed again in the spring of 1916, participating in the Battle of Mount Sorrel, and then restoring the situation at Sanctuary Wood. It was at some time during this resumption of activities that Thomas McCheyne fell, dying on 26 April 1916. He is buried at Woods Cemetery at Ypres in Belgium which contains 326 First World War burials, 32 of them unidentified. John McDowall, also from Wigtown, died on the same day and lies close to Thomas in the Cemetery.

Thomas McCheyne had no fewer than five cousins who were killed in the war; four are commemorated on Kells Parish War Memorial, New Galloway and one on Kirkmabreck Parish Memorial, Creetown.

2nd Battalion, The Black Watch
Died 21 January 1916

Corporal 1921 Robert Murray was born at Greenock on 5 January 1883. We know he was living at Kirkcowan in 1891 where his father, Alexander, worked as a woollen dyer. He was probably a regular soldier before the war began as he was sent to the war zone at an early date in the conflict, 12 October 1914. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch, having enlisted at Newton Stewart. We know little of his military career or his life in Wigtown save that he had an aunt and uncle who lived at Torhousekie, just outside Wigtown. He is named on Wigtown War Memorial.

At the start of the war the 2nd battalion was in India but, by September, had moved to France. It was engaged in trench warfare and suffered heavy casualties in 1915 and, in December of that year, was moved to Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), arriving on 5th January 1916 and was into action within two days. On 21 January the 2nd battalion was part of a 10,000 British force attempting to relieve fellow troops under siege at Kut-al-Amara. Facing them was a Turkish army of 30,000 at the Hanna Defile. After a weak bombardment the British troops advanced through 600 yards of water in No Man’s Land. They were mown down by Turkish machine guns and 60% of the British force was killed or injured. It was in this action that Robert Murray was reported missing and was never seen again. It was not until two years later that he was officially confirmed as dead.

Robert Murray is commemorated on the Basra Memorial which commemorates more than 40,500 members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the operations in Mesopotamia from the Autumn of 1914 to the end of August 1921 and whose graves are not known. The ninth Wigtown man to die, Corporal Murray is probably the furthest from home of any of those commemorated on Wigtown War Memorial. His Uncle Matthew was paid the outstanding amount of Roberts pay of £25 19s 3d in December 1918. A further War Gratuity of £9 was paid the following year.

4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders
Died 9 June 1917

It is not clear why William Jamieson is named on Wigtown War Memorial as his association with the town is unclear. Perhaps he worked here. He was born on 3 February 1893 at Port William, the only son of James Jamieson, a mason, and his wife, Janet Parker. He served with the 4th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) as a motor driver. It is not clear precisely when Private Jamieson signed up but the 4th Battalion was in Hamilton in August 1914 when war broke out. The Battalion became a training unit and remained in Britain throughout the war. In August 1914 it moved to Gourock and then in April 1916 to Greenock. During the First World War, the Clyde was the most important British centre of production of warships: 43 per cent of the tonnage of ships ordered by the Admiralty between 1914 and 1919 was built in the Clyde yards so there was clearly a need for a strong defense force. In 1917 the battalion took over coastal defence work at Haddington and in June 1918 moved to Edinburgh for duty with the Forth Garrison.

William Jamieson was taken ill and admitted to Greenock Infirmary some time in 1917. His life could not be saved and he died on 9 June 1917; his death certificate records that he died of Tuberculosis, meningitis and endocarditis.

The Galloway Gazette (16 June 1917) carried a brief report:

JAMIESON – On the 9th inst suddenly at Greenock Infirmary, Private William Jamieson, Scottish Rifles, only son of James and Janet Jamieson, Mid Barsalloch, Port William aged 24 years. Sadly missed.

William Jamieson is buried at Greenock Cemetery and he is named on both Wigtown and Port William War Memorials.

Royal Field Artillery
Died 3rd September 1917

An examination of birth and census records does little to indicate any Wigtown background for William Irvine yet his name appears on the town’s War Memorial. He was born on 9 January 1879 at Chapelheron, Whithorn, the son of farm servant William Irvine and his wife, Jane Martin. The Irvines continued to live at Chapelheron Cot House through the 1880s and 90s until William jr left home to work as a farm shepherd at Shaddock Farm House, Whithorn (1901 census). We lose track of him then until he enlisted in the army.

Military records indicate that William enlisted at Wigtown where he had his home. By that time he would have been relatively old, in his mid-thirties. He joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner. The Royal Field Artillery provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was re-amalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924. It was the largest arm of the artillery and was responsible for the medium calibre guns and howitzers deployed close to the front line and was reasonably mobile. It was organised into brigades, attached to divisions or higher formations. Gunner 125978 William Irvine served with D Battery of the 64th Brigade. During the First World War a whole new form of artillery was developed to meet the unusual conditions of war on the Western Front: the trench mortar. The lighter weapons being manned by the infantry, the Royal Field Artillery provided the manpower for the heavier mortars.

On 3rd September 1917 William Irvine, aged 39, died of wounds received in action. He is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3 in Belgium, not far from Ypres. During the First World War, Brandhoek was within the area comparatively safe from shell fire which extended beyond Vlamertinghe Church. Field ambulances were posted there continuously. Until July 1917 burials had been made in the Military Cemetery, but the arrival of the 32nd, 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations, in preparation for the new Allied offensive launched that month, made it necessary to open the New Military Cemetery. The New Military Cemetery No 3 opened in August and continued in use until May 1918. Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3 contains 975 First World War burials.

1st/6th Battalion, Black Watch
Died 2 July 1917

Private 285030 Robert Hughes was born on 21 April 1898 at Railway Crossing Cottage, Sorbie, the son of railway surfaceman, Peter Hughes, and his wife, Margaret Higgins.

Before the war Robert was employed at Carsegowan Farm just outside Wigtown by the Lindsay family . He enlisted in Ayr in October 1916, joining the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. After a period of training at Ripon, North Yorkshire, he transferred to the 1st/6th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) and was sent to the Front.

On 2 July 1917, only 9 months after enlisting, Private Hughes was dead, aged only 19.

The Galloway Gazette (21 July 1917) carried the news of his death:

Mr & Mrs Peter Hughes, Barsalloch, Newton Stewart, have received notice from the War Office that their son Pte. Robert Hughes, Black Watch, was killed in action on July 2nd. Pte. Hughes joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in October 1916, and after receiving training at Ripon he was transferred to the Black Watch and sent to the front. Previous to joining the army he was employed by Messrs Lindsay, Carsegowan, and he was popular and well liked by those who knew him. He was nineteen years and ten months old.

Robert Hughes is buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, near Ypres in Belgium. The cemetery contains 1,813 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. He is also named on Newton Stewart memorial.

On 5 July 1919 the Galloway Gazette carried this memorial to him from his family:

Do not ask us if we miss him,
Oh, tis such a vacant place,
Oft we think we hear his footsteps,
Or we see his smiling face.
Your guardian angel’s work is done,
Farewell our brave and noble son.
Your young life gone ere yet begun
Alas! You’re one who won’t return.

Royal Garrison Artillery
Died 1st August 1917

Around a half of all First World War army records were destroyed as a result of bombing and consequent fire in the Second World War but Adam Horner’s survived. We know that he signed up for the army on 10 December 1915, opting to join the Royal Garrison Artillery. At that time he was a 35 year old gamekeeper living at Glenturk, just outside Wigtown and having married Margaret McDowall six months earlier. On 6 June 1916 Gunner 95460 Horner was mobilised and was posted to the Heavy Artillery depot at Woolwich in London the following month. After a period of training he was posted to the 119th Heavy Battery in France on 28th December 1916. He saw action over the following months but on 1st August 1917 he was killed in action. His death was briefly reported in the Galloway Gazette (23 August):

Information has been received that Gunner Adam Horner, RGA, second son of Mr & Mrs Horner, Mossend, Wigtown, and husband of Mrs Horner, High Vennel, Wigtown, was killed in action on 1st inst. He was 37 years of age, and was a gamekeeper previous to enlisting.

Four months after his death, on 11 December 1917, the RGA Records Office in Dover wrote to Adam’s widow, Margaret, returning the following personal articles: Letters, photo, pouch, 3 pipes, purse, watch and strap, glove, penknife, matchbox cover, spoon, Religious book and numeral. The writer added, “Gnr Horner had in his possession the sum of 10 francs and 40 centimes which has been credited to his account.” Mrs Horner would later receive a pension of 13 shillings and 9 pence and (in 1922) the two campaign medals awarded to her husband (British War and Victory).

Adam Horner is buried at Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, a medical post 1.6 kilometres north of Ypres. He is also remembered on the family gravestone in Wigtown’s High Cemetery. On the anniversary of his death his wife inserted this tribute to him (Galloway Gazette 3 August 1918): HORNER. In loving memory of my dear husband, Gunner Adam Horner, RGA, who was killed in action in France on 1st August 1917. Interred at Dunhallow ADS Cemetery, North of Ypres.

I pictured his safe returning
And I longed to clasp his hand
But death has postponed our meeting
It will be in a better land

Inserted by his widow, 4 High Vennel, Wigtown

7th Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Died 31 July 1917

Private S/5953 Robert Alexander Griffin was born in 1889 at Sorbie, the son of railway porter, John Griffin, and his wife, Maggie Adair. The family soon moved away from Sorbie: in 1891 they were living at 2 Greenvale Street, Stranraer. The 1901 census shows the family living at Stell Cottage, Penninghame, where John Griffin worked as a farm engine man.

Robert enlisted at Newton Stewart, leaving his job at Barglass where he worked for Mr John Christison. He served with the 7th Battalion, Black Watch. At the time of his death, John’s parents were living in Bladnoch. Two years earlier, on 16 May 1915, they had lost their son George, serving with the Scots Guards, killed at the Battle of Festubert. In May 1917 they lost a second son, John: Robert was the third of their children to die serving his country. A fourth son also served but survived the conflict.

Robert is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery just outside Ypres. The Cemetery was first used from August to November 1917 and was named after a nearby farm, known to the troops as ‘Irish Farm’. It was used again in April and May 1918 and at the Armistice it contained just 73 burials but was then greatly enlarged when more than 4,500 graves were brought in from the battlefields north-east of Ypres. It is likely that Robert’s body was relocated from one of these other cemeteries after the end of the war. He is named on Kirkinner War Memorial.

20th Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
Died 22 May 1917

Private 4614 John Griffin was born at 5 High Street, Wigtown on 27th September 1895, the son of general labourer, John Griffin, and his wife, Maggie Adair. The family soon moved away from Wigtown: in 1901 they were living at Stell Cottage, Penninghame where John Snr was working as a farm engineman.

By the start of the war John Jr was working at High Glasnick farm near Kirkcowan and he enlisted in the army at Newton Stewart. He probably enlisted with one of the local regiments but, at the time of his death Private 4614 John Griffin was serving with 20th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. His body was not found and he is named on the Arras War Memorial which commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. He is also named on the Penninghame and Kirkcowan War Memorials.

At the time of his death, John’s parents were back in Bladnoch. Two years earlier, on 16 May 1915, they had lost their son George, serving with the Scots Guards, killed at the Battle of Festubert. Two months later, on 31 July, they would lose a third son, Robert, serving with the Black Watch.

5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died 22 January 1917

James Fleming’s name does not appear on Wigtown’s War Memorial nor on the records of war dead of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He does not appear on the latter because his premature death at the age of 19 from tuberculosis cannot be directly linked to his military service. Why he is not recorded on Wigtown’s memorial is not known.

He was born John Ross, the illegitimate son of domestic servant Janet Margaret Ross on 4 March 1897 at 16 Agnew Crescent, Wigtown. He went on to play football for Wigtown Utd and the photograph here shows him as part of the Galloway Shield winning team from the 1913-14 season.

He is one of the few soldiers whose military papers still exist. They show him enlisting of 14 December 1914 as a Private in the 5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers (a reserve Battalion). He named his next of kin as his grandmother, Jane Fleming, of Kilquhirn, Wigtown. He then transferred to the Army Service Corps but was discharged in October 1915 following a spell in Taunton Hospital, suffering from tuberculosis. He was issued with an armband to wear in public to show that he had been discharged from service due to being unfit to serve.

After discharge he gained employment as a chauffeur but that was not to last long as he died on 22 January 1917 at 22 High Street: the cause of death was registered as tubercular disease of the larynx and lungs. The death was reported by his uncle, W Ross, of 11 High Street. James was only 19.

4th Bn Gordon Highlanders
Died 24th September 1917

John Coburn (or Cockburn as some records name him), was born at 4 Low Vennel, Wigtown on 16th April 1898, the illegitimate son of domestic servant Margaret Coburn. However, John seems to have spent his childhood living with his father as his mother disappears from records until his death in 1917. In 1901 the 3 year-old John was living with his father, James, a general labourer and grandfather, also James, a hawker of hardware goods at 9 Low Vennel. Ten years later the family still resided at number 9.
The Wigtown Burgh Roll of Honour indicates John Coburn serving with 3rd Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers but military records show him enlisting at Ayr with the 6th Bn Gordon Highlanders. At some time Pte Coburn transferred to the 1st/4th Bn of the Gordons. Whichever unit he served with he would have seen a good deal of action in France and Flanders. A photograph held by the Imperial War Museum shows a unit from the regiment engaged in road repairs in 1916.

In late August 1917 John Coburn was severely wounded and died the following month. The Galloway Gazette (6/10/1917) reported: Mrs Myles, Arthur Street, Newton Stewart has received notice from the sister in charge of a hospital that her son Pte J Coburn, Gordon Highlanders, died on 24 September of wounds received in action on the 27th. He was shot in the abdomen and thigh and is buried in a military cemetery near the hospital.

John Coburn is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Flanders. In July 1917, in readiness for the forthcoming offensive, groups of casualty clearing stations were placed at three positions called by the troops Mendinghem, Dozinghem and Bandaghem. The 4th, 47th and 61st Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Dozinghem and the military cemetery was used by them until early in 1918. There are 3,174 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and 65 German war graves from this period.

1/5th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died 17th November 1917

Edward Clark was born at 19 Low Vennel, Wigtown, on 7 March 1895. He was the son of butcher’s assistant Thomas Clark and domestic servant Elizabeth Finningham. Edward and his family moved to Botany Street where they spent the years leading up to the War. He enlisted with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in November 1914 and was drafted to the 1/5th Battalion in January 1916 when they were in Egypt.

The Battalion had seen service at Gallipoli in 1915 before moving to Egypt initially to protect the Suez Canal from attack by the Turks. The Suez Canal provided a vital line of supply for Britain as it brought troops from India, Australia and New Zealand to the Western Front. The 1/5th were moved here discourage Turkish attempts to cut that supply line. They faced regular skirmishes from Turkish raids across the desert and in August 1916 they were called to more concerted action, successfully, in the Battle of Romani. Edward and his comrades would have had the opportunity to see the Pyramids as well as managing the camels which supplied the troops with drinking water.

Allied commanders then decided that the best way to defend the Canal would be to advance further East and North to create a deeper buffer zone. That meant trying to capture Gaza. The initial attempt was unsuccessful so the Allies reinforced their forces and tried again. The 1/5th were heavily involved in more action later in the year including a ferocious battle at Mughar in mid-November. It may have been here that Edward Clarke of the 1/5th was serious wounded. He was evacuated to hospital at Kantara in Egypt where he died.

In the early part of the First World War, Kantara was an important point in the defence of Suez against Turkish attacks and marked the starting point of the new railway east towards Sinai and Palestine, begun in January 1916. Kantara developed into a major base and hospital centre and the cemetery was begun in February 1916 for burials from the various hospitals, continuing in use until late 1920. After the Armistice, the cemetery was more than doubled in size when graves were brought in from other cemeteries and desert battlefields, notably those at Rumani, Qatia, El Arish and Rafa. Edward Clark is buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery which contains 1,562 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 110 from the Second World War.

72nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Seaforth Highlanders)
Died 8 November 1917

Private 130245 Alexander Broadfoot was born on 11 April 1889 at Horwich, the son of Alexander and Margaret Broadfoot. After moving to Galloway he worked in William Cook’s grocers shop in Port William. In 1913 Alexander emigrated to Canada, sailing from Glasgow to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He enlisted on 14 February 1916 at Vancouver. His enlistment documents signed in Vancouver, identify him as living at the Lotus Hotel, Vancouver; he nominated his next of kin as his sister, Hettie who lived in Eastbourne. His trade was Grocer. His medical assessment states that he was 5 feet 9-and-a-half tall with fair hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. His religion was Presbyterian (before emigrating he had been a member of the congregation at Wigtown’s parish church). In August 1916 the Seaforths were in France and in April 1917 Alexander and the Canadians were involved in the Battle of Vimy Ridge enjoying rapid success despite the battle being fought out in a snowstorm. Within days a spectacular victory had been achieved and, during it, Alexander Broadfoot was awarded the Military Medal for his work as a messenger. Apart from Vimy Ridge the Seaforths were involved in some of the bloodiest battles of the war including Ypres and the Somme.
On 1 December 1917 the Galloway Gazette reported:

Mrs Turner, Clarksburn, Monreith village, Port William, has received official intimation that her nephew, Private Alexander Broadfoot MM, Seaforth Canadian Highlanders, died of wounds on November 8th. Private Broadfoot was twice mentioned in despatches and at Vimy Ridge he was successful in winning the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Private Broadfoot served five years as a grocer with Wm Cook, Port William and is the second employee to receive the Military Medal. In 1913 Private Broadfoot went to Canada and joined the colours shortly after war broke out. His last leave was in August [the Gazette had reported on 11 August that Alexander was home on leave at his old home, Mrs Turner’s at Clarksburn. It further mentions the award of the MM at the Battle of Vimy Ridge for “some daring work as a runner”.] Most sympathy is felt for his bereaved friends at home and his brother who is on active service at the front. His sister has received the following letter from a chaplain to the forces.

It is with sorrow I write to inform you of the death of your brother. He was brought along with many other Canadians to hospital some days ago. I have seen him each day and have tried to keep him cheerful. It was not difficult because he was a brave soul. Each time I came away from his bed I felt more and more glad because he was so certain of the presence of God with him. Yesterday he was exceedingly cheerful, and I had no doubt of his recovery. But he must have had some internal injury, and this morning I stood by his bed and held his hand as he passed into the larger, brighter Blighty, the true Home. God give you all needful grace and strength and comfort.

Alexander Broadfoot is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He is also commemorated on Glasserton War Memorial.

6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders
Died 11 April 1917

Private S/40523 Andrew Briggs was the son of farmer Andrew Briggs and his wife Jeannie Skilling. He was born on 2 September 1895 at West Kirkland. In 1901 the family were living at Glenturk Moorhead and in 1911 at Bladnoch. Before the war Andrew moved to Sheffield where he lived with his uncle John and his wife Sarah. He enlisted on 4 January 1916, initially with the Scottish Horse. Shortly after that he joined the Lovat Scouts before ending up in the 6th battalion, Cameron Highlanders. The Lovat Scouts were a British Army unit first formed during the Boer War as a Scottish Highland yeomanry regiment and is the first known military unit to wear a ghillie suit. In 1916, these scouts formally became the British Army’s first sniper unit, then known as sharpshooters.

After 9 months of active service Private Briggs was killed in action on 11 April 1917, probably in the Battle of the Scarpe 9 – 14 April. This was the first phase of the Battle of Arras and was initially a success for the British forces. Andrew Briggs was reported missing in action in the Galloway Gazette on 19 May:

Mr & Mrs Briggs, Bladnoch, have received official information that their son, Private Andrew Briggs, who joined the Lovat scouts and was transferred to the Cameron Highlanders, has been posted as missing since April 11. He enlisted on 4th January 1916 and has been 9 months in active service. He is 21 years of age.

It wasn’t until July of that year that Mr & Mrs Briggs received confirmation of his death, at the age of 21. Andrew Briggs is commemorated on the Arras Memorial which commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave.

2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died 7 April 1917

Robert Boyd was born on 1 February 1880 at Bank Street, Wigtown, the son of general labourer, Robert Boyd, and his wife, Helen McKay. The 1881 census returns show the family living at Church Lane. Ten years later they were living at Baldoon Cottage. In 1901, at the age of 20, Robert was working as a ploughman at Broadfield Farm on the outskirts of Wigtown but he later got a job at the Co-operative Creamery at Bladnoch and returned to lodge with his parents at Baldoon. He also married Annie Nicholson.
At the outbreak of war Robert was living at Whauphill but enlisted with the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Ayr. He was killed in action on 7 April 1917 at the age of 38.

The Galloway Gazette (15 September 1917), five months after Robert Boyd’s death, carried a brief report:

On 7 April 1917, killed in action, Private Robert Boyd RSF, beloved husband of Annie Nicholson, 2 North Main Street, Wigtown, aged 38 years.

Annie received Robert’s outstanding pay of £4 11s 6d 6 months after his death and a further £10 gratuity in 1919.

Robert Boyd’s body was not found and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial which commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. His brothers James and David also served in the war and survived the conflict though David’s gravestone in Wigtown High Cemetery indicates his early death at the age of 49 was as a result of disability arising from the conflict.

2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Died 20 June 1917

George Brown Anderson was born on 15 December 1897 at 21 Harbour Rd, Wigtown, the son of Andrew Anderson, a sewing machine agent, and his wife, Agnes Brown. The family soon left Wigtown and were living in Lockerbie at the time of the 1901 census. The return shows George living at 6 Brewery Yard with his parents, brother and no fewer than seven sisters.
Shortly after the outbreak of war, George enlisted with the 2/5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. At the time of his enlistment he was working as a farm servant at Collin, near Dumfries. It wasn’t until the end of August 1916 that Private 2234 George Anderson and his Battalion went to France. At some point he was re-assigned to the Cameronians and served with their 2nd Battalion.

George Anderson was killed in action on 20th June 1917 near to Ypres. He was only 19 years old and is interred in the Perth Cemetery (China Wall). The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 (the French graves were removed after the Armistice) and adopted by George’s Battalion in June 1917, so he may have been among the first burials there. It was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery. The cemetery was used for front line burials until October 1917 when it occupied about half of the present Plot I and contained 130 graves.

His outstanding pay of £15 8s 11d was paid to his mother on 14/11/1917 and a War Gratuity of £12 on 29/11/1919.