The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[Adam Brown]

Garvald War Memorial
Location: Wall of Parish Church
OS Ref: NT 590 709

Garvald parish Church is situated at the East end of the village down some narrow roads. The plaques are in a prominent position on the south wall.

It's suffering a bit from the weather but there is some nice extra detail about those listed.

[DelBoy]

WW1

Sec.Lieut. David Kinnaird, Arras 5th December 1917
Private William Bruce, Messines 7th June 1917
Private George Burns, Festubert 11th May 1915
Private David Denholm, Somme 21st March 1918
Gunner Robert Watt Gray, Kalinova 11th May 1918
Private George McLeod, Hooge Ypres 11th May 1915
Private Alexander Mitchell, Ypres 3rd January 1915
Private James Mitchell, St. Quentin 21st October 1918
Driver Adam Spence, Brav Sur Somme 25th September 19??
Private William Welsh, Weymouth 31st March 1915

WW2

Major Henry Johnston Younger, 1st Lothians & Border Yeomanry. Killed in Action 12th June 1940
Gunner James Dickson, R.A. Lost at Sea 18th Jan. 1942

[A Beattie]

Gnr. 95419 Robert S. Johnston, Royal Garrison Artillery.

Spelling names &c., as publication.

Born Garvald but not listed here.
Not listed Arran, City of Glasgow Roll of Honour or elsewhere that I can see.
CWGC and SNWM disagree about his place of birth but he is a native of Garvald - born at West Hopes, Garvald, 4th. February, 1888 to James Stobie Johnston, Shepherd, and Alison Simpson who married at Edinburgh, 8th. June, 1877. (Details as Birth Register.)

SDGW - Born Garvald, East Lothian; enlisted Glasgow.
Service records exist for this soldier. (Signs his name Robert Stobo Johnston.) Commercial Traveller. Married. 26, Edgemont Gardens, Langside, Glasgow. Married to Mary T. Muir, 25th. June, 1914, Lanark, at which time his middle name is recorded as 'Stobie'. Why this later appears to become 'Stobo' is not known.
One child noted - James S. Johnston, born 13th. October, 1915, Glasgow.
Robert Stobo Johnston, No. 91459, Royal Regiment of Artillery. New City Road, Glasgow, 28th. November, 1915.
B.E.F.:- 29th. January, 1917.
Died of wounds and Diptheria in 46 Stn. Hospital, Etaples.

Army register of soldier's backpay and War Gratuity records payments to Mary T. (widow).
Robert Stobo Johnston, 244 S.Bty. R.G.A., Gnr. 95419; died 10.10.1917, 46 Station Hospital, France.

The Glasgow Herald, Thursday, 25th. October, 1917.
"Deaths on Service.
JOHNSTON.- Died of wounds received in action, 10th October, Gunner Robert Stobie, R.G.A., aged 29, beloved husband of Mary Muir and youngest son of James Johnston, Glenscorradale, Arran."

SNWM - WW1
Surname JOHNSTON
Forename Robert Stobo
Rank Gnr
Service number 91459
Decoration
Place of birth Garvald E Lothian
Date of death 10 October 1917
Theatre of death F&F
Cause of death Died of wounds.
SNWM roll ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY
Unit name Unknown Unit attached to ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY

CWGC - JOHNSTON, Robert Stobo
Rank: Gunner.
Service No: 91459.
Date of Death:10/10/1917. Age: 29.
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery 244th Siege Bty.
Grave Reference:XXX. B. 9.
Cemetery: ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information:Son of James Johnston; husband of Mary Turner Muir, of 26, Edgemont St., Langside, Glasgow.
Native of Glenscorradale, Lamlash, Isle of Arran.

1901 Census East Lothian, Garvald, East Hopes Farm Cottages, recorded (transcription):- Robert Johnston (13), Scholar, son, born Haddingtonshire, Garvald; James Johnston (50), Farm Manager, born Edinburgh, West Calder; siblings.

1891 Census East Lothian, Garvald, East Hope Farm Cottage, recorded (transcription):- Robert S. Johnston (3), son, born Garvald; James S. Johnston (41), Farm Manager, born Mid Lothian, West Calder; Alison S. Johnston (41), Wife, born Berwick, Lauder; siblings.
_________________
Andrew.

[Kenneth Morrison]

Andrew - scotlandspeople has Robert and Mary's marriage at Lanark as:

1 1914 JOHNSTON ROBERT STOBIE MUIR MARY TURNER LANARK /LANARK
_________________
Ken

[A Beattie]