The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject:

Four brothers (cousins of Jack Patterson and of George A. Fisher - see above)

JOHN PATTERSON, K.O.L.R.
John William Patterson, Private (266566) 13th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) Age 31.
John served his apprenticeship in Gatehouse and in 1911, aged 26, he was a tailor and was boarding at 9 Jacob Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. He married in 1913 and was living in Southport, Lancashire when he enlisted.
Born 1885 in Gatehouse. Son of the late Elizabeth (Hume) Patterson and of John and Mary Patterson of Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse. (Elizabeth died in 1892) Husband of Nellie (Lofts) Patterson who he married in 1913 in Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Missing in action on 15 August 1916 and listed on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

GEORGE PATTERSON, R.H.
George Patterson, Lance Corporal (S/4048) "C" Company, 9th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Age 28.
George was an apprentice carpenter in Gatehouse before he emigrated to Canada. He returned to work in the Cally Sawmill from where he enlisted in October 1914, He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915 and was killed at the Battle of Loos.
Born 1886 in Gatehouse. Son of the late Elizabeth (Hume) Patterson and of John and Mary Patterson of Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse. (Elizabeth died in 1892) He named his father John, his brother Robert and sister in law Nellie as his legatees.
Missing in action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.

HENRY PATTERSON, R.S.
Henry Patterson, Private (51549) 12th Bn. Royal Scots. Formerly Private (47832) Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 19.
Henry was a blacksmith when he enlisted in May 1917. He was mobilised as Private (47832) in the Royal Scots Fusiliers in August 1917 and was posted to the 2nd RSF in France in April 1918 but was transferred to the 12th Royal Scots. He was killed near Armentiers between Bailleul and Kemmel.
Born 1898 in Gatehouse. Son of John Patterson and his second wife Mary (Carson) of Gatehouse.
Missing in action on 25 April 1918 and named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

TOM PATTERSON, R.S.F.
Thomas Booth Hume Patterson, Private (52532) 7th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 29.
Thomas was a coal miner in Catrine, Ayrshire when he enlisted on 6 May 1918. He was wounded at Cambrai and had his lower leg amputated. He was discharged from the army on 4 June 1919 and was awarded a Silver War Badge (211108) but died in Kilmarnock Infirmary of illness related to his injury. Cause of death Amyloid disease and Uraemia following leg wound with sepsis (leg amputated some months before).
Born 1890 in Rochdale, Lancashire. Son of the late Elizabeth (Hume) Patterson and of John and Mary Patterson of Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse. (Elizabeth died in 1892) Husband of Elizabeth (Haining) Patterson of Wood Street, Catrine, Ayrshire who he married in 1913 in Catrine.
Died on 26 April 1920. Burial place unknown.
Also named on the Catrine and District War Memorial.
Thomas was added to the CWGC Register on 6 August 2020.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:03 pm Post subject:

JOHN PORTER, K.O.S.B.
John Porter, Private (2269) 1/5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 34.
John was a post runner on the Gatehouse to Ravenshall route. He lived with his aunt and uncle, John and Jane (Porter) Clarke in the High Street and Neilson Square, Gatehouse-of-Fleet, who had raised him from a baby after the death of his parents. John enlisted in November 1914 and he landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915.
Born 1881 in Largs, Ayrshire. Son of the late Thomas and Martha (Wilson) Porter.
Missing in action 12 July 1915 and listed on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Also named on the Girthon and Anwoth United Free Church memorial now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church and on the Roll of Honour in Castle Douglas Post Office.

F. W. SAUNDERS, LIEUT. A & S. H.
Francis William Saunders, Second Lieutenant:1/8th (The Argyllshire) Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Age 37.
The Rev. Saunders was educated at Rothesay Academy, Isle of Bute and at Glasgow University where he was awarded an M.A. in 1902 and B.D. in 1905. He had been the minister of Anwoth Parish Church since 1907 when, in November 1915, he applied to the Presbytery for leave of absence to take up a commission. He preached his final sermon in January 1916 and was commissioned in the Argylls in March 1917. He was killed and buried with comrades at Beugneux but was re-interred at Oulchy in July 1920.
Born 1881 in Kingarth Manse, Isle of Bute. Son of the Rev. John Saunders and of Katherine Evans (Begg) Saunders. Husband of Janet Cochrane (Meiklejohn) Saunders who he married in 1908 in Glasgow.
Killed in action on 1 August 1918 and buried in Oulchy-le Chateau Churchyard Extension, Aisne, France.
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church, on the Kingarth Parish War Memorial, Bute, on the Church of Scotland Ministers Memorial in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh and on the Glasgow University Roll of Honour.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:20 pm Post subject:

JAMES SHARP, C.H.
James Sharp, Private (S/10824) 5th Bn. Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. Age 31.
James had served his apprenticeship and had become a foreman-gardener at Cally House, Gatehouse when he enlisted in September 1914. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915.
Born 1884 in Gatehouse. Son of Robert and Janet (Airdrie) Sharp of Birtwhistle Street and later of Cross Cottage, Gatehouse.
Missing in action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
Also named on the Girthon and Anwoth United Free Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

TOM SHAW, CANADIANS.
Thomas Shaw, Private (104305) 1st Bn. Canadian Infantry. Age 20.
Thomas enlisted in January 1915 at Chatham, Ontario and served with the 23rd Battalion, then the 12th and finally with the 1st CIF. He was wounded three times and, on the last occasion, died of his wounds.
Born 1897 in Gatehouse. Son of William and Eliza (Hyslop) Shaw of Birtwhistle Street, then Catherine Street, and of West View, Gatehouse.
Died of wounds on 5 April 1917 and buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:48 pm Post subject:

W. WEBSTER-STARK, L.S.
William Webster Stark, Private (2475) 1/10th (Scottish) Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment) - [The Liverpool Scottish] Age 21.
William was educated at Girthon Public School in Gatehouse-of-Fleet, where his grandfather had been a schoolmaster. By 1911 he was a clerk in Liverpool and he joined the Territorials in May 1912. He was mobilised in August 1914 and landed with his battalion at Le Havre in the November. He was killed at Bellewaarde near Ypres.
Born 1894 in Broad Green, West Derby, Lancashire. Son of the late John Swainson Stark (b. 1862 in Gatehouse) and of Margaret (Williams) Stark of 400 Edge Lane, Fairfield, Liverpool.
Missing in action on 16 June 1915 and named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

ALGERNON STEWART, LT. COL. S.H.
Algernon Bingham Anstruther Stewart, Distinguished Service Order, Lieutenat Colonel: 1/4th (Ross Highland) Bn. Seaforth Highlanders. Age 46.
Algernon was educated Haileybury College in Hertfordshire before going on to Sandhurst Royal Military College. Gazetted to the Seaforths as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1890 and Lt. in 1893, he served in India and became Captain in 1899. He then served in the South African wars and in September 1901 was awarded the D.S.O. for his actions in the defence of Fawersmith.
In 1914, and a Major, he was serving with the 1st Battalion, again in India. The battalion moved to France in October 1914 and he was wounded at Neuve Chapelle in 1915. In April 1916 he was promoted to Lt. Col. in command of the 1/4th Battalion but in May he was killed by trench mortar while inspecting the battalion's positions.
Born 1869 at sea in the Persian Gulf. Son of the late Colonel Charles Edward Stewart, C.B. C.M.G. C.I.E. and of Annie Nairn (Anstruther) Stewart of Ornockenoch House, Gatehouse. Husband of Edith Evelyn (Vivian) Stewart of 11 Summer Place, South Kensington, who he married in 1911 in London.
Killed in action on 23 May 1916 and buried in Louez Military Cemetery, Duisans, France.
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church and on the Haileybury College memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:05 pm Post subject:

DOUGLAS THOMPSON, R.FS. LOND. REGT.
Note: Military records use Thompson. CWGC and most civil records have Thomson.
Douglas James Thomson, Sergeant (13239) 2nd Bn. Royal Fusiliers. (City of London Regiment) Age 23.
Douglas had enlisted in about 1908 and had been in India for 5 years. He was serving with the 2nd Royal Fusiliers in Calcutta in August 1914. The battalion returned to England in December 1914 and sailed in March 1915, landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Douglas was killed during the landings.
Born 1892 in Gatehouse. Son of John McKie Thomson and of Marion (Merry) Thomson of Cally Gardens, Gatehouse and later of Kempston, Bedfordshire. His brother William was the head gardener at Cally.
Killed in action on 24 April 1915 and buried in Pink Farm Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.

GEORGE TOOGOOD, DURHAM L. I.
Not yet identified. (and I can't believe I'm still saying that)

UPDATE Feb.2021
Thanks to research by Margaret at Gatehouse Folk he is now known to be:
George William Toogood – age 22 – Private (27815) 25th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
George's father Thomas owned a travelling fairground amusement business and his mother Louisa provided a catering service. From their base in Morpeth, Northumberland the family toured around northern England and southern Scotland during the summer months and in early part of the war they were at Gatehouse-of-Fleet when their traction engine(s) were requisitioned to help with the war effort, after which they remained in Gatehouse for some time. During this period George enlisted for the army.
Born 1894 in Balrothery, County Dublin, Ireland. Son of Thomas and Louisa Toogood of 23 King Street, North Shields, Tynemouth, Northumberland.
Missing in Action on 28 April 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain Memorial at the National Memorial Arboreteum, Staffordshire.

ALBERT WALKER, SERGT. K.O.S.B.
Albert Walker, Sergeant (1542 & 240317) 1/5th (Dumfries & Galloway) Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 21.
Albert was working in his father's bakery business when he enlisted in August 1914. He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli on 6 June 1915 but was wounded on 30 June and evacuated to hospital in Malta. He rejoined his battalion and then served in Egypt and Palestine. Albert was killed at el Mughar.
Born 1896 in Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of William and Janet (Ireland) Walker of High Street, Gatehouse.
Killed in action on 13 November 1917 and buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:29 pm Post subject:

ANDREW WELSH, K.O.S.B.
Thought to be:
Andrew Welsh, Private (16261) 6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 22.
Andrew was a shepherd. In 1911, aged 17, he was boarding with the Murdoch family at Laggan o' Dee in Kells Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire.
He enlisted in October 1914 and joined the 1st KOSB at Gallipoli in August 1915 where he was wounded. He was wounded again on 1 July 1916 at the Somme and was posted to the 6th KOSB.
Born 1894 in Bargrennan, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bennets) Welsh of Palgown, Bargrennan.
Missing in action on 21 July 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Also named on the Bargrennan War Memorial, on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart and on the former Creebridge Free Church memorial now in Penninghame Parish Church.

ROBERT WHAN, R.S.
Robert Whan, Private (271195) 16th Bn. (2nd Edinburgh) Royal Scots. Formerly Private (2145) Ayrshire Yeomanry. Age 23.
Robert was a watchmaker when he enlisted as Private (2145) in the Ayrshire Yeomanry in November 1914. He was posted to the Royal Scots Fusiliers in France and transferred to the 16th Royal Scots in November 1917. A month later he contracted influenza and did not rejoin his battalion until February 1918.
Born 1895 in Gatehouse. Son of Alexander and Jane (Robson) Whan of Cally Lodge, Gatehouse.
Missing in action on 9 Aprl 1918 and named on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

and his cousin

JOHN WHAN, CANADIANS.
John Whan, Lance Corporal (437553) 46th Bn. Canadian Infantry. Age 27.
John had been a gamekeeper at West Linton, Gatehouse before he left for Canada in 1910. He enlisted in August 1915 in Edmonton, Alberta naming his father George as his next of kin. This was amended in early 1916 to his wife Mary.
Born 1890 in Gatehouse. Son of George and Agnes (McGeorge) Whan of Back Neilson Square and later of Avenue Lodge, Gatehouse. Husband of Mary (Burns) Whan of Edmonton, Alberta who he married in 1916.
Killed in action on 23 December 1916 and buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, France.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

WILLIAM WILSON, K.O.S.B.
William McNaught Wilson, Private (1543) 2/5th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 25.
William was mobilised in August 1914 but did not go overseas. He died of pneumonia at home.
Born 1890 in Gatehouse. Son of John and Elspeth (Parker) Wilson of Fleet Street, Gatehouse.
Died on Service on 28 January and buried in Girthon Parish Cemetery (CWG)
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:33 pm Post subject: WW2

1939 - 1945

CAIN, GOMER. RIFLEMAN, 1st CAMERONIANS (SR) .
Not listed by CWGC/SNWM.
John Gomer Williams Cain, Rifleman (No. ?) 1st Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Age 29.
Gomer had been a wood-cutter before the war. He was returned to the UK due to illness after serving in Burma. He died at home of tuberculosis.
Born 1919 in Gatehouse. Son of William and Mary (Lindsay) Cain of 7 Market Hill, Gatehouse.
Died on 29 March 1945 and buried in Girthon Parish Cemetery.

COCHRANE, HAMISH. CAPTAIN. 2nd BATT. K.O.S.B.
Military records use Hamish Cochrane. Civil records have Archibald Hamish.
Hamish Archibald Fitz-Gerald Cochrane, Lieutenant (156427) 2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 24.
Hamish was commissioned in the KOSB from an Officer Cadet Training Unit on 2 November 1940.
Born 1920 in Edinburgh. Son of Commander Arthur Fitz-Gerald Cochrane R.N. and of Beryl Irma (Thomas) Cochrane of Rusko, Gatehouse.
Died of wounds on 28 January 1944 and buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

COWIE, DENIS. O.S. ROYAL NAVY.
Denis Coles Cowie, Able Seaman (D/JX 398433) H.M.S. Wizard, Royal Navy. Age 20.
Born 1924 in Gatehouse. Son of Thomas and Lily (Craig) Cowie of Cally Gardens, Gatehouse.
Killed on active service on 10 June 1944 and buried in Lyness Royal Navy Cemetery, Orkney.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

The destroyer "Wizard" was severely damaged from an explosion of her own depth charges (possibly off the beaches of Normandy). She was towed to Lyness for repairs.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:37 pm Post subject: WW2

CROSBIE, JAMES AITKEN. FL.LT. ROYAL AIR FORCE.
James Aitken Crosbie, Pilot Officer (101493) 94 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Age 22.
James was educated at Kirkcudbright Academy and was employed at the Union Bank in Gatehouse when he enlisted. He was a local Scoutmaster and footballer. He was promoted from Flight Sergeant (1060538) to Flight Lieutenant May 1941.
Born 1920 in Gatehouse. Son of George and Jessie (Aitken) Crosbie of Creebridge Garage, Newton Stewart.
Killed in action on 4 April 1942 and buried in Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church, on the Kirkcudbright Academy memorial and on the Union Bank memorial in Glasgow.
At the time of his death 94 Squadron were flying Curtis P40 Kittyhawks on fighter patrols over the Western Desert. On 28 March 1942 they were escorting bombers of 12 Squadron, South African Air Force on a raid on Martuba airfield in Libya when they were attacked by German and Italian fighter aircraft. James was wounded and crashed landed. His aircraft was recovered and he was treated in a field ambulance but he later died in hospital. .

GEMMELL, ALFRED. A.B. ROYAL NAVY.
Alfred Gemmell, Ordinary Seaman (P/SSX 35655) H.M.S. Eagle, Royal Navy. Age 19.
Alfred joined the navy in 1940 when he was just 17.
Born 1923 in Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of James and Mary Gemmell of Station Cottages, Gatehouse Station.
Killed in action/Lost at sea on 11 August 1942 and listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.
The aircraft-carrier "Eagle" was torpedoed and sunk while escorting a convoy to Malta. 130 crew were lost but over 900 were rescued. One of the rescue ships was HMS Laforay - see Andrew McCulloch, below.

HAY, ALFRED. DRIVER. R.A.T.C.
Alfred Hay, Driver (T/109516) 68th Detail Issue Depot, Royal Army Service Corps. Age 27.
Born 1917 in Gatehouse. Son of William and Marion (Halliday) Hay. Husband of Susannah (Abercrombie) Hay of Paisley, Renfrewshire who he married in 1940 in Dumfries.
Died on active service on 9 December 1944 in Kushing PoW Camp, Sarawak. Re-interred in Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:55 pm Post subject: WW2

HOLMES, H. PATTERSON, A.B. ROYAL NAVY.
Henry (or Pat) Patterson Holmes, Stoker 1st Class (C/KX 575615) H.M.S. Hotham, Royal Navy. Age 20.
Pat was kill in an accident in Portsmouth.
Born 1925 in Gatehouse. Son of Major George Holmes and of Jean Irvine (Patterson) Holmes of Catherine Street, Gatehouse.
Died on active service on 17 July 1945 and buried in Girthon Parish Cemetery. (CWG)
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

KENNAN, ROBERT, GUARDSMAN. SCOTS GUARDS.
Robert William Kennan, Guardsman (14226213) 1st Bn. Scots Guards. Age 21.
Robert worked for a coal merchant in Gatehouse before he enlisted.
Born 1923 in Dumfries. Son of Agnes Kennan and step-son of James Gilchrist of Killeron, Gatehouse.
Killed in action on 17 April 1945 and buried in Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

KERR, WILLIAM ALEXANDER. SUB-LIEUT. R.N.V.R.
William Alexander Kerr, Sub-Lieutenant: H.M. Motor Launch 1394, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Age 20.
Born 1924 in Gatehouse. Son of William and Agnes Black (Broadfoot) Kerr of Northallerton, Yorkshire.
Lost at sea on 10 March 1945 and listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

In early 1945 HMML 1394 was attached to HMS Braganza, the navy base at Bombay, India.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:18 pm Post subject: WW2

McCULLOCH, ANDREW. D.S.C. LIEUT. ROYAL NAVY.
Andrew Christian McCulloch, Distinguished Service Cross, Lieutenant: H.M.S. Laforay, Royal Navy. Age 28.
Andrew was educated at Charters Towers, Sussex and at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He was awarded the DSC for actions in the Mediterranean in preventing the escape of enemy forces after their defeat in North Africa.
Born 1915 in Edinburgh. Son of Major General Sir Andrew Jameson McCulloch and of Lady Esme Valentine (MacKenzie) McCulloch of Ardwall, Gatehouse and of Hills, Lochrutton, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Missing in action/Lost at sea on 30 March 1944 and named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Also named on the Lochrutton Parish War Memorial, on the Beeswing Village WW2 Memorial, on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial and on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, both now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

The destroyer "Laforay" was torpedoed and sunk as she, and other ships, attacked the submarine U223.

McCULLOCH, PETER ALEXANDER C. SERGT. ROYAL AIR FORCE.
All records and all other memorials show the name as Alexander Peter.
Alexander Peter Cliff-McCulloch, Sergeant/Air Gunner (1825003) 138 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Age 28.
Born 1916 in Chelsea, London. Son of William Edward and Eveline Mary (Howey) Cliff-McCulloch of Kirkclaugh House, Gatehouse.
Killed in action on 1 June 1944 and buried in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial and on an individual memorial plaque, both now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

Alexander was on board a Halifax bomber, converted for special duties, when it was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed near Hasteren. The aircraft was delivering supplies to Resistance groups in Belgium to support the D-day landings in Normandy.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:37 pm Post subject: WW2

McGEACHIE, WILLIAM B. STAFF SERGT. M.P.S.C.
William Boden McGeachie, Staff Sergeant (2977537) Military Provost Staff Corps. Age 33.
William worked with the Forestry Commission and served with the local Territorials. He was drowned while serving with the Middle East forces.
Born 1912 in Maybole, Ayrshire. Son of James and Annie (McWhirter) McGeachie. Husband of Hannah (Shaw) McGeachie of Usher Gardens, Gatehouse who he married in 1939 in Gatehouse.
Died on active service on 11 November 1944 and buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

The Military Provost Staff Corps (MPSC) was the corps of the British Army which ran its military prisons.

SPROAT, JOHN. LIEUT. ROYAL ARTILLERY.
John Sproat, Captain (184013) 113 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Age 29.
John was educated at Kirkcudbright Academy and was working in the Commercial Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh. He was commissioned in April 1941.
Born 1914 in Gatehouse. Son of John and Ester (McAdam) Sproat of Laggan, Gatehouse. Husband of Margaret Donald (Sloan) Sproat of Edinburgh who he married in 1941 in Edinburgh.
Killed in action on 26 January 1944 and buried in the Minturno War Cemetery, Italy.
Also named on the Anwoth Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church and on the Commercial Bank of Scotland Memorial now in the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Headquarters in Gogarburn, Edinburgh.

WILSON, ROBERT. PRIVATE. 7th BATT. K.O.S.B.
Robert Wilson, Corporal (3190243) 7th (Airborne) Battalion, Support Company, No.2 Mortar Platoon, King's Own Scottish Borderers (Galloway), 1st Airlanding Brigade. Age 24.
Born 1920 in Gatehouse.
Son of James Wilson and of Janet Jane (McCreadie) Wilson of Gatehouse.
Killed in action between 25 and 26 September 1944 and buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Also named on the Girthon Parish Church memorial, now in Gatehouse-of-Fleet Parish Church.

The first of the Horsa gliders carrying the 7th Battalion KOSB landed at Arnhem on the first day of the battle, Sunday 17 September 1944, to secure the Ginkel Heath position, designated as DZ-Y for the 4th Parachute Brigade. On 25 September the battalion were defending the perimeter near Oosterbeek Hoog Railway Station and that night were withdrawn to cross back over the Rhine. (Source: pegasusarchive.org)
_________________
Ken

spoons · Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 9:38 pm Post subject:

Lt W F J Maxwell has a further memorial, originally in Anwoth church, now in the Cardoness Estate. Full details of the memorial and biographical details at http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=7786

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 7:23 pm Post subject:

For further details of the Hewitt brothers, see http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=9210

\Paul

anne park · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:30 am Post subject:

James Caig Pte S/11589 1st Gordon Highlanders b Rerrick,Kircudbright e Dumfries Age 28 Died of Wounds F&F 14/11/1916 Only son of John Caig, Game Dealer, Gatehouse-of-Fleet. Short Service: 17 pages:: Brewery Cottage, gatehouse-of-Fleet. Occ: Rabbit Vstcher. Died 44th CCS.1891 & 1901 Census: 1888. Mother: Maggie. Stockmoss Cottage, Rerrick. Soldiers Effects: Miss Jane McGuffie. Soldiers Will 4 Pages. Puchevillers British Cemetery Fr 0074 Plot VI Row A Grave 30 Dumfries & Galloway Standard 06-12-16 P3: Gatehouse.
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:26 am Post subject:

Anne - there's a bit more detail about James Caig and his sister Helen (who served throughout the war - and beyond) at
http://www.gatehouse-folk.org.uk/ww1.asp?rec=caig
Helen was a Nursing Sister in the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service.
_________________
Ken