The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:34 pm Post subject: WW1

Corp. DAVID McCULLOCH, Cam.Hrs.
David McCulloch, Corporal (222760) 85th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Age 33.
Born 1884 in Kirkcowan. Son of David and Jane (Kennedy) McCulloch of West Crosherie, Kirkcowan. Husband of Isabel McCulloch of George Street, Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. David was farming when he enlisted in October 1915 at Sydney, NS. He died in the 11th Canadian Field Ambulance at Potijze.
Died of wounds 30 October 1917 and buried in Potijze Chateaux Grounds Cemetery, Belgium.

Sgt. JOHN McGARVA, Essex Regt.
John McGarva, Sergeant (17301) 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Age 39.
Born 1879 in Kirkcowan. Son of John and Annie (Gordon) McGarva of Kiltersan Village, Kirkcowan. Husband of Sarah Jane (Fisher) McGarva of Amity Road, West Ham, London who he married in 1906 in West Ham. John was working as a draper in London when he enlisted in the 13th (West Ham) Essex Regiment. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in November 1915. He was killed by a shell explosion in a rest camp.
Killed on active service 23 July 1918 and buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:45 pm Post subject: WW1

L/Cpl. ROBERT McKENZIE, R.S.Fus.
Robert McKenzie, Lance Corporal (20916) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 25.
Born 1892 in Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Son of Alexander and Margaret (Irvine) McKenzie of Shennaton, Kirkcowan/Penninghame. Robert worked with his father as a forester on the Shennaton Estate.
Missing in action 23 April 1917 and listed on the Arras Memorial, France.

Pte. ROBERT McKENZIE, S.Afr.Sc.
Robert McKenzie, Private (8092) 4th Regiment, South African Infantry. (The South African Scottish) Age 33.
Born 1883 in Kirkcowan. Son of the late Alexander Wallace McKenzie of Kirkcowan and of Margaret (McWilliam) McKenzie of Sranraer, Wigtownshire.
Killed in action 9 April 1917 and buried in the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 2:09 pm Post subject: WW1

Pte. ALFRED McKIE, 5th Batt. Canadians.
Alfred McKie, Private (199224) 5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Age 21.
Born 1895 in Kirkcowan. Son of Isabella (Milligan) McKie [a widow] of Milligan Cottage, Kirkcowan. Alfred was an Engineers Assistant and had been living with his brother Alexander at Mary Street, Fort William, Ontario when he enlisted in April 1916.
Missing in action between 26 and 27 September 1916 and listed on the Vimy Memorial, France.
Alexander McKie, born 1888 in Kirkcowan, enlisted in November 1915 and served in the Canadian Infantry as Sergeant (198418). He survived the war.

Pte. ROBERT McTIER, A.S.C.(M.T.)
Served under his birth name:
Robert McCormick, Private (39498) 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment.
Formerly Driver (T/33160) Army Service Corps. Age 23.
Born 1894 in Kirkcowan. Son of Hannah McCormick.
In 1901 he was living as Robert McTier, aged 7, with his grandmother Isabella Flynn, his uncle Samuel Flynn and his mother Hannah McCormick at Old School Road, Kirkcowan.
Missing in action 15 December 1917 and listed on the Arras Memorial, France.

Pte. DAVID NELSON, K.O.S.B.
David Sillars Nelson, Private (2227) 1/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 23.
Born 1893 in Penninghame. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Sillers) Nelson of 48 Albert St. Newton Stewart. David was a postman at Newton Stewart Post Office when he enlisted in the 2/5th KOSB in October 1914. He joined the 1/5th KOSB in Egypt in 1916 and died of wounds received in action at Romani.
Died of wounds 4 August 1916 and buried in Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Also listed on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 2:25 pm Post subject: WW1

Sgt. JOHN PATERSON, R.A.
John Paterson, Sergeant (94734) 8th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (but see note below) Age 29.
Born 1888 in Craignine, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrighshire. Son of John and Margaret (Ferguson) Paterson of Newton Stewart, Penninghame, Wigtownshire. John had worked for a number of years for Mr. Fox at Polbae, Kirkcowan when he enlisted in September 1914. He served in Egypt from July 1915 and then at Ypres, Messines, Arras and the Somme.
Missing in action 25 March 1918 and listed on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also listed on the Minnigaff Parish War Memorial, on the Penninghame Parish Church Memorial and on the Stronord School Memorial in Minnigaff.
Although John served wth the RFA there is some doubt about his unit. Records show that the 8th Brigade served in the Middle East but never on the Western Front. His entry in the Army Registers of Soldiers effects gives his unit as 178th Brigade RFA .

A.B. THOMAS ROSS, R.Nav.Div.
Thomas Ross, Able Seaman (Clyde Z/5270) Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division. Age 21.
Born 1894 in Kirkcowan. Son of Thomas and Agnes (McKie) Ross of Main Street, Kirkcowan. Thomas was killed by a sniper in the trenches at Helles.
Killed in action 16 November 1915 and buried in Pink Farm Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.

L/Cpl. ROBERT RONNIE, R.Sc.Fus.
Robert Ronnie, Private (15232) 7th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 24.
Born 1891 in Sorbie, Wigtownshire - as Robert Roney. Son of Edward and Janet (Philips) Roney.
(The family are shown as Roney in Glasserton in 1901 and as Ronnie at Whithorn in 1911)
Robert was living in Kirkcowan when he enlisted. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915.
Missing in action 12 May 1916 and listed on the Loos Memorial, France.
Also listed on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 2:34 pm Post subject: WW1

Pte. WILLIAM SMITH, Gordon Hrs.

I cannot identify this man.

PRIVATE A. THOM, R.Scots Fus.
[see delboy's post about this man on page 1 - "Another soldier belonging to Kirkcowan Parish has been killed, the second within three weeks. The relatives of Private A. Thom, of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, have received intimation that he has been killed in action near Ypres on October 22." ]

Archibald Thom, Private (6313) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 21.
In August 1914 the 2nd RSF were in Gibraltar and they returned to England, landing September 1914, and came under orders of 21st Brigade, 7th Division. Archibald with his battalion landed at Zeebrugge on 6 October 1914. He may have been a reservist rather than a serving soldier as records show that he was resident in Kirkcowan and enlisted at Newton Stewart.
Born 1893 in Glasgow. Son of Alexander and Margaret (Gallacher) Thom of Glasgow.
Missing in action 22 October 1914 and listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 2:38 pm Post subject: WW2

1939 - 1945

L/Cpl. GILBERT DEWAR, Black Watch.
Gilbert James Albert Dewar, Lance Corporal (2765801) 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Age 21.
Born 1922 in Fetteresso, Kincardineshire. Son of Glibert and Rose (Whitehurst) Dewar of Polbae, Kirkcowan/Penninghame.
Killed in action 11 June 1944. and buried in Hermanville War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Also listed on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart.
The 1st, 5th and 7th Battalions of the Black Watch were all landed at Normandy on or just after D-Day, 6 June.

FUS. JOHN FERRIES, Royal N. Fus.
John Ferries, Fusilier (14864767) Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Age 20.
Born 1925 in Bargrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of John and Mary (McKenna) Ferries of Barlunton, Kirkcowan. John was educated at the Douglas Ewart High School in Newton Stewart. He died in a Military Hospital in Leicester.
Died on active service 4 June 1946 and buried in Kirkcowan New Graveyard. (CWG)

Gnr. ROBERT HAMILTON, R.A.
Robert Hamilton, Gunner (1783361) 197 Battery, 61 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. Age 21.
Born 1920 in Kirkcowan. Son of Robert and Katherine Hamilton of Church Street, Kirkcowan. Robert worked for Wigtownshire County Council when he enlisted in March 1941.
Missing in action 6 June 1942 and listed on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.
The 61 LAA Regt. arrived in Egypt in December 1941.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:59 am Post subject: WW2

Dvr. ROBERT McMILLAN, K.O.S.B.
Robert McMillan, Private (3192086) 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 35.
Born 1910 at Bridge of Park, Old Luce or Glenluce, Wigtownshire. Son of James and Jessie (Craig) McMillan of Burnside Cottage, Kirkcowan.
(James was a shepherd in Campbelltown, Argyllshire when Robert was born)
Husband of Mary Kate McMillan of Balemartine, Isle of Tiree, Argyllshire.
Killed in action 26 February 1945 and buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.

and his brother

P/O ALEXANDER McMILLAN, R.N.
Alexander (Alec) McMillan, Petty Officer (P/SSX 23746) H.M. Motor Launch 466, Royal Navy. Age 31.
Born 1914 in Southend Parish, Argyllshire. Son of James and Jessie (Craig) McMillan of Burnside Cottage, Kirkcowan.
Killed in action 25 March 1945 and buried in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.
H.M.M.L. 466 hit a mine and was lost with all hands off Walcheren Island, Netherlands.

W/OP. ROBERT McQUEEN, R.N.
Robert Bell McQueen, Able Seaman (D/JX 153675) HMS Lapwing, Royal Navy. Age 23.
Born 1922 in Kirkcowan. Son of William John McQueen of Ladysmith Cottage, Kirkcowan and the late Jean (Bell) McQueen. Robert had joined the navy before the war.
Killed in action/Lost at sea 20 March 1945 and listed on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon. Also listed on the Kingholm Quay War Memorial, Dumfries.
The sloop "Lapwing" was torpedoed and sunk off the Kola Inlet in Northern Russia by U968 while escorting a Russian Convoy.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:12 am Post subject: WW2

Pte. ARCH. McWILLIAM, Scots Guards.
Not listed by CWGC/SNWM.
Research is still on-going but he is though to be:
Archibald McWilliam, age 29, who died of appendicitis in Dumfries Infirmary on 13 November 1942. He was a canteen manager living in Stranraer. There is no mention of military rank.
Born 1913 in West Derby, Liverpool. Son of Archibald and Helen Jane (Mackie) of Fleming House, Kirkcowan.

and his brother

Cpl. WILLIAM McWILLIAM, Gdn.Hrs.
William Mackie McWilliam, Lance Corporal (3197806) 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Age 33.
Born 1911 in West Derby, Liverpool. Son of Archibald and Helen Jane (Mackie) of Fleming House, Kirkcowan. William was a stone mason and a footballer with Tarff Rovers.
Killed in action 26 June 1944 and buried in St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, Calvados, France.
The 2nd Gordons arrived in Normandy on 20 June 1944.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:13 am Post subject: WW2

L/Cpl. DAVID SPROAT, K.O.S.B.
David Sproat, Private (3196558) 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 24.
Born 1920 in Kirkcowan. Son of William and Agnes (Irving) Sproat of Rae Terrace, Kirkcowan. David had been a grocer's assistant in Kirkcowan when he enlisted in 1940. He had been in South-East Asia for over 2 years.
Killed in action 23 February 1945 and buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.
The 2nd KOSB sailed with the 7th (Indian) Division to Burma in September 1943. Later they were flown to the central front at Imphal. In early 1945 they marched toward the Irrawaddy and took part in the assault that turned the Irrawaddy Line.

L/SEAMAN ALEX. R. THOMSON, R.N.
Alexander Reid Thomson, Leading Seaman (P/JX 143414) HMS Wild Swan, Royal Navy. Age 23.
Born 1919 in Eaglesham, Renfrewshire. Son of John and Janet (Reid) Thomson. Brother of Mr. D. Thomson of Kirkcowan. Alexander joined the navy at the age of 15.
Killed in action/Lost at sea 18 June 1942 and listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
The destroyer "Wild Swan" was returning alone to Plymouth when she was attacked and sunk by 12 German dive-bombers, but not before 6 of the enemy aircraft had been shot down, a feat unsurpassed in a single ship action.

Gnr. ROBERT TWINAME, R.F.A.
Robert Twiname, Gunner (921341) 266 (Worcester) Battery, 67 (South Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Age 21.
Born 1919 in Borgue, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Robert and Grace (Clark) Twiname of Barnharrow, Kirkcowan and of Torhousemuir, Wigtownshire. Robert was educated at the Douglas Ewart High School in Newton Stewart and was living in Worcestershire when he enlisted.
Missing in action 1 June 1940 and listed on the Dunkirk Memorial, France.
The 67 Field Regiment, RA landed in France in January 1940.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:04 pm Post subject:

PEACETIME DUTY

L/CPL. M. J. PATERSON, K.O.S.B.
Michael John Paterson, Lance Corporal (24713866) 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 21.
Killed on active Service 13 December 1989 and buried in Kirkcowan Graveyard.

An attack on a vehicle checkpoint, manned by the KOSB, near the Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland border at Derryard, near Rosslea, County Fermanagh was carried out by a Provisional IRA unit. Lance Corporal Paterson received a posthumous Mention in Dispatches for his actions during the attack.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:40 pm Post subject:

Some recent pics with the sun shine Cool

_________________
Ken

A Beattie · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 1:39 pm Post subject: Re: WW1

A Beattie · Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: WW1

Mike Morley · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 1:53 pm Post subject:

Wigtownshire Free Press (20/1/1916) reported the death of David Drynan: Mr John Drynan, joiner, 76 King Street, Newton Stewart, has received notification from the Office of Records that his brother, Pte David Drynan (4290), 1/5th KOSB, has died from the effects of wounds received at the Dardanelles on 1st January. Pte Drynan was 23 years of age, and previous to enlisting in May, was employed by Mr Maxwell, Barlennan, Kirkcowan. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force last October.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 7:54 pm Post subject:

Robert Twiname is also named on the family gravestone in Stranraer's Sheuchan Cemetery.