The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison

I'm looking for any information on Private (4298) JAMES HUGHAN of the 1st Scottish Horse Yeomanry, died 20/9/1915 and buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Gallipoli.
SDGW has him enlisting in DUNKELD but resident in NEWTON STEWART. and he's listed on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in NS.
I'm especially after a place and date of birth, please.
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Ken

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Ken,

A search on ScotlandsPeople of James Hughan born between 1855 and 1900 gives 13 results - all of them in either Kirkcudbrightshire or Wigtownshire. Do you have an age at death for him to try and narrow down the list? And any possibility of parents' names to confirm a result? Without these, I question if we would know with certainty which to choose. None of these were registered in Penninghame parish.

ADP

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks ADP. You've identified the problem. No age or parental/spouse information on CWGC. I was kind of hoping that service/pension records or even a MIC might give some clues, but I'm probably grasping at straws. Sad

There is only one James Hughan on SDGW and SNWM and believe it or not there are only three J Hughans on CWGC and one of those is a John Shocked

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Ken

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

Even the 1911 census doesn't make it much easier. I searched for James Hughan, aged between 10 and 60 in 1911. That gave 6 results:
Bridgeton, Glasgow - age 14
Whithorn, Wigtownshire - age 15
Stranraer, Wigtownshire - age 26 (James Robert)
Springburn, Glasgow - age 36
Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire - age 53 (James Buttus)
Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire - age 59

My first thoughts would be to say that it is less likely to be the two guys in their 50s. That leaves four - none in Penninghame parish (Newton Stewart area) or Dunkeld.

Even that is assuming that any of them is him. He could be lost behind a spelling variation. He could have been out of Scotland.

The only way that I can think of is to spend a day in the ScotlandsPeople Centre, looking at the 13 births I mentioned above. On looking at their birth certificates, you would seek their death certificates. That way you could remove some of these people from the list. However, that method is not foolproof either. There may have been a few lost in war service, whose parents or spouse are not listed in their military records. Some may have emigrated. So it depends how much time and effort you can spend on this one man.

On another tack, looking at marriages for men called James Hughan on ScotlandsPeople gives 8 results between 1855 and 1915. Once more, none in Penninghame or Dunkeld. The 8 results are 3 in Wigtownshire, 3 in Kirkcudbrightshire, and 1 each in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Take your pick, bearing in mind we don't know whether or not this guy was married.

ADP

DelBoy · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:08 am Post subject: war return info

The war return lists his age as 30 when killed at Gallipoli in 1915, so i'd say Stranraer, Wigtownshire - age 26 (James Robert) is your man.

Derek.

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

The births then offer two possibilities in 1884-1885 to match age 30 in 1915.
1884 - Girthon, Kirkcudbrightshire
1884 - Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire (James Robert)

ADP

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Hi Ken,

You will already know that he is not listed within the Stewartry RoH, but thought I'd add that there is no mention of him in the KA either. So if he was born in Kirkcudbrightshire, then his link to the county appears to have been lost later in life. With the Newton Stewart connection, I would recommend searching the Galloway Gazette (if you haven't already done so).

Cheers,

Stuart
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www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to run with the Stranraer man until it's proved otherwise. He is the same James Robert Hughan who was born in Kirkcudbright in 1884. The other James of Girthon (Gatehouse-of-Fleet) is indexed in the 1891 and 1901 census as Heughan but the family graves all have Hughan and there's no mention of James. (as KIA or otherwise)

James R. Hughan (16) is at Stranraer in 1901 with a brother John P. Hughan (15) also born Kirkcudbright - as was this man:

HUGHAN, JOHN PRESTON.
Rank: Private
Service No: 42445
Date of Death:10/04/1918
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots 16th Bn.
Grave ReferenceSpecial Mem. B7.
Cemetery LE GRAND BEAUMART BRITISH CEMETERY, STEENWERCK
Additional Information:
Husband of Violet Hughan, of 10, Dalmarnock St., Parkhead, Glasgow.

Surname HUGHAN
Firstname John Preston
Service Number 42445
Date Death 10/04/1918
Decoration
Place of birth Kirkcudbright.
Other 16th Bn. formerly 205327. R. Sco. Fus.
SNWM roll THE ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN REGIMENT)
Rank Pte

So might be brothers????????
Born 1887 in Kirkcudbright as John Hughan. Married Violet in Glasgow in 1914.
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Ken

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 1:36 pm Post subject: James Hughan

I found the following this morning in the Wigtownshire Free Press (6 June 1918) about John Hughan. When I go to the library again I'll see if I can see anything about James:

Official intimation has been received of the death of John P Hughan, Royal Scots, who was killed in action near Armentieres on 10th April. Pte Hughan was the younger son of Mrs John Hughan, 40 Sun Street, Stranraer, and went to France in October last year. Previous to joining the colours, he was employed as a joiner in Glasgow, and leaves a widow and son who reside at 37 Garngad Avenue, Townhead, Glasgow. Mrs Hughan's other son is in service with the Signal section of the Royal Engineers.

A separate entry in the Births, Marriages and Deaths section identify Pte Hughan's wife as Violet Bryan.

Hope it helps!

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri May 03, 2013 3:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that Mike - and it does help, if only in a negative way Sad

In 1901 John P. was an apprentice joiner living at Agnew Cres. Leswalt, Stranraer age 15 - so it is the man you have identified.
His only brother, James R. age 16 was a Post Office Clerk.
So James was alive in 1918 serving in the R.E. and isn't the man who died at Gallipoli in 1915.

One step forward .......................
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Ken

Mike Morley · Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 9:50 am Post subject: James Hughan

Popped into the library this morning. This may help.

Galloway Gazette 16 October 1915: Mr & Mrs Hughan, Barsalloch, have received intimation that their son, Trooper James Hughan, 1st Scottish Horse, was killed in action on September 20th. Though only 20 years of age he was the holder of two local cups for ploughing. Trooper Hughan joined the army in January last, and sailed for the Dardanelles in August. Prior to enlisting he was employed by Mr Agnew, Barlauchlan, Newton Stewart.

The 23 October 1915 Galloway Gazette carries a photograph of him. Unfortunately our microfiche does not print so I haven't been able to get a copy.

Mike

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 11:38 am Post subject:

Popped into the library this morning. This may help.

May Help? Well just a bit Very Happy

Pals at Gatehouse had just confirmed that the James from there had died in the 1940's so I was feeling a bit fed up.

Thank you so much Mike.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 1:55 pm Post subject:

James Hughan was born 2 August 1895 at Clauch Farm, Sorbie, Wigtownshire. His parents were Robert (a ploughman) and Mary Brown (Litterick) Hughan. On the 1915 valuation roll they were at Barsalloch Farm, Penninghame Parish.

A big thank you to you all for your help.
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Ken