The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

DelBoy · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject: L.Cpl. William McConnell

CWGC
McCONNELL, W
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 16/357
Date of Death: 27/07/1916
Regiment/Service: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 16th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. B. 15.
Cemetery: ST. VAAST POST MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE

SNWM
Surname: McCONNELL
Firstname: William
Service Number: 16357
Date Death: 27/07/1916
Place of birth: Kirkinner Wigtownshire
Other: 16th Bn.
SNWM roll: SCOTTISH CASUALTIES EXTRACTED FROM ENGLISH REGIMENTS
Rank: L/Cpl

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Pte. William Smith

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:40 pm Post subject:

Just noticed that the four HLI men listed on the memorial were:
William Garrett, Corporal 1795, 10th HLI - MIA at Loos 25/9/1915.
David McGaw, Private 1796, 10th HLI - MIA at Loos 25/9/1915.
Charles Melvin, Private 1797, 10th HLI - MIA at Loos 25/9/1915.
and
John Hopkins, Lance Corporal 1798, 18th HLI - KIA 29/3/1918.

I'm guessing that John enlisted with the others and was transferred to the 18th HLI later?
_________________
Ken

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:36 pm Post subject:

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 2:11 pm Post subject:

anne park · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:57 am Post subject: Robert Frederick Wilson GH

Robert Frederick Wilson L/Sgt S/40940 6th Gordon Highlanders b Glenluce,Wigtown e Inverness Age 28 Killed in Action F&F 09/05/1918 Son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Jess) Wilson farmed at Over Airies, Whauphill, Kirkinner. Husband of Grace Breckinridge Douglas m 4 Aug 1916. Formerly Corporal (S/27142) Cameron Highlanders. Brother James Fleming Wilson also died, MI Inch Parish Churchyard in Castle Kennedy. Soldiers Will 4 Pages. Brother James on the family gravestone in Inch Parish Churchyard in Castle Kennedy. Service Returns: 118/AF 370. Roclincourt Miltary Cemetery Fr 0184 Plot IV Row D Grave 13 Weekly Cas List: 02-07-18P8: Kincraig. Glencluce & Kirkinner
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 9:52 am Post subject: Re: Robert Frederick Wilson GH

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:03 pm Post subject:

The names in alphabetical order - with thanks to "Delboy" for earlier posts and to "Mike Morley" .

WILLIAM BLACK, ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS.

William McHaffie Black, Private (22998) 6th/7th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 30.
William was a ploughman at Auchenleand Farm, Wigtown when he enlisted in December 1915. He was mobilised in March 1916 and joined the 2nd RSF in France in July 1916 and at the end of the month he was wounded. After treatment at the 18th General Hospital he was posted to the 6th /7th RSF in mid August but only a month later he was fatally wounded and died in the 1/1st South Midlands Casualty Clearing Station.
Born 1886 in Portpatrick, Wigtownshire. Son of the late Janet (Mann) Black and of William Black. Step-son of Elizabeth (McTear) Black of Carslae, Wigtown. Husband of Helen (Nicholson) Black of East Mains, Kirkinner and later of Millaires, Sorbie who he married in 1907 in Kirkinner.
Died of Wounds on 16 September 1916 and buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Also named on the Wigtown War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:13 pm Post subject:

JOHN CRON, ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION.

John Cron, Able Seaman (Clyde Z/4942) Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division. Age 20.
Born 1897 in Glasserton, Wigtownshire. Son of Peter and Agnes (McWhirter) Cron of Newton Cottage, Kirkinner.
Missing in action on 25 August 1918 and named on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.

WILLIAM GARRETT, HIGHLAND LIGHT INFR.

William Garrett, Corporal (1795) 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Age 19.
William was a shepherd at North Balfern Farm, Kirkinner when he enlisted in December 1914. He
landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915.
Born c.1896 in Kirkinner. (cannot trace on GRoS) Son of William and A. W. Garrett of North Balfern Farm, Kirkinner.
Missing in action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
William and two other Kirkinner men, Charles Melvin, Private 1797 and David McGaw, Private 1796, also of the 10th HLI, obviously enlisted together and were killed on the same day, the first day of the Battle of Loos.

ROBERT GRIFFEN, ROYAL HIGHLANDERS.

Robert Griffin, Private (S/5953) 1/7th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Age 28.
Robert was employed at Barglass Farm, Kirkinner when he enlisted in January 1915. He landed with the 10th Black Watch at Boulogne in September 1915 and later served with the 1st Battalion before joining the 1/7th Battalion.
Born 1889 in Wigtown. Son of John and Maggie (Adair) Griffin of Bladnoch, Wigtown, late of Craigdhu Farm, Glasserton.
Killed in action on 31 July 1917 and buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, Belgium.

Two of Robert's brothers were also killed. George Adair Griffin, Private (12125) 2nd Scots Guards on 16 May 1915, and John Griffin, Private (4614) 20th Royal Fusiliers on 22 May 1917. They are named on the Glasserton Parish War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:22 pm Post subject:

JOHN HOPKINS, HIGHLAND LIGHT INFR.

John Hopkins, Lance Corporal (1798) 18th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Age 24.
John was a labourer when he enlisted in December 1914. He was posted to the 2nd HLI in France in May 1915 before transferring to the 10th and then the 18th Battalions.
Born 1894 in Glenluce, Wigtownshire. Son of John and Ann (McGregor) Hopkins of Kirkinner.
Killed in Action on 29 March 1918 and buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme France.

WILLIAM LAWSON, SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS.

William Lawson, Private (202368) 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Formerly Private (26836) Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Age 29.
Born 1888 in West Linton, Peebleshire. Son of William and Margaret (Scott) Lawson of East Mains and of Knockencurr Farm, Kirkinner.
Missing in Action on 22 August 1917 and named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

GEORGE LEABODY, ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.

George Leabody, Gunner (125784 CWGC has 725784) 99th Brigade Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. Age 19.
George was a labourer at Moor Park, Kirkinner when he enlisted as Private (2744) in the 5th KOSB. He was discharged from the army on 19 March 1915 but obviously re-enlisted and joined his unit in Salonica, northern Greece. He died of fever in the 43rd General Hospital.
Born 1897 in Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Son of George and Helen (Downie)Leabody, of Claycrop Farm, Kirkinner.
Died on Active Service on 1 July 1917 and buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:33 pm Post subject:

ROBT. LITTERICK, KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BOR.

Robert Litterick, Private (1999 & 240562) 1/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 20.
Robert was a farm labourer in Whauphill when he enlisted as Private (1372) in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in May 1914. He was already serving as a Territorial with the 5th KOSB and was found to have made a mis-statement about his age, so he was discharged in June. He volunteered for overseas service with the KOSB in October 1914 and joined his battalion in Egypt in 1916.
Born 1896 in Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Son of John and Elizabeth (Cosh) Litterick of Crouse Farm, Kirkinner and of Drumtrodden and Sloehabbert Farms, Whauphill, Kirkinner.
Killed in action on 19 April 1917 and buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine.

ALEX. MARSHALL, KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BOR.

Alexander Marshall, Sergeant (16786) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 32.
Born 1885 in Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire. Son of Alexander Marshall of Newton Stewart and the late Sarah (Marshall) Marshall who had married in Kirkinner in 1883. Husband of Mary Ann Adamson (Marshall) Marshal of Princes Street, Newton Stewart (and later of Kilmarnock) who he married in 1905 in Penninghame. Alexander had been living in Stewarton, Ayrshire when he enlisted in April 1915.
Died of Wounds on 8 July 1916 and buried in La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, Somme, France.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart.

ROBERT MARSHALL, CANADIANS.

Robert Marshall, Private (A/38081 or 438081) 8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Age 25.
Born 1891 in Kirkinner. Son of John and Mary (McKie) Marshall of Kirkinner. Robert was a Locomotive Fireman when he enlisted in December 1914 at Port Arthur, Ontario. He was a serving member of the local militia, the 96th Battalion, the Lake Superior Regiment, which formed the 52nd Battalion of the Canadian Infantry and arrived in France in February 1916. He later was transferred to the 8th Battalion.
Killed in action on 26 September 1916 and buried in Courcelette British Cemetery, Somme, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:43 pm Post subject:

CHARLES MELVIN, HIGHLAND LIGHT INFR.

Charles Melvin, Private (1797) 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Age 20.
Charles worked at North Balfern Farm, Kirkinner when he enlisted in December 1914. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915.
Born 1895 in Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Son of the late William Melvin and of Catherine (Milveen) Melvin of Kirkinner.
Missing in action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.

And his brother

JOSEPH MELVIN, KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BOR.

Joseph Melvin, Private (16196) 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 30.
Joseph was living in Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire when he enlisted.
Born 1885 in Glasserton, Wigtownshire. Son of the late William Melvin and of Catherine (Milveen) Melvin of Kirkinner.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 13 August 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
The troopship Royal Edward was torpedoed and sunk by UB14 in the Aegean. Of the some 900 casualties, about 60 were from the 9th (Reserve) Battalion, KOSB as replacements for losses in the 1st Battalion.

JAMES MILROY, ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS.

James Milroy, Private (20804) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 21.
James was a grocer and postman at Newton Stewart when he enlisted in December 1915. He joined his battalion in France on 16 May 1916.
Born 1895 in Wigtown. Son of James and Annie (Gordon) Milroy of Hardisty, Alberta, Canada. In 1901 and 1911 the family lived in Kirkinner. They had moved to Canada by November 1919.
Missing in action on 14 July 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:52 pm Post subject:

THOS. McCHEYNE, CANADIANS.

Thomas McCheyne, Private (81625) 2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Age 25.
Born 1889 in Kirkinner. Son of the late Tom and of Elizabeth (McClelland) McCheyne of Wigtown. Thomas was farming at Miniota, Manitoba when he enlisted in December 1914. He was a serving member of the local militia, the 12th Manitoba Dragoons.
Killed in action on 26 April 1916 and buried in Woods Cemetery, Belgium.
Also named on the Wigtown War Memorial and on the Miniota War Memorial in Manitoba, together with his cousin Robert McCheyne, Private (186638) 27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry who died on 6 November 1917.
Note: Thomas was also a cousin of the brothers Alexander Joseph McCheyne, David McCubbing McCheyne, Francis Wallace McCheyne and James McCheyne who were killed in WW1 and who are listed on the Kells Parish War Memorial in New Galloway, Kirkcudbrightshire.

WM. McCONNELL, WEST YORKS.

William McConnell, Lance Corporal (16/357) 16th Battalion (1st Bradford), West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) Age 35.
William had been working as a draper and was living at Grosvenor Road in Bradford when he enlisted in the 1st Bradford Pals Battalion. He landed with his battalion in Egypt in December 1915 and was involved with the defences of the Suez Canal. His battalion move to France in March 1916.Born 1881 in Kirkinner. Son of James and Elizabeth (Stroyan) McConnell of Boreland and Maidland, Wigtown.
Killed in action on 27 July 1916 and buried in St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, France.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:06 pm Post subject:

DAVID McGAW, HIGHLAND LIGHT INFR.

David McGaw, Private (1796) 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Age 23.
David was employed at the Bladnoch Creamery when he enlisted in December 1914. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915.
Born 1892 in Kirkinner. Son of the late Alexander and Sarah (Brown) McGaw.
Missing in action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
Note: two other Kirkinner men, William Garrett, Corporal 1795 and Charles Melvin, Private 1797, also of the 10th HLI were killed on the same day - The first day of the Battle of Loos.

ALEX. McGUFFIE, KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BOR.

Alexander McGuffie, Private (16167) 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 20.
Born 1894 in Sorbie, Wigtownshire – as Anthony Alexander McGuffie Blair. Son of Margaret Blair. Foster son of Alexander and Margaret (Blair) McGuffie of Crouse Farm, Kirkinner. In 1911 Alexander, age 16, was a Farm Labourer and was living with his adoptive parents and family at Low Malzie Cot House, Kirkinner.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 13 August 1915 and named on the
Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Like Joseph Melvin (above) Alexander was on the troopship Royal Edward when it was torpedoed and sunk by UB14 in the Aegean.

EBEN RENNIE, ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS.

Ebenezer Rennie, Lance Corporal (40979) 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 30.
Ebenezer had been a gamekeeper at Braehead, Kirkinner, at Galloway House in Garlieston and was at Forest Moor, Kirkinner when he enlisted in December 1915. He was mobilised in May 1916 and joined his battalion in France in December 1916. He was wounded in March 1917, gassed in May 1918 and wounded again in August just after returning to his battalion. He rejoined them again in October but was fatally wounded on the 25th and died on the following day.
Born 1888 in Inch, Wigtownshire. Son of the late Ebenezer Rennie and of Elizabeth (Lochrie) Rennie, later Mrs Caldwell of Rowantree Street Colmonell, Ayrshire. Husband of Mary Catherine (Allan) Rennie of 60 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh who he married in 1913 in Kirkinner.
Died of wounds on 26 October 1918 and buried in Awoingt British Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Colmonell Parish War Memorial in Ayrshire, together with his brother Corporal (S/2353) Andrew Rennie, 8th Gordon Highlanders who was killed on 25 September 1915.
The family were living in the Colmonell area in 1901.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 4:21 pm Post subject:

WILLIAM RONNIE, ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS.

William Ronnie, Private (47719) 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 21.
William Ronnie or Roney was a farm servant at Port William, Mochrum, Wigtownshire, and aged just under 18, when he enlisted as Private (2211) in the 5th KOSB in October 1914. However in December he was discharged from the army as “not likely to become an efficient soldier”. He obviously re-enlisted and was on his way to join the 1/4th RSF in Palestine when he was killed.
Born 1896 in Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire – as William Roney. Son of John and Isabella (McDowall) Ronnie or Roney of Ballaird Farm, Kirkinner.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at Sea on 30 December 1917 and named on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt.
On the 30th December 1917, the Troopship S.S. Aragon arrived at Alexandria Harbour, having sailed from Marseilles with around 2,700 troops bound for the conflicts raging in Palestine. As she waited to enter the harbour she was torpedoed by the German Submarine UC-34.

JOHN SHILLAN, LANARKSHIRE YEOMANRY.

John Shillan, Private (1129) Lanarkshire Yeomanry. Age 22.
John was a farm servant at Waterside Farm, Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire when he enlisted in June 1915. He went through training at Aldershot and landed with his battalion, as dismounted infantry, at Gallipoli in October. He died of dysentery in the No.15 Stationary Hospital at Mudros on the island of Lemnos.
Born 1893 in Garlieston, Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Son of Robert and Elizabeth (Copland) Shillan of Stewarton and of South Balfern Farms, Kirkinner.
Died on Active Service on 13 November 1915 and buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos, Greece.

WILLIAM SMITH, ROYAL SCOTS.

William Smith, Private (4447 & 351580) 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots. Age 26.
William was employed at the Bladnoch Creamery when he enlisted in March 1916. He went to the Front in the December.
Born 1891 in Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Son of Charlotte Smith and grandson of David and Margaret Smith of March Farm Row, Whauphill, Kirkinner.
Killed in action on 21 April 1917 and buried in Athies Communal Cemetery Extension, France.