The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 3:30 pm Post subject:

PTE. JOHN HODKINSON 72nd SEA.H. C.E.F.
John Patterson Hodkinson – age 28 – Private (129418) 72nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada)
John had been a well-known local footballer and worked at the Commercial Bank in Newton Stewart for four years before he emigrated to Canada and joined the Mount Pleasant branch of the Royal Bank of Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia in June 1913. He was a member of the local militia, 72nd Regiment Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, and he was in the East End branch of the bank when he enlisted in September 1915. He sailed with his battalion from Canada in April 1916 and landed in France in August 1916. John served at Ypres, Arras, the Somme and at Vimy Ridge where he was killed.
Born 1889 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame. Son of the late Daniel and Janet (Patterson) Hodkinson.
He named his sister, Mrs Agnes Blacklock of Hulme Park Newton Stewart as his next of kin.
Killed in Action on 9 April 1917 and buried in Givenchy-en-Gohelle Canadian Cemetery, Souchez, France.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart, on the Penninghame Parish Church Memorial and on the Royal Bank of Canada memorial in Montreal.

PTE. GEORGE E. C. HUNTER 5th CAMRNS.
George Edwin Clarke Hunter – age 19 – Private (6762) 5th/6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
George was working in a shipping company in Glasgow and was living at 162 Great Western Road when he enlisted as Private (6922) in the 1/5th Cameronians. He landed with his battalion at Le Havre in November 1914 and merged with the 1/6th Battalion in May 1916.
Born 1896 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame. Son of James Hunter, Post Master at Newton Stewart and later at Hawick, Roxburghshire, and of his first wife Mary Elizabeth (Clarke) Hunter.
Killed in Action on 24 August 1916 and buried in Thistle Dump Cemetery, High Wood, Longueval, Somme, France.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart, on the Hawick Municipal Roll of Honour and on the Glasgow Roll of Honour.

PTE. HERBERT B. IRVING 14th H.L.Inf.
Herbert Bell Irving – age 19 – Private (56688) 14th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Born 1898 in Penninghame. Son of James Irving (Chemist & Druggist) and Fanny Brown (Ferguson) Irving of 8 Victoria Street, Newton Stewart.
Missing in Action on 9 April 1918 and named on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart and on the Penninghame Parish Church Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 3:38 pm Post subject:

PTE. ANDREW KAY 7th R. SUS. RT.
Andrew Kay – age 20 – Private (G/23013) 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
Andrew was the son of Bailie Kay, Provost of Newton Stewart, and was employed in his father's bakery business when he enlisted in 1917. He was posted initially to the 13th Battalion of the RSR. Andrew was originally buried in Sussex Cemetery but was re-interred in Beacon Cemetery in 1921.
Born 1898 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame. Son of Andrew and Mary Irving (Steven) Kay of Albert Street, Newton Stewart.
Killed in Action on 8 August 1918 and buried in Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, Somme, France.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart and on the United Free Church Memorial now in Penninghame Parish Church.

PTE. ALEXr. KEACHIE 1/5 K.O.S.BORDS.
Served as:
Alexander McKeachie – age 23 – Private (1220) 1/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Prior to the outbreak of war Alexander was employed as a vanman with grocers Messrs K A Muir & Sons in Whithorn, Wigtownshire. He was a member of Mr Martin's Brass Band and an enthusiastic footballer. He went out to the Middle-East in June 1915 but, while the main part of battalion landed at Gallipoli, the Transport section remained in Egypt. Alexander was drowned in the sea in a swimming accident.
Born 1891 at Stonehouse, Sorbie, Wigtownshire as Keachie. Son of Andrew and Margaret (McDonald) Keachie of 81 George Street, Whithorn.
Died on Active Service on 4 August 1915 and buried in Alexandria (Chatby) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Also named on the Whithorn Burgh War Memorial.

PTE. ERNEST McCLELLAND 1st CAM.HRS.
Ernest McClelland – age 25 – Private (S/17892) 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
Ernest was a farmer of Croft-an-Righ, Wigtown when he enlisted as Private (5885 & 4108) in the Scottish Horse Yeomanry in September 1914. However he was declared to have deserted in April 1915 but he had in fact enlisted in the Cameron Highlanders and declared his absence from his previous unit. He joined his battalion in France in June 1915 but was wounded during the battle of Loos in September and after treatment in hospital in France he was evacuated to the Military Hospital at Oldmills in Aberdeen. Ernest rejoined his battalion in September 1916 but was wounded in November and died a week later in the 56th (1/1st South Midland) Casualty Clearing Station at Dernancourt.
Born 1891 in Wigtown. Son of Andrew and Mary (Broadfoot) McClelland of Glenturk Farm, of Croft-an-Righ and of Redbrae, Wigtown.
Died of Wounds on 24 November 1916 and buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Also named on the Wigtown Burgh and Parish War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 3:43 pm Post subject:

PTE. SAMUEL McCLURE 16th R.SCOTS.
Samuel McClure – age 42 – Private (46600) 16th Battalion (2nd Edinburgh) Royal Scots.
Samuel had been an Insurance Clerk and Surveyor with the Guardian Assurance Company in Leith and was living at 51 West Holme Gardens in Musselburgh when he enlisted in November 1915. He was mobilised in July 1917 and posted to the 16th Battalion in France in January 1918.
Born 1876 in Garlieston, Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Son of William and Catherine Cox (Puckett) McClure. Husband of Margaret (Anderson) McClure who he married in 1908 in Edinburgh.
Missing in Action on 22 March 1918 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston village.

L/Sgt. JAMES C.M. McDAVID 6th K.O.S,B.
James Clymont Maitland McDavid – age 22 – Lance Sergeant (240203) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
James served with the Territorial 5th KOSB and was mobilised as Private (1307) in August 1914. He joined the 6th KOSB in France in early 1917. Born 1894 in Creetown, Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of the late Joseph McDavid and Isabella (McClymont) McDavid of St. John Street, Creetown.
Missing in Action on 3 May 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Kirkmabreck Parish War Memorial in Creetown.

and his brother

PTE. JOHN R, McDAVID 1/6th R.HIGHRS.
John Rae McDavid – age 18 – Private (41156) 1/6th (Perthshire) Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
“Jack” was employed in the Commercial Bank in Newton Stewart. He enlisted in June 1917 and was posted as Private (S/23224) to the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in France on 31 March 1918. He was transferred to the Black Watch and less than two weeks later was fatally wounded. He died in the 4th Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in Pernes.
Born 1899 in Creetown, Kirkmabreck. Son of the late Joseph McDavid and Isabella (McClymont) McDavid of St. John Street, Creetown.
Died of Wounds on 12 April 1918 and buried in Pernes British Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Kirkmabreck Parish War Memorial in Creetown and on the Commercial Bank memorial now in the RBS St Andrew's Square, Edinburgh.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 4:06 pm Post subject:

Lt. WILLIAM McGEOCH 9th K.O.S.B.
William McGeoch – age 29 – Second Lieutenant: King's Own Scottish Borderers attached to 8th Trench Mortar Battery.
William had been apprenticed to a solicitor in Newton Stewart before moving to practice in Glasgow and then in Greenock. He enlisted in January 1915 and joined the Motor Machine Gun Service of the Machine Gun Corps as Gunner (325). He landed in France in March 1915. William was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the KOSB in January 1916, returned to France in March and was seconded to the 8th TMB, attached to the 2nd Royal Scots, in August 1916.
Born 1887 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame. Son of James Murray McGeoch and of Jane Ramage (McKean) McGeoch of 71 Victoria Street, Newton Stewart.
Killed in Action on 13 October 1916 and buried in Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart and on the Penninghame Parish Church Memorial.

PTE. WALTER A. McKEAND 72nd SEA.H.CEF.
Walter Armstrong McKeand – age 29 – Private (2137707) 72nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada)
Walter was a bank cashier in Ismay, Montana, USA when he received his draft card to register for service with the US Army. He made his way over the border to Victoria in British Columbia where he enlisted in December 1917. He sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia in April 1918 and joined his battalion in France in August but he was killed six weeks later.
Born 1889 at Cumloden Mill, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of George and Marion (Armstrong) McKeand of Cumloden Mill and of Gairland, Minnigaff.
Killed in Action on 29 September 1918 and buried in Bourlon Wood Cemetery, Cambrai, France.
Also named on the Minnigaff Parish War Memorial and on the Creebridge Free Church Memorial now in Penninghame Parish Church in Newton Stewart.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 4:32 pm Post subject:

CAPT. JOHN McMURRAY 12th R. SCOTS.
John McMurray – age 44 – Captain, 12th Battalion, Royal Scots.
John had served his law apprenticeship in Wigtown and he studied at Edinburgh University before becoming a law clerk in Edinburgh. In 1911 he was lodging at 90 South Clerk Street, Newington, St.Giles in Edinburgh. He enlisted in the Royal Scots as a Private in December 1914 and was appointed Company Quatermaster Sergeant by February 1915. He was commissioned in May, was promoted to Lieutenant in the 16th Battalion in June and landed with them at Le Havre in January 1916. He was promoted to Captain in September 1916 but was killed the following year at Passchendaele. He held the volunteer long service medal having served in the Galloway Rifles for four years and in the 1st Battalion Queen's Edinburgh (afterwards the Royal Scots) for 16 years.
Born 1873 Glasserton, Wigtownshire. Son of the late James McMurray (Keeper of the County Buildings in Wigtown) and of Margaret (McClure) McMurray of 79 Crawford Avenue, Wavertree, Liverpool.
Missing in Action on 12 October 1917 and named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Edinburgh University Roll of the Fallen.
His brother David Simpson McMurray also fell, three days earlier, while serving as Private (5088) with the 26th Battalion, Australian Infantry.

2nd Lt. ALEXr. V. STEWART 4th GORD.H.
Alexander Vivian Stewart – age 21 – Second Lieutenant: 1/4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
Alexander had completed his education at Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh was studying medicine at Edinburgh University when he enlisted as Private (2371) in the 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots in September 1914. He landed with his battalion at Le Havre in February 1915 and served in France before being selected for officer training. He was commissioned in the Gordons in December 1916 and was killed near Arras.
Born 1895 in Creebridge United Free Church Manse, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of The Rev. Alexander Stewart and of Mary Jane (Rae) Stewart of Creebridge, Minnigaff and of 21 Greenbank Crescent, Edinburgh.
Missing in Action on 23 April 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Minnigaff Parish War Memorial, on the Boroughmuir High School Memorial in Edinburgh, on the Edinburgh University Roll of the Fallen and on the Creebridge Free Church Memorial now in Penninghame Parish Church.

and his brother

2nd Lt. NATHANIEL W. STEWART 7th R.SCOTS.
Nathaniel William Stewart – age 25 – Lieutenant: 7th Battalion, Royal Scots attached to the Royal Flying Corps.
Nathaniel had completed his education at Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh, was studying Arts, Medicine and Science at Edinburgh University, and had been a member of the Officer Training Corps since 1910, when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2/7th Royal Scots in August 1914. He was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1915 and in April 1916 was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps as a Flying Officer (Observer) He served, from August 1915, at Gallipoli and in Egypt. Nathaniel was an Observer on a Short 184 Seaplane based on the converted merchant ship HMS Anne. He was hit by Turkish rifle fire as he was directing naval gun-fire from HMS Fox during the attack by Arab Forces (co-ordinated by Captain T. E. Lawrence – “Lawrence of Arabia”) on the Red Sea port of Wejh.
Born 1891 in Creebridge United Free Church Manse, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of the Rev. Alexander Stewart and of Mary Jane (Rae) Stewart of Creebridge, Minnigaff and of 21 Greenbank Crescent, Edinburgh.
Killed in Action on 23 January 1917 and named on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
Also named on the Minnigaff Parish War Memorial, on the Boroughmuir High School Memorial in Edinburgh, on the Edinburgh University Roll of the Fallen and on the Creebridge Free Church Memorial now in Penninghame Parish Church.

PTE. JOHN STEWART 17th H.L.Inf.
John Stewart – age 26 – Private (30507) 16th Battalion (2nd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry.
John had served his apprenticeship at the Commercial Bank in Newton Stewart before moving to Gretna. He enlisted in Carlisle and served in the Lewis Gun Section of his battalion.
Born 1889 in Penninghame. Son of John and Isabella Mair (Dunlop) Stewart of 10 Arthur Street, Newton Stewart.
Killed in Action on 18 November 1916 and buried in New Munich Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, France.
Also named named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart and on the Penninghame Parish Church Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 4:50 pm Post subject:

PTE. PETER F. STEWART 9th GORD.H.
Peter was the youngest of four brothers killed in the war.
Peter Stewart – age 22 – Private (S/7623) 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
Peter was employed as a clerk and was living with his brothers Charles, George and William at 16 Irene Street, Parsons Green, Fuham, London when he enlisted in November 1914. He landed with his battalion at Boulogne in July 1915 but was killed two months later during the battle of Loos.
Born 1893 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame. Son of James and Janet (McKeand) Stewart of "Rosehill," York Road and of 13 Station Road, Newton Stewart.
Missing in Action on 25 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart.

and the second youngest:

PTE. WILLIAM STEWART R.A.M. CORPS.
William Stewart – age 26 – Private (95646) 35th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
William was an insurance clerk, living with his brothers Charles, George and Peter at 16 Irene Street, Parsons Green, Fuham, London, and working in the London and Lancashire Life and General Insurance Company when he enlisted in February 1916. He was mobilised in January 1917.
Born 1892 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame. Son of James and Janet (McKeand) Stewart of "Rosehill," York Road and of 13 Station Road, Newton Stewart.
Died of Wounds on 3 October 1918 and buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France.
Also named on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart.

L/CORP. GEORGE F. TODD 5th CAMRNS.
George Frederick Todd – age 20 – Lance Corporal (8775 & 201058) 5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
George was working in his father's office of the Procurator Fiscal in Wigtown when he enlisted in April 1915 and he joined his battalion in France in 1916.
He was buried at Frise on the Somme but was re-interred in Assevillers in May 1920.
Born 1896 in Wigtown. Son of Hugh and Catherine (MacGregor) Todd of Dunure House, Wigtown.
Killed in Action on 6 March 1917 and buried in Assevillers New British Cemetery, Somme, France.
Also named on the Wigtown Burgh and Parish War Memorial.

CAPT. WILLIAM WALKER D.F.C. C.deG. R.A.F.
William Walker, Distinguished Flying Cross and Croix de Guerre (Belgium) – age 24 – Captain, 6 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
William served his apprenticeship at the British Linen Bank in Newton Stewart and was working in Edinburgh when he enlisted as Private (1695) in the 1/4th Battalion (Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles) Royal Scots. He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915 and later served in Egypt and Palestine as Private (200278) before he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the Royal Flying Corps in March 1918. He was awarded a Belgian Croix de Guerre as Temp. 2nd Lieut. W. Walker RFC. and a DFC as Lieut. (T./Capt.) William Walker. “On August 9th accurate information as to the whereabouts of our cavalry patrols was urgently required; Captain Walker undertook to obtain this. After patrolling for three hours at a very low altitude, subjected to intense machine-gun fire, he brought back the requisite information. This officer had already completed two previous reconnaissances that day, and on the day before he had flown for six and a half hours engaging enemy aeroplanes and troops. A striking example of courage, endurance and devotion to duty.“
William's RE8 aircraft was found crashed with his fatally wounded Observer 2nd Lieutenant M.A. Waterer nearby, but William was not found.
Born 1894 at Croft-an-Righ, Wigtown. Son of the late Alexander Davidson Walker (solicitor) and of the late Ellen (MacLelland) Walker of Wigtown.
He named his brother James of Croft-an-Righ, Wigtown as his next of kin.
Missing in Action on 8 October 1918 and named on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. France.
Also named on the Wigtown Burgh and Parish War Memorial and on the British Linen Bank memorial in the Bank of Scotland in St. Andrew's Square in Edinburgh.
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Ken