The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:27 pm Post subject: Upper Sorbie

UKNIWM Ref: 44423

Location – in the hamlet of Sorbie at the east side of the Whithorn to Wigtown road, OS Map Ref NX 436 468. Please note that this is NOT the Sorbie memorial; the Sorbie memorial is for the parish of Sorbie and is situated in Garlieston. This memorial is for Upper Sorbie!!

According to UKNIWM the cross shaft fell in a storm during the winter of 1989 – 1990 and it was restored in July 1996. This has obviously been well done because there is now no damage or repair apparent on the memorial.

A couple of puzzles on this memorial – AB David McLune and Pte Primrose (!) Brown I could not identify at all.

WW1 Names:
PTE ANDREW AIRD CAMERONS
PTE PRIMROSE BROWN HLI
PTE ROBERT GIBSON SCOTS GUARDS
CADET ALEXR HILL MERCANTILE MARINE
PTE WILLIAM HANNAH RSF
PTE JOHN D HANNAY CANADIANS
PTE DOUGLAS R M HANNAY RMLI
PTE CHARLES KERR BW
PTE FRED KIRK HLI
PTE GEORGE MARSHALL RSF
PTE JOHN MAXWELL KOSB
PTE JOHN MILLIGAN A&SH
AB DAVID McCLUNE RND
PTE SAMUEL McCLUNE CAMERONS
PTE JOHN NEIL KOSB
PTE WILLIAM ROBB RSF
PTE ROBERT THOMSON HLI

WW2 Names:
PTE JAMES KEVAN RF

Name: HILL, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Apprentice
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine
Unit Text: S.S. "City of Lincoln" (Liverpool)
Age: 19
Date of Death: 18/09/1917
Additional information: Son of Peter Gibson Hill and Jean Gibson Hill, of Baltier, Whithorn, Wigtownshire. Born in U.S.A.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Name: NEILL, JOHN (note different spelling of name)
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 38
Date of Death: 17/12/1917
Service No: 8335
Additional information: Husband of the late Susan McCutcheon Neill. Native of Sorbie, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: P. V. F. 6A.
Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

Name: MILLIGAN
Initials: J G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 10th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 11/06/1918
Service No: 22926
Additional information: Son of George and Grace Milligan, of Claunch, Sorbie, Wigtownshire. Born at Culbae, Kirkinner, Wigtownshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: E. 3.
Cemetery: ST. HILAIRE CEMETERY EXTENSION, FREVENT

Name: KEVAN, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Fusilier
Regiment/Service: Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 04/02/1944
Service No: 14209117
Additional information: Son of James and Margaret Kevan, of Sorbie, Wigtownshire; husband of Isobel J. S. Kevan, of Sorbie.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III, F, 23.
Cemetery: MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:13 am Post subject:

I think 'Primrose Brown' is this man - he also appears on the Whithorn memorial as Pte M Primrose Brown which gave me the clue. It doesn't help when the first name and regiment are both wrong along with a common surname!

Surname BROWN
Firstname Matthew P
Service Number S/43512
Date Death 06/09/1916
Decoration
Place of birth Whithorn Wigtownshire
Other 2nd Bn.
SNWM roll THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS
Rank L/Cpl
Theatre of death F.& F.

spoons · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject:

I visited this memorial last week and it was in much the same condition, fine apart from missing letters. I have contacted the War Memorials Trust who will contact the local council to see if the letters can be replaced.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject:

Received the following mail from the War Memorials Trust:

"I am writing to update you about our progress with Upper Sorbie war memorial which you reported a concern about on 3rd March.

Since then, we have made contact with the war memorial’s custodian Dumfries and Galloway Council. They said they do an annual inspection of war memorials and have noticed letters have fallen off. They will get some quotes and apply to our grant scheme in Scotland."

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 10:12 am Post subject:

An "odd" statistic. Every WW1 casualty is also named on at least one other War Memorial.

PTE. ANDREW AIRD, CAMERONS.
Andrew Aird, Private (5836) 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders. Age 35.
Andrew was a former soldier and was a postman in Glenluce, Wigtownshire when he enlisted. He joined his old regiment in France in September 1914.
Born c.1880 in Sorbie. Son of John and Grace (McCreadie) Aird of Sorbie. Husband of Sarah (Ferguson) Aird of Glenluce, Wigtownshire. (Later Mrs. John Clive of Springburn, Glasgow) who he married in 1907 in Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Missing in action on 24 October 1914 and named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Glenluce War Memorial.

PTE. PRIMROSE BROWN, H.L.I.
Matthew Primrose Brown, Lance Corporal (S/43512) 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Age 19.
Matthew enlisted in November 1915, was posted as Private (S/21568) to the 6th Cameron Highlanders in France in June 1916 and was transferred to the Gordons.
Born 1897 in Whithorn, Wigtownshire. Son of John and Marion (Findlay) Brown of Bridgehouse Farm, Sorbie/Whithorn.
Killed in action on 6 September 1916 and buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France.
Also named on the Whithorn War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 10:32 am Post subject:

PTE. ROBERT GIBSON, SCOTS GUARDS.
Robert Gibson, Private (9572) 1st Battalion, Scots Guards. Age 23.
Robert had been educated at Sorbie School and was a ploughman at Reifer Park Farm when he joined the City of Glasgow Police Force in June 1913. He had served in the “C” Division and was living in Cubie Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow when he enlisted in August 1914. Robert joined his battalion in France in January 1915 and was killed at La Bassee.
Born 1892 at Bridge House, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire. Son of Alexander and Isabella Gibson of Sorbie.
Killed in action on 25 January 1915 and named on Le Touret Memorial, France.
Also named on the Whithorn Royal Burgh and Parish War Memorial, on the Penninghame Parish War Memorial in Newton Stewart, on the City of Glasgow Police Memorial and on the Glasgow Roll of Honour.

CADET, ALEXR. HILL, MERCANTILE MARINE.
Alexander Hill, Apprentice: S.S. City of Lincoln (Liverpool) Mercantile Marine. Age 19.
Born c.1898 in New York, USA. Son of Peter Gibson Hill and of Jean (Jolly) Hill of Baltier Farm, Sorbie.
Killed by enemy action/Lost at sea on 18 September 1917 and named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, and on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.
The “City of Lincoln” was attacked by the German Submarine U106 in the Western Approaches as she was sailing from Holland to New York. 9 of the crew were killed.

PTE. WILLIAM HANNAH, RSF.
William James Stewart Hannah, Lance Corporal (11981) 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 26.
William landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915.
Born 1889 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame, Wigtownshire. Son of Alexander and Margaret (Cumming) Hannah.
William worked on his grandmother's farm - Mrs. Ellen Cumming of Waulkmill Farm, Sorbie; who he named as his next-of-kin.
Missing in action on 27 September 1915 and named on the Loos Memorial, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 10:52 am Post subject:

PTE. JOHN D. HANNAY, CANADIANS.
John Douglas Hannay, Private (432300) 49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Age 29.
John had emigrated to Canada in 1900 and was working with a railway company as a teamster when he enlisted in Edmonton, Alberta in January 1915. He sailed from Montreal in June and was posted to France in October 1915. He was wounded in June 1916 and treated at the 23rd General Hospital at Etaples. He was able to rejoined his unit on 19 September but was killed three weeks later.
Born 1887 in Kirkinner, Wigtownshire. Son of John and Mary (Cairney) Hannay of Poulton Farm, Garlieston, Sorbie.
Missing in action on 4 October 1916 and named on the Vimy Memorial, France. Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

and his brother

PTE. DOUGLAS R. M. HANNAY, R.M.L.I.
Douglas Ronald Maurice Hannay, Private (Ply/1400S) Royal Marine Light Infantry, 2nd Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division. Age 20.
Douglas enlisted in the RMLI in February 1916 and in February 1917 he was posted to the 2nd Royal Marine Battalion.
Born 1897 in Kelvin, Glasgow. Son of John and Mary (Cairney) Hannay of Poulton Farm, Garlieston, Sorbie. The youngest child of the family, Douglas was born in his maternal grandparents home in Glasgow and was educated at Carlisle Grammer School.
Missing in action on 6 November 1917 and named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

PTE. CHARLES KERR, BW.
Charles Kerr, Private (5238 & 267228) 8th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Age 32.
Charles assisted his father on their farm when he enlisted as Private (6854) in the 1/2nd Scottish Horse Yeomanry in September 1914. He landed with his battalion at Gallipoli a year later but contracted enteric fever and was evacuated home. When he recovered he was posted as Private (5238) to the 1/6th Battalion of the Black Watch in France but was wounded and evacuated to hospital in England. He then joined the 8th Black Watch.
Born 1886 in Sorbie. Son of William and Agnes (Stroyan) Kerr of Palmallet House, Garlieston, Sorbie.
Missing in action on 19 July 1918 and named on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Alson named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 11:11 am Post subject:

PTE. FRED KIRK, HLI.
Frederick Kirk, Private (31167) 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Age 21.
Born 1896 in Sorbie. Son of James Anderson Kirk and of Mary (Cannon) Kirk of East Culkae Farm, Sorbie.
Died of wounds on 12 July 1917 and buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

PTE. GEORGE MARSHALL, RSF.
George Marshall, Private (6488) 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Age 20.
The 2nd RSF were in Gibraltar in August 1914. They returned to England and then landed at Zeebrugge on 6 October 1914. George was killed at Langemark 3 weeks later.
Born 1894 in Kirkinner, Wigtownshire. Son of the late William and Helen (Dorian) Marshall. Brother of Stewart Marshall of Culscadden Farm, Garlieston, Sorbie.
Missing in action on 24 October 1914 and named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

PTE. JOHN MAXWELL, KOSB.
John Maxwell, Private (23048) 1/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 19.
John had enlisted in 1915 and had been based in Edinburgh as a Lewis Gun Instructor until July 1917 when he was posted to the 1/5th KOSB in Palestine.
Born 1898 in Sorbie. Son of Samuel and Annie (McShane) Maxwell of Port William, Mochrum, Wigtownshire. In 1901 the family were at Arrow Farm, Glasserton, Wigtownshire and in 1911 were in Sorbie.
Killed in action on 13 November 1917 and buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.
Also named on the War Memorials of Sorbie Parish in Garlieston Village, of Glasserton Parish and of Mochrum Parish in Port William.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 11:32 am Post subject:

PTE. JOHN MILLIGAN, A&SH.
John George Milligan, Private (22926) 10th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Age 26.
John had been a policeman with the Dumfriesshire Constabulary since May 1913 and had served in Dumfries, Lochmaben and Eastriggs. He was in Moffat when he enlisted in February 1916. He was mobilised in November 1917 and joined his battalion in France in March 1918. John died in the 19th Casualty Clearing Station in Frevent.
Born 1892 at Culbae, Kirkinner, Wigtownshire. Son of George and Grace (Paterson) Milligan of Claunch Farm, Sorbie.
Died of wounds on 11 June 1918 and buried in St. Hilaire Cemetery Extension, Frevent, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston and on the Moffat War Memorial.

A.B. DAVID McCLUNE, RND.
[SERVED AS DAVID MCCLURE]
David McClure, Able Seaman (Clyde Z/1357) Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division. Age 25.
David was a Spirits Salesman in Glasgow when he enlisted in October 1914. He served at Gallipoli, where he was wounded, before being posted to France in May 1916. He was wounded on 21 April and died on the following day at No.19 Casualty Clearing Station.
Born 1891 in Sorbie. Son of David and Margaret (Melvin) McClune of Sorbie and later of Buccleuch Street, Glasgow.
In 1911 the family were living in Sorbie and David, age 20, was working at the United Creamery.
By 1914 the family were in Glasgow, at Granville Street and then at Buccleuch Street.
Died of Wounds on 22 Aprl 1917 and buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

and his cousin

PTE. SAMUEL McCLUNE, CAMERONS.
Samuel McClune, Private (14749) 1st (Garrison) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Formerly Private (S/17655) Cameron Highlanders. Age 24.
Born 1894 in Sorbie. Son of Samuel and Jane (Melvin) McClune.
Died on active service on 20 October 1918 in No. 29 General Hospital, Salonica and buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalmaria, Greece.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.
The 1st Garrison Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders was formed at Tillicoultry in July 1916 and moved to Salonika in August 1916. It was placed under command of 228th Brigade in 28th Division and came under the command of the Greek Crete Division from 30 September 1918.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 11:58 am Post subject:

PTE. JOHN NEIL, KOSB.
[Note:CWGC spell his name as Neill all other record use Neil]
John Neil, Private (8335) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 38.
John was a former soldier who had served in the South African War. Prior to enlisting he had been employed at Whitehills Farm in Sorbie. He joined the 2nd KOSB in France in January 1915 and was wounded three times. He served with the 8th KOSB, the 7th/8th KOSB and the 6th KOSB. John died in the 12th General Hospital in Rouen.
Born c.1879 in Sorbie. Son of the late Archibald and Anne (Baxter) Neil. Husband of the late Susan (McCutcheon) Neil who he married in 1905 in Glasserton, Wigtownshire. Susan died in 1917 in Sorbie and John named his mother-in-law Agnes McCutcheon as the guardian of his 3 boys.
Died of wounds on 17 December 1917 and buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

PTE. WILLIAM ROBB, RSF.
William Robb, Private (43553) 9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Age 22.
William was employed at the Sorbie Creamery when he enlisted in March 1915. He was posted as Private (20803) to the 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers in France but transferred to the Cameronians.
Born 1895 in Glasserton, Wigtownshire. Son of Jane Robb of Sorbie.
Missing in action on 3 May 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston.

PTE. ROBERT THOMSON, HLI.
Robert Thomson, Private (41981) 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Age 20.
Robert was posted as Private (24549) to the Royal Scots Fusiliers in France but was transferred to the 12th HLI.
Born 1896 in Sorbie. Son of John and Elizabeth (Shennan) Thomson of Sorbie Village.
Killed in action on 9 April 1917 and buried in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt, France.
Also named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial in Garlieston - as Pte. Robert Thomson, RSF.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 12:04 pm Post subject:

1939 - 1945

PTE. JAMES KEVAN, R.F.
James Kevan, Fusilier (14209117) 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) Age 24.
Born 1920 in Whithorn, Wigtownshire. Son of James and Margaret (McShane) Kevan of Sorbie. Husband of Isobel J. Sarah (McCallie) Kevan of Sorbie who he married in 1943 in Sorbie.
Killed in action 4 February 1944 and buried in Minturno War Cemetery, Italy.

Ken - with many thanks to Mike Morley for lots of help with research.

sidney · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Cardiff

Lance Corporal Thomas Orr, 27392, 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
Died 27th October 1916, aged 29, Somme - commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.

Born in Sorbie, Wigtownshire

Married to Bessie Wilson of Penkiln Terrace, Minigaff

My Great-Grandfather.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 2:11 pm Post subject:

Hi Sidney and welcome to the forum.

Your Great-Grandfather (and his brother) are named on the Sorbie Parish War Memorial which is on the sea-front in Garlieston Village. Your Great- Great-Grandparents lived in South Street, Garlieston

Cpl. JAMES ORR, LONDON SCOTTh.
James Orr, Corporal (5042 & 511490) 1/14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish) Age 27.
Born 1890 in Sorbie. Son of James and Elizabeth (McQueen) Orr of South Street, Garlieston.
Killed in action 16 April 1917 and buried in Gouy-en-Artois Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

and his brother

L.Cpl. THOMAS ORR, K.O. SCOTTISH BORDERERS.
Thomas Orr, Lance Corporal (27392) 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. Age 29.
Born 1887 in Sorbie. Son of James and Elizabeth (McQueen) Orr of South Street, Garlieston. Husband of Bessie (Wilson) Orr of Penkiln Terrace, Minnigaff who he married in 1910 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame, Wigtownshire. Thomas was Head Gardener on an Oxfordshire estate having previously been with the Earl of Galloway at Cumloden, Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Missing in action 27 October 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

It's a bit confusing but the memorial in Sorbie Village is for folks from the "upper district of Sorbie" whereas the one in Garliieston was intended to be for the whole parish.
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic2128-0-asc-0.html
_________________
Ken

sidney · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Cardiff

Thanks for this Kenneth, I didn't know about his brother so I have more to research now.
The 1911 census records Thomas and Bessie as living at Glenmalloch Lodge on the Galloway estate in Wigtownshire where Thomas was employed as a gardener (His son, Wilson was later to become head gardener to the estate). Thomas and Bessie had three children.

I have a copy of an extract from a church magazine (St Columba’s church), containing a memorial notice for Thomas Orr and which has been kept in our family. It reads:
“ Pte Thomas Orr. – We hear with much regret that Mr Thomas Orr, of the Cameron Highlanders, was killed in France on October 25th. Mr Orr had not long been connected with St Columba’s when he had to return to Scotland; but his and his wife’s names continued to be on our Communion Roll; and we unite in expressing our deepest sympathy in this great loss to herself and their three little children. Mr Orr’s captain writes that his death was due to shell shock. He was one of a party engaged in trench work when a shell exploded , and he was killed instantly.”
The notice confusingly refers to Private Thomas Orr of the Cameron highlanders and his date of death as Oct 25th but given that this notice was presumably sent on to Bessie from the church and given the reference to the wife and three children returning to Scotland, I’m presuming it does refer to Thomas.

I do have a photo of him, but don't know how to upload on here.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 8:01 pm Post subject:

Sidney - I have sent you a Private Message.
_________________
Ken