Andrew Sloan

Andrew Sloan of Ochiltree enrolled in Ayrshire Yeomanry in 1904 aged 18. He was working for farmer Hugh Sloan (his father) at Carbello Crossing. He was 5 ft 5  and 3/4 and had a chest measurement of 34 inches.
Discharged in 11 Apr 1916 under para 392 (XXI) King's regulations - the termination of his period of service. This Andrew Sloan married Grace Findlay and died in Twynholm in 1983, so …
                             
  who is Trooper Andrew Sloan on the War Memorial? There are only two WW1 casualties called Andrew Sloan: one  from Cathcart and one from Motherwell. Neither have Ayrshire or farming connections.

Abraham Yates

Abraham Yates was born in Dalmellington on 26 Jul 1891 to Samuel Yates and Jeanie Ferguson Hyslop. He is my second cousin, twice removed.

His service record survives.

He enlisted in the RSF, 5th Btn  for a term of 4 years in 31 May 1913 in Catrine as a bandsman, service number 6949.  He was a miner, 21 years old, 5ft 6in tall with a chest measurement of 38 in. He seems to have spent most of his service in the RSF but was in the 12th Btn the Royal Scots when he fell in France in 1918.
His parents brothers and sisters were all living at Market Place, Auchinleck in 1920 when his father had to fill out a list of his family. He wasn't married. He was 26 when he died.

Cumnock Connections tree

1901 census
1 Greenock Mains, Auchinleck
Samuel Yates 39 coal miner b England
Jeanie Yates 35 b Cumnock
Helen Yates 14
Abraham Yates 9
James Yates 8
Samuel Yates 5
William Yates 4
Joseph Yates 2 b Auchinleck
Ann Yates 1 Mo b Auchinleck
rest born Dalmellington

In 1891 the family was at 33 Benquhat, Dalmellington

Samuel Yates             29

Jeanie Yates             25

Helen Yates             4

Corporal Abraham Yates 12th Btn Royal Scots  270338 killed in action 19 Apr 1918

CWGC

His medal card does not mention his RSF number and I would have thought he was entitled to all three medals. Anyone know?

He is on the Tyne Cot Memorial in France and his grave is in Auchinleck Cemetery.

Hugh Williamson

Another casualty of the Battle of Loos was Hugh R B Williamson. He was born in Lugar about 1893 to Matthew Williamson and Jane Brown. He was reported missing in the Scotsman on 7 Oct 1915. According to the Scotsman, he was an employee of Wm Baird & Co, Lugar Office.
I think his full name is Hugh Ross Brown Williamson after his mother's brother Hugh Ross Brown b 1870

1901 census
11 Craigstone Row, Lugar

Matthew Williamson             42 engine keeper

Jane Brown Williamson             39

Samual Williamson             17

Bella Williamson             15

James B Williamson             12

Agnes R Williamson             5

Hugh R B Williamson             8

Alexander B Williamson             2

David B Williamson             4 M

Cumnock Connections tree

CWGC

Name:	Hugh Williamson
Birth Place:	Auchinleck, Ayrshire
Residence:	Lugar, Ayrshire
Death Date:	25 Sep 1915
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Battalion:	7th Battalion
Number:	S/12870
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

He is on Lugar War Memorial.

William Curragh Rodger

This stone is in Cumnock old cemetery.  William Curragh Rodger was born in Auchtermuchty in Fife about 1896, he is the grandson of William Orr Curragh and Bethia Graham, son of Agnes Graham and Robert Rodger.

In the 1901 census the family in is 415 Brick Row Lugar
Robert Rodger     24 ammonia finisher? b Whithorn
Agnes Rodger     34 b b Lugar
William Rodger     5 b Auchtermuchty
James Rodger     3 b Cumnock
Bethia Rodger     1  b Auchinleck

Cumnock Connections tree

Ancestry has this

Name:	William C. Rodger
Residence:	Saltcoats, Ayrshire
Death Date:	22 Mar 1918
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Ayr
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Battalion:	6/7th Battalion
Number:	48240
Type of Casualty:	Died of wounds
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

He is down as W C Rodgers on CWGC He died of wounds in France on 22 March 1918 and is commemorated in Grevilliers British Cemetery in France. He is not on Cumnock Memorial, nor Auchinleck, Lugar, Saltcoats or Auchtermuchty.

James Harkness

James Harkness was the only son of William Harkness and Agnes Paterson, born about 1882 in Dalrymple.


1901 census
145 Commonloch, Lugar, Auchinleck

William J Harkness             44 iron stone miner b Ireland

Agnes Harkness             49  b Ireland

James Harkness             19 coal miner b Dalrymple

Sarah Harkness             16 dressmaker b Dalrymple

He was a coal miner when he married Elizabeth Sneddon of Tower St Cumnock on 31 December 1906.

Cumnock  connections tree

Ancestry has this on him

Name:	James Harkness
Residence:	Cumnock, Ayrshire
Death Date:	7 Dec 1917
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Ayr
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Highland Light Infantry
Battalion:	9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion (Territorial)
Number:	350356
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre
Comments:	Formerly 8424, R. Scot. Fus.

CWGC

His wife was living in Elbow Lane.

The Cumnock Chronicle says in an obituary.

He enlisted nearly three years ago and was in France for 4 months. He had an active interest in the affairs of Common Thistle FC and had worked for some time at Glenburn Colliery.

He had 2 children William James and Sarah

His widow married Thomas Broom a coal miner in 1918.

Thomas Hewitson

Killed in action on the 29th November 1917, this man appears to have re-enlisted after having been discharged.

Thomas  Hewitson was born in Cumnock in 1895 to John Robert Hewitson and Agnes Tanner. His mother died in 1900 and in 1901 he was living with his father and paternal grandparents in Dalry. His father married Agnes Porteous in December 1901 and the family returned to the area.

1901 census
Burnside St, Dalry

Thomas Hewitson             46 foreman railway platelayer b England

Hannah Hewitson             46

Sarah E Hewitson             19

William I Hewitson             16

Hannah Hewitson             7

Margaret Hewitson             Under 1 Mo

John Rob Hewitson             26 ironstone miner b England

Thomas P Hewitson             6  b O Cumnock

Mary B Hewitson             4 b Auchinleck

Campbell I Hewitson             2 b Auchinleck

Margar McGines             17

Happily his pension record survives.
He was born in Cumnock. He had enrolled in Ayr in the RSF no 11944 on 22nd August 1914 age 19. He was recruited by Sgt Armstrong of the RSF. He was a coal miner. On his medical examination he was 5 ft 6 and 3/8 inches with a chest measurement of 38 inches. His hair was brown and eyes hazel. He was discharged  after 53 days under King's regulations as "not likely to become an efficient soldier". No further details.

So how did he come to be in the HLI? There is no mention of his previous service on his medal roll card where I would expect to see it. I can only presume he re-enlisted and failed to mention he had been discharged. No doubt they were glad to have him as the war went on. He certainly was keen to do his bit.

He does not appear to have been awarded the 1914-5 Star either.

Ancestry

Name:	Thomas Hewitson
Birth Place:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Residence:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Death Date:	29 Nov 1917
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Glasgow
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Highland Light Infantry
Battalion:	15th (Service) Battalion (1st Glasgow)
Number:	22523
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

CWGC

Cumnock Connections tree

His step-brother Hugh Porteous who was the same age also served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and survived.

Cumnock Chronicle, added Oct 2018

Angus McDonald

Trooper Angus McDonald of Ayrshire Yeomanry is on Cumnock War Memorial.

He died in the 15th General Hospital in Alexandria Egypt.

CWGC

PRIVATE

A MACDONALD

Service Number: 1342

Regiment & Unit/Ship

Ayrshire Yeomanry

1st/1st

Date of Death

Died 12 November 1915

Buried or commemorated at

ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY

C. 40.

Egypt

Ancestry offers this information.

Name:	Angus Mcdonald
Birth Place:	Fort William
Residence:	Invergarry
Death Date:	12 Nov 1915
Death Location:	Gallipoli
Enlistment Location:	Ayr
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line (incl. Yeomanry and Imperial Camel Corps)
Battalion:	Ayrshire (Earl of Carricks Own) (Hussars) Yeomanry
Number:	1342
Type of Casualty:	Died
Theatre of War:	Balkan Theatre

He died of dysentery as reported in the Cumnock Chronicle Roll of Honour.

There is an Angus Mcdonald in Cumnock in the 1911 census. He is single 31 and born in Fort Augustus. He is a general labourer working in the iron works. He is lodging with William and Marion Hodge in Barrhill Road.  I can't find a corresponding record for earlier censuses. No Angus McDonald got married in Ayrshire between 1911 and 1915. And no soldier's will.

A new record on ancestry is soldier's effects. This gives his father as Hugh and a brother  Donald but I still can't find them in the censuses.

James Sharpe

James Richard Lillie Sharpe was the son of Matthew Sharpe and Margaret Connell born on 11 November 1889 in Ayr Road, Cumnock. He was reported missing after the Battle of Loos on 29 Sep 1915. He was 25.

He worked at Cumnock Post Office

1901 census
Greenvale Cottage, Cumnock

Matthew Sharpe             48 house joiner

Margret Sharpe             45

Matthew Sharpe             14

James R L Sharpe             11

Maggie A E S J Sharpe             9

Catherine S Sharpe             6

CWGC 

His service record survives.  Private James R L Sharp. (He didn't sign his name with an e at the end.) He was living at Criffel Cottage, Cumnock when he enlisted in February 1915 in Ayr. he was 5 ft 5 and a half inches tall and his chest was 33 and a half inches, He had 6/6 vision in both eyes.  He was a postman unmarried and next of kin was his mother living at Criffel Cottage Cumnock. Other living relatives were,  sisters Kate 23 and Margaret 25 also of Criffel Cottage and brother Matthew 31 of 16 Alexandra rd Wrexham. This information was provided by his mother in 1919.

as reported in the Evening Times Roll of Honour 13 Dec 1915

Name:	James Sharp
Birth Place:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Residence:	Old Cumnock
Death Date:	25 Sep 1915
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Ayr
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Battalion:	1st Battalion
Number:	17148
Type of Casualty:	Died
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial and on Cumnock War Memorial. 
His family gravestone and Cumnock Memorial has  Sharpe spelt with a final   -E.

David Skilling

On Cumnock War Memorial he is recorded as Pte. David A. G. Skillen, elsewhere his names seems to be spelt SKILLING.

He was born in  Cumnock  in 1896 to William Skilling and his second wife Elizabeth Galbraith.
He was only 20 when he was killed in action at the Somme.

1901 

The Square, Cumnock

William Skilling             48 tailor’s cutter b Ballantrae

Elizabeth Skilling             47 b Stair

Mary Skilling             24

Susan A Skilling             21

Minnie Skilling             19

James Skilling             14

Samuel Skilling             13

David Skilling            age  indistinct

Cumnock Connections tree

An In Memoriam in the Cumnock Chronicle: 

David Skilling died in France 18 Aug 1916

father William died 26 Apr 1913

fondly remembered by Bessie, Minnie, James and Samuel on active service

SKILLING, D on CWGC

His ancestry record gives his residence as Ochiltree

Name:	David Skilling
Birth Place:	Cumnock, Ayrshire
Residence:	Ochiltree, Ayrshire
Death Date:	18 Aug 1916
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Glasgow
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Highland Light Infantry
Battalion:	12th (Service) Battn
Number:	18762
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

David M Niven

This man is on Cumnock War Memorial as Pte David M Niven S.R.
He died on 26th November 1917 in Flanders and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

CWGC

Ancestry has this

Name:	David Niven
Birth Place:	Portobello, Midlothian
Death Date:	26 Nov 1917
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Edinburgh
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Battalion:	1st Battalion
Number:	202574
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

He doesn't appear to have a local connection until the Cumnock Chronicle comes up with the link.

photo from Cumnock Chronicle by Kay, added March 2018

Update 25 Nov 2017
He was born David McArthur Niven in 1896 in Portobello
He was a railway clerk serving in the RSF when he married Jeanie Armstrong in Edinburgh in 1915.
She was the daughter of John Armstrong and Elizabeth Hall who married in Sorn on 31 Dec 1872.
So his young widow is the local connection.  She married again in Cumnock in 1923 to Henry Trousdale Russell.

Cumnock Connections tree

William Andrew Torrance

William Andrew Torrance was born in London on 31st December 1872, the second son of Cumnock born Sir Andrew Mitchell Torrance and Flora Weir Drummond.

He married Janette Douglas MacPhail in London in 1898 and had 2 sons, but it seems, from newspaper reports, that he had a drink problem and went off to Canada arriving in 1905. In 1909 Janette's parents sued the state of Sir Andrew Mitchell Torrance for maintenance.  In 1911 Janette and the children are living with her parents.

He enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical  Corps at Valcartier in Sep 1914. He was 5 ft 8in and had blue eyes and red hair. Occupation was clerk. He gave his date of birth as 31 Dec 1873 but it must have been 1872 as he was baptised in Camberwell, London on 23rd February 1873. He was 41 when he enlisted and said he was unmarried and gave his mother Flora as his next of kin.

He died on 14 Apr 1916 in Belgium.

Service Record


CWGC


Cumnock Connections tree

Alexander Stewart

Alexander Stewart was born 24th August 1882 at Darnconner to James Stewart and Jemima Kirk, brother of John Stewart. Like his brother he survived the war.

He is related to Janet Smith who provided the photo.

He was a grocer living in Glasgow when he enlisted in December 1915 just days after the birth of his son. This information comes from his service record which survives.
He served with the 10th Btn, regimental no 46814 KOSB in France, this info on discharge papers Feb 1919.
He seems to have enlisted in the HLI.
Another document says he was with 63 Labour Corps reg no 426818.

His medal card confirms the above

In 1926 he and his wife Isabella and son James Alexander Stewart emigrated to Australia in 1926 on the Bendigo. They lived in Waverley, New South Wales.


Cumnock Connections tree

William Rutherford

William Rutherford was born in Skares about 1895 to John Rutherford and Esther Copeland. His wife was Jeanie Graham of 125 Skares Row. They married on 31st December 1907 at Cumnock Manse. They had five children but two had already died by 1911. In 1911 they were living at 93 Skares Row with son George and Jeanie's father George Graham and brothers George and Thomas Graham and 1 other boarder.

He was the brother-in-law of Samuel Guthrie.

Lance Corporal Rutherford was killed in action on 12 Dec 1917.

Cumnock Connections tree

CWGC

William Rutherford
Residence:	Cumnock, Ayrshire
Death Date:	12 Dec 1917
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Rank:	L/Corporal
Regiment:	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Battalion:	2nd Battalion
Number:	34971
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

He is remembered on Cumnock War Memorial and on his parents' gravestone in Cumnock new cemetery and in Bedford House Cemetery in Belgium.

James Hill Stewart

James Hill Stewart was born in Auchinleck about 1894.  He was the youngest child of James Stewart and Barbara Peden. Unusually, he had an older brother called James.

1901 census
Mansfield View, Auchinleck

James Stewart             55

Barbara Stewart             47

James Stewart             21

Samuel H Stewart             19

John Stewart             15

David P Stewart             13

Nelie H Stewart             11

James Hill Stewart             1 (wrongly transcribed)

1911 census

Southend Cottage 

Auchinleck

James Stewart 60

Barbara Stewart 57 married 35 years 8 children 8 living

Lizzie Andrew Stewart 33

James Stewart 31

James Hill Stewart 17

Cumnock Connections tree


He died in Egypt on 17 Apr 1916.


CWGC

Name:	James Hill Stewart
Birth Place:	Auchinleck, Ayrshire
Residence:	Auchinleck
Death Date:	17 Apr 1916
Death Location:	Egypt
Enlistment Location:	Cumnock, Ayrshire
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Battalion:	1/5th Battalion
Number:	6749
Type of Casualty:	Died
Theatre of War:	Egyptian Theatre

Hugh Kennedy

Hugh Kennedy was the son of Andrew Kennedy and Jean Bradford.

He served in the RSF in the Balkans.  It was reported in the Cumnock Chronicle of 19 Nov 1915 that he was in hospital at Mudros suffering from dysentery and he died on 18 December 1915.

Cumnock Connections tree

Name:	Hugh Kennedy
Birth Place:	Glasgow
Residence:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Death Date:	18 Dec 1915
Death Location:	Gallipoli
Enlistment Location:	Ayr
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Battalion:	1/5th Battalion
Number:	7273
Type of Casualty:	Died
Theatre of War:	Balkan Theatre

CWGC

He is remembered on Cumnock War Memorial.

Daniel Sweeney

Daniel Sweeney was born in Cardiff, Wales about 1888 and married Margaret McGinn in Lugar in 1910. They had a daughter Mary Margaret Sweeney born 1911 and a son Daniel born 1913.

He was a Lance Corporal with the Seaforth Highlanders. He fell at the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915.
He was officially declared dead in Sep 1916. His wife and 2 children lived at 21 Townfoot (reported in announcement in the Cumnock Chronicle 29 Sep 1916)
On Cumnock War Memorial he is recorded as a Private.

His widow was married to John O'Rourke in Kilmarnock in 1917.

Name:	Daniel Sweeney
Birth Place:	Cardiff, Glam
Death Date:	25 Sep 1916
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Cumnock, Ayrshire
Rank:	L/Corporal
Regiment:	Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's)
Battalion:	8th Battalion
Number:	S/5007
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

CWGC

Cumnock Connections

Samuel Kinnaird

Samuel Kinnaird was born on 28th January 1894 in Kelton, Kirkcudbright to Thomas Kinnaird and Janet McCormick. The family  moved to Muirkirk about 1901. He died in France on 28th April 1917, aged 23.


1901 Census
Main St, Muirkirk
Thomas Kinnand 40
Janet Kinnand 43
Robert Montague 15
John Montague 13
Helen Montague 9
Thomas Kinnaird 9
Jane Kinnaird 8
Maggie Kinnaird 6
Samuel Kinnaird 6
Georgeina Kinnaird 5
Barbra Kinnaird 4
Joseph Kinnaird 2
Edward Kinnaird 1 b Kelton

In 1911 census they are at 27 Glengyron Row with 1 additional child William b Muirkirk in 1902.

Address during WW1: Thomas and Janet Kinnaird, of 6, Bonnyton Rd., Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.

Here he is on Cumnock Connections tree

The Cumnock War Memorial has him belonging to the Kings Own Scottish Borderers but I can see no evidence of that.

CWGC

Name:	Samuel Kinnaird
Birth Place:	Kelton, Kirkcudbrightshire
Residence:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Death Date:	28 Apr 1917
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Ayr, Ayrshire
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Battalion:	7th Battalion
Number:	S/20696
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

Robert W Brown

Lance Corporal Robert Wallace Brown was born in Cumnock at Low Garleffin farm on 11 Apr 1893 to farmer John Brown and Helen Wallace.

He had married Margaret Hunter of Machribeg farm in Southend on 18 Jun 1917.

On the Cumnock War Memorial he is C.S.M. Robert W Brown of Ayrshire Yeomanry but it seems he transferred to the Highland Light Infantry.

He fell on 25 March 1918 and is on the Pozières Memorial at the Somme.

CWGC

Cumnock Connections tree

Name:	Robert W. Brown
Birth Place:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Residence:	Kintyre, Argyllshire
Death Date:	25 Mar 1918
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Ayr
Rank:	L/Corporal
Regiment:	Highland Light Infantry
Battalion:	12th (Service) Battn
Number:	42630
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre
Comments:	Formerly 2460, Ayrshire Yco.

James Hunter

Acting Lance Corporal James Hunter of the RSF was killed in action in Egypt on 4th August 1916. He was 28 years old.

He was born on the14th November 1888 in Holmhead (at that time in the parish of Auchinleck) to potter Joseph Hunter and his wife Janet Harper from Clackmannanshire.

Cumnock Chronicle

1891 census
Glaisnock St, Cumnock
Joseph Hunter             36
Janet Hunter             38
Joseph Hunter             6
Christina Hunter             4 b Kilmarnock
James Hunter             2 b Auchinleck

1901 census,
Portobello, Edinburgh tower st
Joseph Hunter             46 potter b Clackmannan
Janet H Hunter             47
Joseph Hunter             17
James Hunter             12 b Cumnock
Elizabeth Hunter             8
Alexander Harper             59
Joseph Hilcot             68

on Cumnock Connections tree

CWGC

Alexander White

Alexander White was born in Cumnock in 1889 to Peter White and Catherine Stewart.
By the time of his death his mother was Mrs Creechan of Tower Street.

1901 census
Elbow Lane

Peter White             41  general labourer b Dreghorn

Catherine White             34  b Cumnock

Alexander White             11

John White             8

Cumnock Connections tree

He had worked in William Hunter's ironmongery and as a gardener at Dumfries House. When he enlisted he was working as a gardener in Wylam near Newcastle.

He died on the 15th September 1916 at the Somme. He was 26.

CWGC

Name:	Alexander White
Birth Place:	Old Cumnock, N.b.
Death Date:	15 Sep 1916
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Wylam-on-tyne
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Northumberland Fusiliers
Battalion:	1/4th Battalion (Territorials)
Number:	1752
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

John Parker

Private John Parker of the Royal Scots Fusiliers died at Ypres on 10 January 1915.

CWGC


It looks like he is the older half-brother of Driver William Parker who died in 1918, as he is the only John Parker born in Cumnock in the timescale.

Cumnock Connections tree

John Parker
Birth Place:	Old Cumnock, Ayrshire
Residence:	Old Cumnock
Death Date:	10 Jan 1915
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Irvine, Ayrshire
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Battalion:	1st Battalion
Number:	4966
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre