Introduction

In 2014 the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, Cumnock History Group began researching the names on the Cumnock War Memorial plus other men and women with Cumnock connections mentioned on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in the Cumnock Chronicle of the time. The research is not limited to those who died but also to men and women who served, using family history information.

The group would like to appeal to individuals with knowledge of family members for photographs of the soldier, either in uniform or not, and photos of medals or other memorabilia eg letters sent home from the Front. If you would be prepared to share these on this site, please email the web manager info@cumnockhistorygroup.org The group is willing to share any copies of documents found with the soldier's descendants.

Friday 4 July 2014

Daniel Marrs DCM

Photo found by Penny Maj, Home Children Canada Research Group on Facebook

Although Daniel Marrs is not on Cumnock War Memorial, I found the report of his DCM and death in the Cumnock Chronicle 1918. He served with the Canadian Army  Medical Corps.

Daniel Marrs was born in Cumnock  on the 3rd June 1889. In the 1891 his mother Esther is living with George Phillips in Riccarton along with Mary Marrs and William Marrs.

In 1895 Daniel age 6 and William age 8 are shipped to Canada on the Sarmatia along with many other children. They are Quarriers children. But their mother is still alive as she is his next of his on his army papers. Whatever happened?

 It seems Esther was left with 5 young children when husband Thomas died.  I can't find John in 1891 but in 1901 he is is New Cumnock the adopted son of David and Lizzie Brown.

Thomas was also shipped to Canada age 9 with Quarriers in 1895 but on a different ship. 7,000 Quarriers children were shipped to Canada.  Many were treated badly as free labour.  Thomas also served in the Canadian Forces.

Esther married George Phillips in 1892 in Cumnock. She is running a lodging house in Elbow Lane so hardly sounds destitute. Maybe the 3 boys were already with Quarriers. She is named as next of kin on Thomas and Daniel's army records so they clearly kept in touch. With so little information we should not judge. I wonder if she ever saw the 3 boys again? (see update below)

in 1901 Canadian census Daniel is the adopted son of farmer John Crozier. Was he treated as a farm hand or a son?

I can't see him again until he enlists in 1915

He is awarded the DCM on 2 Feb 1917. This is reported in the Cumnock Chronicle.
Here is the citation.

 This is how he died only a few weeks later on 1st Mar 1917.


He is buried in the Canadian Cemetery at  Neuville St Vaast


Here's the family on the Cumnock Connections tree 

Update16 Oct 2014
I found this article in the Cumnock Chronicle which answers some questions. Daniel was born after his father's death in a coal mine in Fife. And Esther did see at least one of her sons, Tom,  again.

1 comment:

  1. Such a sad story. All Esther's children by Thomas Marrs died in Canada except Mary who died in Old Cumnock.

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