WW1 Soldiers from Cumnock: Thomas McCririck

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.

Monday, 29 February 2016

Thomas McCririck

Thomas McCririck survived the war but died young nevertheless in 1920.

He was born on 18th March 1877 at Garallan Smithy of a long line of blacksmiths working there. His parents were William McCririck and Jane Younie. He was a bright lad though and went to Glasgow University.

In the 1911 census he was working as a doctor in Wandsworth Hospital, London. He married Isabella Morrison in 1912 in Glasgow. Things were going well for him until the advent of war.

Glasgow University records provide a lot of information:-

Thomas McCririck graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MA 1900, a BSc 1903, MBChB 1906, MD 1911, and DPH RCPS Eng 1911.

Thomas was born 18 March 1877 in Old Cumnock and he was a very high achieving student at the University, gaining a number of prizes and having a particular gift for Botany and Zoology.
In 1901 he gained the Herbarium Prize and a Second Class certificate for Botany with ‘Special Commendation of Excellence of Specimens’. The entry records that: “Mr McCririck’s Herbarium contained 471 specimens correctly named.”

The next year he was the Medallist in Practical Botany and also won the William Hunter Medal and Special Prize for Practical Zoology. In 1903 Thomas gained a Second Class certificate for Anatomy and was 2nd equal in the class for Embryology. He gained a First Class certificate for Embryological Lab the next year. In 1905 McCririck gained a Commendation Certificate for Clinical Surgery and received a First Class certificate in Senior Clinical Surgery in 1906.

Thomas McCririck then gained an MD 1911 with a thesis titled: The streptococco-opsonic index in scarlatina, erysipelas and puerperal fever.

During WW1 Thomas McCririck served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as Temp Lieutenant in 1915 and Temp Captain in 1916 and 1918. McCririck was awarded the British Medal, the Victory Medal and the IS Star for his services during the War.