William Hillhouse Purdie was born in Cumnock in 1888 and named after his maternal grandfather. His parents were James Purdie a saddler and Elizabeth Hillhouse daughter of William Hillhouse a tailor in Ochiltree. Sadly his mother Elizabeth died in 1890 leaving father James with 4 small children.
In the 1891 census his father is living in Townhead street with his mother in law and a niece helping out
1891 census
James Purdie 38 saddler
Jeanie Purdie 8
Adam Purdie 6
Jessie Purdie 4
Wm Purdie 2
Jeanie Blackburn 50
Lizzie J Dunbar 21
In 1896 James marries again to a widow Mrs Isabella Granger who had a fancy goods shop in Glaisnock Street. Her husband Andrew a tobacconist had died age 28 leaving her with 2 daughters Hannah and Jessie.
William enlisted in the local regiment the 1/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers. He died on the 18th September 1915 of dysentery aboard the HMS Aquitania while serving in Gallipoli.
His father, stepmother and sisters Jeanie and Jessie all received payments in his will.
He is remembered on Patna war memorial and on the Helles Memorial in Turkey.
Cumnock Connections tree
CWGC
Remembering WW1 soldiers with a connection to Cumnock in Ayrshire, Scotland, including those who survived and others not mentioned on the War Memorial. Researched by Cumnock History Group.
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