James W Chidwick

Lance Corporal James William Chidwick enlisted  in the "Buffs"the East Kent regiment in 1914 and was killed at Ypres on 16th July 1917 leaving a widow and eight children including one yet to be born.  James was born in Kent in 1881 and worked as a waggoner on a farm. He married Ayrshire born Agnes Watson in 1902 in Riccarton. Agnes's address in 1918 was Croucher Farm, Westwell near Ashford in Kent. In 1920 Agnes married Finlay Ralston in Glasgow and moved back to Ayrshire. When Agnes received his medals in 1922 she was living at 4 Grougar Row, Galston.

James on the Cumnock Connections tree

His Cumnock granddaughter Edna supplied these photos showing life in the trenches.

Edward McLelland

Edward or Ned was born in 1883 to James McQueen Mclelland and Elizabeth Vallance Brown.

He served in WW1 and was wounded in the legs. His grandson Billy Anderson still has his parish medal.

Name: Edward McLELLAND
Gender: Male
Rank: Pte
Birth Date: 1882
Residence Place: Old Cumnock, Arys
Military Service Region: Scotland, Scotland
Discharge Date: 29 Sep 1919
Service Number: 122170
Regiment: M. G. C.
Title: Pension Record Cards
Description: Pension Record Ledger
Reference Number: 11/ME/1078, 1/MM/14478

In 1901 census he was  a seventeen year old slater. He married Helen Samson Findlay in 1905.

He served with Cumnock Fire Brigade. He died in Cumnock in 1969 aged 85.

Cumnock Connections tree