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 16 July 2018

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.

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