WW1 Soldiers from Cumnock: February 2020

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.

Saturday 8 February 2020

Alexander Neil

Alexander Neil was a 27 year old baker from Helensburgh when he enlisted in March 1917 wishing to be a baker in the ASC. He became a gunner in the RGA. He was 5 ft 9 in. His mother was his next of kin.

He married clerks Mary Purdie Orr of Cumnock in September 1918 and moved officially to her address, Ormiston, Bank Avenue, Cumnock. I wonder how they met.

In early 1919 he had a non malignant growth surgically removed.

He was of good character.

On the 12 December 1919, his wife wrote to ask the reason he had not been demobilised. He was eventually demobbed on 20th Feb 1920. He was awarded a pension of 5/6 a week for 26 weeks as a result of less than 20% disablement due to "DAH" DAH means disorderly action of the heart, sometimes called “effort syndrome” or “soldier’s heart”. Often the result of stress or fatigue, it does not imply there was any organic disease. (from The Long Trail)

Corporal RGA 145538

After the war they moved to Scotstoun in Glasgow and had children Marion Edith in 1925, Claud Alexander in 1927 and Irene Mary in 1928. In 1942 they are all at 20 Borden Rd, Hillhead. He died there age 70 in 1959. He was a master baker. Widow Mary died in Glasgow in 1974.

Alexander on Cumnock Connections tree

Friday 7 February 2020

James Neil 1880 - 1915

James Neil lived most of his life in Lugar near Cumnock although he was actually born in Muirkirk on the 11th September 1880, the fifth child of Andrew Neil, a pit contractor, and his wife Agnes Ferguson.

James married Elizabeth Smith from Irvine in Lugar in 1906 and they had five daughters.

Little is known of his service other than that he was with the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers, regimental number 12266 and was missing presumed dead at the Battle of Loos on 26th September 1915.

He left a will though. He was a pit headman and lived at Walker's Row Auchinleck. Brother Robert was the executor of his will.

His name was recently added to the Auchinleck war memorial

Elizabeth Neil nee Smith with her 5 daughters standing L to R Annie, Myra (Mary), Margaret Sitting Agnes, mum Elizabeth and Nettie (Janet)

James Neil on the Cumnock Connections tree