Cumnock Civic Brigade

Cumnock Chronicle 1914 

It has been decided to form a company of the Civic Brigade in Cumnock, the age limits will be from 16 to 55.  The company will be divided into three classes, viz.:- I., age 19 to 35; II., age 16 to 19; III., age 35 to 55.  The first meeting for enrolment and drill will be held in the Lesser Town Hall this evening.  The man who has not yet volunteered cannot very well avoid joining the Brigade.  It therefore requires no commendation.  From an advertisement it will be seen that arrangements have been made for the instituting of a corps of special constables in this town.

Of the men who have joined the local Civic Brigade.  Those who joined in class I. made and signed the following declaration:- “I hereby declare that I enrol in the above Company with the full intention of attaching myself on the first opportunity to one of the regiments of the British Army for General Service.”

(Hover over names for a hyperlink to the tree)

CLASS I (age 19 to 35)

Robert Gillies, Bank Avenue

George Scott, jun., Ayr Road

John Barbour, Townhead Street

Dan. Allan, Lugar

H. Williamson, Lugar

Sam. Nicol, jun., Townhead Street

George Smith, Tower Street

Thomas Bryce, Barrhill Road

Charles Steele, Tower Street

Thomas Campbell, Skares

J. M. Hill, Hartfield

W. J. M’Naughton, Bank of Scotland

R. Dunlop Nicol, Ochiltree

Henry Wilson, Longhouse

William Surgeoner, Lugar

William Lindsay, Lugar

John Dean, Meadow

Arch. Rankin, Lugar

John Woods, Lugar

James Carson, Lugar

 

CLASS II age 16 to 19

Thomas Orr, Bank Avenue

William Donnelly, Barrhill Road

James Munn, Dumfries Arms Hotel

R. Cavers Hogg, Ravelston

J. Gracie, The Square

Alex. Lindsay, Bank Avenue

William Dunsmor, Glaisnock Street

D. M’Culley, Hazelbank

R. Morrison, Townhead Street

William Baird, Townhead Street

H. B. V. M’Culley, Hazelbank

George McMurdo, Barrhill Road

Alex. Forsyth, Lugar

Joseph Soden, Lugar

James Baird, Townhead Street

M. Clifford, Glaisnock Street

John M’Gill, Waterside Place

Andrew Hutson, Glaisnock Street

Alex. M’Cready, Tower Street

Andrew Kinnaird, Townhead Street

George Hoffin, Tower Street

H. Bradford, Ayr Road

John Johnston, Ayr Road

James Carter, Elbow Lane

James Ferrier, Bridgend

Henry Jackson, Tanyard Lane

William Smith, Barrhill Road

John M’Grail, Waterside Place

Thomas Smith, Peden Thorn

Edward Knight, Ayr Road

  

CLASS III      age 35 to 55

 Alex. M’Kinlay, Bank Avenue

John Breckenridge, Camden Cottage

A. M. Davidson, Barrhill Road

John Gillespie, Lugar Street

Adam Scorgie, Townhead Street

John Gilchrist

John Gilchrist was born in Dalmeny,  Midlothian to Auchinleck born  William Gilchrist and Elizabeth Anderson. William was a shale miner at Dalmeny Oil Company.

Cumnock Chronicle

Lance Corporal

GILCHRIST, JOHN

Service Number S/10316

Died 25/09/1915

5th Bn. 

Cameron Highlanders

Mentioned in Despatches

Peter Kelso

Reported wounded in 1919 Dvr P Kelso, 225162 RFA 21st Jan 1919

Peter Kelso 1886-1933 born in Cumnock

Andrew M Kirkland

 I am indebted to Linda Juchatz in USA for information about her great uncle.

Andrew Morton Kirkland was born on 13th May 1880 in Glengyron Row, Old Cumnock to George Kirkland and his wife Mary Morton. In the 1881 census they are at 69 Low Glencairn St, Kilmarnock where father George is a pit engineman. In 1901 census Andrew is a mason (builder) at 40 Montgomery St Kilmarnock. However he kept links with Cumnock as he married Cumnock lass Elizabeth Hamilton in 1906. Their first child was born in Kilmarnock but by the birth of oldest son George they are in Barrhill Road in Cumnock. Andrew died in Ballochmyle Hospital in 1958 aged 78. His usual address was Old Avenue, Auchinleck.

Andrew's ww1 records have not survived but we know from the Cumnock Roll of Honour that he was a Sergeant in the 5th Royal Scots Fusiliers, the local regiment.  His medal roll card survives

1914-1920

Rank Sergeant

Company WO 329

Regiment or Corps Royal Scots Fusiliers

Regiment Number 265135

Medal Awarded British War Medal and Victory Medal

He had previously signed up for service with the RSF in 1901 and that record survives.

Linda sent me the photos of his parish war medal which she found amongst her grandfather's things. He was James G Kirkland and had emigrated to Philadelphia in 1907.  James returned for a visit in 1925 and it is thought he was given it then.

Thomas Gibson Cochrane

Thomas Gibson Cochrane was born on 13th October 1898 at Roadside Cumnock, Thomas joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was an officer's steward. His occupation at the time was chemist, he was 18 when he enlisted.

Name	Thomas Gibson Cochrane
Birth Date	13 Oct 1898
Year range	1915-1917
Service Number	Z/8847
Division	Clyde

Name	Thomas Gibson Cochrane
Birth Date	13 Oct 1898
Birth Place	Cummock, Ayrshire
Record Type	Military
Military Service Start Date	21 Aug 1917
Military Service End Date	10 Feb 1919
Service Branch	Royal Navy
War	World War I
Occupation	Chemist
Division	War Fleet Service Divisions
Description	Clyde, Vol 12, Z08201-Z09200

He was the younger brother of William Cochrane

He married Mary Graham Brown of Catrine in 1923.

He owned a pharmacy in High Street, Dalbeattie in Kirkcudbrightshire. He died in 1966 of liver cancer.

Ian Howat has his Cumnock War Medal.

The names on the War Memorial

The War Memorial (pictured to the right) is in the New Cemetery in Glaisnock Street. It was unveiled  by Lt-Col Archibald McInnes Shaw of Ballochmyle on Saturday 25th June 1921. There are 8 bronze plaques with 7 of them with the names of 117 men associated with Cumnock. Is your ancestor among them? Get in touch with your memories.

The names are organised first by rank,  then alphabetically.
Click below for all the names

Scroll over names to find information. Names are being added as they are discovered.

PANEL 1
Lieut. Edward Knight, R.S.F. 

Lieut. A.J.B. Milne, Gordons

Lieut. William McNaughton, R.S.F.

P.O. James Young, R.N.

C.S.M.Robert W. Brown, A.I.Y.

C.S.M. Robert Orr M.M. & Bar R.S.F.

Sergt. Robert Baird M.M. R.S. 

Sergt. George Burns, A.&.S.H. 

Sergt. Robert Gilmour, R.S.F.

Sergt. James B. Johnstone, Camerons
Sergt. John Nicol, Seaforths
Sergt. William McCaa, R.F.A.

Corpl. John Black, R.S.F. 

Corpl. Hugh Brogan, R.S.F.

Corpl. James Lennox, R.S.F.

Corpl. John McKinnon M.M. R.E.
Corpl. George Neil, H.L.I.

John Kirkland

John (Jackie) Kirkland was born in Cumnock in 1897 making him very young when he enlisted in the Royal Scots Fusiliers 1/5, reg numbers 240207 and 7013

His parish medal

John McCartney, RSF

 John McCartney was born in Cumnock on the 25th May 1878 in Elbow Lane to William Clark Mccartney and Margaret Richmond. His father a tailor to trade, was also a successful horse trainer.

John served in the RSF no. 40110. 

Photos from Brandon Colvin in Texas.

He was awarded the Silver War Badge (SWB)

In September 1916, King George V authorised the Silver War Badge (SWB) to honour all military personnel who had served at home or overseas since 4 August 1914 and who had been discharged because of wounds or illness.

William Carter

William Carter was born on  the 22nd February 1886 in Elbow Lane where his parents Francis Carter and Margaret Murray kept a lodging house. In the 1901 census aged 15 he was a pit bottomer. On his marriage certificate he was a farm servant when he married Jane Little of Craigbank in June 1912 and they had their first child, a daughter Catherine in April 1913. 

William enlisted in the army in April 1913 with the 2nd Battalion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders no.1192 then he served with the Royal Engineers no 83690 in the tunnelling corps and was sent to France. He was wounded for the third time at the battle of Hill 60 in spring 1915.  

He gifted a book of Burns poems to Mr & Mrs H Sutherland which was found by Sarah Blackburn who has provided this information.

He died on the 25th March 1972 in Ballochmyle Hospital of respiratory failure due to silicosis (miner's lung) aged 86. His usual address was 23 Redree Place, New Cumnock. He is buried in New Cumnock Afton road cemetery along with his grandson Billy Woonton.

The Lodge Memorial

 The Lodge Memorial in Cumnock New Cemetery

photographed and recorded by George McMillan

2.1.1

To the glory of God and in memory of Brethren of this Lodge who fell in

the Great War 1914 – 1918

Sergt Thomas Armstrong Canadians,

Pte James Carson Camerons,

Pte Peter Forbes Scotts Guards,

Tpr Samuel Guthrie Lanark Yeomry,

Pte Alex Geeki Camerons,

L.Cpl John Henderson Royal Scots

Sergt Alex Hodge M.M. R.A.M.C.,

Pte John Lamont New Zealanders,

Pte Robert Lundie R.S.F.,

Pte James Lundie Australians,

Pte Adam Purdie A.S.C.,

Pte John Smith H.L.I.,

Pte William Surgeoner Camerons,

Pte John F. Laing R.S.F.,

Their name liveth forever more

1939 - 1945

William Skilling M.N.,

Gnr John Lees R.N.

Hugh Porteous

Hugh Porteous was born in 1895 in Motherwell. His mother Agnes married John Robert Hewitson a widower with 3 children in 1901 and by 1911 census the extended  family was living at  Roadside in Old Cumnock.

 

Hugh enlisted in March, 1916 his address was Glengyrow Row, Cumnock. He was a fireman. He had a slight weakness on the left side: facial muscles, arm and leg due possibly to a stroke in childhood. But he was deemed fit for service. (C1) This was also noted in 1917

He served in in the Royal Scots, The Black Watch, the 10th Works Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Reserve (Regimental Number 480461) 

His was in the  516th Agricultural Corps in 1916 and his permanent address then was Alltan Albany, Barr by Girvan.

He served in France in 1918 for  264 days from January to October.

His stepbrother was Thomas Hewitson who was the same age as Hugh but was killed.

Hugh was badly affected by the war. He never married and was looked after by his younger sister Hannah Hewitson, Mrs Edgar until he died in 1975.

Medal Roll Card

James McGrady

 1/10 Royal Scots Service Number 375675

James McGrady born in Cumnock in 1894 son of James McGrady of 9 The Square, Cumnock enlisted on the 5th October 1916 in Ayr. at the age of 21 years 10 months He was a shoemaker. His next of kin was "Laura" his mother. (His mother was Jeanie)

He was discharged as unfit in October 1917 with neurasthenia and he had suffered as long as he could remember from childhood with a tremor.

His character was good. 

He married Christina Anderson in 1921 and died suddenly in the Square in 1957.

He was a cousin of Thomas McGrady who also served

Thomas McGrady

Thomas McGrady born in 1897 enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery in June 1917. He served a a gunner until December 1920. He was a shoemaker, single age 30, son of John McGrady of 117 Glaisnock St, Cumnock.

His service record survives.  He served a a gunner until December 1920. He was a shoemaker, single age 30, son of John McGrady of 117 Glaisnock St, Cumnock. He was 5 ft 9 and a half inches tall. He served in France.

He was the cousin of James McGrady on this blog who also served.

George Findlay

George Findlay was born on 21 March 1871 in Lugar Street, Cumnock to George Samson Findlay and Sarah Hamilton. His father was born at Broomfield farm but by 1865 was the landlord of the Wheatsheaf Inn in Cumnock.  George was an engineer and publican at the Wheatsheaf along with his mother Sarah after his father died.

 He joined the fledgling  RAF in July 1918 when he was 47 making him one of the oldest men to serve. He was 5 foot 9 and a half inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes. His civilian occupation was fitter. His mother Sarah was his next of kin. He gave his DOB as 22 March 1871 which is a day later than what's on his birth certificate!

He was discharged on 30 April 1920.

I've not found what happened to him after that. He doesn't appear to have died in Cumnock.

History of the War Memorial

By February 1920 the War Memorial fund met and found they had £748 left after the payment of the Parish Medals and the the Welcome Home Dance. Further fundraising was required to pay for the memorial.

By March five sculptors were asked to submit ideas and 16 different designs were looked at including; a 16-foot high granite column surmounted by a metal-cast Lowland Scot Soldier sculpture on a 4-foot square granite block on a base costing £1,200 and a Celtic Cross in red granite and lead lettering costing £1,000.

Several different sites were looked at including the Square, the grounds of the school at the Barrhill, in front of the Town Hall, the site of the new houses at Gemmell Avenue and the central space at the new cemetery – the latter was chosen.

By April the winning design by monumental sculptors Mathew Muir & Co from Kilmarnock was chosen. 

The memorial was described as “Built of grey Creetown granite and 20-feet high and 7-foot wide at the base. The underpart and body of the structure is octagonal having 8 panels for names. This is surmounted by a 9-foot column all in one stone which terminates with an emblem of a martyr’s crown above which is a ball, an emblem of the new world. A low coping in the same material will enclose the space.” 

Bronze tablets with raised lettering were chosen which were slightly more expensive that lead lettering. The total cost of the monument was over £2,000 – all raised by further fundraising.

Mathew Muir Advert

By May 1920 the names to be featured on the memorial were published in the Cumnock Chronicle and any additions called for. Quite how the names were selected is not clear. Presumably they were included if Cumnock was on their service records as either a place of birth, residence or enlistment, or if a local resident wished a relative to be added. By July the contract had been signed with Matthew Muir and Co and work on the monument had begun. By January 1921 work was progressing and a report from the committee stated that the granite part of the monument was lying at Dumfries ready to be sent on for erection but there was a delay with the eight inscribed panels. Four of these were complete and four still to cast but due to the slow process this would take a few more weeks to finish. By April 1921 plans were being finalised for an unveiling ceremony in June.

Cumnock Chronicle announcement 1920

The memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant Colonel Archibald McInnes Shaw of Ballochmyle on Saturday 25 June 1921 in the presence of several thousand onlookers. It was an ideal summer day and people met at the Town Hall where the gathered soldiers, bands, organisations and platform party were slowly led up Glaisnock Street by a pipe-band playing Flowers of the Forest. In the cemetery a platform had been built behind the monument and facing the gates and once the crowd had taken their place the Rev John Warrick led the dedication prayer. After this Provost Andrew Millar made the unveiling ceremony address and handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Archibald McInnes Shaw who removed the Union Jack covering the name plaques and paid tribute to the men who had given their lives and to the men and women who had remained at home and supported the fighting men. Rev Warrick gave the benediction and many wreaths and bouquets were laid at the base of the monument. 

The following day, there was an almost constant stream of visitors to the cemetery, and a unanimous opinion was expressed on the beauty of the design of the memorial and on the clear and lasting lettering on the inscriptions.