Andrew Cochrane

Andrew Cochrane was the son of William Cochrane born about 1895 in Cumnock.

Here's the family in 1901
Roadside

William Cochran 48 cloth draper b Lochwinnoch
Margaret Cochran 39 b Kirkconnel
John Cochran 18 draper's assistant b Kirkconnel
Mary Cochran 16 dressmaker b Penpont
Alex Cochran12 b Keir
William Cochran 7
Andrew Cochran 5
Thomas Cochran 2


Cumnock Chronicle 13 Sep 1918

On 9 Sep 1918 killed in action at Alexandria, Signaller, HLI, 22 yrs, son of Mr and Mrs Wm Cochrane, Craigmore, 173, Glaisnock St., Cumnock

and a week later, it seems he wasn't killed in action but died while on service.

photo by Bobby Grierson, added 7/3/2018

His enlistment papers survive
He was 21 years and 180 days old, a draper, 5 ft 5 and weighed 8 st 7lbs when he enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry in Glasgow in 17th August 1915. The papers also reveal that he died in hospital in Alexandria after an operation for appendicitis. He was admitted on the 5th September and died on the 9th.

In a will dated 15 Apr 1917 he left £10 to his sister, Mrs Jas Rodger, Georgeville, Ayr Rd, Cumnock and the rest of his property to his parents.

His family members were
His parents and brother Thomas Gibson Cochrane, 22 of Craigmore, Cumnock, brother John 36 of Georgeville, Quebec, Canada, brother William 29 of Glaisnock Cottages, Cumnock, sister Mrs Rodger 33 of Georgeville, Ayr Rd, Cumnock. This information provided by his father in 1920.

He was serving with the Royal Scots, Lothian Regiment (203275) and was previously with the Highland Light Infantry (4542). He was sent out with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on 22 Dec 1916. He was buried in the British Cemetery in Cairo on the 9th Sep 1918 and on the Cumnock War Memorial.

See him on Cumnock Connections family tree

CWGC

Maitland Crolley

He was born on 21st April 1891 to James Crolley and Maitland McMinn.
Here is the family in 1901 census

1901 census
Tanyard Lane
James Crawley             47 carter
David Crawley             18
Maitland Crawley             10
John Crawley             6

photo from Kelly Agnes Clark his great grand niece

He enrolled at Bank School on the 18th April 1904 from Old Cumnock and left on 30th June 1904. His guardian was his brother James of Craigbank.

He served with the Cameron Highlanders and was killed in action in Ypres on 23rd April 1915 in France and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium, on the Bank School Memorial  and on Lugar and Cumnock War Memorials.

 Cumnock Connections tree

Menin Gate. He is on the right. Thanks to Phillip McGhee for photo.

William Kyle

William Kyle was a native of Glenapp, Ballantrae and the son of William and Jessie Kyle of 117 Skares.

Here is the family in the 1901 census
Auchencrosh Estate, Glenapp

Wm J O Kyle             33 carter on estate b Kirkcolm

Jessie Kyle             33

Grace L Kyle             10

Wm L Kyle             7 b Colmonell ab 1893

Jane M Kyle             4

His service record survives:
He enlisted in the Reserve regiment of Ayrshire Yeomanry at Ayr on 20th October 1914. He was 21 years old and 5ft 6  3/4 in.  He transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 5th Sep 1916.

He died of dysentry in Salonika on the 26th October 1916. He was 22. He had been in Greece only a month.

His surviving relatives were:
his parents William and Jessie, brother John 17, sisters Grace, 27, Jane, 22, Jessie 12, Evelyn 9 all of 117 Skares Row. This information was provided by his father in 1919.

He is buried in  Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece.

Cumnock Connections tree


CWGC

Johnston C Barrowman

Johnston Cameron Barrowman was the son of Robert and Catherine Barrowman of the Hotel Royal in Cumnock. He was born in Cumnock about 1895.

Here is the family in the 1901 census

Square, Cumnock

Robert Barrowman             51 hotel keeper b Coatbridge

Catherine M Barrowman             32 b Glasgow

Johnston C Barrowman             5 b Cumnock

William D Barrowman             4

Georgina Baird             24

Jeanie Crawford             20

Catherine Kelly             19

Annie Bell             17

He served with the  Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) and was 22 when he fell in Belgium on the 18th June 1917.  He had previously been with the RASC.

He is remembered in Aeroplane Cemetery in Belgium, on Ayr Academy's Roll of Honour, Ayr War Memorial  as well as on Cumnock War Memorial.

Cumnock Connections tree

Commonwealth Graves Commission

Thomas Sinnit

From the Cumnock Chronicle, October 1918

Mr and Mrs James Sinnit, Townfoot, have this week been informed of the death in France of their son Pte Thomas Sinnit of the KOSB. Along with his parents he had come to this area 12 years ago (1906) and but at the time of enlistment was working in Kirkconnel. He had been in France over a year.

1901

Lowthertown, Dornock,  Dumfriesshire

James Sinnett             27 freestone quarryman

Agness Sinnett             26

James Sinnett             6

Thomas Sinnett             3  b Gretna

Maggie Sinnett             1

He died on the 4 Oct 1918 and is laid to rest in Zantvoorde British Cemetery in Belgium. He is on Cumnock War Memorial as Thomas Sinnet and on Kirkconnel War Memorial as Thomas Sinnett.

CWGC

William M Dunsmuir

William McMillan Dunsmuir was the son of Thomas Dunsmuir and Rachel McMillan, born 29 April 1896 in Tower Street.

In 1911 he was living at 9 Glengyron Row with his widowed father and  siblings and working as a coal hewer.

From the Cumnock Chronicle, October 1918

Mr Thomas Dunsmuir, Manse Lane, has been officially notified by the War Office that his only son Pte William Dunsmuir, H.L.I., died in France on 27 September 1918 from wounds received in action. It is only about six weeks since Pte Dunsmuir left for the Front. He was a bright and cheery young man in his 23rd year, and formerly worked as a miner in Garrallan Colliery. He was well know in football circles, having been a prominent member of the Cumnock team.

 

He is buried at Louerval Military Cemetery Doignies, France. He is remembered on the Cumnock War Memorial.

Here he is on Cumnock Connections tree

Hugh Brogan

Hugh Brogan was born at Townhead, Old Cumnock in 1887. His mother Catherine Brogan died after his birth of puerperal septicaemia and he was brought up by his grandparents Michael and Isabella Brogan.

In 1911 he was already in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, aged 24, single, a signaller in South Africa.

He was thirty when he died on 13 May 1917 in France, a Corporal in the RSF.

It is noted he was the son of the late Catherine Brogan so he presumably was single.  He is buried on The Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery in Arras France and is remembered on the Cumnock War Memorial.

Update 15 Oct 2014
An obituary in the Cumnock Chronicle confirms that he was brought up by Granny Brogan. He served for twelve years in India and South Africa eventually joined the South African mounted police where he rose to the postion of Sergeant. He was in South Africa when war broke out and returned home to enlist with his old regiment and was in duty in France by October 1914. He was expected to be married to Nurse Clark of Pretoria this spring (1917) but owing to sailing restrictions on women she was not allowed to sail.

Update 1 Dec 2015

His effects (pay due) were left solely to Miss May Clark

In 1901 census he was a cattle boy at Borland Farm Cumnock with the McClannachans

His grandparents died in 1911 and 1915

Cumnock Connections tree

CWGC

Guthrie Brothers

Two sons of James Guthrie and his wife Mary Sturgeon perished.

First Samuel Guthrie of Lanarkshire Yeomanry died at Gallipolli on 19th November 1915. He is buried at Pink Farm Cemetery, Helles. He left a wife and child at 20 St Conal Square, Kirkconnel.

Then, exactly a year later, Robert Sturgeon Guthrie of the Highland Light Infantry died at the Somme in France on 19th November 1916. He is on the Thiepval Memorial.

photo added 11 Nov 2018 D&G Standard - Wednesday 13 December 1916

The boys were born in Dailly and in 1891 and 1901 the family was at  Skerrington Rows, Ochiltree.

Here is the family in 1891 census
12 Skerrington Rows, Ochiltree
James Guthrie     33 b Calderbank, Lanarkshire
Mary Guthrie     38
Annie Guthrie     12
Jane Guthrie     9
Sarah Guthrie     8
Jessie Guthrie     6
Samuel Guthrie     4
Robert Guthrie     1

rest born Dailly.

And in 1901 census
3 Skerrington Row, Ochiltree
James Guthrie     42 coal miner
Mary Guthrie     48
Samuel Guthrie     14 coal runner
Robert Guthrie     11
Wilhelmina Guthrie     9 b Ochiltree
John Guthrie     7 b Ochiltree

Both Samuel and Robert's residence on their war records is Kirkconnel and they are on Kirkconnel War Memorial as well as on Cumnock War Memorial.

Cumnock connections tree 


From the Chronicle

According to some In Memoriam notices in 1918, their brother John was serving in the Royal Navy and a sister and brother were in 134 Skares, presumably the reason they are remembered on Cumnock War Memorial.

Did Robert have a sweetheart MCR? D&G Standard 1918

From the Rev Charleson

:

Military funeral of William Ewing

However the war claimed him just a few years later.  An account of a military funeral appeared in the Cumnock Chronicle of 5 Sep 1924

Bill Ewing had been reported missing in 1917 but he had been a prisoner in Germany. Because of the weather and lack of shelter he was taken to hospital with acute pleurisy at the end of the war.
He had originally enlisted with the Ayrshire Yeomanry but had been transferred to Scottish Rifles as a lance corporal.
After demob he had a fruit cart but his health broke down again. He did light work at Garrallan Colliery. He spent several months in Glen Afton Sanatorium. After a month at home he passed away age 32.

He married Mary Grant in 1915. They had a daughter.

The hearse was preceded by Auchinleck Pipe Band led by Pipe Major Jamieson and a dtachment of Cumnock Territorial Coy. under Sgt McGee and Corporal Montague.

The cortege went from Elbow Lane to the cemetery and the streets were lined with people.

3 volleys were fired  and Sgt Major Elliot sounded the last post.

Much sympathy is extended to his wife and only daughter and his parents.

He was William McCartney Ewing of 4 Elbow Lane.

This is his family in 1901 census
Elbow Lane
Samuel Ewing     35 carter  born Ayr
Ellen Ewing     30
Ellen Ewing     11
William Ewing     9
Agnes Ewing     7
Jeanie Ewing     5
Bella Ewing     2
rest all born Cumnock

He died too late to be on Cumnock War Memorial but at least he was sent off in style.

L Cpl Scottish Rifles 41787

William Robson Grierson

Acting Corporal, Army Service Corps Reg No M2/193702

Bobby Grierson writes:

My great grandfather William Robson Grierson was born in 1882 in Applegarth, Dumfriesshire, the seventh of twelve children. William started life as a farm labourer then worked as a Coachman in Dumfries but soon upgraded his skills to four wheeled transport in the late 1890s.

He married Agnes Armstrong Dobie in Dumfries in 1903 and soon moved to Cumnock where he was employed as a domestic chauffeur by Mrs Kerr from Stepends House in Auchinleck Road. They lived in Stepends Cottage, across from the Congregational Church where they raised Annie, Robert (my grandfather), Wullie, Mary and Tom.

William joined the Army Service Corps in 1914 as Acting Corporal M2/193702 and served during WW1. He was awarded the Allied Victory medal, the British War medal and the Cumnock Parish medal for his services during the war. He continued working for Mrs Kerr until he retired. He died in 1959 at Stepends Cottage. Him and his wife are buried in the new Cumnock Cemetery.
He served with his brother James Smart Grierson from Inverness who was in the 11th Ambulance Company across France and Britain.

Medal Card
Corps: Army Service Corps
Regiment No: M2/193702 (Mechanical Transport)
Rank: Acting Corporal
1914-1920 WO 372/8

Allied Victory Medal
Was awarded for service in any operational theatre between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was issued to individuals who received the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars and to most individuals who were  issued the British War Medal.

British War Medal
British War Medal was awarded to bothservicemen and civilians that either served in a theatre of war, or rendered service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.

Cumnock Parish Medal Was awarded to all the men who served in WW1 from Cumnock.

Andrew Malcolmson

From the Cumnock Chronicle, October 1918

Pte Andrew Malcolmson

Mr William Malcolmson, Tower Street, has had a letter from an officer informing him that his brother Andrew fell in action on the 8^th inst.   (records have the death on 1st Oct 1918)

Pte Malcolmson joined  the RSF in the early months of the war, and was through the Egyptian and Holy Land campaigns, and afterwards came to France, where he was transferred to the Pioneer Coy. of the R.E. He was home last month on a visit. He was 34 years, unmarried and lived a quiet life. He formerly worked at Highhouse Pit.

This seems to be the family in 1901

40 Old School Row, Dalmellington

Bridget Malcolmson 59
William Malcolmson 25
Adam Malcolmson 24
Andrew Malcolmson 16 coal miner hewer b Dalmellington
Mary Malcolmson 3

He is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France and on Cumnock War Memorial.

Cumnock Connections tree

Robert Orr, MM

Robert Orr was the son of James Orr and his second wife Agnes Meikle, born 2 May 1882 in Cumnock. He died on 22nd March 1918 age 35.

Here's the family in the 1901 census

Townhead St
James Orr     58 coal miner b Dalmellington
Agnes Orr     48
James Orr     24 coal miner
David Orr     20 tailor
Robert Orr     16 pithead worker
Mary Orr     14 domestic servant
rest born Cumnock

In 1914 Robert found himself in trouble with the law.

Scotsman Wed 3 Dec 1914

A SOLDIER IN TROUBLE AT AYR
At Ayr Sheriff Court yesterday – Sheriff Substitute Robertson on the bench – Robert Orr, a private in the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, pleaded guilty to having made statements in the Dumfries Arms Hotel, Cumnock, which were calculated to prejudice recruiting for His Majesty’s Army. It was stated that he said they should not join the Army as they were a great deal better where they were.

The accused, who was the worse for drink at the time when he made the statement, was dismissed with an admonition. The charge was under the Defence of the Realm Act.

From the Chronicle Nov 1915 - a hearty send off for L/C John Black of Skares and Pte Robert Orr of Townhead St.  On the same train were Pte Andrew McSorland and Lieut. D M Hill. John Black also was to die.

From the Cumnock Chronicle 1918

Mrs Lorimer (Mary Orr)  of Lugar received notification that her brother Coy Sergeant Robert Orr M.M. and Bar is reported missing from Mar 21nd. (Mary Orr was married to John Lorimer in 1909)

He was a Sergeant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Service Number 12288. Died 22 Mar 1918 in France. He was awarded the Military Medal with bar.

In his soldier's will dated 1915 he leaves everything to his nephew James Orr Lorimer, the son of the above Mary Orr.

It seems from this Chronicle article, he died while a prisoner of the Germans.

He is remembered on the Arras Memorial and on Cumnock War Memorial.

He is a relation of CHG chairman Bobby Grierson.

Cumnock Connections tree 

A postcard sent by Robert to his friend Robert Samson can be seen here and 2 letters telling of the loss of Robert Gilmour here. Big Hugh Lorimer and Duncan Ferguson are also mentioned as being there.
He signs himself "your old Pal Ticky."

Footnote, from Bill Braniff.
Captain Wyllie tells of being badly wounded and being rescued and carried for miles by Pte Lane and Cpl Robert Orr . Both were later killed but he recommended the award of MM (military Medal) to Cpl Orr from Cumnock.
from “The Battle of Loos” by Philip Warner. (ISBN 1 84022 229 8). The writer of chapter 13 is Captain Wyllie

Here he is on Commonwealth War Graves Commission

John Graham

John Graham was born in Preston,  the son of William Graham of Dreghorn and his wife Agnes Kelly on 14 Jan 1890.

By the 1901 census the family was back in Scotland
132 Skares Row, Cumnock
Agnes Graham     32
John Graham     11
Mary Graham     8
George Graham     3
Emma Graham     1
Maggie Graham     1
Wm Graham     2 Mths

Father William was working as a coal miner in New Cumnock, staying at his mother's house in Mansfield Terrace.

John married neighbour Catherine Bunney Phillips in 1917. He of 112 Skares Row and she was at 93 Skares Row.

1917 photo, provided by grandson David Graham in New Zealand

A coal miner by profession, he was serving with the Highland Light Infantry at the time of his marriage. He died in Stobhill Hospital  in Glasgow on 29 Aug 1918 of heart disease, nephritis and broncho pneumonia. He was 28, although death cert says 27. He had been ill for over 4 months. Their son William had been born on the 1st July 1918.

memorial card, provided by grandson David Graham in New Zealand

memorial card, provided by grandson David Graham in New Zealand

He is buried in Cumnock New Cemetery.


Catherine his widow remarried the following year and had more children. They all emigrated to New Zealand in 1926. 

Cumnock Connections family tree

CWGC

John McKinnon, MM

John McKinnon was born in Cumnock about 1895 to John McKinnon a slater, plumber and gasfitter and his wife Jemima.

In 1901 the family was at Hayfield Cottage in Cumnock.

John McKinnon     43 plumber and gas fitter  b Cumnock
Jemima McKinnon     37 b Mauchline
William S McKinnon     16
Maggie W McKinnon     14
Douglas R McKinnon     12
Mary McKinnon     8
Lizzie R McKinnon     7
John McKinnon     5
Janet McKinnon     2
Jemima S McKinnon     9 M

Cumnock Chronicle 1918

John was a Lance Corporal in The Royal Engineers and was killed in France on 4th November 1918, so close to the Armistice. He is buried at the ORS British Cemetery in France. He was 23.

His father was deceased and his mother living by this time at 2 Alexandra Terrace, Ayr.

He had been affected by gas in August 1917.

He was awarded the Military Medal in 1918.

His name is on the Cumnock War Memorial.

His record on CWGC 

The family on Cumnock Connections tree

It's possible that the 3 young lads are John McKinnon senior's 3 sons, making the lad on the right John.

Cumnock Chronicle

Captain Robert McCowan Hill, DSO

from the Cumnock Chronicle

Scotsman Thur  18 May 1916

WAR HONOURS

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDERS

Temp Captain Robert McCowan Hill MB, a son of ex-provost Hill, JP. He is a graduate of Glasgow University.

From the London Gazette, 6 April 1918

Kilmarnock Standard, 20 May 1916

The Distinguished Service Order has been conferred upon
temporary Capt. Robert McCowan Hill, M.B., R.A.M.C., attached 2nd
Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty". It appears that he "went into an area which was under intense bombardment, amputated the leg of a wounded officer, and attended to other wounded under most difficult and dangerous circumstances. Finally,he accompanied two stretcher cases back under shell fire." He is a son of ex-Provost and Mrs. Hill, Hartfield, Cumnock, and a grandson of the late Provost McCowan, Cumnock, who was widely known in his day as an auctioneer and valuator. On completion of his training, Capt. Hill was appointed House Surgeon in Paisley Royal Alexandra Infirmary. About 4 years ago he settled in Upper Tooting, London, where he married Sister Jordan of the Royal Alexandra Infirmary, Paisley.

He received his DSO from the King at Buckingham Palace on 27th May 1916.

Robert McCowan Hill born about 1882 in Ayr was the son of William Hill, a commercial traveller born in Cambusnethan and Jeanie Hart McCowan. She was the daughter of John McCowan an auctioneer and keeper of the Eagle Inn in the Square, Cumnock in 1861.

Both William Hill  and John McCowan were former Provosts of Cumnock.

 

1861

Eagle Inn, Square Cumnock

John Mccowan             49 auctioneer & innkeeper (his grandfather)

Elizabeth C Mccowan             49

Jessie Mccowan             18

Elizabeth Mccowan             16

James Mccowan             14

Jane H Mccowan             10 (his mother)

Robert Mccowan             7

Mary Hunter             19

1891

Hartfield Cottage Ayr road

William Hill             44  commercial traveler, draper’s

Jeanie H Hill             40

Bessie Hill             15

William Hill             13

John Hill             10

Robert Hill             8  b Ayr

Margaret Hill             6

Catherine Hill             3

David Hill             2

Martha Lorimer             16

In 1901 Robert was a medical student lodging in Arlington Street in Glasgow.

He married Alberta Brooke Jordan a nurse in 1913 at the Royal Alexandra Infirmary in Paisley where they were both working and he died in Wallington Surrey in 1958.

His sister Margaret Walker Hill was the wife of  R D Hunter the lawyer and Provost.

Cumnock Connections tree