John McKim

John McKim or Baillie was born out of wedlock to Mary Baillie and William McKim in Dailly on 9th May 1895.

1901

120 Skares Row, Old Cumnock

Margt Baillie             59

James Baillie             37 son coal miner

Robt Baillie             27 son coal miner

Hugh Baillie             12 grandson

Robt Baillie             9 grandson
John Mck Baillie             5 grandson

Jas Baillie             3 grandson

all born Dailly

in 1911 he was in Kirkconnel with his mother and other Baillies.

He enlisted in Kilmarnock, he was in the Highland Light Infantry and previously Ayrshire Yeomanry.

He died in France on 27th March 1918 and is remembered on the War Memorial inside Cumnock Parish Church

CWGC

Family tree here

Taken  by Morag Gordon in Cumnock Parish Church

Skares soldiers home on leave

From the Cumnock Chronicle

8 Nov 1918
Pte Robert Colthart is home on leave from France.
Pte Thomas Lucas is on sick leave, recovering from a bullet wound in the leg
L-Crpl John Reid, Camerons, who has been out almost from the beginning is on draft leave.
Pte Hugh Hodge H.L.I. got home for his brother's funeral (Archibald Hodge who died of influenza on 23rd October)

22 Nov 1918
SKARES
Pte Adam Simpson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Pte Thomas Thorburn, Royal Field Artillery
Pte William Dykes, Royal Army Medial Corps
Pte William Stewart, Royal Scots Fusiliers on convalescent leave
Pte John Stewart, Cameron Highlanders was home this weekend in connection with his brother's death. (this would be James who died on 18th November of influenza)

Samuel McCurdy

Samuel McCurdy was born in Falkirk in 1876 to Irish parents. He served with the Scottish Rifles  in the Second Boer War in Africa 1899-1902, according to records. He was still in Falkirk in the 1901 census so maybe he didn't go abroad till after that. He died in France on 11th August 1917.  His  wife was living in Ayrshire. She married again to Patrick Carberry and there are still Carberrys and McCurdys in the area.

Cumnock Connections tree

CWGC


He is remembered on Cumnock War Memorial.

Thomas Huggart

Thomas Huggart was born on the 13th January 1891 in Dalmellington. He was the son of William Huggart and Isabella Tait and had 2 sisters Mary Ann and Jane.

In 1901 census he was at  50 Drongan, Ochiltree with his mother and her mother.

He enlisted in the RSF at Ayr, and his residence was given as Drongan. He died on the12th July 1915 in the Balkans and according to his medal card he had been there since the 6th June.

I can't find any reason why he is on the War Memorial in Cumnock.
Update: his sister Jeanie Smith lived in Cumnock.

Here is his entry on CWGC

Cumnock Connections tree

Driver James McPhie

James McPhie was born in Glasgow about 1888 and was a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps.

This from the Cumnock Chronicle

Photo by Bobby Grierson added March 2018

His service record survives.

He was living at Tower St, Cumnock aged 26 and a miner  when he enlisted in  the General Service Corps on 19th  January 1915 at Ayr. He had previously served 2 months in the RSF.  He was recruited by Sgt Lawrie.

He had a spell in hospital in 1916 with pneumonia.  He died at sea on board At Ellora returning to Basrah from leave of broncho pneumonia  on 17 Oct 1918.

Mary McPhie, his wife, of 27 Tower Street acknowledged receipt of a scroll and the King's letter in 1920.

He had 3 children Herbert Blane Skillen, John McPhie and Isabella McPhie. Wife's name Mary McConnell Mcphie, all living at 27 Tower St.

Mother Mary Rankin Brown 1 Hopehill Place off Hopehill Road Glasgow. His wife Mary did not know if he had any brothers or sisters.
They were married at Auchinleck on 5th November 1911.  Wife's maiden name Mary Skillen. Children Herbert Skillen b 4 Jun 1910 in Auchinleck, John  b 12 July 1914 Old Cumnock and Isabella Clelland b 6 Aug 1915 Cumnock.

On the Cumnock War Memorial he is down as Driver James McPhee, Royal Army Medical Corps, and he does seem to have spent some time with them too.



CWGC

Cumnock Connections tree

Thomas Campbell of Skares

Thomas Campbell, born in Girvan about 1881, was the son of Thomas Campbell and Sarah Swan. He married his cousin Marion Swan in Skares in 1909. They lived at 75 Skares Row, Cumnock at the time of his death. 

In 1901 he was still in Girvan
117 Cairn Place

Thomas Campbell             46

Sarah Campbell             42

Thomas Campbell             19

John Campbell             16

Jane Campbell             13

Sarah Campbell             11

Robert Campbell             8

James Campbell             6

Frank Campbell             4

Grace Campbell             3

Mabel Campbell             1

He died at Alexandria on 24th April 1917. He was a private in the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Cumnock Chronicle

He is remembered on Cumnock War memorial and at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

CWGC

on Cumnock Connections tree 

Update: 8 July 2019
I am grateful to Ian Jones of Girvan Historical Society for further information and a photo of Thomas Campbell's Skares Plaque. This was the first I'd heard of individual plaques given to the Skares men.

Update 25 July 2020

Found by Lorna Conaghan in a local newspaper

Andrew Wilson

Private Andrew Wilson was born about 1891 in Auchinleck to John Wilson and Jeanie Agnew.

In the 1901 census the family was in Cumnock at Townhead St
John Wilson 44 rail surfaceman b Sorn
Jeanie 37 b St Quivox
James  11 b Mauchline
Andrew 9 b Auchinleck
Mary S 7 b Auchinleck
Maggie 5 b Auchinleck
Robert 2 b O Cumnock
Jeanie A 5 mo b O Cumnock



The Cumnock Chronicle of 1 Nov 1918 reports that he was killed in action about 20th October 1918. He was in the Ayrshire Yeomanry but attached to the Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was age 28 and the son of John and Jeanie Wilson of Waterside Row.

From the text above
The sad news came from Pte Ferguson Kilmarnock. Andrew fell from machine gun fire along with six others in a charge made on the 20th of October. The chaplain conducted the service and a small cross was laid across each grave but the mUsters were preparing a large cross with all seven names on it as a memorial from the regiment.

He was a baker with Mr Robert Stoddart. He was a member of the Bowling Club and was connected with the local Rechabites.

His sister Jeanie was the wife of my husband's cousin, John McKay also of Waterside
Another sister Maggie was the wife of Andrew Reid of 110 Peesweep Row, Lugar.


Cumnock Connections tree 

CWGC

Adam Barr

Onr of the most tragic deaths must be that of young Adam Barr who was killed in France on 29th October 1918, just two weeks before the Armistice.  At age 19, he had only been "in the lines" for 2 days when he fell. He was a private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

He is remembered on Cumnock War Memorial and is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas-de-Calais, France

He was born on 14 Jul 1897 at Glaisnock Cottage, Cumnock, the son of Adam Barr and Sarah Newlands. He had a twin brother Hugh Barr who died age 3 months.
He had been a ploughman for Mr McLanachan at Loganhill. His parents were at Meadow Cottages, Cumnock in 1918.

Kept by the McLanachan family, his employers.

Here's the family in 1901 census
Townhead, Tarbolton

Adam Barr             28 ploughman b Cumnock

Sarah Barr             25 b Auchinleck

Adam Barr             3 b Old Cumnock

William Barr             1 b New Cumnock

Cumnock Connections tree

GWGC

David Bryce

David Bryce was born on 13 November  1883 at 248 Cronberry to David Bryce and Margaret Biggans. In the 1911 census  he was living with his brother Joseph and family at Highhouse in Auchinleck. He was a coal miner.

He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in Cumnock but was transferred to the Royal Engineers. He was a sapper in the  179th Tunneling Company when he died on 4th July 1916 at the Somme. He was 33.

In the Register of Soldiers' effects,  14 shillings was left to a his niece Margaret.

He is remembered on Kilmarnock War Memorial and at Albert Communal Cemetery in the Somme, France.

Here is his entry on CWGC and on Cumnock Connections tree

Corporal James Lennox

James Lennox was born in Maybole in 1891. His father Alexander was a rural postman.

In 1901 the family are at Elbow Lane in Cumnock
Alexander Lennox 34 insurance agent b Kirkmichael
Elizabeth Lennox 35 b Kirkmichael
Thomas Lennox 14 coal miner shiftman
John Lennox 11
James Lennox 9
Jeanie Lennox 5
Alexander Lennox 3
Alfred Lennox 11 Mo
children all born Maybole

James enlisted on the RSF and was serving in the 7th Battalion when he was killed in action  in France on the 27th February 1916.

 The Glasgow Evening Times had published this:-

Evening Times

See his family on Cumnock Connections tree

and his record on CWGC

He is remembered on Cumnock War Memorial and the Loos Memorial

Skares Memorial

To the Memory Of The
Men Of Skares Who Fell
In The Great War 1914-1918
Sgt James Johnston LC
Corp John Black RSF
Corp Alexander Hodge MM RAMC
Lanc Corp Thomas Davidson RSF
Lanc Corp John Graham RSF
Lanc Corp Samuel Stewart RSF
Pte Thomas Campbell RSF
Pte Robert Davidson RSF
Pte William Kyle RSF
Pte John Millar BW
Pte William Rutherford RSF
Pte Michael Shirkie LC
Pte Samuel Stewart RSF
Pte Joseph Smith RSF


In The Second World War 1939-1945
Sgt James Johnstone RAF

The men on this monument are also on the Cumnock War Memorial.

This memorial was only erected last November (2013) See the Cumnock Chronicle report here

Click here for all posts to do with Skares

Skares is a small community in the parish of Cumnock. It sits on a plateau with views over the Ayrshire  countryside. The population was much higher in the past.  It had 3 miners' rows, 2 of which were still inhabited in the 1960s. The site is now covered over with a coniferous wood.  It had a station and a school.

Alexander Hodge, MM

Alexander Hodge was born in at Darnconner about 1890 to Archibald Hodge and Jane McDowall.

The family later lived in Skares.

He volunteered early in the war but he made it clear that he could not under any circumstances kill his fellow man. He served in the 17th Field Ambulance Corps He was awarded the MM for rescuing wounded infantrymen under fire.

He died in France on 30th April 1918

photo by Bobby Grierson, added 7/3/2018

His profile on RAMC

CWGC

Cumnock Connections tree

Update March 2016 from the Ayrshire Post

He was known as Sandy. He had his watch with him when he died and a German soldier collected his belongings and posted them to his parents after the war.

Nurse Agnes Kerr Earl

Agnes was born in Cumnock about 1885 to William Earl and Jane Purdie. Her mother died when she was a baby. Her father brought her  and brother James up. He was a joiner.

She served as a  Nurse in the America Unit of the Scottish Women's Hospital  from 14th December 1916 until her  death on 19 March 1919 in Vranya,  Serbia.

Headstone in Cumnock Old Cemetery, Barrhill Road

Cumnock Chronicle added March 2018

More on Sister Earl


References
Scottish Women's Hospital names
Find a grave
Scottish Women's Hospital site

John Hamilton

John Hamilton of  New Cumnock was born in Cumnock. His mother was Jane Hamilton and he was brought up by his grandparents John and Maggie Hamilton.

Cumnock Chronicle - 26th October 1917 THE LATE PTE JOHN HAMILTON

After an anxious wait of many months, hoping against hope that all would be well, the sad news arrived last week that all hope had been abandoned of Private John Hamilton, R.S.F., and that it was now presumed that he was dead. Pte Hamilton was one of the lads who took part in the great attack of the 30th July 1916 and who never returned. At the time he was posted as wounded and missing, but it was hoped that he was a prisoner, as many of his comrades who were similarly posted were afterwards found to be prisoners. All enquiries failed to trace him, and the official notice just received has put an end to any hopes still lingering amongst those he left behind. Pte Hamilton, when only 17 years of age, enlisted a year after the outbreak of hostilities, and three months later he was sent to France. There he took his place in the fighting line until he fell, as stated, on the 30th July last year. He was never home from the day he sailed. Pte Hamilton was brought up by his grandparents, Mr and Mrs John Hamilton, Burnfoot Rows, two much respected residenters, and worked with his uncles at New Cumnock Collieries. He was a likeable lad and was held in general respect. Although not a player himself, he was a keen follower of football and regularly accompanied his uncle Tom, the well known Kilmarnock F.C. full back, to the games. As a carpet bowler he held several prizes won in local competitions. Much sympathy is extended to Mr and Mrs Hamilton and other relatives, all of whom were specially attached to the deceased.

His service papers survive. He enlisted on 24 Aug 1915, stating his age as 19 yrs and 4 months (which seems to tally with the 1901 census).  He was a miner of 155 Burnfoot, New Cumnock.

His grandparents are named as his relatives along with uncle Alex 32, Robert 28 and Thomas 26. The grandmother provided this information after his death.

Here is the family in 1901 at Mansfield Village

John Hamilton             51

Margaret McCracken Hamilton             47

John Hamilton             19

James Hamilton             16

Robert Hamilton             11

Janet Hamilton             11

Thomas Hamilton             7

John Hamilton             4 grandson

He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in the Somme, France and on Cumnock War Memorial

Commonwealth War Grave

Cumnock Connections tree

Thomas Kennan

Dumfries and Galloway Standard 08 May 1915

From the Scotsman, Wednesday 5 May 1915

Mrs T Kennan, Waterside Place, Cumnock, has received notice from the War Office of the death of her husband, Private Tom Kennan, 2nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers. The death took place at the fight for Hill 60 on the 18th April. Private Kennan served several years with the colours, in the course of which he was in the campaign in India during the years 1895-98. He held a medal with 3 bars for the engagements he then took part in. His terms of service, as well as his service period, were over, but on the outbreak of war he volunteered for his old regiment.

He had previously served 1895-7 on the North West Front.

Battle of Hill 60

from the Cumnock Chronicle

This obituary states that he was the 4th Cumnock man to die.  Little did they know at the time that things would get much worse.

He was born in Terregles, Kirkcudbrightshire on 20th June 1874 and his wife was Elizabeth Kennan, of 19, Wallace St, Dumfries (by the time the war grave was set up).  She was the eldest daughter of Mr Short of Wallace Street according to the D & G Standard so presumably she went back to her parents.  He died on 18th April 1915.

He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium and on the Cumnock War Memorial where his name is recorded as Keenan.  Everywhere else it is Kennan.

Menin Gate photo by Philip McGhee

plaque prepared by Mike Ruddick

Cumnock Connections family tree

His entry on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission