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14 CUMNOCK CHRONICLE, Wednesday, August 13, 2014
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CUMNOCK CHRONICLE, Wednesday, August 13, 2014
website: www.cumnockchronicle.com
Cumnock History Group
Cumnock History Group remembers men and women from Cumnock who
fought in WW1 - www.cumnockhistorygroup.org
AUGUST 2014 sees the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WW1. We
wish to honour the memory of the
Cumnock men and women who took
part in this - some died in battle and
some survived. Here we highlight a
few of their stories.
Group member and family historian Kay
McMeekin undertook to research the 117 names of
WW1 soldiers on the War Memorial in Cumnock
Cemetery.
Her research found many more men connected
with Cumnock that are not on the memorial. We
would be happy to receive more information and
photos of local men, and women to add to the
blog.
Full stories and further research continues
online at: cumnocksoldiers.blogspot.com or email
cumnockhistory@icloud.com
Bobby Grierson – Chair, Cumnock History
Group
All photos by permission of combatants families, Cumnock History group and other sources.
EX-PATS
Some sons of Cumnock came
back from abroad to enlist.
Engineer James McGee Begg
returned from Edmonton Alberta
in 1914. He was a staff sergeant
in the Royal Engineers. He
survived the war and went back
to Canada with his wife Jean
Meikle Baird of Muirkirk.
Robert McLelland Munn was
born in 1894 in Cumnock. He
lived with his parents Robert
and Beatrice Munn at the
Dumfries Arms Hotel. Bertie left
Glasgow for Montreal in 1912
then enlisted with the Canadian
Expeditionary Force on 24 Sep
1914 but gave his date of birth
as 14 May 1891 making himself
3 years older than he actually
was. He was a Gunner with the
Canadian Field Artillery and
died on 26 Apr 1915 in France
aged 20.
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.
Pte. George M. Smith, R.S.F.
Pte. John M. Smith, H.L.I.
Pte. Joseph Smith, R.S.F.
Pte. John Steel, A.I.E.F.
Pte. William Stewart, R.S.F.
Pte. Richard Stewart, R.S.F.
Pte. Samuel Stewart, R.S.F.
Pte. Samuel S Stewart, R.S.F.
Pte. John Stillie, R.S.F.
Pte. Daniel Sweeney, Seaforths
Pte. John Taylor, Camerons
Pte. Mitchell Taylor, Can.Camerons
Pte. James Welsh, R.S. (or WALSH)
Pte. William White, R.S.
Pte. Alex. White, Northum.Fus.
Pte. Andrew Wilson, R.M.F.
Corpl. William Twigg, R.S.F.
L.Cpl. John Logan, R.S.F.
L. Cpl. John Henderson, R.S.
L.Cpl. John McRobert, K.O.S.B.
Bombr. George Kirkland, R.F.A.
Tpr. Samuel Guthrie, L.I.Y.
Tpr. William Kyle, A.I.Y.
Tpr. Angus McDonald, A.I.Y.
Tpr. Andrew Sloan, A.I.Y.
Tpr. James S. Wilson, A.I.Y.
Tpr. William Findlay, A.I.Y.
Gnr. Robert Menhams, R.F.A.
Gnr. Robert M. Munn, C.F.A.
Dvr. James McPhee, R.A.M.C.
Dvr. William Parker, R.F.A.
Pte. Charles Baird, R.S.F.
Pte. Adam Barr, R.S.F.
Pte. Andrew Hutson, N.Z.I.E.F.
Pte. Robert Hyslop, R.S.F.
Pte. Thomas Keenan, K.O.S.B. (should be
KENNAN)
Pte. Hugh B. Kennedy, R.S.F.
Pte. Samuel Kinnaird, K.O.S.B.
Pte. John Kirkpatrick, Northum.Fus.
Pte. William Kirkpatrick, Seaforths
Pte. Arthur Laing, R.S.F.
Pte John Laing R.S.
Pte. William Lamont, R.S.F.
Pte. John Malcolm, Camerons
Pte. Andrew Malcolmson, R.S.F.
Pte. Charles Morackas, R.S.F.
Pte. James Meldrum, R.S.F.
Pte. John Miller, Black Watch
Pte. Hugh Morrison, R.S.F.
Spr. George Muirhead, R.E.
Pte. Johnston C. Barrowman, Sherwd. Fors.
Pte.George Bradford, R.S.F.
Pte. John Broadfoot, R.S.F.
Pte. Thomas Campbell, R.S.F.
Pte. Andrew Cochrane, H.L.I.
Pte. Maitland Crolley, Camerons
Pte. David Davidson, R.S.F.
Pte. Thomas Davidson, R.S.F.
Pte. Richard Davidson, Canadians
Pte. Robert Davidson, R.S.F.
Pte. James Docherty, Seaforths
Pte. James Donaldson, H.L.I.
Pte. William Dunsmuir, H.L.I.
Pte. Andrew Easton, R.S.F.
Pte. Charles Ferguson, R.S.F.
Pte. Duncan C Ferguson, R.S.F
Pte. Hugh Findlay, Gordons
Pte. William McCall, Camerons
Pte. John McGarey, R.S.F.
Pte. John McGill, Scots Guards
Pte. Thomas McLean, R.S.
Pte. Thomas McLean, S.R.
Pte. William McLean, R.S.F.
Pte. James McMillan, R.S.F.
Pte. James Neil, Gordon Highlanders
Pte. David M. Niven, S.R.
Pte. Hugh Park, D.C.M. Seaforths
Pte. John Parker, R.S.F.
Pte. William Rutherford, R.S.F.
Pte. Thomas Sinnet, K.O.S.B. (or SINNIT)
Pte. James R.L. Sharpe, R.S.F.
Pte. Michael Shirkie, Camerons
Pte. David A.G. Skillen, H.L.I. (or SKILLING)
Pte. William Gibson, R.S.F.
Pte. Thomas Gilchrist, R.S.F
Pte. John Graham, H.L.I.
Pte. Peter M. Gracie, R.S.
Pte. George Grier, R.S.F.
Pte. Robert S. Guthrie, H.L.I.
Pte. James Haley, Seaforths
Pte. Gilbert Hamilton, Camerons
Pte. Hugh Hamilton, Camerons
Pte. John Hamilton, R.S.F
Pte. James Harkness, H.L.I.
Pte. Thomas Hewitson, H.L.I.
Pte. Alexander Hodge M.M. R.A.M.C.
Pte. Edward Hogg, R.S.F.
Pte. Robert C. Hogg, Londn.Scotsh
Pte. Thomas Huggart, R.S.F.
Pte. James Hunter, R.S.F.
THE information here and on
the blog was researched from
several sources, including Service
records, birth, marriage and death
certificates, the Commonwealth
Graves Commission, the Cumnock
Chronicle and local families. There
will be other stories still to be
uncovered. Can you help?
CumnoCk War
memorial was
unveiled in 1921 to
commemorate the 117
men who were killed
in World War I. Built
of white granite it is
a tall smooth column
topped by a stylised
carved crown and a
sphere. The octagonal
base has bronze name
plaques set on each
side. 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.
But there seems to be
many who have been
omitted and Cumnock
History Group aims
to remember all
with a connection to
Cumnock.
WomAn AT WAR
The only woman from Cumnock we have found was nurse
Agnes Earl. Born in Cumnock in 1886 to William Earl andJane
Purdie. She went to Salonika, now Thessalonica on mainland
Greece, with the Scottish Women’s Hospital in December 1916
EnLISTmEnT AnD
ConSCRIPTIon
on the outbreak of war, many men
in this area were eager to volunteer for
the armed forces. The local regiment
was the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Ayr but
many men who were mostly young,
single, miners or farm labourers enlisted
in regiments from all over Scotland.
In march 1916 conscription for single
and married men was introduced.
Some professions were exempt such
as clergymen and teachers. Reserved
occupations included miners but many
had already volunteered. Their skills
were useful for tunnelling. Enlistees had
to be 19 to be sent to fight abroad but
many signed up at a younger age and
were put into training only to be sent
abroad as soon as they were old enough.
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FIRST CASuALTIES
The first local casualties were Private James
Docherty of Tower Street who served with
the Seaforth Highlanders and died in France
on 26th october 1914 aged 35. Then Private
John Flannery of Glaisnock Street who served
with the Royal Highlanders and died on 10th
november 1914 aged 21. They are the only two,
we have found so far, who died in 1914.
CumnoCk CHRonICLE ARTICLES
The Cumnock Chronicle fully reported on
all aspects of the war including the following
awful loss of lives.
“Yesterday morning mrs J muirhead,
Townhead Street, received notice of the death
of her son, Sapper George muirhead, who
fell in action in France. Sapper muirhead
went out to France with the R.S.F. about three
years ago, and later was transferred to the
Tunnelling Section of the R.E. Fully a year ago
he was badly crushed by a fall while engaged
in tunnelling. of a rather quiet and reserved
nature he was respected by all who knew
him, and especially by his fellow workers in
Garrallan Colliery. He was 26 years of age.
much sympathy is felt for his widowed mother
and the other members of his family. His eldest
brother, James, has been with the Colours since
early in the war.”
“We reproduce a photo of a Cumnock
descendant who has given his life for his
country. Samuel Shields is the son of mr and
mrs Samuel Shields. His father was employed
by William Baird & C Lugar, and was well
known in this district. Bugler Shields, who
was 19 years of age, was reported missing in
31st July 1917 and is now officially returned
as having died on or since that date. much
sympathy is extended to the parents and his
extended family in their time of sorrow.”
He enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1915 aged
only 17. one week after his 19th birthday he
was posted to France on 31 may 1917 and
two months later he was missing, presumed
dead. He is remembered on the menin Gate
memorial in Ypres, France.”
then moved to Serbia. While dressing a gangrenous wound, she
got a scratch which turned septic and she died two days later
on 19 march 1919. She is buried at nis in Serbia. Her grave was
visited earlier this year by Alan Cumming of Scottish Women’s
Hospitals. He sent us this photo of her grave. She was awarded
the Serbian Cross For mercy and the Silver medal For Devoted
Service In War.
She is on the family headstone in Cumnock old cemetery but
not on the War memorial.
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deCOraTed men
Daniel Marrs was born in
Cumnock in 1889. The son
of Thomas Marrs and Esther
McWhinnie, Daniel and two of
his brothers were sent to Canada
in 1895 as Quarriers children.
Their father had died leaving
their mother with five small
children.
Daniel was with the Canadian
Army Medical Corps and was
awarded
the
Distinguished
Conduct Medal on 2 Feb 1917 for
conspicuous gallantry in action.
“He displayed great courage in
dressing two wounded men in
the open under heavy fire. Later,
he assisted in bringing both men
back to our trenches.”
Less than a month later he was
killed at Souchez in Northern
France “While acting as a
stretcher bearer and was engaged
in dressing a wounded man in a
shell hole.” He was 27.
Another DCM decorated
soldier was Sergeant William
Trousdale. He was a native of
Tarbolton but moved to Skares
and married Mary Thorburn in
1909. He served in the Royal
Scots Fusiliers and survived the
war and received his medal in
1918.
disTinguished
COnduCT
medal (d.C.m.)
Level 2 Gallantry Award. Instituted on 4th December
1854.
The D.C.M. was the first official medal award to recognise an act of gallantry in the field by a member of the
armed forces who was below the rank of officer. It was
the other ranks’ equivalent of the Distinguished Service
Order.
The D.C.M. was awarded for gallantry in the field in
the face of the enemy. Other ranks in the British Army
and also non-commissioned ranks in Commonwealth
Forces were eligible for this award.
17
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further research continues online at: cumnocksoldiers.blogspot.com or email cumnockhistory@icloud.com. Also see the website at www.
All photos used by permission of combatants’ families, Cumnock History Group and other sources.
fought in WW1 Full stories andcumnockhistorygroup.org.
Military Medal (M.M.)
family lOsses
Level 3 Gallantry Award. Instituted on 25th March
1916 and backdated to 1914.
The Military Medal was awarded to other ranks
of the British Army and Commonwealth Forces.
It was an award for gallantry and devotion to duty
when under fire in battle on land. On the reverse of
the medal is inscribed “For Bravery in the Field”.
Recipients of the medal are entitled to use the letters
M.M. after their name.
The Military Medal was awarded to several local
men. There may well be others.
Private William Alexander of Skares who served
with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and survived the war.
Lance Corporal Robert Baird of Townfoot served
with the Royal Scots and was killed in action in Gaza
on 12th November 1917.
Private Alexander Hodge of Skares who served
with the Feld Ambulance Corps died in France in
1918.
Lance Corporal John McKinnon of Cumnock who
served with the Royal Engineers and was killed just
8 days before the Armistice.
William Smith of the Tank Corps, survived.
Sergeant Robert Orr, Townhead Street who served
with Royal Scots Fusiliers died in France in 1918
aged 25.
Some families suffered the loss
of more than one member.
Samuel Saunderson Stewart
was born in 1883 in Skares,
the son of John Stewart and
Margaret Saunderson. He was
a Lance Corporal in the Royal
Scots Fusiliers and was 33 when
he died in the battle of Loos in
1915. His brother Richard was
a private in the Royal Scots
Fusiliers when he was killed
at Gallipoli on 6 Oct 1915 just
days after Samuel. They are
both on the War Memorial in
Cumnock.
Old CumnOCk Parish War medal James andersOn - Parish War medal
Private James Anderson, Highland
Light Infantry, was born at 15
Waterside Place on 11th June 1900.
He was amongst the youngest to serve.
He survived the war and was presented
with the Parish Medal. James is seated
on the extreme right of the front row.
POStCardS FrOM tHe FrONt
 These were presented to Cumnock
men who survived the war at a
reception and dance held at the Town
hall on 10th december 1919.
illNeSS
It wasn’t just the fighting that killed the combatants. Other illnesses that accounted for deaths were
dysentery, appendicitis, perforated gastric ulcer,
pleurisy, pneumonia etc. Many men who served in
the Balkans and Palestine suffered for the rest of
their lives with attacks of malaria.
Private John Graham married Catherine Bunney
Phillips in 1917 while serving with the Highland
Postcards and letters were the only
way to keep in touch with family and
friends. This postcard dated 1915 was
sent to William Robson Grierson from
his brother James while both on active
service.
William was employed as a domestic chauffeur by Mrs Kerr from
Stepends House in Auchinleck Road.
He joined the Army Service Corps in
1914 as Acting Corporal. He served
with his brother James Smart Grierson
from Inverness who was in the 11th
Ambulance Company across France
and Britain. He continued working until
he retired. He died in 1959 at Stepends
Cottage. Him and his wife Agnes are
buried in Cumnock new cemetery.
Light Infantry. He died in Stobhill Hospital in
Glasgow on 29th August 1918 of heart disease,
nephritis and broncho pneumonia. He was 28
and had been ill for over four months. Their son
William had been born on the 1st July 1918. His
widow remarried and the family emigrated to New
Zealand. Memorial cards were printed for many
soldiers by famiy members.
Battle OF lOOS - 25tH SePteMBer 1915
The battle took place near
the mining town of Loos-enGohelle in northern France. The
battle claimed eleven local men
from the Royal Scots Fusiliers,
Queens Own Highlanders,
Seaforth Highlanders and
Cameronian Highlanders. They
were
Corporal Andrew Cairney,
Corporal James Lennox,
Private John Malcolm,
Private James Meldrum,
Private James Sharpe,
Private Michael Shirkie,
Lance Corporal Samuel S
Stewart,
Lance Corporal John Taylor,
Lance
Corporal
William
Twigg,
Private Hugh Williamson.
feature
Adam
Barr
Born in Cumnock in 1898
to Adam Barr and Sarah
newlands, his death was one
of the most tragic in the war.
He was killed in France on
october 29, 1918, just two
weeks before the Armistice.
At age 19, he had only been
in the lines for two days when
he fell. He was a private in
the 2nd Battalion of the royal
Scots Fusiliers.
David
McMeekin
Born 1892 in Glengyron
row, Cumnock to John
McMeekin and Annie
Gibson Murdoch, he was a
miner and joined the royal
Scots Fusiliers and served in
Palestine. His service records
did not survive, but he did.
A rePorT in the Cumnock
Chronicle of october 15,
1915 details his return from
the Dardanelles on leave.
He was the first to return
and his lifelong friend Hugh
Blackwood picked him up
Many soldiers
who were killed
or injured were
reported in local
newspapers
Andrew
Agnew
Wilson
PrIvATe Andrew Wilson was born 1891 in
Auchinleck to John Wilson and Jeanie Agnew. The
Cumnock Chronicle of november 1, 1918 reports
that he was killed in action about october 20, 1918
aged 28. He was in the Ayrshire Yeomanry but
attached to the royal Munster Fusiliers.
Benjamin
Smith
Born 1876 in Kilmarnock, died in old Cumnock
in 1933, Corporal Benjamin Smith served in the
rFA in Palestine and egypt. He was a tailor and
married Margaret McCall in 1906. He died in 1933
in Cumnock.
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Andrew
Malcolmson
from the station in his car and
took him to Glengyron row
where there was a big turn
out. He had been wounded
on July 5 in the right foot and
left arm. His son confirms
he had a bullet in his left
arm. He suffered relapses of
malaria for the rest of his life.
23
Robert David
Cavers Chalmers
Hogg Fraser
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
Company of the royal
engineers. He fell in action
on october 1, 1918 aged 34
years, unmarried and lived a
quiet life. He formerly worked
at Highhouse Pit.
Born on September
2, 1897 in Cumnock to
Andrew White Hogg
and Annie Amelie Caird.
Known as robin, he was
only 19 when he was killed
in 1916.
Born 1894 in Kilmarnock to
James Fraser and Maggie Miller.
In 1901 they were living at Ayr
road, Cumnock. they emigrated
to Canada about 1906 and David
enlisted at Valcartier in 1914.
He was with the Canadian Army
Medical Corps. He died on
May 19, 1918 in an air raid on a
hospital. He is buried in etaples
Military Cemetery near Boulogne
in France.
Three Davidson Brothers
James Livingstone
Born January 7, 1900 in Cumnock to licensed
grocer robert Livingstone and Agnes Wilson. In
1918 he was a sergeant in the rAF in edgware,
england and trained on a biplane. His address
in 1918 was Millbank House, Cumnock. He
survived the war.
MontGoMery Davidson and Janet
McMurray of 78 Skares row lost three sons.
this information came from an in Memoriam
Announcement in the Cumnock Chronicle
in 1918 by the men’s sister Jessie, wife of
Matthew Shirkie.
the boys were all born in Dailly. First,
oldest son David Davidson, a Lance Corporal
in the royal Scots Fusiliers was killed in the
Battle of Loos on September 26, 1915. David
was married to Martha Keirs in 1901.
thomas Davidson was a private with the
rSF and was killed at Gallipoli on December
Michael Shirkie
Thomas Kennan
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, King’s
own Scottish Borderers.
William
McMillan
Dunsmuir
Born 1896 in Tower Street, Cumnock to
Thomas Dunsmuir and rachel McMillan,
Tower Street.
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, Highland
Light Infantry died in France on September 27,
1918 from wounds received in action. It is only
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 three 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.
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 known
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.
30, 1915. thomas had married Margaret reid
in 1912.
the youngest son robert Davidson also
a private with the rSF died in France on
September 27, 1918. robert married Agnes
McDicken in 1917.
From Cumnock Chronicle of october 11,
1918
Skares - the third of Seven Soldier
Brothers to Fall
the news that Pte robert Davidson, son
of Mr Montgomerie Davidson, had fallen in
action created profound sorrow in our little
Born 1899 in Skares
row, Cumnock, to
Michael Shirkie and
elizabeth Lees.
He was a coal miner
most of his life and
worked at the Whitehill
Pit in Skares. He was a
Private in the 1st royal
Scots Fusiliers and was
awarded the Victory
Medal and entitlement
to the Silver War
Badge. He received a
letter from Buckingham
Palace thanking him for
the part he played in the
war. Michael married
Jane Guthrie from
Cumnock. He died in
1945.
community. the sad news came from Sergt
W truesdale. “Shaw”, as Pte Davidson was
familiarly called, had been only a fortnight
in France when he fell. Mr Davidson has
already lost two sons in the war; three others
have been wounded and a seventh discharged
for health reasons. Pte Davidson was a well
respected young man of about 22 years of
age. He leaves a widow and young child
and to them, as to his other relatives, sincere
sympathy is extended.
their mother had passed away in 1901 so
was spared the grief of losing three sons
Robert
Gilmour
roBert Gilmour was born 1878 in Cumnock. Son
to robert Gilmour and Agnes Irvine, he was a police
constable in Largs and married Barbara ellen and had left
the police by the time he enlisted. He was a Sergeant in
the royal Scots Fusiliers and died in France of wounds
on August 2, 1915. He was 37. He is buried in Lillers
Communal Cemetery in France and is remembered on the
Cumnock War Memorial. He was the brother-in-law of
William twigg who also died.
His grandson William Braniff says this is a photo of
rSF corporals taken at Aldershot. robert is the one on the
extreme right.
Two neighbours from
Skares Row
neIGHBourS James Bruce Johnstone and
Michael Shirkie (see left) of 101 and 113
Skares row respectively enlisted together
at Glasgow on September 14, 1914 within
two weeks of war breaking out. Both were
miners, and single. they enlisted in the
Queen’s own Cameron Highlanders, and
both set sail for France on 8 July 1915.
neither came home.
James Bruce Johnstone, (below) a
miner, was born in Patna in 1891. He was
the son of Charles J Johnstone and Mary
McDerment. He was a Sergeant in the
Queen’s own Cameron Highlanders. He
was killed in action in Flanders on February
27, 1916. He was 25. His father received his
medals on July 6, 1921.
AnotHer Michael Shirkie, a miner, was
born in Catrine in 1889. He was the eldest
child of edward Shirkie and Isabella
Montgomery. He was a Private in the
Queen’s own Cameron Highlanders. He
was reported missing presumed dead
after the Battle of Loos on September 25,
1915. He was 26.
Michael (Mick) was batman to Captain
William H Kirkland who was also killed
in the Battle of Loos and the story goes
Michael went to his aid on the field and
perished too. Michael’s sister received
a letter addressed to any living relative
of Michael Shirkie, Skares. It was from
Captain Kirkland’s sister and the postman
delivered it to Liz’s grandmother nellie,
Michael’s sister in the photo.
16 CUMNOCK CHRONICLE, Wednesday, September 3, 2014
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CUMNOCK CHRONICLE, Wednesday, September 3, 2014
The Silver War
Badge
Established in December 1918. Also known as
‘pip’.
This bronze medal was authorized in 1918. it is
very similar to the 1914 Star but it was issued to a
much wider range of recipients. Broadly speaking
it was awarded to all who served in any theatre
of war against germany between 5th August 1914
and 31st December 1915, except those eligible for
the 1914 Star. Similarly, those who received the
Africa general Service medal or the Sudan 1910
medal were not eligible for the award.
The British War
Medal, 1914-18
Established on 26th July 1919. Also known as
‘Squeak’.
The silver or bronze medal was awarded to
officers and men of the British and imperial
Forces who either entered a theatre of war or
entered service overseas between 5th August 1914
and 11th november 1918 inclusive. This was later
extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some
other areas in 1919 and 1920.
The 1914 Star
Established in April 1917. Also known as ‘pip’
or the ‘mons Star’.
This bronze medal award was authorized by
King george V in April 1917 for those who had
served in France or Belgium between 5th August
1914 to midnight on 22nd november 1914 inclusive. The award was open to officers and men
of the British and indian Expeditionary Forces,
doctors and nurses as well as Royal navy, Royal
marines, Royal navy Reserve and Royal naval
Volunteer Reserve who served ashore with the
Royal naval Division in France or Belgium.
Three local nurses
were awarded the
royal red cross
The Royal Red Cross is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom
and Commonwealth for exceptional
services in military nursing.
The award was established on April
27, 1883 by Queen Victoria, with a single class of Member. A second and lower
class, Associate, was added during World
War I in 1917.
The award was made to a fully trained nurse
of an officially recognised nursing service,
military or civilian, who had shown exceptional
devotion and competence in the performance
of actual nursing duties, over a continuous
and long period, or who had performed some
very exceptional act of bravery and devotion
at his or her post of duty.
The Territorial
Force War Medal,
1914-1919
instituted on 26th April 1920.
Only members of the Territorial Force and
Territorial Force nursing Service were only eligible for this medal. They had to have been a
member of the Territorial Force on or before 30th
September 1914 and to have served in an operational theatre of war outside the United Kingdom
between 5th August 1914 and 11th november
1918. An individual who was eligible to receive
the 1914 Star or 1914/15 Star could not receive
the Territorial War medal.
The Silver War Badge was issued on 12th
September 1916.
The badge was originally issued to officers and
men who were discharged or retired from the military forces as a result of sickness or injury caused
by their war service. After April 1918 the eligibility was amended to include civilians serving with
the Royal Army medical Corps, female nurses,
staff and aid workers.
Mercantile Marine
War Medal
The 1914-15 Star
Nurse Margaret
Bissett
Margaret Bissett was born about 1892
in Cronberry to colliery blacksmith
Robert Bissett of Closeburn and his wife
Annie Aitken of Auchinleck. She was a
staff nurse at the Scottish National Red Cross
hospital at Bellahouston, Glasgow. In 1920
she married Arthur hayward
of Croydon, a sub-editor, in
Cumnock. her address on the
marriage certificate was 12
Urbana Terrace, Baird Street,
Cumnock and her occupation
was nurse.
Nurse Jean Dunlop
Jane Dunlop was from Catrine and a
sister in the 4th Scottish General
hospital at Stobhill.
Sister Agnes
H Paton
Agnes
Paton
of
Auchinleck was a sister at
Queen Mary’s hospital in
Whalley Lancashire.
The Royal Red Cross was conferred on all three on March 2, 1917.
King George V presented Jean and
Agnes their medals on Saturday March 24,
1917 and Margaret on Saturday April 6, 1918 at
Buckingham Palace.
Nurse Agnes Ross
Born at West elm Cottage in Ayr Road,
Cumnock to William Ross a police officer
who rose to become Deputy Chief Constable
of Ayrshire and his wife Margaret Wilson. She
died of pneumonia while working at Manor War
hospital in epsom, Surrey in 1918. She was 31
and single. Agnes, or Nannie, was brought back
to be buried in Cumnock new cemetery beside
her sister Christina who died in infancy.
Private Thomas Campbell
– Royal Scots Fusiliers
The Allied Victory
Medal
Also
known
as ‘Wilfred’ it
was decided that
each of the allies
should each issue
their own bronze
victory
medal
with a similar
design, similar
equivalent wording and identical
ribbon.
ALLiEDV i C T O RYmEDAL pHOTO
feature
Medals of the First World War
A CAmpAign or a War medal was awarded to an
individual if he or she took part in a military campaign outside of the United Kingdom in a Theatre
of War or in a time of war. You might recocnise
some of these medals awarded to your ancestor.
17
The medal was established in 1919.
The Board of Trade awarded this campaign
medal, the mercantile marine War medal, to people who had served in the merchant navy and who
had made a voyage through a war zone or danger
zone during the 1914-1918 war.
Thomas was born in Cumnock at Kilnholm
Place on October 27, 1878 to Thomas Campbell
and Janet Baillie. he is the Thomas N Campbell
on Muirkirk War Memorial. Nicol was his
nickname.
The family moved to Cronberry not long
after he was born. he married Margaret Spence
Slimmon of Muirkirk in Cronberry in 1903.
he played football for Cronberry eglinton and
worked as a miner but latterly a railway worker
in Muirkirk.
his brother George (nickname Cree) emigrated to the USA but sent money back to
Cumnock for Christmas parcels to be sent to
local soldiers.
Thomas died in France on July 30, 1916. At
first he was reported as a prisoner of war and
was not declared dead until April 1917.
he left a widow with four children. his
daughter Marion was born after his death.
his widow married John McGovern and died
in Cumnock in 1955.
he was awarded the Allied Victory and the
British War medals.
See PICTUReS RIGhT

Here - Cumnock History Group

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