Search These Records
William McSkimming
SRoH. No mention in The Stewartry Roll of Honour.
Identified from KA article in 1915 re 4 sons of Mrs McSkimming.
Army Records
Roll of Individuals : K.O.S.B. Pte McSkimming, William (240569) 1/5 K.O.S.B.
Medal Index card: William McSkimming 1/5 K.O. Sc. Bord. - Pte. 2008 changed to 240569.
Theatre of war - Balkans - 06/06/1915. Demob - 21/05/1919.
1901 Girthon census, at Rainton farmhouse : William McSkimming (8, born Tongland) with father William (ploughman) + mother Jessie Marget + 5 brothers and 3 sisters.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 1915: Mrs McSkimming of Rainton has 4 sons in Kitchener’s Army. Pte. Robert McSkimming 42nd Royal Highlanders, Pte. William McSkimming 5th K.O.S.B., Pte. Roden McSkimming 5th K.O.S.B. and Pte Thomas McSkimming.
ScotlandsPeople Index: Birth of William McSkimming in 1892 at Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire. Father: William McSkimming, mother Jessie Margaret Middleton (married 1883).
William had 4 brothers who fought in World War I - John, Rodan, Robert and Thomas. Rodan was killed in1915.
Gatehouse link : Born Tongland but lived at Rainton in 1901, then possibly Borgue and/or Twynholm.
Robert McTaggart
SRoH. Listed as a soldier from Gatehouse but with no records.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Robt. McTaggart R.S.F.
Anwoth Church Memorial : Pte. Robert McTaggart K.O.S.B.
Anwoth (Old Kirk) Gravestone ...Also Private Robert McTaggart, son of the above, who died in hospital Jan 13th 1916 aged 38 years. Interred at Liverpool’. Father : James McTaggart, mother : Margaret Henry.
1881 Anwoth Census, Fleet Street : Robert McTaggart (2) with mother Margaret (40, joiner’s wife) + 3 siblings. [father would seem to be alive but not at home]
1891 Anwoth Census, Fleet Street : Robert McTaggart (13, born Anwoth) with father James (58, joiner) and mother Margaret (49) + 3 siblings.
1901 Anwoth Census, Fleet Street : Robert McTaggart (23, gardener, born Anwoth) with father James (67, house joiner) and mother Margaret (60) + 2 siblings.
1911 Anwoth Census, Fleet Street : Robert McTaggart (32, general labourer, born Anwoth) with parents James(77) and Margaret (71) McTaggart.
Birth Certificate : Robert McTaggart 05/04/1878 at Fleet Street, Gatehouse (Anwoth); Father : James McTaggart (joiner), Mother : Margaret Henry.
Death Certificate : 13/01/1916 Robert McTaggart died of T.B. at the City Hospital, Toxteth, Liverpool. Home given as 17 Salisbury Pier, Salisbury Dock, Liverpool. He was a general labourer.
Buried in Kirkdale Cemetery, Liverpool Plot 1290. Witness was his sister Margaret Rennie. Margaret was born in Gatehouse, her husband Alexander Rennie (dock gateman) was born in Garlieston, but they lived in Liverpool for at least 16 years. (ex 1911 census, Walton, Liverpool)
Gatehouse link : Born in Fleet Street and lived there for most of his life.
John McVicar
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Anwoth & Girthon ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914.
Trooper John McVicar Ayrshire Yeomanry.
John McWilliam
SRoH. Private John McWilliam. Home: Catlins Farm, Lockerbie. Born at Gatehouse. Enlisted December 1915, 3rd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Tranferred to Machine Gun Corps. Served on Western Front (La Bassee, Nieuport, Ypres, Somme & Arras).
1881 Girthon Census, Back Street : John Gordon (2, born Gatehouse) with mother Mary Gordon (22, born Gatehouse) and grandmother Laughlena McQuarrie (54, born Glasgow)
1891 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : John McWilliam (12, born Girthon) with grandmother Lochina McQuarrie (62, born Ireland).
1901 Kelton Census, at Craigley : John McWilliam (22, farm servant, born Girthon) with the McAdam family.
No birth has been found for a John McWilliam in Anwoth or Girthon between 1870 & 1880.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse.
James Milligan
SRoH. Private James Milligan. Home: Dundee. Formerly of Drawbridge Cottage, Gatehouse. Enlisted May 1915, Scottish Horse.
Served on Eastern Front. (Egypt & Salonika). Died at Salonika 28th January 1918.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : James Milligan S.H.
Anwoth Church Memorial : James Milligan Scot. Horse
CWGC : Private James Milligan (315905) 13th Battalion Black Watch. (Royal Highlanders). Killed 24/01/1918. Father: Mr Samuel Milligan, 8 Algreen, Dundee. Buried Mikra British Cemetery, Kalmaria, Greece.
Soldiers Who Died in Great War : Private James Milligan (315905) 13th Battalion (Scottish Horse) Black Watch. Enlisted in May 1915 as a Private (5570) Scottish Horse. Born Anwoth.
1901 Tongland Census, at Balannan Cottage : James Milligan (6, born Anwoth) with father Samuel (dairyman) and mother Elizabeth J. + 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
1911 Dundee Census index : there was only 1 James Milligan aged between 10 and 20. He was 16, so he is probably the same James as above. [N.B. CWGC indicated that parents lived at Dundee by 1918].
James’ parents were Samuel Milligan and Elizabeth Jane Fergusson.
Note: There may be some confusion between this Private James Milligan S.H., and the James Milligan S.R. below who has no details in the Roll of Honour.
Gatehouse link : Born Anwoth and lived at Drawbridge Cottage.
Key to Sources