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William Murray
SRoH. There are 6 entries in the Stewartry Roll of Honour for Private William Murray. None of these are stated as having an association with Gatehouse, Anwoth or Girthon.
1901 Dalbeattie Census at Mickle Richorn Farm : William Murray (4, born Anwoth) with father William (34, born Mochrum, farmer) and mother Margaret (29, born Kirkcudbright) + sister Mary.
A fellow researcher came across a gravestone for the soldier below which gives his parents names and there is an Anwoth birth certificate.
Private William Murray (1551 / 240324) KOSB. Enlisted in March 1914 at Dalbeattie.
Mochrum Gravestone : ...also William, his son Private 1-5 KOSB killed in action at Gaza 19 April 1917 aged 20 years. Father : William Murray of Meikle Richorn, Dalbeattie. Mother : Margaret Paton.
Dalbeattie War Memorial : Private William Murray KOSB
Dalbeattie High School Memorial: William Murray
(The old High School is now Dalbeattie Primary School and this memorial is now in Dalbeattie Museum.)
Birth Certificate : William Murray, born at Newton, Anwoth 13th July 1896. Father William Murray, mother Margaret Paton. Parents married at Auchenlarie, Anwoth in 1896.
1905 Valuation Roll: Family living at Meikle Richorn, Dalbeattie, and William would have attended school in Dalbeattie.
The soldier’s father was from Dalbeattie, William junior was born in Anwoth, he lived at Dalbeattie long enough to be recognised on the war memorials, and he is remembered on a Mochrum gravestone in Wigtownshire.
Gatehouse link : Born at Newton Farm in Anwoth.
Frederick David Murray Baillie
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Colonel Frederick Murray Baillie had a military background and is reported as having left Gatehouse with the Cavalry Reserve on Tuesday 4th August 1914.
Home : Cally House, Gatehouse (but when in Gatehouse he stayed at Cushat Wood). Born 3 July 1862, London, son of Col. James William Baillie (of Ilston Grange, Leicestershire) and Elizabeth Florence Maginnis.
When James Baillie became laird of the Cally Estate, the inheritance terms meant that he was obliged to add Murray to his surname.
Frederick married Alexandra Helen Agnes Irving in 1900 and their daughter Elizabeth Evelyn Murray-Baillie was born in 1903. Frederick inherited Cally Estate in 1906.
Col. Frederick Murray-Baillie was 52 when war broke out, but was mobilised in August 1914 and served on the Western Front from 25 Nov 1914 throughout 1915 as a Railway Transport Officer.
Pre-war service : Joined Royal Westmoreland Militia in September 1879 and held various posts up to Major when he retired from service in February 1899. Held honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel with 2nd County of London Imperial Yeomanry from 1902 to 1912.
Gatehouse link : Inherited Cally Estate, lived at Cushat Wood.
James Neilson
SRoH. Listed in Roll of Honour as coming from Gatehouse, but no known details.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : James Neilson A & SH
James Neilson is probably a double entry for James Nelson on the Stewarrtry Roll of Honour (see James Nelson below) and is spelt wrongly on the Gatehouse War Memorial. His parents had moved to Bridge of Dee by 1921 and may not have been around to check the War Memorial inscription.
James Nelson
SRoH. Lance-Corporal James Nelson. Home: Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse. Enlisted 1914, 10th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Served on Western Front. Wounded once and died at No. 10 General Hospital, Rouen.
Balmaghie War Memorial inscription : Pte. J. Nelson A & S Highlrs
Balmaghie Parish Church Roll of Honour : James Nelson, Bridge of Dee.
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Died of wounds in France 25/04/1918.
see John Neilson above for Anwoth & Girthon.
Girthon Gravestone : … Also James Nelson, son of John and Mary S. (née Johnston). James died of wounds received in the war 1918, aged 33 years.
CWGC : Private James Nelson S/7570 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (10th Battalion). Died 30/08/1918 (aged 33). Buried St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France Grave: Q.V.C.2 . Parents: John & Mary Nelson, Bridge of Dee, Castle Douglas. James was a native of Gatehouse.
Scottish War Memorial website : Private (S/7570) James Nelson, Argyll & Southern Highlanders. Enlisted 1914. Died of wounds 30/08/1918 at No 10 General Hospital Rouen, France, aged 33.
1891 Girthon Census, at Birtwhistle St. : James Nelson (5, born Gatehouse) with father John (41, coachman) & mother Mary (39) + 3 siblings.
1901 Morton Census (Dumfriesshire), Hayfield Cottage : James Nelson (15, groom, born Gatehouse) with father John (51, coachman) and mother (49) + 1 younger brother.
ScotlandsPeople Index : 1885 in Anwoth, Kirkcudbrightshire birth of James Nelson.
Born 1885 at Gatehouse of Fleet (Girthon). Parents John & Mary Nelson, later of Bridge of Dee, Balmaghie.
The James Neilson entry in the Roll of Honour , and the Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial inscription are probably both references to James Nelson.
Note : There is a difference between the dates quoted on the Balmaghie Church RoH (25th April 1918) and on the CWGC / SWM websites (30th August 1918).
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse.
John Nelson
SRoH. Driver John Nelson. Home: Nelson Square, Gatehouse. (actually Neilson Sq.).
Mobilised 5th August 1914, 1st Kirkcudbrightshire Battery Royal Field Artillery.
Served on Western Front (Messines Ridge). - from May 1917 to October 1917.
Wounded at Messines Ridge. - (shrapnel wounds to chest & both legs)
Military Records : Re-enlisted 15th April 1916 in 1/2 Lowland Brigade as a driver (No. 8709).
Address Barwhill Cottage, Gatehouse.
Next of kin Mrs John Nelson, Barwhill Cottage.
He was a plumber & unmarried.
Aged 22 years & 300 days (born 1894).
A bounty of £15 paid 17th August 1916.
In October 1916 he was a gunner with the 41st Division Artillery Co.(Royal Field Artillery).
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : John Nelson (7, born Gatehouse) with grandparents William & Jane McLellan and mother Elizabeth Nelson (whose husband was away at sea) + brothers Tom (4) & William (13).
1911 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : John Nelson (17, apprentice plumber, born Gatehouse) with widowed grandfather William McLellan, mother Elizabeth Nelson + brother Thomas M.(14). Mother was married 20 years.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 05/10/1917: John Nelson, RFA, son of Mrs Nelson, Neilson Square, Gatehouse, has been wounded in the side and leg and is in hospital in France.
Info. ex son Jack Nelson : John’s brothers Thomas & William were both killed 1915 by the same shell. John found out about the death of his brothers from a newspaper report (Kirkcudbright Advertiser?) while he was still abroad. He was sent home on compassionate leave. Whilst at home he sent his uniform to the cleaners. Someone saw him walking around Gatehouse without a uniform, reported him and he was ordered back on duty.
His mother wrote to the army in Jan.1918 asking that John be sent home as he was her only surviving son – police enquiry about the position of the family.
When he was discharged in 1919 he was a signaller. He received a Victory Medal (sent to Neilson Square) and a pension of 8/-.
Nelson family tree : John’s father was John Cooper Nelson who emigrated to Australia – presumably intending that his wife and family would follow him. They never did, and the family believed he had been lost at sea. John C. Nelson actually died in New Guinea where he was a pearl trader.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse.
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