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Robert Patterson
SRoH. Mechanism Staff-Sergeant Robert Patterson. Home: Digby Street, Gatehouse. Enlisted May 1916, Army Service Corps. Served in Mesopotamia.
Military Records
Medal Index Card: S/Sgt Robert Patterson R.A.S.C. Awarded Victory & British medals.
Medal Roll: S/Sgt Robert Patterson M2/178109 R.A.S.C.
1901 Girthon Census, in Catherine Street : Robert Patterson (8, born Gatehouse) with father Robert (44, joiner born Kirkcudbright) and mother Violet (30) + 5 siblings.
1911 Girthon Census, in Catherine Street : Robert Patterson (17, blacksmith’s apprentice, born Girthon) with widowed father Robert (43, joiner) + brothers John and William and 3 sisters.
Mentioned in despatches 7th February 1919 ‘for gallant & distinguished services in the field’ (ex daughter in law Mrs K. Patterson)
His father was Robert Patterson (joiner) and mother Violet Gordon. His mother died in 1901.
Robert’s brothers John and Henry Patterson also fought in the war. John was killed in 1918.
Seven of his Patterson cousins (children of his Uncle John) also fought in the war.
This Robert Patterson is a cousin of Robert Patterson (born 1888) son of John & Mary Patterson.
Gatehouse link : Born and raised in Gatehouse.
Samuel Patterson
SRoH. Gunner Samuel Patterson. Home: Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse.
Mobilised 4th August 1914, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Transferred to 21st Trench Mortar Battery. Served on Western Front (2nd Battle of Ypres, Somme offensive, Arras & Messines engagements). Wounded at Messiness Ridge. Pre war record: served in India 1904 to 1911.
1891 Girthon Census at Culreoch : Samuel Paterson (9, born Kirkinner) with father Alexander Paterson (32, ploughman), mother Mary Ann (32), + 3 brothers (including Peter) and 4 sisters. The family were fromWigtownshire.
1901 Girthon Census at Culreoch : Samuel’s parents Alexander Paterson (40, farm labourer), mother Mary Ann (41), + 6 children (including Peter) but Samuel not at home.
1901 Balmaghie Census at Glenlochar Farm House : Samuel Paterson (19, ploughman, born Anwoth) with the Muir family. N.B. Samuel was born Kirkinner , then lived in Girthon, so is this the right Samuel with birthplace given as Anwoth ?
1911 Girthon census, at Quarterland : Samuel's parents Alexander and Mary A. Patterson were at home, but Samuel was not in either Anwoth or Girthon.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 08/?/1915: Gunner S. Patterson sent a letter to Rev. Stewart of Girthon.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 7th January 1916 : Cairnsmore Goat
Gunner Patterson, Gatehouse, writes an interesting letter to the Comforts Committee - I am still in good health ....I am troubled with a bit of a cold, as we all are out here. We are just going into action again after 4 days rest......there are 3 feet of water in the trenches. I should like you to have a walk around Ypres. It would make your heart bleed to see the beautiful old buildings all blown flat to the ground, and the Hun keep shelling it....We are pretty comfortable, for we have built huts for ourselves and made them as cosy as possible. The food we get is very good, considering we are on active service. We have plenty warm clothing.... one thing that is very annoying...is the tremendous amount of big siege guns. They have been putting them into Fritz and his trenches night and day but we soon get used to it and sleep through it all, especially when we have been in the trenches without much sleep for 4 nights. It is fine to come out and have a bath and a shave, for we mostly have a growth like a Cairnsmore goat. I...thank you for the parcels I have received lately..and I would like to show my gratefulness for them. I shall be coming home in about a month's time on leave....I have never met any Gatehouse boys yet since I've been out (here). I was very sorry to hear of the Nelson boys being killed, they were such fine chaps. My brother is a prisoner.
Galloway Gazette 11th August 1917 : an almost identical report to the one below was reported.
"News has been received by Mrs S Patterson, Swan Street, Gatehouse of Fleet, that her husband, Gunner Sam Patterson, RGA, has been severely wounded in the shoulder and is now lying in an English Hospital. Gunner Patterson, who was a reservist, has seen a good deal of service. Previous to his return to the Army he was employed at Murrayton Farm.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 17/08/1917: Gunner Samuel Patterson, RGA, husband of Mrs S. Patterson, Swan Street, Gatehouse has been severely injured in the shoulder and is now in hospital in England. He was a Reservist who has seen lots of fighting. He had previously worked at Murrayton.
Note: Peter and Samuel Patterson were brothers.
Girthon Banns : 31st May 1914, Samuel Paterson, Girthon to Annie Bennett, Rosebery Terrace.
Gatehouse link : Lived at Culreoch.
Thomas Booth Hall Patterson
SRoH. Private Thomas Patterson. Home: Catrine, Ayrshire. Born in Gatehouse. Enlisted May 1918, 7th Royal Scots Fusiliers. Served on Western Front. Wounded at Cambrai.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Tom Patterson R.S.F.
1891 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : Thomas B. Patterson (9 mths, born Rochdale) with father John (33, tailor) and mother Elizabeth (22).
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : Thomas B. H. Patterson (10, born England) with father John (42, tailor), mother (actually step-mother) Mary (31) + 6 brothers.
1911 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : Parents John Patterson (53, tailor/coat maker) and Mary (39) + 5 sons. Thomas was not in either Anwoth or Girthon on census night.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 18/10/1918 Private Tom Patterson, Royal Scottish Fusiliers, son of Mr John Patterson, Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse, has been wounded, and his leg amputated below the knee. Mr Patterson has had seven sons on active service. Two of these have been killed (George, Sept. 1915 & Henry, April 1918), one is missing (John William Aug.1916) and two are severely wounded (Tom & another brother)
Brother David Patterson was also a soldier but it is unclear which other 2 of the Patterson brothers fought in the war.
John Patterson, the father, had 5 sons with his first wife Elizabeth Hume, who he married in 1884. They were John William, George, Robert, Thomas B. H. and James. Elizabeth died in 1892 and John married Mary Carson in 1896. John and Mary also had 5 sons David, Henry, Donald H., Douglas and Edward.
Birth GRO : 1890 Q3 Rochdale, Lancashire Thomas Booth H. Patterson
ScotlandsPeople : Thomas Patterson married Elizabeth Haining at Catrine, Ayrshire in 1913.
ScotlandsPeople : Thomas Bouth Hume Paterson died 23/04/1920 in Kilmarnock Infirmary. Cause of death Amyloid disease and Uraemia following leg wound with sepsis (leg amputated some months before). Home address: Wood Street, Catrine. Aged 29 and a coal miner.
Wife: Elizabeth Haining. Witness – brother James, of Mill Streeet, Catrine.
Father John Paterson (tailor) mother Elizabeth Hume.
Tom’s brothers John, George and Henry Patterson all died as a result of fighting in the war. His brother David survived. Two of his cousins George Fisher and John Patterson also died.
Gatehouse link : Born and raised in Gatehouse, then moved to Catrine.
William Patterson
SRoH. Private William Patterson. Home: Gatehouse.
Enlisted in Gordon Highlanders. Served on Western Front. Killed 4th October 1917.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Wm. Patterson G.H.
Anwoth Church Memorial : Pte. William Patterson Gordons.
CWGC : Private W. Patterson, 291683, Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Battalion. Died 4/10/1917. Buried in The Huts Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium Grave 1X.C.3.
Scottish War memorials: Listed as Private 4859 & 291683 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
His parents livied at Castle Cottage, Gatehouse of Fleet.
Soldiers who died in Great War : William Patterson (291683) 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders. Born Kirkinner, Wigtownshire. Home Kirkcudbrightshire. Died 4th October 1917 in France/Flanders. Enlisted in Bradford.
Military Records
Medal Index Card : Pte William Patterson 4859 & 291683 Gordons. Awarded Victory & British medal.
Medal Roll (1921): Pte William Patterson (291683) 7th Gordon Highlanders & 4859 2nd Gordon Highlanders.
Register of Soldiers Effects: Pte William Patterson 2/Gordon Highlanders (291683). Died of wounds 04/10/1917.
22/04/1918 £8-19-9 sent to father John
08/11/1919 War Gratuity of £8 sent to father John.
1891 Kirkinner Census, at Barwhanny Cot House : William Paterson (8, born Kirkinner) with father John (40, farm labourer) and mother Annie (38) + 5 siblings.
1911 Anwoth Census, at Castle Cottage : William’s parents John & Annie Patterson + sister Annie. John was a shepherd crofter.
1911 Bradford Census, 29 Buxton Street : William Patterson (25, born Kirkinner) was a jobbing gardener working for a florist. He was a boarder with the Buckley family.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 19/10/1917 : Private W. Paterson, Gordon Highlanders, son of Mr J. Paterson, Old Cottage, Gatehouse, was recently severely wounded, but succumbed to his injuries while receiving the attention of the field ambulance.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 02/11/1917: Private Wm. Patterson, Gordon Highlanders died of wounds on 4th Oct. He was the youngest son of Mr John Patterson, Castle Cottage, Gatehouse of Fleet Before enlisting he was second gardener to Mr Waddlove, Oakhurst Manning, Bradford. This was the second time Private Patterson had been wounded.
ScotlandsPeople: Birth on 26/12/1882 at Barwhanny, Kirkinner, Wigtownshire. Parents John Paterson and Annie McQuaid. John was a ploughman. (His parents married in 1872).
Gatehouse link : Parents lived at Castle Cottage, Gatehouse.
John Porter
SRoH. Private John Porter. Home: Gatehouse.
Enlisted 1/5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Served at the Dardanelles.
Killed in action 12th July 1915.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : John Porter K.O.S.B.
Girthon & Anwoth Free Church : Private John Porter, K.O.S.B.
Castle Douglas Post Office Roll of Honour : Pte. J. Porter, Postman from Gatehouse. Killed serving with Ayrshire Yeomanry.
Girthon Gravestone : ...also John Porter, of 1/5 K.O.S.B., died in action at the Dardanelles 12th July 1915, aged 35 years. (the gravestone of John Clarke and his wife Jane Porter)
CWGC : John Porter Private 2269 K.O.S.B. 1/5th Battalion. Killed 12th July 1915 (aged 34) On Helles Memorial, Turkey. Parents given as late Thomas and Martha Wilson Porter.
1881 Greenock Census, 3 East Crawford Street : John Porter (under 1 yr) with father Thomas (49, gateman) and mother Martha (27).
1891 Girthon Census, Nelson Square (should be Neilson Square) : John Porter (10, born Largs) with his aunt and uncle John and Jane Clarke.
1901 Girthon Census, High Street : John Porter (20, rural postman, born Largs) with his aunt & uncle John & Jane Clarke.
1911 Girthon Census, Neilson Square, John Porter (30, postman, born Largs) with widowed aunt Jane Clarke.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 28th April 1916 : On Roll of Honour : Porter - On the 12th July, 1915, killed in action at the Dardanelles, John Porter, 1/5th K.O.S.B., postman at Gatehouse of Fleet. (10 months after he was reported missing.)
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 28th April 1916 : Private John Porter, Gatehouse, K.O.S.B. A communication has been received this week by Mr. Reid, Garden Street, Gatehouse, intimating that Private John Porter of K.O.S.B. was killed in action on 12th July 1915, the War Office have sent information to a relative of the deceased. Many around Gatehouse have been wondering what was the fate of John Porter. He was well known in the district, especially on the shore road from Gatehouse to Ravenshall, where for many years, he was post runner.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th May 1916 : From a service given by Rev. R.B. McGlashan (Gatehouse United Free Church) - ...We have official intimation that another soldier connected with us has laid down his life at the call of duty. It is some months since Private John Porter was reported missing in Gallipoli ...we have wondered anxiously what had become of him. ..he was of an unusually quiet and retiring disposition, a shy and apparently diffident man...slow of speech and gentle ..Yet he was one of those who early answered his country's call....Today...we give him our respect and affection ..our brother lying in far-off Gallipoli.
ScotlandsPeople Index : Born 1881 in Largs, Ayrshire.
ScotlandsPeople Index : Death in 1883 of Martha Porter (nee Wilson) at Largs, Ayrshire.
ScotlandsPeople Index : Death in 1883 of Thomas Porter in Greenock, Renfrewshire.
Note : John’s parents died when he was a baby and he was brought up in Gatehouse by his father’s sister Jane and her husband John Clarke (an embroiderer from Ireland)
Gatehouse link : Brought up in Gatehouse by his aunt and uncle..
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