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James Johnstone
SRoH. Machine–Gunner James Johnstone. Home : Bardristane Smithy, Gatehouse. Enlisted December 1916, 15th Highland Light Infantry. Served on Western Front (Passchendaele, Nieuport, Arras & Amiens).
Wounded once near Amiens.
Sons of Galloway : James enlisted in December 1916 and was assigned to the Training Reserve Battalion. Later transferred to Highland Light Infantry. Possibly sent to France in April 1917. He was injured in 1918 – possibly around 23rd to 26th August when 10 men from his battalion were killed near Amiens.
Military Records : James Johnstone was Private 39212 of the Highland Light Infantry. He was born 19/08/1887 at Back Hill of Bush in Kells Parish.
His father was Robert Johnstone, mother Joan McGarva.
He married Agnes Tait Jamieson in 1914 at Kirkmabreck. James and Jane had a daughter Jane born in 1915, who died of TB in March 1917 (registered at Kirkmabreck). After the war they had 3 sons and 2 daughters. James came home on leave when his daughter died.
1891 Kells Census, at Back Hill of Bush : James (3, born Kells) with father Robert (shepherd), other Joan + 3 sisters.
1901 Kirkmabreck Census, at Kirkbride Farm : James Johnstone (ploughman, born c.1887 Kells).
James’ family believe that he was posted as ‘missing’ but was ‘found alive’ sometime later.
Note : the boundary between Anwoth and Kirkmabreck parishes ran through Bardristane Forge. Local folklore says that the horseshoes were made in one parish and put on the horse in the next parish.
Gatehouse link : Lived at Bardristane, near Gatehouse.
Robert Johnstone
SRoH. Private Robert Johnstone. Home: Flat View Cottage, Gatehouse.
(‘Fleet View Cottage’, Digby Street – see newspaper clip below)
Enlisted January 1915, 1/5th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Served on Eastern Front and Western Front (Dardanelles, Egypt, Palestine and France).
Awarded 1914 -1915 Star. Wounded three times (Dardanelles, Gaza, & Arras).
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 7th December 1917: Private Robert Johnstone K.O.S.B.who is in Palestine, has been severely wounded in the thigh. Prior to the war he was employed by Mr. Henderson the grocer. His sister lives at Fleet View Cottage, Gatehouse.
Gatehouse link : Lived in Gatehouse.
Robert Haining Johnstone
SRoH. Lance Corporal. Born at Bargrennan.
Enlisted in June 1916 with K.O.S.B. Served on Western Front. Killed in Action 07/12/1916.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Robert Johnstone K.O.S.B.
Girthon Church Memorial : R.H. Johnstone K.O.S.B.
Bargrennan Church Memorial : Lce. Corpl. Robert H. Johnstone K.O. Sco. Borderers
(memorial now located outside the church),
Knowe School Memorial, Bargrennan : Lce. Corpl. Robert H. Johnstone Kings Own Scth. Bdrs
(memorial now in a private home)
Girthon Gravestone : Corpl. Robert H. Johnstone K.O.S.B. killed in action at Arras, France, on 7th Dec 1916, aged 19 years.
Girthon Gravestone also gives his father as William Johnston of Cally Mains and his mother as Isabella Boyd.
CWGC : Lance Corporal R. H. Johnstone, 24998, K.O.S.B. 6th Battalion.
Died 7th December 1916. Buried in Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France. Grave: II.A.4. Father: William Johnstone of Cally Mains, Gatehouse.
Soldiers Who Died in Great War : L/Cpl Robert Johnstone (24998). Born Minnigaff, Kirkcudbrighthsire. Enlisted at Dumfries in 6th KOSB. Home: Mossdale, Kirkcudbrightshire. Landed at Boulogne, France 12th May 1915.
Died 7th December 1916 (killed in action).
1901 Minnigaff Census, at Borgan : Robert Johnstone (3, born Bargrennan) with father William (shepherd), mother Isabella + 2 brothers & 1 sister.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 15th December 1916 : Killed Lance-Corp. R.H. Johnstone, Gatehouse K.O.S.B. Mr William Johnstone, shepherd, Cally Mains, received information on Tuesday morning, that his youngest son, Lance-Corporal Robert H. Johnstone K.O.S.B. had been killed on the 7th inst. The information was sent to him by his company commander, who stated that Lance-Corporal Johnstone had been killed by a stray bullet.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 16/12/1916: Robert was a ‘Bargrennan lad’. He was a shepherd at Grobdale of Girthon when he enlisted in 1916.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 22nd December 1916 : Killed - The late Lance-Corpl. Johnstone, Girthon. K.O.S.B.
The death of this young soldier, which was recorded last week, was intimated to his father, Mr W. Johnstone, Cuffieton, Cally Mains, in the following letter from his company commander Captain C.B. Tweedie. “I am afraid to write you this letter, as it brings you the worst of news concerning your son Robert. His young life was brought to an end this morning about nine o'clock by an enemy bullet. I am certain that from his position, he could not be seen, and I have come to the conclusion that it must have been a stray bullet that caught him. The bullet entered his right side and must have gone to his heart. He ran about ten yards, and then dropped lifeless. As his company commander, I have known your son since he joined this battalion, and can only say that he was an upright, obedient and willing soldier. Indeed I had already noted him for further promotion, so exemplary had been his conduct. Please accept my sincere sympathy, for I also feel his loss very much indeed.”
Lance-Corpl. Johnstone, who was nineteen years of age, was a Bargrennan boy and was formerly a shepherd at Grobdale, Girthon. He enlisted in June and went to the front in September.
ScotlandsPeople Index: Birth in 1897 of Robert Haining Johnstone at Bargrennan.
Gatehouse link : Lived at Grobdale of Girthon.
William Alexander Johnstone
SRoH. No mention in The Stewartry Roll of Honour.
1st Instalment of Roll of Honour had a William Johnstone of the Royal Scots. The above William Johnstone is K.O.S.B. The marriage certificate referred to below confirms that William A Johnstone (formerly William A Stewart) was in fact with the Scots Guards.
1901 Girthon Census, in Catherine Street, Gatehouse : William Stewart (6, born Minnigaff) with step-father James Johnstone (road surfaceman), mother Agnes J. Johnstone, and a step sister Mary J.Johnstone.
ScotlandsPeople birth index: 1894 at Minnigaff – William Alexander Stewart.
Girthon Banns : 1896 has the marriage of Agnes Jane Stewart to James Johnstone at Girthon. (William’s mother and step-father).
ScotlandsPeople marriage certificate 03/12/1915 of W. A. Johnstone (formerly Stewart) to Caroline Hargreaves at Gatehouse. He was a Private 1st Scots Guards, home Girthon Kirk, Gatehouse. No father given, mother Agnes Stewart, afterwards married to James Johnstone (road surfaceman). William’s wife Caroline was from Wigtown.
Gatehouse link : Lived in Gatehouse from a young age.
William Keelan
SRoH. Trooper William Keelan from Kirkcudbright. Enlisted in 5th Australian Light Horse. Served at the Dardanelles. Once wounded. Accidentally killed at Woolwich 27th November 1915.
Kirkcudbright War Memorial Inscription: Trooper W. Keelan 5th A.L.H.
Australian War Records: 29th December 1914, at Brisbane, Queensland, enlisted as trooper (no.773) with Rifles 5th Australian Light Horse AIF (Australian Imperial Force).
Born in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, aged 32½. Was a farmhand. Next of kin : aunt, Mrs T. McQueen, Gladstone Place, Kirkcudbright. Previously served 2 years with KOSB (Territorial) and 2½years with Royal Navy.
He was 5' 4'', dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and a Presbyterian.
19th July 1915 : in Gallipoli.
27th July 1915: while in Gallipoli he was hospitalised with dysentery. Sent to England on HMHS (Hospital Ship) Esmarelda.
09th August 1915 : after aunt died, next of kin changed to Elizabeth McCoskry (friend, later wife) c/o Mrs John McCoskry, 71 William Street, Dalbeattie,.
17th September 1915 : in War Hospital, Reading with dysentery (slight).
27th November 1915 at 8.15pm on Saturday evening William was knocked down by a motorcar outside his barracks in Woolwich. Next of kin (his widow) Mrs E C Keelan. His personal effects included an emu feather and some shells.
29th November 1915 : Coroner's Inquest Death of Trooper (773) ALH. Born 18th June 1882 in Gatehouse of Fleet. Trade: road contractor. Died 27th November 1915 on Main Road, Bostall Heath, Woolwich. Was seen to be crossing the road outside the barracks with 'his head down and lost in thought'. The road was very dark (war time restrictions) and despite the car sounding it's horn and having lights on, Trooper Keelan was knocked down and run over. Medical assistance was swift but the doctor found he had a compound fracture of the skull and a compound fracture of the left hip. He died of shock from his brain injury. The driver of the car (Cyril Garrett) was exonerated.
A Military Funeral was held on 30th November 1915 . He was buried in Grave 1096, Section 11, Woolwich Cemetery. His widow attended the inquest and funeral. Her address was Grobdale, Mossdale, via Castle- Douglas.
War pension to widow Mrs Elizabeth Couplin Keelan, Anchorlie, Kirkcudbright £52 per annum, awarded 23/03/1916.
British War Medal, Victory Medal and 15 Star sent to 'Mrs E McCoskrie'. Later she also received 'Where the Australians Rest' (a booklet of war graves), a Memorial Plaque and Scroll.
Online Embarcation Roll for Australian Light Horse (Commonwealth Expeditionary Force): Private William Keelan, a 32 year old farmer from Clifton, Queensland enlisted 30/12/1914.
He left Brisbane, Queensland on the HMAT Itria on 09/02/1915.
1891 Kirkcudbright Census, at Mid Boreland Cottage : William Keelan (9, birthplace unknown) was a boarder with Cunningham & Jane Stevenson and family. Agnes Keelan (12, birthplace unknown) was also there and is presumably William’s sister.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser October 1915: Marriage on 12/10/1915 at Kirkcudbright of Elizabeth Couplin McCoskry (whose father was Robert McCoskry from Dalbeattie) to William Keilan from Queensland, Australia. Elizabeth was in service at Anchorlee, Kirkcudbright.
Newspaper clipping (paper unknown), 1st December 1915 : 'Trooper William Keelan of Queensland was knocked down and killed by a motorcar at Plumstead, North London on Saturday. At the inquest, held on Monday, a verdict of accidental death was recorded.'
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 8th December 1915: Death of William Keelan, 5th Australian Light Horse. William was a native of Gatehouse but had been brought up in Kirkcudbright. Before the war he was in service at the Carse and other farms in the area. He emigrated to Australia 8 years ago (c.1907) and had enlisted in the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force at the outbreak of war. He served in the Dardanelles and after being wounded he was sent to recover in an English hospital. He married Elizabeth about 9 weeks before he was trajically killed. After his wedding he retuned to Woolwich but had not expected to return to fighting for a considerable time. He was killed by a motor car in the street and buried in Woolwich.He was aged 33 (born c.1882).
Girthon Baptisms: The births of 3 of William Keilan's siblings are recorded (Robert 1868, Jane 1870 and James 1875) - father James Keilan, mother Anne/Annie Griffin. There are gaps in the register so neither William's parent's marriage or William's birth are recorded.
ScotlandsPeople birth certificate (Girthon): Birth of William Keenan 18th June 1881 in Back Street, Gatehouse. Father: Robert Keenan, carter. Mother: Annie Griffin (married 30th May 1865). Annie could not write her name.
ScotlandsPeople marriage: 12/10/1915 at the Manse, Kirkcudbright, William Keenan, a road contractor with 5th Australian Light Horse,from Clifton, Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia married Elizabeth Couplin McCoskry, a domestic servant from Anchorlee, Kirkcudbright. William’s father given as Robert Keelan (deceased), no mother given. Bride and groom were both aged 33.
Free BMD: Dec. 1915 Death of William Keelan (aged 32) at Woolwich.
We Will remember Them. Kirkcudbright's Sons 1914 - 1918 by Ian Devlin.
Trooper W. Kennan served with the 5th Australian Light Horse. He was born in Gatehouse but worked on many farms in Kirkcudbrightshire including Carse Farm near Kirkcudbright. He emigrated to Australia in 1907. When war broke out he enlisted in the 5th Australian Horse and was sent to the Dardanelles. He was severely wounded at Anzac Cove on 25/04/1915. While convalescing from his injuries, he visited Kirkcudbright, and met Elizabeth McCoskry from Dalbeattie who was 'in service' in Kirkcudbright. They had a 'whirlwind romance' and married in October 1915. William returned to Woolwich. He was killed by a motor vehicle on 27th November 1915 only 7 weeks after his marriage. He was 35 years old.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse.
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