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James Maxwell
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. We know about James Maxwell from Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser articles.
1891 Girthon Census, Digby Street, Gatehouse : James Houston (boarder, aged 1, born Girthon) with William Maxwell (carter, 42, born Borgue) and his wife Agnes (45, born Gatehouse).
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse : James Houston (12, born Gatehouse, adopted son) with father William Maxwell (cow keeper & stonebreaker) and mother Agnes.
1911 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse : James Maxwell (grocer's assistant, 22, born Gatehouse) with father William Maxwell (stonebreaker, 60, born Borgue) and mother Agnes (64, born Gatehouse). James is said to be an adopted son.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 30th July 1915 : reference to James Maxwell, Pioneer with 42nd Battalion of Royal Highlanders of Canada. He paid a visit to Gatehouse with Sgt Robert Dalrymple.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 4th February 1916 : Pioneer James Maxwell, son of Wm. Maxwell, Birtwhistle Street, was wounded on the 25th January, being hit by a piece of shrapnel on the shoulder. Information to that effect came to his father. Pioneer Maxwell is very cheery, and says that he is well attended to in the hospital.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse and lived there with his adopted parents.
Robert Maxwell
SRoH. Private Robert Maxwell. Home: Rainton, Gatehouse.
Enlisted Cameron Highlanders. Served on Western Front. Gassed July 1916.
Medal Index Card : Pte Robert Maxwell Cam. Highlanders (S/17809). Arrived in France 30th June 1915.
1901 Borgue Census, at Borness Cottage : Robert Maxwell (6, born Borgue) with father James (37, ploughman), mother Sarah (34) + 1 brother and 2 sisters.
1911 Girthon & Anwoth Censuses : no Robert Maxwell.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 21st July 1916 : Pte. R. Maxwell, Cameron Highlanders, son of Mr & Mrs Maxwell, Rainton, Gatehouse, has been admitted to the 23rd General Hospital at Etaples, France, suffering from gas poisoning. He has been in the recent fighting. Pte. Maxwell was previously in the employment of George G. B. Sproat, Borness of Borgue. He enlisted a year ago, and has been in France for nine months.
Gatehouse link : Lived at Rainton when he enlisted. If the above 1901 census shows the same person, then he was born at Borgue.
William Francis John Maxwell
SRoH. Lieutenant. Home: Cardoness, Gatehouse.
Enlisted 1909, 1/5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Mobilised 4th August 1914.
Served on Eastern Front (Gallipoli). Promoted to Lieutenant.
Killed in action 13th August 1915, while commanding a bombing party in Gallipoli.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : W.F.J. Maxwell Lieut. K.O.S.B.
Anwoth Church Memorial: Lieut. William F. J. Maxwell K.O.S.B.
CWGC : Lieut. William Francis Maxwell of K.O.S.B. 5th Battalion
Died 13/08/1915 (aged 29).
Buried Redoubt Cemetery, Helles, Turkey Grave: VI.C.19
Educated Harrow and Trinity College Cambridge (B.A. Hons).
Only son of Sir William Maxwell 4th Bart. of Cardoness and Lady Maxwell.
Medal Index Card : Lt. William Francis John Maxwell 5 KOSB. Theatre of war - France (this seems to be an error as he served in Gallipoli. ) Address (father) Sir William F Maxwell Bart. Cardoness, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire.
11th May 1922 : Col. H.R. Macrae applied for the medals of the late Lt. Maxwell. (Col. Horatio Ross Macrae was William's maternal grandfather).
1891 Inverness Census, at Clunes House, Kirkhill : William F. J. Maxwell (5, born Midlothian) with 2 sisters. Their parents were not at home but there were 8 servants in the house. In 1891 his parents were at Gloucester Place, Edinburgh with his maternal grandparents the Macrae family. His father William (46) was a Baronet and his mother Dame J., wife of Baronet.
1901 Middlesex Census, St Mary’s School, Harrow : William F.J. Maxwell (born c. 1885 Scotland) boarder with a schoolmaster. His parents and 2 sisters were living at 58 Melville Street, Edinburgh.
1911 Anwoth Census, at Cardoness House : William Maxwell (25, born Edinburgh) law student, with father William Maxwell (66, land owner) and 6 servants.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 18th August 1916 : In Memoriam. In ever loving memory of William Francis John Maxwell, Lieut. 1/5th K.O.S.B., only and beloved son of Sir William F. Maxwell, Bart. and Lady Maxwell, who was killed in action in Gallipoli while commanding a successful bombing party which took and held a trench from the Turks.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: ‘In sorrowing and grateful memory of their beloved son and those heroes whose names are inscribed on the memorial, from Sir William and Lady Maxwell of Cardoness’
Gatehouse and District by JE Russell : Father : Sir William Francis Maxwell. Mother : Jessidora Macrae. A memorial service was held at Anwoth Church. His father gave a plaque to the church in memory of his son and other soldiers from Anwoth who had died in WW1. This plaque has now been moved to Gatehouse Parish Church.
IGI births : William Francis Maxwell was born on 7th July 1885
Gatehouse link : Family lived at Cardoness.
Thomas Austin McAulay
SRoH. Private. Home: Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse.
Enlisted October 1914, 2nd Lowland Brigade (261 Brigade) Royal Field Artillery.
Served on Eastern Front (Gaza, El-Arish etc). Wounded at Gaza.
1901 Kirkinner Census, at Airlies : Thomas Austin McAuley (10, born Kirkinner) with father John (ploughman), mother Mary, + 3 brothers, including William, and a sister.
William and Thomas McAulay were brothers. William was killed in November 1914.
Girthon Valuation Roll 1912/13: John McAuley, carter, was a tenant in a house in Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse.
Gatehouse link : Born Kirkinner, but lived in Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse..
William McAulay
2 entries : one as Macaulay and one as McAuley
SRoH. Private William Macaulay. Home: Gatehouse.
Re-enlisted August 1914, 2nd Life Guards.
Served on Western Front. Killed at Ypres 6th November, 1914. Previously served 7 years in India.
SRoH. Private William McAuley. Home: Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse. Mobilised 4th August 1914, 13th Hussars.
Transferred to 2nd Life Guards. Served on Western Front.
Killed in action at Ypres 6th November 1914.
Pre-war service – 9 years with 13th Hussars in India.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Wm. McAuley L.G.
CWGC : Private William McAuley 6962 13th Hussars. Died 06/11/1914 (aged 32). On Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 5. Parents: John & Mary McAuley, Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse.
1901 Kirkinner Census, at Airlies : William McAuley (20, born Mochrum) with father John (ploughman), mother Mary, + 3 brothers, including Thomas A, and a sister.
1911 Military Census : with 13th Hussars in India - Private William McAuley (29, single, born 'Kirkinna', Wigtownshire).
William and Thomas McAulay were brothers. Thomas survived the war.
Girthon Valuation Roll 1912/13: John McAuley, carter, was a tenant in a house in Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse.
Scotlands People : William McAulay born 1880 Barsalloch, Mochrum. Father John McAulay, mother Mary Smith.
William came home from India in 1912. When he re-enlisted in 1914 the Hussars were still in India so he joined the Life Guards - which is his regiment as per war memorial.
Gatehouse link : Born Mochrum, but lived in Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse..
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