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Robert Benson
SRoH. Driver Robert Benson. Home: Ornockenoch
Enlisted October 1916, Royal Engineers. Served on Western Front.
Medal Index Card: Robert Benson, R.E. DVr 209078. Victory & British War Medals.
1901 Anwoth census : Robert Benson (3, born Anwoth), living at Castle Cottage with father William, (a basket maker) and mother Ellen and 4 siblings.
1911 Anwoth census: Robert Benson (13, born Anwoth) was living at Killeron Cottage, with father William Benson (a farm labourer), mother Ellen and brothers John G. and Donald. (Note: Killeron Cottage is near Ornockenoch)
Robert is a brother of John George Benson above who was killed May 1917.
He is a cousin of John Benson above who was killed in November 1917.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Anwoth.
William James Benson
SRoH : No mention in Stewartry Roll of Honour. We know of William James Benson from his grand daughter Christine Fulton.
1891 Anwoth census : Garden Street, William James Benson (4, born Anwoth) with father William (basket maker) , mother Ellen and sister Mary.
1901 Anwoth census : Castle Cottage, William James Benson (14, born Anwoth) with father William (basket maker), mother Ellen, sister Mary and 3 brothers John George, Robert and Donald.
1911 Anwoth census : Family had moved to Killeron Cottage, near Ornockenoch, but William was not at home.
Grand-daughter Christine says :
William was the son of William Benson and Helen (Ellen) Glencross, and he was a brother of John George and Robert Benson.
William married Christine Ferguson in 1913 in Dennistoun, Glasgow, and had a least 2 daughters (Helen and Christine).
He moved to the Glasgow area and was employed as a chauffeur in the 1920's.Christine also understood that William, his father, was a gardener and Helen, his mother, was a cook. Both worked at nearby Ornockenoch House for Colonel & Mrs Stewart.
Army unit unknown. He survived the war.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse and lived in the area when young.
David Black
SRoH: not mentioned.
Ypres War memorial: Named on Menin Gate.
Buried at Ypres,
CWGC : Trooper David Black 2725 Presumed killed in action 31/10/1914. 'C' Sqdn. 2nd Life Guards. Aged 26. Husband of Esther Black, 52 Somerset Road, South Farnborough, Hants.
Soldiers Who Died: Trooper David Black(2725) killed in action 321/10/1914 France & Flanders. Formerly 9767. Enlisted in Cork regiment - Household Cavalry & Cavalry of Line. Battalion - Household Cavalry, 2nd Life Guards.
Attestation 13/06/1905 in Glasgow in Gordon Highlanders. 9767. Unmarried farm servant. Aged 18years 7 months. Born Gatehouse of Fleet. 5' 10'', fair complexion, blue eyes & brown hair.
Army Transfer Certificate: David Black 2725 Trooper Life Guards (230/2LG ID B17). Cause of transfer - end of period of colour service. Conduct - exemplary. Trained as groom & valet. Officers batman for 18 months. Trade he wants on leaving - chauffeur.
Statement of Service: 9767 crossed out and replaced by2725. Gordon Highlanders: 13/06/1905. Transferred to 2nd Life Guards 24/06/1910. Army Reserve 12/06/1913. Rejoined (Expeditionary Force) 05/08/1914. Reported missing 31/10/1914. Officially reported dead: 28/01/1916.
Soldiers Effects: David Black, Trooper 2725 Life Guards. Death on or since 31/10/1914 (presumed). 14/04/16 to widow Esther £4.2.6. 30/07/1919 to widow Esther £5. Left children.
Medal Index Card : David Black Tpr 2nd L. Guards 2725. Disembarkation date - 8.10.14. Acceptance of death. Awarded 1914 Star in January 1919 and British Victory medal in 1921 which was sent to Mrs E. Black.
1891 Crossmichael Census: David Black (age 3, born Girthon) with Jane Kinstrey, keeper of boarders.
1901 Crossmichael Census: David Black (age 14, born Anwoth) with Jane Stewart (aged 59) & Elizabeth Black (15, born Crossmichael).
Ancestry.co.uk
Birth certificate : David Black born 16th July 1887, Back Street (now Catherine Street), Gatehouse (Girthon). Mother Mary Black spinster.
Mary Black previously had illegitimate son George Black, 19th September 1881 at Girthon.
Marriage certificate : David Black married Esther Attridge on 21st July 1909 at Farnborough, Hants. David's father was unknown. David was a drummer with the Gordon Highlanders.
David & Mary Blackhad 2 children : David James Black born 1910 and Jean Black born 1913.
Birth certificate : David James Black born 3rd April 1910 to David & Esther Black t Somerset Rd, Farnborough. David was a drummer.
Jean Black's birth was registered at Hartley Wintney, Hampshire 1914 (Q1). Mother's maiden name was Attridge.
John Black
SRoH. In Stewartry Roll of Honour but no details. Identified ex War Memorial.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : John Black R.S.F
CWGC: Private 40875. (Originally Private 34110 with 1st Battalion Royal Scots ex Medal Index card)
Born Edinburgh c.1885. Father Hugh Black, mother Catherine Gray.
Died 9th September 1920 at Edinburgh War Hospital, Bangour, West Lothian where he had been evacuated to after being wounded. Cause of death: Aortic Disease & Heart failure.
His parents lived at 4 Angle Park Terrace, Edinburgh
Has a grave in Edinburgh (Dalry) Cemetery. His mother pre-deceased him.
Medal Index Card : Pte John Black - R. Scots 34110 & R.S. Fus. 40875. Medals (Victory & British) applied for 18th November 1925 to be sent to Gatehouse, Kirkcudbrightshire.
1901 Girthon & Anwoth censuses : Not present. He is with his uncle and brother in Edinburgh.
1911 Girthon & Anwoth censuses : Not present.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 20th April 1917: Private John Black Royal Scots from Gatehouse has been wounded.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 30th August 1918: Prior to the outbreak of war he was a clerk in the Cally Estate office in Gatehouse. Report says that he has been wounded for a third time and is at base hospital.
Gatehouse link : Lived in Gatehouse and worked at Cally Estate Office..
Norman Scott Black
SRoH : No details in Stewartry Roll of Honour.
Canadian Great War Project: Enlisted 29th August 1916 at Camp Hughes, Manitoba, Canada. Trooper Norman S Black 2147308 Canadian Cavalry, 34th Fort Garrison Horse. Service Squadron. Age - 30 years & 6 months. Height - 6' 3''. Ruddy complexion, grey eyes. Presbyterian. Home: Pelly, Saskatchewan. Born Gatehouse of Fleet, Scotland 23 February 1886. Next of kin - wife Mrs N S. Black of Pelly. Occupation - travelling salesman. Survived war. Stamped - Discharged as medically unfit.
1891 Anwoth Census: Anwoth Manse: Norman S. Black (aged 5, born Anwoth)with father William McMillan Black (51, minister Anwoth Parish, born Canada), mother Amy (34, born Singapore) and 3 siblings including brother William M, aged 7.
1901 Edinburgh Census: at a Boarding House for Edinburgh Academy. Norman S. Black (15, born Anwoth). His elder brother William was in the same boarding house.
1921 Saskatchewan Census at Village of Pelly, St Phillips: Norman S Black (35, born Scotland) with wife Elizabeth (36, born Saskatchewan) and children Amy (5), William (2) and Lucy (6 months), all born Saskatchewan. Norman was a municipal clerk . All the family spoke English but not French. Norman had emigrated to Canada in 1902. His father was born in Quebec and his mother was born in Singapore.
In 1925 Norman S Black was registered for a Homestead Grant in Manitoba.
Scotlands People : Norman Scott Black born1886 Anwoth. From his brother William's birth we know that his parents were William M Black and Amy Greenshields
Ancestry.co.uk : 1905: Norman S Black, aged 19, unmarried, a rancher, left Glasgow for New York.
Family website: Norman married Elizabeth McKenzie on 24th May 1915 in Canada. William’s father died in Montreal, Canada in 1901 while visiting a relative. Norman's brother William McM Black was killed in action in 1914.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Anwoth when young.
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