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A. (Alec) McQuarrie
SRoH. A.McQuarrie, Gatehouse.
Eric McQuarrie, has emailed to say he thinks A. McQuarrie is Alexander McQuarrie, known as Alec. There don't seem to be any war records for A. McQuarrie but Eric says that Alec was a member of the Galloway Rifles/TA before the war and he was transferred to the Military Police during the war.
1881 Girthon census : at Hillhead, Alexander McQuarrie (4, born Anwoth) with father John (gamekeeper), mother Rebecca, 3 sisters and older brothers James and Loughland and younger brother Fredrick.
1891 Girthon census : at Hillhead, Alexander McQuarrie (14, born Anwoth) with father John (gamekeeper), mother Rebecca and 4 younger siblings including Frederick (12) and William (6).
1901 Girthon census : at Burnside Cottage, Alexander McQuarrie (23, born Anwoth), carter on farm, with elder sister Mary and her 2 children. His father John and stepmother Mary and family were at Disdow. (Note: Burnside is at the Clachan of Girthon)
1911 Girthon census : in a cottage at Clauchen of Girthon, Alexander McQuarrie was head of the household. He was a dyker (33, born Anwoth) with sister Mary (housemaid) and brother Lauchlan (farm labourer).
We have identified 4 soldiers named A.McQuarrie : Albert, Alexander, Alfred & Algernon. Of these, Alfred and Algernon appear explicitly on the Stewartry Roll of Honour. There is also an unidentified A.McQuarrie of Gatehouse.
It is likely therefore that A.McQuarrie is either Albert or Alexander. (see SRoH above)
Girthon Banns: John McQuarrie of Gatehouse married his first wife Rebekah McSherry from Tongland in September 1864. These were Alexander's parents.
ScotlandsPeople Index: Rebecca McQuarrie died at Anwoth in 1898.
ScotlandsPeople Index: John McQuarrie married his 2nd wife Mary McClune in 1899 at Anwoth.
Marriage Index (Scotlands People): 1917 marriage of Alexander McQuarrie to Janet Laird at Larbert, Stirlingshire.
Death Certificate : Alexander McQuarrie died 16/01/1929 at Girthon Kirk Cottage. He was a dyker, aged 50 and married to Janet Laird. Certificate witnessed by his brother John McQuarrie, 2 Hill Terrace, Twynholm. (Note: Girthon Kirk Cottage is at the Clachan of Girthon).
Gatehouse Link : Alexander McQuarrie was born in Anwoth and lived in Gatehouse until he died.
Albert McQuarrie
SRoH. No mention in The Stewartry Roll of Honour.
Identified from Military Records on Ancestry.co.uk after searching for ‘Gatehouse’.
Girthon gravestone, 01.04 : In loving memory of Laughlan McQuarrie 1840 – 1908, his wife Margaret Hastings 1843 – 1922, their sons John McGaw 1874 – 1959, David 1879 – 1959, Albert 1882 – 1939, Algernon Stewart 1884 – 1955. Erected by Sir Albert McQuarrie KB, K.S.J. son of Algernon Stewart McQuarrie.
Military Records :17th November 1902, Albert McQuarrie, born Gatehouse, enlisted with K.O.S.B. at Castle Douglas. Nearly 5’8’’ tall with hazel eyes and red hair. Church of England. He was a chef and was apprentice for 4 years in Birmingham. Father was L. McQuarrie, 14 Lyndoch Street, Greenock. In January 1903 he was discharged as medically unfit for duty. He was the brother of Algernon McQuarrie.
1891 Anwoth Census, at Ruscoe Lodge : Albert McQuarrie (9, born Anwoth) with parents Lauchlan (50, gardener) and Margaret McQuarrie (46). + brothers David (11) & Algernon (7).
1901 Greenock Census : Albert’s parents were living in Greenock, but Albert has not been found in any other census.
1911 Girthon census : in Catherine Street, Albert McQuarrie (28, ship's cook and steward, born Anwoth) with widowed mother Margaret McQuarrie (67).
Albert & Algernon were brothers.
Gatehouse link : Born in Anwoth.
Alfred McQuarrie
SRoH. Private Alfred McQuarrie. Home: 12 Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted September 1914, 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders.
Served on Western Front (Richebourg, Loos & Somme).
Wounded once at Mannetz Wood. Awarded 1914-1915 Star.
1901 Dumfriesshire Census, at Nethermains, Closeburn : Alfred Pitt (5, born Gatehouse) with Samuel Pitt (46, freestone quarry labourer) and Mary Pitt (40, born Gatehouse).
1911 Girthon Census, Neilson Square : Alfred McQuarrie (15, grocer's message boy, born Gatehouse) with step-father Samuel Pitt (59, labourer), mother Mary (50, born Gatehouse) and a step-sister. Samuel and Mary had been married for 11 years.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 4th August 1916 : Information has come to Mrs S. Pitt, Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse, that her son Pte. Alfred M'Quarrie, was wounded in the leg ten days ago, and he is now in an Aberdeen hospital. Private M'Quarrie is in the Camerons and has been on active service for a year and seven months. He was slightly wounded in a previous action.
Girthon Banns: Mary McQuarrie married Samuel Pitt 22/04/1900 at Girthon.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse.
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Algernon Stewart McQuarrie
SRoH. Private Algy McQuarrie Home: Catherine Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted 1914, 2nd Scots Guards. Served on Western Front. Wounded 12th March 1915.
Girthon Gravestone : Algernon died in 1955, middle name is Stewart.
1891 Anwoth Census, at Rusco Lodge : Algernon McQuarrie (7, born Anwoth) with father Lauchlan (50, gardener) and mother Margaret (46).
1901 Greenock Census, at Lynedoch Street : Algernon McQuarrie (17, born Kirkcudbrightshire) with father Lachlan (60, stone mason), mother Margaret (56) and brother John.
1911 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : Algy was not at home.
1911 Chelsea Census : Algernon Simon McQuarrie, (26, born Anwoth) was a Private with the 2nd Scottish Battalion, Regiment of Foot Guards. Occupation was blacksmith.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 19th March 1915: "Pioneer Algy McQuarrie 2nd Battalion Scots Guards was wounded in his left arm on 12th March, during a bayonet attack. He has been moved to St Helens Hospital, Lancashire but is expected on home leave soon." – letter to his mother Mrs L. McQuarrie, Catherine Street.
Anwoth Banns: Laughlan McQuarrie (dyker) married Margaret Hastings (cook at Anwoth Manse) on 25/11/1869. They are Algernon’s parents.
FindMyPast: 1916 Q1 Marriage of Algernon S McQuarrie to Alice M. Sharman at Kensington, London.
Soldiers Who Died in Great War : Algernon & Alice’s son Robert Sharman McQuarrie was killed in WW2 on 2nd Jun 1940, aged 24. He is commemorated on The Dunkirk Memorial. Algernon’s middle name is given as Stewart and Alice’s middle name is Maud.
Algernon and Alice are known to have at least 5 children, including Albert McQuarrie, born 01/01/1918 in Greenock.. Albert was knighted, was an MP in the NE of Scotland, and was proud of his Gatehouse roots but died in January 2016 aged 98.
Soldiers Algernon and Albert McQuarrie were brothers.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse.
Fred McQuarrie
SRoH. Private Fred McQuarrie. Home: Syllodioch, Gatehouse.
Enlisted March 1917, 3rd King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Transferred to 51st Battalion Machine Gun Corps.
Served on Western Front (Arras, Cambrai) and Army of Occupation.
1901 Girthon Census, at Disdow : Fred McQuarrie (aged 1, born Girthon) with father John (agricultural labourer), mother Mary, brother David + 4 half brothers and sisters.
1911 Girthon Census, at Syllodioch : Fred McQuarrie (11, born Girthon) with father John (dyker), mother Mary, + 6 siblings/half-siblings.
Girthon Banns, September 1864 : John McQuarrie, Gatehouse, married first wife Rebekah McSherry, Tongland.
ScotlandsPeople Index : 1898 Rebecca McQuarrie died at Anwoth.
ScotlandsPeople Index: 1899 John McQuarrie married second wife Mary McClune at Anwoth.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Girthon.
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