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James McQuarrie
SRoH : No mention in Stewartry Roll of Honour.
We know of James McQuarrie from Eric McQuarry, who emailed the detailed in "Other Sources".
Eric McQuarry supplied the following details :
James McQuarrie was an older brother of Lauchland and Alec. He joined the RSF and served in India.
He came home and joined the KOSB under an assumed name - his mother's maiden name of Sherry.
He served in South Africa and later was placed on the Reserve List.
He worked for a while as a roadman on the Cally Estate and lived at the Drawbridge Cottage.
He rejoined the army in WW1 and at sometime was wounded in the face.
He was taken on as staff at Berwick on Tweed.
He retired about 1920 and died in Berwick about 1926.
Lauchlan McQuarrie
SRoH. Private Lauchlan McQuarrie. Home: Syllodioch, Gatehouse.
Pre war served in South Africa (Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal)
Awarded King’s and Queen’s Medals and 5 clasps.
Enlisted March 1915, 6th King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Served on Western Front (Loos). Awarded 1914-1915 Star.
Killed 25th September 1915 at Loos.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : L. McQuarrie K.O.S.B.
CWGC: Private Lauchlin McQuarrie 8574 K.O.S.B. 6th Battalion.
Died 25/09/1915 (aged 39) On Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Son of John McQuarrie.
1881 Girthon census, at Hillhead : Loughland McQuarrie (8, born Girthon) with father John (38, gamekeeper) and mother Rebecca (38).
1891 New Cumnock Census, at Connel Park : Lauchlan McQuarrie (20, coal miner, born Gatehouse) was a boarder with the Dickson family.
1901 Girthon Census, Disdow Cothouse : Lachlan’s father John and step-mother Mary + 4 of Rebecca’s children + 2 of Mary’s children. Lachlan was not at home.
1911 Girthon Census, at Clauchan of Girthon : Lauchlan McQuarrie (37, farm labourer, (born Girthon) with unmarried siblings Alexander and Mary McQuarrie.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 5th November 1915: Lauchlan McQuarrie’s father John, at Syllodioch, has received a letter saying that his son is ‘missing’ in France.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: In loving memory of Sergeant W. C. McQuarrie, A. & S. H., and Lachlan McQuarrie, K.O.S.B., killed in action in France, from Mr and Mrs John McQuarrie and family’
Girthon Banns: John McQuarrie of Gatehouse married his first wife Rebekah McSherry from Tongland in September 1864.
ScotlandsPeople Index: Rebecca McQuarrie died at Anwoth in 1898.
ScotlandsPeople Index: John McQuarrie married his 2nd wife Mary McClune in 1899 at Anwoth.
Local poet George G.B. Sproat wrote a poem' On the Death of Lachlan McQuarrie at the Battle of Loos' in his memory. (this may have been published in Kirkcudbrightshire Adveriser 1915, but we have not yet found this)
Gatehouse link : Born in and lived in Girthon.
William Crawford McQuarrie
SRoH. Sergeant –Major William C. McQuarrie. Home: Twynholm
Enlisted September 1914, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
Served on Western Front. Awarded Military Medal 15th September 1916.
Reported missing 22nd August 1917 and presumed killed.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse : Wm. C. McQuarrie Sergt. A. & S. H.
Girthon Church Memorial : W C McQuarrie A&SH
CWGC: Serjeant William McQuarrie S/5034 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (11th Battalion). Died 22/08/1917 (aged 29). On Tyne Cot Memorial, West Vlaanderen, Belgium
Mother Mary McQuarrie. Wife Agnes McQuarrie, Twynholm.
Medal Index card: L/Sjt William McQuarrie (S/5034) A&S Highrs. - later Sjt. Sent to France 7th July 1915. Died 22nd August 1917. Awarded British, Victory and 15 star medals and Military Medal.
1891 Kirkcudbright Census, at Miss Bell's Close, Kirkcudbright, William McQuarrie, (3, born Girthon) was a boarder with Margaret Proctor and her family and other boarders.
1891 Kirkcudbright Census, in Atkinson Place, Mary McQuarrie, (24, born Girthon), a general domestic servant, was a visitor with the Thomson family. This is probably William's mother.
1901 Girthon Census at Burnside Cottages (Clauchan of Girthon), Mary McQuarrie, (age 35, born Girthon), with her brother Alex. McQuarrie (23, born Girthon), and son William McQuarrie, (13, born Girthon) and daughter May McQuarrie (1, born Girthon)
1911 Girthon Census, at Girthon Kirk, William McQuarrie (24, born Girthon), farm servant was with the Veitch family.
1911 Girthon Census, at Girthon Kirk, in a nearby cottage at Clauchan of Girthon, Mary McQuarrie, (45, housemaid) with her brothers Alexander (33, a dyker) and Lauchlan (37, farm labourer) - all born Girthon. These appear to be William's mother and 2 of his uncles.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 3rd November 1916 : Sergeant W.C. McQuarrie, Twynholm, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, on 15th September. On the 17th of the same month, he was slightly wounded. Sergeant McQuarrie, who belongs to Gatehouse, enlisted in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, a month after war was declared, and has been at the front for fifteen months. He has come through much heavy fighting, including the battle of Loos.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 18th May 1917: Sergeant W. C. McQuarrie, son in law of Mr John McQuarrie, Twynholm, has been promoted to reserve Sergeant-Major. He is serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and has already been awarded the Military Medal.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 28th September 1917: Sergeant W.C. McQuarrie M.M. of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, husband of Mrs McQuarrie, Twynholm has been missing since 22 August (1917) Sgt. McQuarrie belongs to Gatehouse and enlisted in September 1914. He has been in France for over 2 years. He was slightly wounded last year (September).
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: In loving memory of Sergeant W. C. McQuarrie, A. & S. H., and Lachlan McQuarrie, K.O.S.B., killed in action in France, from Mr and Mrs John McQuarrie and family’
1987 Birth certificate: William Crawford McQuarrie, (illegitimate), born 3rd June 1887 at Hillhead Cottage, Girthon. Mother Mary McQuarrie (gamekeeper's daughter). Registered by Rebecca McQuarrie (grandmother)
1913 Birth Certificate: Freda McQuarrie, (illegitimate), born 28th March 1913 at Twynholm Village. Mother Agnes Jane McQuarrie. No father's name given.
1915 Marriage Certificate : Girthon, 1915, marriage of William C. McQuarrie, Sergeant, Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, bachelor, to Agnes Jane McQuarrie, domestic servant, spinster, at Girthon Manse.
William's parents : Mary McQuarrie
Agnes Jane's parents: John McQuarrie & Agnes Burnie
William and Agnes Jane were cousins. William's mother and Agnes' father being brother and sister.
1919 Marriage Certificate : Twynholm 1919, marriage of Agnes Jane McQuarrie (26, widow) to William Telfer McGuffog.
Note: There can be confusion between William McQuarrie born in 1884 at Girthon to John McQuarrie & Rebecca McSherry and William Crawford McQuarrie born in 1887 at Girthon, the illegitimate son of Mary McQuarrie (eldest daughter of John & Rebecca McQuarrie). In many records the 'Crawford' middle name is not used.
Soldier William C. McQuarrie was a nephew of William McQuarrie born in 1884.
Gatehouse link : Born in and lived in Girthon.
Bertram McRoberts
SRoH. Corporal Bertram McRoberts. Home: Windmillhill Street, Motherwell. Born in Gatehouse. Enlisted September 1914, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Transferred to 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Served on Western Front (Ypres 1915, Somme 1916, Arras 1917, Passchendaele 1917 & Somme 1918).
Wounded twice (Ypres 1915 & Messines 1915). Killed at Sailly, March 1918.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Bertram McRoberts Cpl. S.H.
Anwoth Church Memorial : Cpl. Bertram McRoberts Seaforths
CWGC : Corporal Bertram McRoberts S/5377 Seaforth Highlanders (7th Battalion)
Died 23/03/1918 (aged 22). On Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. Panels 72/73. Parents: Samuel & Agnes McRoberts, Gatehouse.
Army records
Roll of Individuals, Seaforth Highlanders : S/5377 Pte. McRoberts, Bertram- 1st Battalion (This is the only reference to 1st Battalion - it is typed very clearly).
Register of Effects; McRobert, Bertram (S/5377) 7 Seaforths. (Killed) In Action 23/03/1918. His effects were split as follows - sister Agnes £7-3-4; sister Margaret £1-15-9; father Samuel £1-15-9. A War Gratuity of £17-10/- was paid and was split father Samuel £3-11-8 on 04/10/1918 7 on 08/08/1919; sister Margaret £2-18-5 and brother Godfrey £2-4-4.
1901 Anwoth Census, at Boatgreen : Bertram McRoberts (5, born Gatehouse) with father Samuel (stone mason) and mother Agnes + 3 siblings inc. Godfrey (10).
1911 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : Bertram's parents Samuel and Agnes McRoberts + daughter Margaret G. Bertram was not in Gatehouse.
ScotlandsPeople Index : 1890 Marriage of Samuel McRoberts to Agnes Bertram in Anwoth. (Bertram’s parents).
ScotlandsPeople Index : 1895 Birth of Bertram McRoberts at Anwoth, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Bertram and Godfrey McRoberts were brothers. Godfrey survived the war. The name Bertram was his mother’s maiden surname.
Before the war Bertram was engaged to Margaret Kesley, who was from Dalziel and who lived at Windmillhill Street, Motherwell. This was the address for Bertram as given in the Stewartry Roll of Honour. [Margaret was born in1896 at Dalziel, and died in 1977 Dalziel having never married]
Gatehouse link : Born in and lived in Anwoth.
Godfrey McRoberts
SRoH. Private Godfrey McRoberts. Home: The Lodge, Ardencaple, Helensburgh. Born at Gatehouse.
Enlisted September 1914, 27 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Served on Western Front (Loos, Somme 1916, Arras 1917, Passchendaele 1917, Somme 1918, Messiness 1918, Meteren 1918 & Ypres 1918).
Medal Roll : RAMC no. 31990.
1891 Girthon Census : at Mill Cottage, Cornelious G McRoberts (aged 9 months, born Girthon) with father Samuel (27, mason) and mother Agnes (27). They were living with Agnes’s parents Henry and Agnes Bertram (bobbin manufacturers) + 2 of their sons.
1901 Anwoth Census, at Boatgreen : Godfrey McRoberts (10, born Gatehouse) with father Samuel (stone mason) and mother Agnes + 3 younger siblings inc. Bertram (5).
1911 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : Godfrey 's parents Samuel and Agnes McRoberts + daughter Margaret G. Godfrey was not in Gatehouse.
Scotlands People Birth index : 1890 Cornelius G. Bertram born Girthon.
There is no birth of a Godfrey McRoberts in the same period in Girthon. It seems likely that he dropped the Cornelius from his name.
Godfrey and Bertram McRoberts were brothers. Bertram was killed in the war.
Gatehouse link : Lived in Helensburgh, but born and educated in Gatehouse.
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