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Thomas Nelson
SRoH. Private Thomas Nelson. Home: Ontario, Canada. Born in Gatehouse. Enlisted 19th February 1915, 18th Battalion Canadian Infantry. Served on Western Front (Ypres). Killed 13th September 1915.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Tom Nelson Canadians.
Girthon Church Memorial : T. Nelson Canadians
Girthon Gravestone : … Thomas aged 18 years Pte Canadian Forces, killed in action in France 13th Octr 1915. Mother: Bessie Nelson.
CWGC : Private T. Nelson 54356 Canadian Infantry 18th Battalion Died 13/10/1915
Buried Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.Grave 11.1.4
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : Tom Nelson (4, born Gatehouse) with grandparents, William & Jane McLellan and mother Elizabeth Nelson (whose husband was away at sea) + brothers John (7) & William (13).
1911 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : Thomas M Nelson (14, born Gatehouse) with widowed grandfather William McLellan, mother Elizabeth Nelson + brother John (17). Mother had been married 20 years.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 29/10/1915 :‘Mrs Nelson, Barwhill Cottage, Gatehouse desires to express her sincere thanks to her numerous friends for their sincere sympathies extended to her in her recent sad bereavement and great loss’
Ex Jack Nelson, grand nephew : Thomas emigrated to Canada before the war. He and his brother William were both killed by the same shell.
Nelson family tree : Thomas’ father was John Cooper Nelson who emigrated to Australia – presumably intending that his wife and family would follow him. They never did, and the family believed he had been lost at sea. John C. Nelson actually died in New Guinea where he was a pearl trader.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse.
William James Nelson
SRoH. Private William J. Nelson Home: Ontario, Canada. Born in Gatehouse. Enlisted February 1915, 18th Battalion Canadian Infantry. Served on Western Front. Killed 13th September 1915.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Wm. Nelson Canadians.
Girthon Church Memorial : W. Nelson Canadians
Girthon Gravestone : … William aged 28 years Pte Canadian Forces, killed in action in France 13th Octr. 1915. Mother: Bessie Nelson.
CWGC : Private W. Nelson 54340 Canadian Infantry 18th Battalion Died 13/10/1915
Buried Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave 11.1.3
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : William Nelson (13, born Gatehouse) with grandparents William & Jane McLellan and mother Elizabeth Nelson (whose husband was away at sea) + brothers John (7) & Tom (4).
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 29/10/1915 :‘Mrs Nelson, Barwhill Cottage, Gatehouse desires to express her sincere thanks to her numerous friends for their sincere sympathies extended to her in her recent sad bereavement and great loss’
Ex Jack Nelson, grand nephew : William emigrated to Canada before the war. He and his brother Thomas were both killed by the same shell.
Nelson family tree : William’s father was John Cooper Nelson. John emigrated to Australia – presumably intending that his wife and family would follow him. They never did and the family believed he had been lost at sea. John C. Nelson actually died in New Guinea where he was pearl trader.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse before emigrating to Canada.
Robert Nichol
SRoH. No mention in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Found in 'Find My Past' from a search for Gatehouse.
Army Records : ex Find My Past Index. S/5410 Argyll & Sutherland (5th Reserve Battalion).
Attested 1914 (aged 26). Born 1887. Lived in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Army Records : ex Ancestry Roll of Individuals of Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders - S/5410 Robert Nichol with Princess Louise's (Argyll & Sutherland) Highlanders. Previous units - S/5410 with 12 A&S & Pte. with 1/7 A&S H.
Embarked (for France) on 19/09/1915.
Medal Index Card : Pte Robert Nichol A7S Highrs. S/5410 awarded Victory, British and 15 Star medals.
Gatehouse link : Lived in Gatehouse.
J. O'Hare
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Anwoth & Girthon ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914.
Private J O’Hare 5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
George Orr
SRoH. Sergeant George Orr. Home: Belvidere Lodge, Gatehouse.
Enlisted November 1915, as Private in Royal Army Medical Corps.
Transferred to Royal Engineers, Anti-Gas establishment. Home Service.
Military Records : Enlisted Edinburgh 20th November 1915, served in England until 1919.
Home: Belvidere Lodge, Gates House (Belvedere Lodge , Gatehouse)
Previous job was as a chemist with J MacIntyre, Pharmacist, North Berwick.
Born Inverkip, Renfrewshire. Aged 27 years 30 days (on 20/11/1915) 5'4'' tall
Next of kin: George Orr, Belvedere Lodge29th November 1917 joined RAMC in Sheffield
27th April 1918 transferred to Royal Engineers (279244) Anti-gas Establishment, University College, London
12th March 1919 Discharge Documents: Sgt. George Orr (279244) Anti- Gas Establishment.
17th March 1919 demobbed Wellington Barracks, London,
1891 Inverkip Census, Underheugh Cottage : George Orr (2, born Inverkip) with father George (32, under gamekeeper, born Little Dunkeld, Perths.) and mother Margaret (37) + brother Hugh (4, born Inverkip) + a sister (Helen Lang Orr).
1901 Anwoth Census, at High Ardwall : George Orr (12, born Inverkip) with parents George (41, gamekeeper, born Dunkeld) & Margaret (47, born Kilmacolm) + brother Hugh (14, born Inverkip).
1911 Girthon Census, at Cally Belvedere Lodge, parents George Orr (51, head gamekeeper, born Little Dunkeld, Perths.) and Margaret (57, born Kilmacolm) + daughter Helen Lang Orr.
Scotlands People birth index: 1888 birth George Orr at Inverkip, Renfrewshire.
Gatehouse link : Born Inverkip, but lived at High Ardwall and Belvedere Lodge.
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