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Douglas Sharp
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 Douglas Sharpe 5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Note : A living relative remembers Douglas Sharp as a WW1 soldier who lived at Cross Cottage. The parents of the above James Sharp also lived at Cross Cottage in 1928 when Robert (father) died. It is fairly sure that James and Douglas were brothers.
Douglas would have been born c.1888 in Girthon. He married Elizabeth McNaught Caven c.1913. They had 2 daughters, Isabel and Janet. Elizabeth died, probably in childbirth, in 1915. The photo shows Douglas in uniform with the 2nd button from the top of his jacket being black - this was a symbol indicating the death of a family member. It is not clear whether this tradition only related to soldiers who died in combat, as not only did his wife die in August 1915, but his brother James, also a soldier, was killed in September 1915.
Douglas remarried in 1925 to Jane Caven, who was Elizabeth's sister.
James Sharp
SRoH. Private James Sharp. Home: Gatehouse.
Enlisted 5th Cameron Highlanders. Served on Western Front.
Reported missing at Loos 25th September 1915, and presumed killed on that date.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : James Sharp C.H.
Girthon & Anwoth Free Church : Private James Sharp, Cameron Highlanders
Girthon Gravestone : ...also James, their son, killed in action at Loos 25th Sept. 1915, aged 31 years. Father Robert Sharp, Mother: Janet from Cross Cottage.
CWGC : Service No. S/10824 Died 25th September 1915.
On the Loos Memorial at Pas de Calais (panels 119 – 124).
Soldiers Who Died in Great War : Private James Sharp (S/10824) 5th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Born Girthon, lived Gatehouse of Fleet. Landed in France 10th May 1915. Killed in Action 25th September 1915.
1891 Girthon Census : at Birtwhistle Street, Robert Sharp (garden labourer) with wife Janet + 3 children. These are James Sharp’s parents. James was not at home.
1891 Stoneykirk Census, Kirklauchline Farmhouse : James Sharp (6, born Gatehouse) visiting James Airdrie (60, farm overseer) and wife Ellen Airdrie (52) + family.
James and Ellen Airdrie were grandparents of James Sharp. James’ mother Janet’s maiden name was Airdrie, and in the 1851 census she was at Stoneykirk as the daughter of James and Helen Airdrie.
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : James’ parents Robert (carter) and Janet (born Stoneykirk) + Douglas (12) & 3 daughters.
1901 Girthon Census, Cally Bothy (at Cally Gardens) : James (16, born Gatehouse) was with 3 other young men, including his brother John, all domestic gardeners.
1911 Girthon Census, Cally Gardeners' Bothy : James Sharp (26, domestic gardener, born Gatehouse) with 3 other gardeners.
1911 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : James’ parents Robert (gardener’s labourer) and Janet (born Stoneykirk) + Douglas (22) & 3 daughters.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 06/10/1915: Prior to the war, James Sharp was foreman Gardener at Cally House, Gatehouse.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 08/10/1915: James Sharp of the 5th Cameron Highlanders has been missing in action since 25/09/1915. His father is Robert Sharp of Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse. James was foreman gardener at Cally before he enlisted. - from a letter sent home by Pte. James Pritchard of Skyreburn.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: ‘In loving memory of Pte. James Sharp, Cameron Highlanders, from his father and mother and sister and brother.’
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse and was a gardener at Cally.
Henry Shaw
SRoH. Gunner Henry Shaw. Home: Catherine Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted April 1915, Kirkcudbrightshire Battery, Royal Field Artillery.
1881 Girthon Census, Church Street : Henry Shaw’s parents John (43, general labourer) and Jane (35) with 5 children inc. William (8), James M (5) & John C (4m), all born Girthon.
1891 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : Henry Shaw (7, born Girthon) with parents John (53, farm servant) and Jane (45) + 4 siblings inc. John (10) & Thomas (2) + Henry’s nephew John Muat (3m). All born Girthon.
1901 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : Henry Shaw (17, postman, born Girthon) with father John (63, general labourer) and mother Jane (53) + 3 siblings inc. John (20) & Thomas (12) + nephew John R Muatt (10).
1911 Girthon census, Catherine Street : Henry Shaw (26, cab driver, born Girthon) with father John (71, retired drainer) and mother Jane (65) + brother Thomas (22) and nephew John Robert Mouet (20) and niece Jessie Shaw.
Shaw family history website. Henry was born 01/02/1884. Died 22/02/1940.
Girthon Gravestone : parents were John Shaw & Jane Lockhart.
Henry is a brother of James M (born 1875). John (born 1880) and Thomas (born 1888) and an uncle of John Mowatt Shaw who were all soldiers.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Girthon.
James Shaw
SRoH. Private James Shaw. Home: Catherine Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted December 1916, Scottish Rifles. Transferred to 52nd Highland Light Infantry. Served on Western Front.
1901 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : James Shaw(2, born Gatehouse) with father James Shaw (25, carter, born Gatehouse) and mother Margaret (25) + sister.
1911 Girthon Census, Swan Street : James Shaw (12, born Girthon) with father James Shaw (35, general labourer) and mother Margaret (35) + 5 sisters. James & Margaret had been married for 11 years.
James’ parents were James Milligan Shaw and Margaret Thomson McMinn.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Girthon.
James Milligan Shaw
SRoH. Private James M. Shaw. Home: Catherine Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted November 1915, 311 Company, Army Service Corps.
Transferred to 15th Highland Light Infantry. Served on Western Front.
1881 Girthon Census, Church Street : James M. Shaw (5, born Girthon) with father John (43, general labourer) and mother Jane (35) and 4 siblings.
1891 Girthon Census, Low Creoch Farm : James Shaw (16, farm servant, born Girthon) with the Veitch family.
1901 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : James Shaw (25, general carter, born Gatehouse) with wife Margaret (25) + son James Shaw (2, born Gatehouse) + daughter Jane.
1911 Girthon Census, Swan Street : James Shaw (35, general labourer, born Girthon) with wife Margaret (35), + James Shaw (12, born Anwoth). 5 daughters. James and Margaret had been married for 11 years.
Anwoth Banns : marriage of James Milligan Shaw to Margaret Thomson McMinn on 24/12/1899.
Shaw family history website. James Milligan Shaw was born 04/11/1875 in Church Street, Gatehouse. Died 1949.
Girthon gravestone : parents were John Shaw & Jane Lockhart.
James M. is a brother of John (born 1880), Henry (born 1884) and Thomas (born 1888) and was an uncle of John Mowatt Shaw who were all soldiers. James M. is the father of Private James Shaw.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Girthon.
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