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William Shaw
SRoH. William Shaw is believed to have fought and died in the war but no records of him have been found so far. Identified as a soldier by his niece.
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : William Shaw (5, born Borgue) with father William (28, agricultural labourer) and mother Eliza (28) + 2 siblings inc. Thomas Shaw (4).
A family member says that he was the son of William & Eliza Shaw who had at least 12 children, including a Thomas and a John. William is also believed to have been killed during the war aged 17 but no records of him have been found.
John, Thomas and possibly William Shaw were all brothers who fought in the war. Thomas and William were killed.
Note: If the William that fought and died in the war was the above son of William & Eliza, then he would have been 21-22 when he was killed in 1917.
Gatehouse link : Born and grew up in Girthon.
Alexander Shields
SRoH. Private Alexander Shields. Born at Kirkcudbright
Enlisted September 1914, 6th King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Served on Western Front. Twice wounded and killed at Albert, August 1916. Awarded 1914-15 Star.
Tongland War Memorial at Ringford, inscription : Alexander Shields
Tongland Church War Memorial inscription : Private Alexander Shields
(now in Ringford Village Hall)
Kirkcudbright Parish Church : On a wooden Communion Table : Alex. Shields
Tongland Gravestone : ... Pte. Alexander Shields, his son, killed in action in France, 18th August 1916, aged 21 years. Father: James Shields of Barnollis Ringford
Headstone at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, France:
12361 Private, A. SHIELDS, K.O.Scottish Borders, 18th August 1916 age 21.
(Transcript provided by his father, from Barnollis, Ringford)
CWGC : Private Alexander Shields 12361 K.O.S.B. 6th Battalion.
Died 18/08/1916 (aged 21).
Buried Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France Grave: XI.G.9
Scottish War Graves website : Alexander Shields, Private (12361) K.O.S.B. 6th Battalion. Died 18/08/1916 aged 21. Buried Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longuevaal Grave XI.G.9 Father: James Shields, Barnollis, Ringford.
Military Records : Medal Index Card - Pte. Alexander Shields 6/K.O.S.B. (12361), Awarded Victory, British & 15 Star, Landed in France 12/05/1915. Killed in action 18/08/1916.
Medal Roll : Pte. Alexander Shields (12361) 6th K.O.S.B.
Register of Soldiers Effects: Pte. Alexander Shields (12361) 6th K.O.S.B. Died 18/08/1916 in action.
03/12/1916 7/2d sent.
19/03/1917 £2-10-1 sent to James 'sole leg.'
19/09/1919 War gratuity of £9 sent to James (Fa) (James Shields, father, sole legatee )
1901 Kirkcudbright Census, 24a High St. : Alexander (6, born Kirkcudbright) with father James (30,widower, engineman) and brother James.
Ken Shields, nephew of Alexander : James Shields snr. married Dorothea Whan of Gatehouse in 1893. After Dorothea died in 1899, James remarried, and his sons James & Alexander were brought up in Gatehouse by the Whan family (grandparents William and Dorothy Whan).
We Will remember Them.... by Ian Devlin.
Alex Shields (12361) K.O.S.B. He was the son of Mr & Mrs James Shields of 22 High Street, Kirkcudbright. His father was a railway worker in Kirkcudbright but he was later moved by work to Ringford and the family moved to Barnollis in that parish. His siblings were Andy, Agnes, David and Lizzie.
Alex is believed to have enlisted in the Royal Marines when he left school and served with them for several years. For some unknown reason Alex transfered to the K.O.S.B. on 14/09/1914.
He served on the Western Front and was killed at Albert on 18/08/1916. He was 21 years old.
Alexander’s brother James survived the war.
Gatehouse link : Born in Kirkcudbright, grew up in Gatehouse with grandparents.
James Shields
SRoH. Lance-Corporal James Shields. Born Kirkcudbright.
Enlisted June 1915, 3rd Gordon Highlanders. Transferred to 7th Battalion.
Served Western Front (Somme, Ypres, Armentieres & Cambrai)
Taken prisoner at La Bassee on 11th April 1918.
1901 Kirkcudbright Census, 24a High St. : James (5, born Kirkcudbright) with father James (30, widower, engineman) and brother Alexander.
Ken Shields, nephew of James jnr.: James Shields snr. married Dorothea Whan of Gatehouse in 1893. After Dorothea died in 1899, James remarried, and his sons James & Alexander were brought up in Gatehouse by the Whan family (grandparents William and Dorothy Whan).
James' brother Alexander, also a soldier, was killed in 1916.
Gatehouse link : Born in Kirkcudbright, grew up in Gatehouse with grandparents.
James Sinclair
SRoH. Private James Sinclair. Home: High Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted September 1914, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to 2nd London Mounted Brigade. Transferred to Army Service Corps. Served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Salonica.
Medal Index Card : James Sinclair, Driver RAMC (1716) then Driver ASC 9T4/237499 then Private ASC (T/524) Sent to Egypt 07/05/1915. Demobbed 09/05/1919. Victory, British and 15 Star medals.
1901 Anwoth Census, Victoria Cottage, Hannay Street : James Sinclair (5, born Gatehouse) with father William (35, tailor’s cutter, born Edinburgh) and mother Georgina (34, born Cults, Fife) + 2 sisters.
1911 Girthon Census, High Street : James Sinclair, (15, law clerk, born Gatehouse) with father William (45, tailor's cutter), mother Georgina (44) + 2 sisters.
ScotlandsPeople Index : 1891 marriage of William M. Sinclair to Georgina Monteith Gossip at Cults, Fife.
Gatehouse link : Born and, grew up in Gatehouse.
John Smith
SRoH. Private John Smith. Home: Anne Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted March 1917, 3rd Battalion Royal Scots.
Transferrred to Labour Corps. Home Service.
Military Records : Medal Index card - Pte. John Smith (17537) R. Scots & (582704) Labour C.
(This is probably the correct medal index card although there is another one of a John Smith who was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Labour Corps).
1901 Girthon Census, Ann Street : John Smith (5, born Girthon), with parents William S. (41, joiner) and Margaret (39) + 1 sister.
1911 Girthon Census, Ann Street : John Smith (15, born Girthon) with parents William (51, joiner) and Margaret (49) + 1 sister.
Note : John would have been 21/22 in 1917, He was quite young to be on Home Service but this may have something to do with his transfer to the Labour Corps.
Gatehouse link : Born and, grew up in Gatehouse.
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