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Mark Chalmers
SRoH. Private Mark Chalmers. Home: High Ardwall, Gatehouse.
Enlisted March 1917, 2nd Cameron Highlanders.
Served in Eastern Front (Salonika, Russia & Turkey).
Military Records: Original service no. seems to be 8762, later changed to 31238.
Enlisted at Berwick on Tweed 14th February 1917 as private with Training Reserve Battalion aged 18 years and 5 months. Born Selby, Yorkshire. Wood carter. 4’ 10’’ tall & unmarried. Father: Thomas Chalmers from High Ardwall. Posted 6th March 1917
Transferred 16th August 1917 to 3rd Cameron Highlanders.
Posted 20th November 1917 to Salonika Forces (Expeditionary Force).
Posted 21st November 1917 to 2nd Cameron Highlanders.
Attached 12th May 1919 to Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders.
Discharged 30th March 1920.
1901 Colvend Census, Cleuch Cottage, Southwick : Mark Chalmers (2, born England) with father Thomas (40, gamekeeper) and mother Rachel (37) + brother William + 2 sisters.
1911 Parton Census, at Glenlair Cottage: Mark Chalmers (12) with father Thomas (48), mother Rachel (45) + brother William (13), and Jane (15), Emily (10), Rachel (6) & Maggie (4). - Scotlands People Index + info from Ken Morrison.
In the 1901 and 1911 census a different gamekeeper and his family were at High Ardwall. The Chalmers family probably moved to Gatehouse between 1911 and 1916.
1921/22 Anwoth Valuation Roll : High Ardwall - Thomas Chalmers, gamekeeper.
Free BMD: Birth of Mark Chalmbers Q3 1898 Selby, West Yorkshire.
Mark Chalmers was a brother of William Chalmers who was killed in 1916.
Gatehouse link : According to the SRoH and Army Records, Mark lived at High Ardwall.
William Chalmers
SRoH. Private William Chalmers. Home: High Ardwall, Gatehouse.
Enlisted January 1915, 1st Scots Guards. Served on Western Front.
Killed 15th September 1916, at the Somme.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Wm. Chalmers S.G.
Anwoth Church Memorial : Pte. William Chalmers Scots Guards
Crossmichael War Memorial : Pte. William Chalmers Scots Guards
Crossmichael Roll of Honour : Pte. William Chalmers Scots Guards September 15 1916
Southwick War Memorial : Pte. James Chalmers
(Note: His first name is entered incorrectly on the war memorial but is correct on the Roll of Honour at Southwick Church)
Southwick Roll of Honour : William Chalmers Private Scots Guards (Killed in France).
William is recorded on several war memorials. Southwick where he and his parents had lived, Crossmichael near Glenlair Cottage, Parton where the family lived in 1911, and Gatehouse where his family lived during and after the war.
Anwoth Gravestone: “...also William his son killed in action in France 15th Sept. 1916 aged 19 years.” (Father : Thomas Chalmers, Mother : Rachel Simpson).
CWGC : Buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Soldiers who Died in Great War : William Chalmers, born Selby, Yorkshire. Died of wounds 16 Sept 1916 in France/Flanders. Enlisted at Dumfries 13324 Scots Guards Rank GDSN.
1901 and 1911 Censuses : a different gamekeeper and his family were at High Ardwall.
1901 Colvend Census, Cleuch Cottage, Southwick : William Chalmers (3, born England) with father Thomas (40, gamekeeper) and mother Rachel (37) + brother Mark + 2 sisters.
1911 Parton Census, at Glenlair Cottage: William Chalmers (13) with father Thomas (48), mother Rachel (45) + brother Mark (12), and Jane (15), Emily (10), Rachel (6) & Maggie (4). - Scotlands People Index + info from Ken Morrison.
The Chalmers family probably moved to Gatehouse between 1911 and 1916.
1921/22 Anwoth Valuation Roll : High Ardwall - Thomas Chalmers, gamekeeper.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 3/11/1916 reported his death saying ‘ The late Pte. W. Chalmers, Southwick, eldest son of Mr. T. Chambers, formerly gamekeeper at Auchenskeoch, Southwick, and now at High Ardwall, Gatehouse’
GRO Index : William was born in Selby, Yorkshire, son of Thomas Chalmers & Rachel Simpson.
FreeBMD : William born Q2 1897 at Selby, Yorkshire. William Chalmers was a brother of Mark Chalmers.
Gatehouse link : According to the SRoH, William lived at High Ardwall.
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John Chesney
SRoH. No details in Stewartry Roll of Honour.
Identified from Military Records on Ancestry.co.uk after searching for ‘Gatehouse’.
Military Records. Gunner. Service No. 4366 Home: Pulcree Farm, Gatehouse.
Enlisted 04/10/1914 (age given as 17 years 3 months) in 2nd Lowland Reserve Brigade (RFA).
Born Girthon, Gatehouse. Father: Robert Chesney of Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse.
Prior to enlistment worked as a farm servant for Thomas Johnston of Pulcree Farm. 5’ 4’’ tall. Transferred to Ayr branch of Territorial Force as a driver.
Discharged on 06/11/1915 after 1 year and 27 days for being under 17 (Para. 392 VI (A)
Home in 1915: Irvine, Ayrshire.
1901 Girthon census, Birtwhistle Street : Robert Chesney (agricultural labourer) with wife Maria. The family included son John (born c.1874 Gatehouse) an agricultural labourer, his sister and several grandchildren, including John Chesney (born c.1900 Gatehouse).
1911 Girthon census, Birtwhistle Street : widower Robert Chesney, a 71 year old general labourer. Also in the house was son John, a millworker, (born c.1873 Girthon) and daughter Annie and several grand children including John (born c.1899, Girthon).
John gave his father's name as Robert Chesney, Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse when he registered for military action. From the above census records if seems more likely that Robert was John's grandfather.
Scotlands People Index : 1899 birth of John Chesney in Girthon.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse, lived in Birtwhiste St, then worked at Pulcree Farm.
William Chesney
SRoH. No mention in The Stewartry Roll of Honour.
Found from a search on ‘Find My Past’ website for soldiers from Gatehouse.
Army Records : Gunner, later Bombadier William Chesney 4323 RFA. Enlisted 06/09/1914 at Kirkcudbright. Theatre of War : Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
Born in 1884 at Gatehouse of Fleet. Residence New Galloway.
Father: Thomas Chesney of Burnfoot Farm, New Galloway (in 1919).
06/09/1914 to 07/06/1915 - served at Home.
09/06/1915 - embarked at Devonport with the Mediterranean Expedition Force.
23/06/1915 - disembarked at Port Said. Egypt.
27/04/1916 - appointed A/Bombadier while at Kantara.
21/08/1917 - posted to 261st Brigade RFA.
15/11/1918 - posted with 261st Brigade to Palestine.
22/02/1919 - Cairo
16/03/1919 - embarked at Port Said on 'Canberra' for UK.
29/04/1919 - Disembodied. (655716 RFA).
When examined prior to his release in April 1919 he was in A1 medical condition.
1891 Girthon Census at Burnfoot : William A. Chesney (7, born Anwoth) with parents Thomas Chesney, a shepherd (30, born Kells), Jessie (28, born Kirkmabreck) and a younger sister Mary.
1901 Dalry Census at Carroch : William A. Chesney (17, born Anwoth), shepherd's son, with parents Thomas Chesney (40) and Jessie (39) and sister Mary M. Chesney.
1911 Twynholm Census : William Chesney, aged 27. No proof that this is the correct man.
Scotlands People Birth Index : William Alexander Chesney born 1884 Anwoth.
Scotlands People Index : Thomas Chesney married Jessie Kelly in Girthon in 1883. (William's parents)
Gatehouse Link : Born in Gatehouse and lived there when young.
Robert Ross Clacherty
SRoH. No mention in The Stewartry Roll of Honour.
Found from a search on ‘Find My Past’ website for soldiers from Gatehouse.
Army Records : Statement of Service - Robert Ross Clacherty
10.12.15 - Attestation. Private 225740 R.C. Coy. R. E. (Royal Engineers)
11.12.16 Army Reserve
28.12.16 Mobilized
29.12.1916 Army Reserve Class W
10.1.17 Posted
4.2.17 Embarked with BEF to France Pioneer
7.3.18 - Pioneer R & Q T D (Road & Quarrying Transport Depot) Boydon
19.8.18 No longer fit for duty
Medical History
Robert Clacherty WR 21713 (Rail Operation Division)
Born Gatehouse. Aged 36. Trade - builder, 5' 9'' Required dental treatment.
6/3/18 - 6/5/18 (61 days) Berrington War Hospital, Shrewsbury. Pain in left thigh, 12 septic teeth - all extracted.
6/5/18 - transferred to Rock Park Hospital, Llandrindod Wells (33 days) Wound not healed, walking with difficulty, rheumatism.
19/8/18 Discharged as no longer fit for war service.
Discharge Papers : 29/7/18 : WR 21713 Pnr Clacherty, Robert Ross. Address Rambler Cottage, Twynholm.
In civil life - a builder, own account. In colours - BEF road maker.
Pension : WR 21713/225740 Pioneer Robert Ross Clacherty. Royal Engineers. Road & Quarrying Transport Depot.
From 20/8/18 - 27/6 per week for 4 weeks. From 18/9/18 */3 for 48 weeks, then a review.
1881 Girthon Census at Disdow Cothouse : Robert Clacherty, (11months, born Borgue) with parents David Clacherty (a ploughman, aged 33, born Minnigaff) & Jessie (31, born Urr) & siblings Margaret R. (8, born Anwoth), Elizabeth (5, born Girthon) & John R. (3, born Kirkcudbright)
1891 Census - not found.
1901 Twynholm Census in the village : Robert, a ploughman, (20 born Borgue), Alexander (15 , born Anwoth), Swanalina (12, born Girthon) & Mary Agnes (7, born Twynholm)
Scotlands People :
1880 birth Robert Ross Claugherty at Borgue
1882 marriage David Clacherty & Jessie Ross at Kells. - Robert's parents.
1906 marriage Robert R Clacherty & Alice Julia Smith at Kelton.
Birth of Robert's children.
1907 birth Ernest David Clacherty at Urr.
1910 birth Mabel Constance Clacherty at Twynholm.
1912 birth Sydney Smith Clacherty Twynholm.
Ancestry.co.uk - Probate: Robert Ross Clacherty died 11th July 1962 Kirkcudbright. Address The Rambler, Twynholm.
Gatehouse Link : Although Robert was born in Borgue his family lived around Gatehouse from 1880 until about 1895.
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