Search These Records
Edward Douglas
SRoH. In The Stewartry Roll of Honour (as Douglas, E) but no known records.
Listed in Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914.
Saddler Edward Douglas 2nd Lowland Royal Field Artillery.
Military Records :
Attestation ; 9th August 1914 at Kirkcudbright. 4303 Lowland Brig. Edward Douglas, born New Galloway, Kells. 32 years, saddler with W.A. Miller, Kirkcudbright. Lives in Gatehouse-of-Fleet.
Medical : Edward Douglas 4303. 32, 5' 10''. Vision normal. Physical development good. Next of kin (father) William Douglas, 26 High St., Kirkcudbright.
15/3/1916 to 4/4/1916 suffered from jaundice . Patient at 15 Stn. Hos. Port Said. 4303 2nd Lowland Bde. R.F.A. - changed to 655698 31st Brigade.
Service 9.8.14 to 7.6.15 at home.
21.10.15 promoted to Saddler Sgt. Transferred to Ayrshire Bty (13213)
9.6.15 to 23.3.17 with Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Embarked at Devonport. Disembarked Port Said
20/1/16 Acting rank made substantive. El Kiribri
11.3.16 15 to 23.3.16 Stn. Hosp. with jaundice. Rejoined unit at Kantara.
24.3.17 to 12.6.19 Palestine. 2.7.19 Home (26 High St, Kirkcudbright.) Saddler Sergeant Edward Douglas 655698. Work address - c/o Mr J. McConchie, saddler, Kinross.
2.7.19 : Certificate of Identity - Edward Douglas 655698 S/Sgt. Theatre of war - EEF. Born 1882.
During 1919 Edward wrote various letters to the army authorities. He claimed that he had been promoted to Saddler Staff Sergeant but this promotion had not been noted on his records and therefore affected his pension. "Records give my rank as Saddler Sgt. My Staff rank came through about the middle of Jan. 1919...with effect from 14th Oct. 1918..... my aquittance rolls and Demob papers were all Staff Sgt ... now my pay book says Saddler Sgt."
1891 Balmaghie Census, at Netherhall : Edward Douglas (age 8, born Kells) with parents William (dairyman) and Mary Douglas + 2 brothers.
1901 Twynholm Census, Stell Cottage No.3 : Edward Douglas (apprentice saddler, age 18, born Kells) with father William (milkman) + 1 brother & 1 sister.
1911 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : Edward Douglas (28, harness maker, born Kells) was a boarder with the Yates family.
Gatehouse link : From Kells, and lived at Catherine Street, Gatehouse in 1911.
John Dougan Downie
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Gatehouse ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914. Sergt. John D. Downie Royal Scots Greys.
1881 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : John Dougan Downie, (9, born Girthon) with father Philip Downie (37, wood carter, born Ireland) and mother Agnes (40) + 2 brothers Peter & William.
1901 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : John D Downie (29, retired cavalry officer – invalided, born Gatehouse) with wife Mary A. + son Robert McG. Downie (3, born England).
1911 Dalgetty Census, Fife : John D. Downie (40) & Mary A. Downie (43) with Robert McGaw Downie (13) at household 422/3/1
Dalgety Bay Newsletter : In 1918 John was working as a gatekeeper at Donibristle Park, Dalgety, Fife. His son Robert McGaw Downie died of pneumonia at his home, West Lodge, Donibristle Park on 8th January 1918. Robert had been an airman with the RFC.
Girthon Banns: 1896, John Dugean (sic) Downie and Mary Agnes Kissock Dalrymple at Toxteth Park, Liverpool.
Free BMD : Marriage confirmed in Liverpool 1896 Q4.
William J. Hewitt, father of soldiers James & William Hewitt, who had been the factor on the Cally Estate, Gatehouse, had become the factor on the Earl of Moray's estate at Aberlour, Fife. He may have been the reason that John Downie moved to Dalgety Bay. The Hewitt brothers and John's son Robert McGaw Downie were all killed in the war and are all mentioned on the Dalgety Bay War Memorial.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse before moving to Dalgety Bay.
Robert McGaw Downie
SRoH. In The Stewartry Roll of Honour but no known records.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : R. McG. Downie R.A.F.
Dalgety Bay, Fife War Memorial inscription : Master mech. Robert M. Downie R.F.C.
Dalgety Parish Church, Fife – Commonwealth War Grave.
CWGC : Robert McGaw Downie, Air Mechanic 2nd Class, 44942 Royal Flying Corps. Died 8th January 1918 (aged 20). Buried Dalgety Parish Churchyard, Fife.
Parents: John & Mary Downie, Donibristle Park, Hillend, Inverkeithing, Fife.
Scottish War Memorial website: Air Mechanic 2nd Class Royal Air Force 44942.
Robert’s parents were John Dougan Downie and Mary Agnes Dalrymple who were both from Gatehouse but they married in 1896 in Liverpool.
Army Records - Register of Soldiers Effects: Downie, Robert - 33942 R.F.C. No. 4 (Chelsea) A.R.D. Died 12/01/1918 at West Lodge, Hillend, Inverkeithing, Fife.
26/06/1918 Father John sent money owed to Robert.
War Gratuity not admissible.
1901 Girthon Census, Catherine Street, Gatehouse : Robert McG Downie (age 3, born England), with father John D. (retired cavalry soldier, invalided) and mother Mary A. Downie
1911 Dalgety Census, Fife: Robert McGaw Downie (13) was with John D. Downie (40) & Mary A. Downie (43) at household 422/3/1
GRO birth index: Robert was born in Q4 1897 in Toxteth Park, West Derby, Lancashire.
Robert died on 08/01/1918 of pneumonia at home (West Lodge Donibristle Park, Dalgety Bay). His father was the gatekeeper. Robert’s parents were John Dougan Downie and Mary Agnes Dalrymple who were both from Gatehouse but they married in 1896 in Liverpool.
Gatehouse link : Lived in Gatehouse when he was young.
Alex Duncan
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Gatehouse ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914. Alex. Duncan.
Thomas William Duncan
SRoH. Private T.W. Home: Killygowan, Gatehouse. Enlisted Canadian Contingent. Served on Western Front.
Wounded August 1916.
Canadian Great War Project : Private Thomas Duncan, 103439 Canadian Engineers, 67th Battalion. Enlisted December 10 1915, Vancouver, British Columbia. Date of birth - July 21 1890 Scotland. Next of kin - Thomas Duncan, Killygowan, Gatehouse, Kirkcudbrightshire. Previously served with Territorials. Survived the war.
1901 Anwoth Census, Killygowan : Thomas W. Duncan (age 5, born England), with widowed grandmother Jane Duncan, and father Thomas (farmer), and mother Kate.
1911 Anwoth Census, Killygowan : Thomas William Duncan (age 15, born England), with father Thomas (farmer 46, born Anwoth) and mother Kate (40, born England).
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 8th September 1916: News has been received that Private T. W. Duncan, Canadians, is in hospital suffering from a bullet wound in the arm. He is a sniper in his battalion. He is the only son of Mr & Mrs Duncan, Killygowan, Gatehouse.
GRO : Possible birth of Thomas W Duncan Q1 1896 at Auckland, Co. Durham
Another possible birth of Thomas William Duncan Q2 1896 Leeds.
Note - Thomas says on his army papers that he was born in Scotland but the census records say England.
Gatehouse link : Lived at Killygowan, Anwoth.
 web2.jpg)
Key to Sources