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Eugene Alan Farmer
SRoH. Private Eugene Alan Farmer. Home: Woodfoot, Gatehouse.
Enlisted October 1914, 2/5 King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Transferred to 7/8 King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Wounded once at Hulluch. Reported missing 17th September 1918.
Prior to war was seven years with Galloway Rifles.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Eugene A. Farmer K.O.S.B.
Anwoth Church Memorial : Pte. Eugene A Farmer K.O.S.B.
Girthon Gravestone : ... also Eugene Allan, his son 7/8 K.O.S.B., killed in action 17th Sept. 1918, aged 34 years. Father: James Farmer, Woodfoot Mother: Elizabeth Allan.
CWGC: Private Eugen Allan Farmer, 240634, 7th/8th K.O.S.B.
Died 17th September 1918, aged 38 On Loos Memorial (Panels 53-56)
Parents: James & Elizabeth Farmer, Woodfoot, Gatehouse.
Wife: Margaret Ann McNaught Farmer, Seagate, Carsluith, Creetown.
1901 Girthon Census, at Woodfoot : Eugene Allan Farmer, mason’s apprentice, (age 16, born Anwoth), with father James (mason) and mother Elisabeth + 5 siblings.
1911 Girthon Census, at Woodfoot : Eugene A. Farmer (age 26, born Girthon), drystone mason, with father James (drystone mason) and mother Elisabeth + 6 brothers and 2 sisters.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: ‘In affectionate memory of Eugene and Cecil, from all at Woodfoot.’
GROS : Eugene Allan Farmer was born in 1884. Father James Farmer, Mother Elizabeth Allen from Woodfoot, Gatehouse.
GROS : Eugene married Margaret Ann McNaught in 1917 at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire
Two of his brothers were soldiers : Cecil and John McL. Farmer.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived at Woodfoot, Gatehouse.
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John McLellan Farmer
SRoH. Private John McLellan Farmer. Home: Woodfoot, Gatehouse.
Enlisted May 1916, 2/4 Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.
Transferred to Agricultural Company. Home Service.
Prior to war fully two years in the Galloway Rifles.
Girthon Grave : John McL Farmer died at Aikiehill 25th Nov. 1929, aged 41 years.
1901 Girthon Census, at Woodfoot : John McLelland Farmer (age 12, born Anwoth), with father James (mason) and mother Elisabeth + 5 siblings.
1911 Girthon Census, at Woodfoot : John Farmer (age 22, born Anwoth), drystone mason, with father James (drystone mason) and mother Elizabeth + 6 brothers and 2 sisters.
Note: His brothers were Cecil and Eugene A. Farmer who were both killed in the war.
Scotlands People Index : 1920 marriage John McClelland Farmer to Agnes Adam at Girthon.
Girthon Parish Records : Banns read Nov. 21st 1920 for marriage of John McClelland Farmer and Agnes Adams, both residing in Girthon . They were married at Aikeyhill, Girthon.
Scotlands People Index : 1929 death John McClelland Farmer (aged 41). Buried at Girthon Cemetery.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived at Woodfoot, Gatehouse.
D. Ferguson
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.
Carpenter’s Mate D Ferguson HMS “Drina”.
1901 & 1911 census - Girthon & Anwoth. This surname can be spelled Ferguson or Fergusson, with the later more common in Galloway. No D. Fergusson, spelled either way, was found in any of the above census.
HMS Drina was built in Belfast in 1913 as a general cargo and passenger ship. She was the first ship to be requisitioned as a hospital ship during the war. However as she had large refrigerated compartments she returned to duties transporting beef, dairy and fruit products from Argentina. She was torpedoed on March 1st 1917 off Skokham Island, South Wales. 15 people died but there is no D. Fergusson listed as being a casualty.
Alexander Livingstone Fergusson
SRoH. Private Alexander Livingston Fergusson. Home: Culreoch, Gatehouse.
Enlisted January 1915, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Served on Western Front (Loos, Somme, German attack of March, and April 1918).
Wounded once, and died of wounds, 12th April 1918.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : A.L. Fergusson R.A.M.C.
Girthon Military Gravestone : 53531 Private A.L. Fergusson Royal Army Medical Corps. 12th April 1918 age 34
Girthon Family Gravestone : Alexander Livingstone Fergusson R.A.M.C. his youngest son died of wounds received in action 12th April 1918, aged 34 years. Interred Girthon cemetery. Father: Peter Fergusson, Mother: Elizabeth Kelly.
Elizabeth Kelly died in1890, (aged 45) and Peter Fergusson died in 1901 (aged 75).
Gravestone is located against north wall of Girthon Parish Cemetery.
CWGC : Private Alexander Livingstone Fergusson, 53531
Royal Army Medical Corps. 38th Field Ambulance. Died 12/04/1918 (aged 34). Parents: Peter & Elizabeth Kelly Fergusson, Nether Rusko.
Military Records : (these are in very poor condition).
Attestation 17th Feb 1915 at Dumfries. Pte 53531 Alexr Livingstone Fergusson. Home - Culreoch, Kirkcudbrightshire. Age 31. Farmer, unmarried. 6'1'' Next of kin - Mr S.K. Fergusson, Culroech, Gatehouse of Fleet. brother.
18/1/15 - Dumfries
21/1/15 - Pte. RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps.) 73rd F(ield)A(mbulance)
Sept. 1915 embarked at Southampton with the 73 F.A. unit to Havre.
10/4/18 Pte. RAMC 73rd F.A. - back in England.
12/4/18 RAMC 38th F.A. Died of wounds received in action. at Queen's Hospital, Frognal, Sidcup.
Medical Records : Gunshot wound. Shrapnel through bridge of nose and hard palate and lodged in neck on rt. side. Died 12.4.18 at 4.30am from a sudden haemorrhage into throat from a septic wound.
Effects 17th Oct. 1918: 53531 Private Alexander Livingstone, 38th Field Amb. R.A.M.C. Letter, photo, pipe, soldier's pocket companion, razor strop, 1pr. gloves. Sent to Mr Samuel K. Fergusson c/o Mr McConnel, Solicitor, Gatehouse of Fleet. Acknowledged by Saml. K. Fergusson, Culroech 23/10/18.
Siblings of deceased : Saml. K. Fergusson, aged 52, Culreoch, Gatehouse of Fleet, William Fergusson, aged 59, Nether Rusko, Gatehouse of Fleet & Maggie Lizzie Dodd, aged 40, Ty Gwn, Mold, North Wales.
Medal Index Card : Fergusson Alexander RAMC Pte 53531. Victory & British War medals. Acknowledged 1/6/1921 by Grace Fergusson. (She is probably his sister in law, widow of his brother of Samuel K. Fergusson, who died in 1920 - Girthon grave)
1891 Anwoth Census, at Nether Ruscoe : Alexander Livingston Ferguson (age 7, born Girthon) with widowed father Peter Ferguson (farmer) + a brother and a sister.
1901 Girthon Census, at Grobdale of Girthon : Alexander L. Fergusson (cattle man, age 17, born Girthon) with brother Samuel K. (farmer) and his family.
1911 Girthon Census, at Culreoch : Alexander L. Fergusson (farmer, unmarried, age 27, born Girthon) with brother Samuel K. (farmer) and his family.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 19th May 1918; Military Funeral at Gatehouse.
Word was received last week by Mr S.K. Fergusson, Culreoch, Gatehouse that his brother, Pte. Alexander L. Fergusson, RAMC. has been dangerously wounded, and brought from France to Sidcup Hospital, Kent. A later telegram conveyed the news that he had succumbed to his wounds. Private A.L. Fergusson was the youngest son of the late Mr Peter Fergusson, Girthon Grobdale and was joint tenant with his brothers Samuel K. and William Fergusson of farms in Girthon and Anwoth parishes. The funeral of the deceased took place from Culreoch at Girthon Cemetery on Tuesday, and was attended by a large concourse of mourners. The remains were laid to rest with full military honours. The Gatehouse platoon of Volunteers under Lieutenant Laurie, met the cortege at the outskirts of the burgh, and preceded by a piper, wended their way slowly and impressively to the cemetery. At the close of the service, which was concluded by Rev. J. Stewart, Girthon, a firing party under Sergeant Stark fired three volleys over the grave.
Private Fergusson, who was 34 years of age, enlisted voluntarily early in 1915, and had been over two years in France. The funeral of this well known and highly esteemed young man made a deep impression and brought the realities of war close to home, it being the first funeral at Girthon cemetery of a local soldier who had taken part in the Great War.
ScotlandsPeople : Born in 1883 at Gatehouse of Fleet.
Gatehouse link : Born in Girthon and lived at several farms around Gatehouse.
John Fergusson
SRoH. Piper John Fergusson. Home: Auchairne Lodge, Ballantrae, Ayrshire. Born at Culreoch, Girthon. Enlisted June 1916, 4th Battalion Scottish Rifles. Transferred to 4th Cameronian Scottish Rifles. Home Service.
1871 Girthon census : at Barneywater, John (age 4m, born Girthon) with father William (age 48, born Girthon), a farmer of 1500 acres, mother Ann (age 36, born Parton) 3 brothers (William, 14, Robert 10 & James, 5 + 3 older sisters.
1881 Girthon census : at Barneywater, William Fergusson (age 58, born Girthon), farmer 1860 acres, wife Ann (age 46, born Parton, maiden name Johnstone) + daughter Mary (17) and son James (15). John was not at home.
1881 Urr census : John Fergusson (age 10, born Girthon) was with grandparents Robert Blacklock (62, born Urr, shoemaker) & Helen Blacklock (age 61, born Girthon). John was taught at home - Barneywater is an isolated farm in the north of Girthon Parish close to the River Dee - perhaps it was too far for John to go the school. No proof that this is the correct John Fergusson.
1891 Girthon census at Barneywater, John (shepherd, age 20, born Girthon), with brother Robert (farmer, age 30, born Girthon), Robert's wife Ann and his sister Maggie (housekeeper)
1901 Girthon census : at Barneywater, John (farmer, age 30, born Girthon), with brother Robert (farmer, age 40,) + sister Margaret (32, housekeeper) & mother Ann (66, born Parton).
Gatehouse link : Born at Culreoch Farm and lived in Girthon for over 30 years before moving to Ballantrae.
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