During World War One hundreds of young men with Wigtown and district connections went off to fight for their country. More than 70 died between September 1914 and April 1920. Wigtown Community Council salutes the bravery of all those who served and remembers those who never came home.
On the 100th Anniversary of each man’s death we will use this notice board to provide information about him.
Corporal Robert Murray
2nd Battalion, The Black Watch
Died 21 January 1916
Corporal 1921 Robert Murray was born at Greenock on 5 January 1883. We know he was living at Kirkcowan in 1891 where his father, Alexander, worked as a woollen dyer. He was probably a regular soldier before the …
Continue Reading
Corporal Thomas McCaskie
1st/5th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Died 7 November 1915
Corporal 4102 Thomas McCaskie served with the 1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was born on 13/2/1890 at Dunragit Lodge, Old Luce, the son of Margaret and Thomas McCaskie. The family lived at …
Continue Reading
Private James Todd
7th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Died 27 September 1915
James Todd was born at Kirkurd, Peeblesshire, the son of John Todd, and his wife, Jane Wilson Todd, on 21 June 1891. James Todd’s link with Wigtown comes from the fact that his parents were living at …
Continue Reading
Private David McGaw
10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Died 25 September 1915
David McGaw was a Kirkinner man, born and bred but his link with Wigtown was through his employment at the Co-operative Creamery at Bladnoch. He was the eldest son of Alexander McGaw, a mason, and his wife, Helen, …
Continue Reading
Private David Connell
6th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Died 25 September 1915
David Connell was born at Maidland Farm, Wigtown, the son of David Connell, a dairyman, and his wife, Elizabeth Connell nee Hamilton, on 20 November 1896. In 1901 the family were living at Balsier Dairy, Sorbie; by …
Continue Reading
Private John Murray Gow
Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Died 15 July 1915
John Murray Gow was not a native of Wigtown but it appears that he lived here for a short time before emigrating to New Zealand. He was born in Glasgow, the son of a Collector on …
Continue Reading
Private James McNeil
5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Died 14 July 1915
Private 993, James McNeil, served with the 1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, the fourth child of Andrew and Margaret McNeil of Bladnoch. Prior to enlistment James lived at 10 North Main Street and …
Continue Reading
Sergeant William Edwards
1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Died 12 July 1915
Sergeant 4003, William Edwards served with the 1st/5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was born at Marloes in Pembrokeshire, the son of Thomas Edwards (a blacksmith) and his wife Eliza. William married Margaret …
Continue Reading
Private Edward Kilpatrick
5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers
Died 4 July 1915
Private 2046 Edward Kilpatrick served with the local regiment, the 5th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. Before the war Edward lived with his mother, Maggie, an outdoor worker on a farm, and brother, William, at 21 …
Continue Reading
Private James Loan
2nd Battalion, Scots Guards
Died 16 May 1915
Private 10634 James Loan, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, was born in Whithorn, the eldest son of James Loan, a traction engine driver, and his wife, Mary. He had two sisters and a brother and lived in George Street, …
Continue Reading