Category: 1914-18 Remembered

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.

Gunner William Irvine

Gunner William Irvine
Royal Field Artillery
Died 3rd September 1917

An examination of birth and census records does little to indicate any Wigtown background for William Irvine yet his name appears on the town’s War Memorial. He was born on 9 January 1879 at Chapelheron, Whithorn, the son of farm …

Continue Reading→

Private William Jamieson

Private William Jamieson
4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders
Died 9 June 1917

It is not clear why William Jamieson is named on Wigtown War Memorial as his association with the town is unclear. Perhaps he worked here. He was born on 3 February 1893 at Port William, the only son of …

Continue Reading→

Private Robert Hughes

Private Robert Hughes
1st/6th Battalion, Black Watch
Died 2 July 1917

Private 285030 Robert Hughes was born on 21 April 1898 at Railway Crossing Cottage, Sorbie, the son of railway surfaceman, Peter Hughes, and his wife, Margaret Higgins.
Before the war Robert was employed at Carsegowan Farm just outside Wigtown …

Continue Reading→

Private James Fleming

Private James Fleming
5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died 22 January 1917

James Fleming’s name does not appear on Wigtown’s War Memorial nor on the records of war dead of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He does not appear on the latter because his premature death at the age …

Continue Reading→

Gunner Adam Horner

Gunner Adam Horner
Royal Garrison Artillery
Died 1st August 1917

Around a half of all First World War army records were destroyed as a result of bombing and consequent fire in the Second World War but Adam Horner’s survived. We know that he signed up for the army on 10 …

Continue Reading→

Private Robert Griffin

Private Robert Griffin
7th Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Died 31 July 1917

Private S/5953 Robert Alexander Griffin was born in 1889 at Sorbie, the son of railway porter, John Griffin, and his wife, Maggie Adair. The family soon moved away from Sorbie: in 1891 they were living at …

Continue Reading→

Private John Griffin

Private John Griffin
20th Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
Died 22 May 1917

Private 4614 John Griffin was born at 5 High Street, Wigtown on 27th September 1895, the son of general labourer, John Griffin, and his wife, Maggie Adair. The family soon moved away from Wigtown: in 1901 …

Continue Reading→

Private Robert Boyd

Private Robert Boyd
2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died 7 April 1917

Robert Boyd was born on 1 February 1880 at Bank Street, Wigtown, the son of general labourer, Robert Boyd, and his wife, Helen McKay. The 1881 census returns show the family living at Church Lane. Ten years later …

Continue Reading→

Private Alexander Broadfoot

Private Alexander Broadfoot
72nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Seaforth Highlanders)
Died 8 November 1917

Private 130245 Alexander Broadfoot was born on 11 April 1889 at Horwich, the son of Alexander and Margaret Broadfoot. After moving to Galloway he worked in William Cook’s grocers shop in Port William. In 1913 Alexander emigrated …

Continue Reading→

Private Edward Clark

Private Edward Clark
1/5th Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Died 17th November 1917

Edward Clark was born at 19 Low Vennel, Wigtown, on 7 March 1895. He was the son of butcher’s assistant Thomas Clark and domestic servant Elizabeth Finningham. Edward and his family moved to Botany Street where they …

Continue Reading→