Category: 1916

Private John Alexander Ross

Private John Alexander Ross
14th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Died 3 September 1916

A gravestone in Wigtown High Cemetery is the only indication of a connection between John Ross and Wigtown.

It reads:

In memory of Mary Mayor wife of Alexander Ross died at Stranraer 9th July 1907 aged 41 years. …

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Rifleman Stanley Rolfe

Rifleman Stanley Rolfe
1st/16th Battalion, London Regiment
Died 10 September 1916

It is not immediately apparent why Rifleman 2096 Stanley Taverner Rolfe should be commemorated on Wigtown War Memorial. A soldier with the 1st/16th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) whose parents lived in Shepherd’s Bush, London, Rifleman Rolfe died …

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Private James Milroy

Private James Milroy
1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died 14 July 1916

James Milroy was born on 14th May 1895 at Station Cottage, Wigtown, the son of James Milroy, the Stationmaster, and Annie Milroy, nee Gordon. By 1901 James Milroy Snr had left the railway and was running a grocer’s …

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Lance-Corporal James McCulloch

Lance-Corporal James McCulloch
1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Died 13 November 1916

Before the start of the Great War James McCulloch, the third son of John McCulloch of Cairnpat, Lochans, worked for the Nicholsons of Kidsdale Farm near Whithorn. After the outbreak of war it was not long before James, on …

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Private Ernest McClelland

Private Ernest McClelland
1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders
Died 24 November 1916

Private S/17892 Ernest McClelland was from farming stock, the son of Andrew and Mary McClelland and one of four brothers who enlisted. Whilst still quite young, and with his brothers having emigrated, he had managed his father’s two farms …

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Private Alexander McClelland

Private Alexander McClelland
Post Office Rifles
Died 14 October 1916

Alexander McClelland was born on 5 August 1882 at Bladnoch, the son of Alexander McClelland, a general labourer, and his wife, Jane (nee McGinn). Soon after Alexander’s birth the family moved to Whithorn where they stayed until the outbreak of …

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Private James Love

Private James Love (or Thomson)
2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died 30 July 1916

James Love is named on Wigtown War Memorial but it is only after extensive research that his background has been discovered. It appears that he was born as James Thomson Love in 1890 at Mochrum, the …

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Private Alexander Laurie

Private Alexander Laurie
31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Died 6 June 1916

Private 446910 Alexander Laurie served with the 31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He was born on 9th October 1891 at East Drummodie, Glasserton, the son of Alexander Laurie, a farmer, and Margaret Laurie, nee McWilliam. At the time of his …

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Private John Harvey

Private John Harvey
15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Died 3 July 1916, Battle of the Somme.

John Harvey was born at Sorbie, the son of James and Margaret Harvey. By 1891 the Harveys were living in Wigtown where they stayed at 9 South Back Street with James working as a …

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Private Leslie Kennedy

Private Leslie Kennedy
15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Died 9 July 1916

Leslie Kennedy was born on 14 September 1892 at High Street, Wigtown, the eldest son Alexander Kennedy, an agricultural labourer, and his wife, Martha Kennedy, nee White. He enlisted in the army at Glasgow and may have worked …

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