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William James Nelson
SRoH. Private William J. Nelson Home: Ontario, Canada. Born in Gatehouse. Enlisted February 1915, 18th Battalion Canadian Infantry. Served on Western Front. Killed 13th September 1915.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Wm. Nelson Canadians.
Girthon Church Memorial : W. Nelson Canadians
Girthon Gravestone : … William aged 28 years Pte Canadian Forces, killed in action in France 13th Octr. 1915. Mother: Bessie Nelson.
CWGC : Private W. Nelson 54340 Canadian Infantry 18th Battalion Died 13/10/1915
Buried Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave 11.1.3
1901 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : William Nelson (13, born Gatehouse) with grandparents William & Jane McLellan and mother Elizabeth Nelson (whose husband was away at sea) + brothers John (7) & Tom (4).
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 29/10/1915 :‘Mrs Nelson, Barwhill Cottage, Gatehouse desires to express her sincere thanks to her numerous friends for their sincere sympathies extended to her in her recent sad bereavement and great loss’
Ex Jack Nelson, grand nephew : William emigrated to Canada before the war. He and his brother Thomas were both killed by the same shell.
Nelson family tree : William’s father was John Cooper Nelson. John emigrated to Australia – presumably intending that his wife and family would follow him. They never did and the family believed he had been lost at sea. John C. Nelson actually died in New Guinea where he was pearl trader.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse before emigrating to Canada.
Samuel Patterson
SRoH. Gunner Samuel Patterson. Home: Roseberry Terrace, Gatehouse.
Mobilised 4th August 1914, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Transferred to 21st Trench Mortar Battery. Served on Western Front (2nd Battle of Ypres, Somme offensive, Arras & Messines engagements). Wounded at Messiness Ridge. Pre war record: served in India 1904 to 1911.
1891 Girthon Census at Culreoch : Samuel Paterson (9, born Kirkinner) with father Alexander Paterson (32, ploughman), mother Mary Ann (32), + 3 brothers (including Peter) and 4 sisters. The family were fromWigtownshire.
1901 Girthon Census at Culreoch : Samuel’s parents Alexander Paterson (40, farm labourer), mother Mary Ann (41), + 6 children (including Peter) but Samuel not at home.
1901 Balmaghie Census at Glenlochar Farm House : Samuel Paterson (19, ploughman, born Anwoth) with the Muir family. N.B. Samuel was born Kirkinner , then lived in Girthon, so is this the right Samuel with birthplace given as Anwoth ?
1911 Girthon census, at Quarterland : Samuel's parents Alexander and Mary A. Patterson were at home, but Samuel was not in either Anwoth or Girthon.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 08/?/1915: Gunner S. Patterson sent a letter to Rev. Stewart of Girthon.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 7th January 1916 : Cairnsmore Goat
Gunner Patterson, Gatehouse, writes an interesting letter to the Comforts Committee - I am still in good health ....I am troubled with a bit of a cold, as we all are out here. We are just going into action again after 4 days rest......there are 3 feet of water in the trenches. I should like you to have a walk around Ypres. It would make your heart bleed to see the beautiful old buildings all blown flat to the ground, and the Hun keep shelling it....We are pretty comfortable, for we have built huts for ourselves and made them as cosy as possible. The food we get is very good, considering we are on active service. We have plenty warm clothing.... one thing that is very annoying...is the tremendous amount of big siege guns. They have been putting them into Fritz and his trenches night and day but we soon get used to it and sleep through it all, especially when we have been in the trenches without much sleep for 4 nights. It is fine to come out and have a bath and a shave, for we mostly have a growth like a Cairnsmore goat. I...thank you for the parcels I have received lately..and I would like to show my gratefulness for them. I shall be coming home in about a month's time on leave....I have never met any Gatehouse boys yet since I've been out (here). I was very sorry to hear of the Nelson boys being killed, they were such fine chaps. My brother is a prisoner.
Galloway Gazette 11th August 1917 : an almost identical report to the one below was reported.
"News has been received by Mrs S Patterson, Swan Street, Gatehouse of Fleet, that her husband, Gunner Sam Patterson, RGA, has been severely wounded in the shoulder and is now lying in an English Hospital. Gunner Patterson, who was a reservist, has seen a good deal of service. Previous to his return to the Army he was employed at Murrayton Farm.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 17/08/1917: Gunner Samuel Patterson, RGA, husband of Mrs S. Patterson, Swan Street, Gatehouse has been severely injured in the shoulder and is now in hospital in England. He was a Reservist who has seen lots of fighting. He had previously worked at Murrayton.
Note: Peter and Samuel Patterson were brothers.
Girthon Banns : 31st May 1914, Samuel Paterson, Girthon to Annie Bennett, Rosebery Terrace.
Gatehouse link : Lived at Culreoch.
John Porter
SRoH. Private John Porter. Home: Gatehouse.
Enlisted 1/5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Served at the Dardanelles.
Killed in action 12th July 1915.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : John Porter K.O.S.B.
Girthon & Anwoth Free Church : Private John Porter, K.O.S.B.
Castle Douglas Post Office Roll of Honour : Pte. J. Porter, Postman from Gatehouse. Killed serving with Ayrshire Yeomanry.
Girthon Gravestone : ...also John Porter, of 1/5 K.O.S.B., died in action at the Dardanelles 12th July 1915, aged 35 years. (the gravestone of John Clarke and his wife Jane Porter)
CWGC : John Porter Private 2269 K.O.S.B. 1/5th Battalion. Killed 12th July 1915 (aged 34) On Helles Memorial, Turkey. Parents given as late Thomas and Martha Wilson Porter.
1881 Greenock Census, 3 East Crawford Street : John Porter (under 1 yr) with father Thomas (49, gateman) and mother Martha (27).
1891 Girthon Census, Nelson Square (should be Neilson Square) : John Porter (10, born Largs) with his aunt and uncle John and Jane Clarke.
1901 Girthon Census, High Street : John Porter (20, rural postman, born Largs) with his aunt & uncle John & Jane Clarke.
1911 Girthon Census, Neilson Square, John Porter (30, postman, born Largs) with widowed aunt Jane Clarke.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 28th April 1916 : On Roll of Honour : Porter - On the 12th July, 1915, killed in action at the Dardanelles, John Porter, 1/5th K.O.S.B., postman at Gatehouse of Fleet. (10 months after he was reported missing.)
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 28th April 1916 : Private John Porter, Gatehouse, K.O.S.B. A communication has been received this week by Mr. Reid, Garden Street, Gatehouse, intimating that Private John Porter of K.O.S.B. was killed in action on 12th July 1915, the War Office have sent information to a relative of the deceased. Many around Gatehouse have been wondering what was the fate of John Porter. He was well known in the district, especially on the shore road from Gatehouse to Ravenshall, where for many years, he was post runner.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th May 1916 : From a service given by Rev. R.B. McGlashan (Gatehouse United Free Church) - ...We have official intimation that another soldier connected with us has laid down his life at the call of duty. It is some months since Private John Porter was reported missing in Gallipoli ...we have wondered anxiously what had become of him. ..he was of an unusually quiet and retiring disposition, a shy and apparently diffident man...slow of speech and gentle ..Yet he was one of those who early answered his country's call....Today...we give him our respect and affection ..our brother lying in far-off Gallipoli.
ScotlandsPeople Index : Born 1881 in Largs, Ayrshire.
ScotlandsPeople Index : Death in 1883 of Martha Porter (nee Wilson) at Largs, Ayrshire.
ScotlandsPeople Index : Death in 1883 of Thomas Porter in Greenock, Renfrewshire.
Note : John’s parents died when he was a baby and he was brought up in Gatehouse by his father’s sister Jane and her husband John Clarke (an embroiderer from Ireland)
Gatehouse link : Brought up in Gatehouse by his aunt and uncle..
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