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William Kerr
SRoH. Trooper William Kerr. Home : Craignair Cottage, Dalbeattie.
Enlisted November 1915, 3/2 Lovat Scouts. Transferred to 8th Seaforth Highlanders. Served on Western Front (Arras). Killed 23rd April 1917.
Dalbeattie War Memorial Inscription : Trp. William Kerr Lovat Scouts
Dalbeattie High School Memorial : Kerr, William
Soldiers who Died in the Great War : Private S/40683 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders; formerly 6341 Lovat Scouts, and S/26936 Cameron Highlanders.
1901 Dalbeattie Census, at 12 Water Street : William (6 mths, born Girthon) with father Hugh (carter), mother Susan + 2 brothers and 2 sisters..
1911 Colvend Census, at Kipford : William was a gardener.
Scotlands People Births : Born 01/10/1890 at Murrayton, Girthon; father Hugh (cotman) and mother Susan Gibson.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse.
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James Kevan
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Anwoth or Girthon ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914.
Driver James Kevan 2nd Lowland Royal Field Artillery.
Borgue Grave : Samuel Kevan died in Gatehouse of Fleet 14/05/1909 (aged 74). His wife Margaret Mills died 21/09/1920 (aged 78). These are James' parents.
The grave also lists two sisters: Annie and Mary and a brother John.
Military records for Gunner James Kevan 2nd Lowland Bde. RFA 655701 (originally 4306)
Attestation: 4306, Kirkcudbright Battery, 2nd Lowland Bde., RFA
Aged 29 years 7months when he enlisted (05/09/1914) Born Borgue Single
Labourer employed by John Brown, Knockbrex (Borgue). Lived in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Next of Kin: Mother - Mrs Margaret Kevan, Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse.
Originally enlisted as a Driver, later became a Gunner
Medical records: 5' 7'' with good vision and physical development.
Service Record:
05/09/1914 - 23/05/1917 Gunner with Lowland Bde. RFA Kirkcudbright Battery. Home service On proficiency pay.
24/05/1917 to 22/07/1918 BEF in France (Sailed from Folkestone to Boulogne)
23/07/1918 to 06/08/1918 Furlough in UK
07/08/1918 to 23/05/1918 France
18/06/1919 To UK
21/06/1919 Disembodied
05/10/21 requested war medals
Hospital Admissions
22/11/1914 to 05/01/1915 Scarlet Fever
Feb. 1914 to 28/04/1915 Pneumonia. 66 days in hospital. Furlough of 7 days
13/07/1917 BUD in Field (Possibly Black Urine Disease)
03/06/1918 NYD Pyrexia (Not yet diagnosed. Fever)
Certificate of Identity: 25/05/1919 James Kevan Gunner RFA
Born 1885. Wife: Ann S Gibson (married 09/10/1915 Edinburgh)
Son: Samuel Kevan, born 04/12/1916 Edinburgh
Address: Original address 7 Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse (Mother's address)
18/09/1918: 13 Spey Street, Edinburgh (next of kin wife, Annie Kevan)
- James and his wife seem to have moved between these two addresses. His pension was paid at different times to the Post Offices close to these places.
22/04/1919: Driver Kevan RFA: £1-3/- per week.
27/06/1919 Gunner J Kevan 655701, Nursery Cottage, Elcock, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire
1901 Borgue census: at Earlston Cottage, James Kevan (16, born Borgue) with father Samuel (66), mother Margaret (58) and sister Ann McKeand Kevan (21)
1911 Girthon Census, Birtwhistle Street : James Kevan (26, general labourer, born Borgue) with widowed mother Margaret (born Ireland) and sister Annie.
1912-13 Girthon Valuation Roll : James Kevan was a tenant in a house in Birtwhistle Street.
Gatehouse link : Lived with his parents in Birtwhistle Street, Gatehouse.
John Lacey
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Anwoth or Girthon ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914.
Private J Lacey 5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
The picture of James Lacey is part of a photo of a group of ‘pals’ of Gavin McCrone. Soldiers in this picture were named., maybe by Gavin. This is where we get John’s Christian name from.
Thomas Black Laird
SRoH. Private Thomas Laird. Home: Brownhill Cottage, Gatehouse.
Enlisted July 1915, 2/1 Ayrshire Yeomanry. Transferred to 11th Royal Scots.
Served on Western Front (Ypres, Somme, Kemmel Hill, Bailieul etc).
Medal Index Card : Pte Thomas B Laird 35766 R. Scots
1901 Anwoth Census, at Arkland Cottage, Skyreburn : Thomas (3, born New Abbey, Kirkcudbrightshire) with father James (gamekeeper), mother Mary + 4 siblings.
1911 Anwoth Census, at Rowantree Cottage (Skyreburn) : Thomas Laird (13, born New Abbey) with father James Moir Laird ( gamekeeper), mother Mary Jane, + sisters (Flora & Jane).
Family tree on Ancestry.co.uk : birth of Thomas Black Laird at New Abbey 1898. father James Moir Laird, mother Mary Jane Bell.
Gatehouse link : Lived at Skyreburn, Anwoth.
Arch. Lamond
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Anwoth or Girthon ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser “First Instalment of Stewartry Roll of Honour” 25th December 1914.
Trooper Arch. Lamond Ayrshire Yeomanry.
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