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John Whan
SRoH. Corporal John Whan. Home: Gatehouse.
Enlisted in Canadian Contingent. Served on Western Front. Killed in action January 1917.
Recommended for Military Medal.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : John Whan Canadians
Girthon Church Memorial : J Whan Canadians
CWGC : Lance–Corporal John Whan 437553 Canadian Infantry (46th Battalion). Died 23/12/1916
Buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, Pas de Calais, France. Grave: IV.C.15
Parents: George and Agnes Whan of Gatehouse of Fleet.
Husband of Mary B. Whan 10423 83rd Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Canadian Great War Project on internet: John Whan was 27 when he died in 1917.
He was born 14th November 1890, father: George, mother: Agnes.
He joined the Saskatchewan Regiment of the Canadian Infantry.
Born in 1890 in Gatehouse, son of George Whan and Agnes McGeorge who lived at Back Neilson Square and then Avenue Lodge, Gatehouse. He married Mary Burns of Edmonton, Alberta Canada in 1916.
L&C of Canada : Father George given as next of kin in 1915 but amended to his wife Mary in early 1916.
Email from Brian Peters (great nephew) :
'John Whan actually enlisted with an Edmonton Battalion; I understand they were decimated and all survivors transferred to other (units), hence the mention of Saskatchewan'
1901 Girthon Census, Back Neilson Square : John Whan (10, born Girthon) with father George (47, estate forester) and mother Agnes (47) + 5 siblings (inc. Alexander)..
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 6th January 1917: John was a gamekeeper at West Linton before he left for Canada in 1910. He enlisted in August 1915 at Edmonton, Alberta.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 19th January 1917: Cpl. John Whan aged 26 killed. Son of George Whan formerly forester of Avenue Lodge, Gatehouse, now living in Corsock. John was a keeper at West Linton before he emigrated to Canada 6 years ago. His wife lives in Glasgow. He had been recommended for the Military Cross.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: ‘In loving memory of our dear son and brother Bob, also cousin John, from all at Cally Lodge’
Library & Archives of Canada : Father George given as next of kin in 1915 but amended to his wife Mary in early 1916.
Born in 1890 in Gatehouse, son of George Whan and Agnes McGeorge who lived at Back Neilson Square and then Avenue Lodge, Gatehouse.
Married Mary Burns of Edmonton, Alberta Canada in 1916.
Originally the family name was McWhan but they seem to have decided to drop the 'Mc'
John and Alexander Whan were brothers. They are cousins of Robert Whan who was also killed during the war.
Gatehouse link : Born in Gatehouse.
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Robert Whan
SRoH. Private Robert Whan. Home: Gatehouse.
Enlisted August 1914, Ayrshire Yeomanry. Transferred to Royal Scots.
Served on Western Front. Reported missing 9th April 1918, and presumed killed.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : Robert Whan R.S.
Girthon Church Memorial : R Whan Royal Scots
Girthon Gravestone : ... also Robert, his only son, Pte. Royal Scots, missing presumed dead, 9th April 1918, aged 23 years. Father: Alexander Whan, Mother: Jane Robson.
CWGC : Private Robert Whan 271195 Royal Scots (16th Battalion)
Died 9th April 1918 (aged 23) On Ploegsteert Memorial (panel 1), Hainaut, Belgium
Parents: Alexander and Jane Whan, Cally Lodge.
Soldiers Who Died in Great War : Robert Whan, lived Gatehouse of Fleet. Died 16th April 1918, killed in action. Private 271195 Royal Scots (Lothian regiment) 16th Battalion. Formerly 2145 Ayrshire Yeomanry.
Military Records : Enlisted in Gatehouse on 26th November 1914, with Reserve Regiment of Ayrshire Yeomanry, for the duration of the war only. No. 2145. Aged 19 yrs 10mths.
Was 5’10’’ tall, unmarried with no children, and lived at Cally Mains, Gatehouse.
Next of kin was father, Alexander Whan, at Cally Lodge.
3 separate periods of c.1 month in hospital – Oct/Nov 1915 double hernia ; Dec’15/Jan’16 debility.
Transferred to Royal Scots Fusiliers 29th October 1917.
Statement of relatives of deceased soldier : Father: Alexander Whan, Cally Lodge, Mother: Jane. No brothers but 2 sisters: Edith Lang, 66 Gent(?) St. Blackburn, & Fanny Anderson at Castramont House, Gatehouse.
1901 Girthon Census, Cally Lodge, Ann Street : Robert Whan (6, born Girthon) with father Alex (forester) and mother Jane + 3 siblings.
1911 Girthon Census, Cally Lodge : Robert Whan (16, ironmonger’s shop assistant, born Girthon) with father Alex (58, forester) and mother Jane (49) + sister Fanny Anderson Whan.
Note: Cally Lodge, at the head of Ann Street, is now known as Cox's Lodge.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: ‘In loving memory of our dear son and brother Bob, also cousin John, from all at Cally Lodge’
Robert Whan is a cousin of John Whan who was also killed during the war.He was probably a cousin of Alexander Whan.
Gatehouse link : Born and raised in Gatehouse.
Alexander Stewart Wilson
SRoH. Private Alexander S. Wilson. Home: Chapelton Cottage, Borgue
Mobilised 4th August 1914 in 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 87 Brigade, 29 Division.
Served at Dardanelles. Died 10th September 1916.
Served with Regulars since 1906 – Egypt and India.
Borgue War Memorial : Pte. Alexander Wilson K.O.S.B.
1901 Anwoth Census, Kirkbride Cothouse, Skyreburn : Alexander Wilson (12, born Urr) with father John Wilson (42, shepherd) and mother Jeannie (37) + brother Robert A. and sister Williamina M.J.
Sons of Galloway : Died of his wounds at No. 2 General Hospital, Craigleith, Edinburgh on 10/09/1916. Father: John Wilson Mother: Jeannie Stewart
Scottish War Memorial website: Served under his birth name of Alexander STEWART. Born in 1888 at Springholm, Urr as Alexander James John McGuffog Stewart, son of Jane Stewart. His mother Jane Stewart later married James Airley and, later still, John Wilson). Enlisted in 1906 with 1st K.O.S.B.
Died (10th Sept. 1916) of cancer in Craigleith Military Hospital, Edinburgh.
Buried in Comley Bank Cemetery, Edinburgh.
Alexander had two half brothers - Robert A. Wilson and Adam Airley who were also soldiers and were killed in the war.
Gatehouse link : Lived in Anwoth in 1901.
David McNaught Wilson
SRoH. Private David McNaught Wilson. Home: Fleet Street, Gatehouse.
Mobilised 4th August 1914, in 1/5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers.
Served in Egypt, Palestine and France (El Arish, Gaza, El Mughar, El Tib, El Burgh, Uja)
1891 Anwoth Census, Fleet Street : David Wilson (4, born Wigtown) with mother Elspeth (sailor’s wife) + 6 siblings (James, Elsy, John, Mary J., Isabella and William).
1901 Borgue Census, Muiryard Farm : David Wilson (14, farm servant, born Wigtown) with John & Isa Rome and family.
1911 Anwoth Census, Fleet Street : David Wilson (24, born Wigtown) with widowed father John + brothers James and John, sister Christina and nephew John W. Wilson. His father John was a quarryman, David was a woodcutter.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 4th February1916 : Death - Private William Wilson, Gatehouse. 2/5th K.S.O.B. After a short illness, Private William Wilson, son of Mr John Wilson, Fleet Street, Gatehouse, passed away on Friday forenoon. The deceased was a member of the Territorial Battalion of K.O.S.B., a year previous to being mobilised, and had been doing duty in various parts of the country since the date of mobilisation. He was home on a short furlough previous to being drafted to 5th K.O.S.B., now on active service, when he was seized with a chill that developed into pneumonia, which terminated fatally. He was a promising lad and an enthusiastic soldier, and was much respected in the neighbourhood.
Scotlands People Index : 1886 birth of David McKnaught at Wigtown
Scotlands People, Death Index :1905 death of Elspet Wilson at Anwoth (David's mother).
Gatehouse link : Lived in Fleet Street in 1891 and 1911.
H G Wilson
SRoH. Not in Stewartry Roll of Honour. Identified as a soldier from Gatehouse ex Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser photo from “Roll of Honour” 30th March 1917.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser : “Roll of Honour” 30th March 1917, has photo and says he was awarded the Military Medal.
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