World War One Soldiers - part 4

Some Cumnock families had the heartbreak of losing more than one son.

The family of James and Elizabeth Kirkpatrick of Sykeside near Cumnock, Ayrshire suffered two losses in the war.

In 1901 the family was at Hillhead, Lugar

James Kirkpatrick 37 railway surfaceman b Dryfesdale, Dumfriesshire

Elizabeth Kirkpatrick 35

Agnes Kirkpatrick 12

Mary Kirkpatrick 11

Jessie Kirkpatrick 7

William Kirkpatrick 5

John Kirkpatrick  3

Marion Kirkpatrick 1

Andrew Kirkpatrick  30 brother

Son John Kirkpatrick who was with the Northumberland Fusiliers died of wounds in France on 15 Oct 1916.

Son William Kirkpatrick who was with the Seaforth Highlanders was killed in action on the Somme on 25 March 1918. 

The sons-in-law happily fared better.
Agnes Kirkpatrick married Alexander Caughie who was a driver in 280 Company and served in France. He survived the war and his address on discharge was 33 Greenside, Maybole.

Jessie Kirkpatrick married John Priest of Ayr in 1915. he enlisted in Ayr on 29 sep 1914. He was a ploughman. He served as a saddler in the RHA in France. He had a spell in convalescent hospital in 1916.
His address on discharge in July 1919 was Sykeside, Cumnock.


Montgomery Davidson of 78 Skares lost three sons. This information came from an in Memoriam Announcement in the Cumnock Chronicle in 1918 by the men's sister Jessie, wife of Matthew Shirkie.

First, oldest son David Davidson, a Lance Corporal in the Royal Scots Fusiliers was killed in the Battle of Loos on 26 Sep 1915. He was married to Martha Keirs in 1901.
Thomas Davidson was a private with the RFA and was killed at Gallipoli on the 30th December 1915. Thomas had married Margaret Reid in 1912.
The youngest son Robert Davidson also a private with the RFA died in France on 27 Sep 1918.

Their mother Janet McMurray had passed away in 1901 so was spared the grief of losing three sons.
Here's the family in 1901 census
Bargany Cottages, Dailly

Montgomery Davidson             46 coal miner b Kirkoswald

Janet Davidson             42

David B Davidson             23

Elizabeth J Davidson             16

John Davidson             15

Jessie Davidson             13

Thomas Davidson             11

Montgomery Davidson             9

James Davidson             8

Andrew Davidson             6

William Davidson             4

Robert Davidson             3

Martha Keier             24 (future wife of David)

Cumnock soldiers now here http://cumnocksoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/