Stevenston - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
7 APRIL 1911

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND – ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONERS

Elder – James Morrison, Stevenston.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
7 APRIL 1916

DEATH

DAVIDSON: At High Road, Stevenston, on the 5th April (at the residence of her niece, Mrs Peter Wilson), Jeanie Kirkwood, beloved wife of John Davidson.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1870

AYR CIRCUIT COURT – APPEAL CASE

At the close of the criminal business before this Court on Wednesday, the Lord Justice-Clerk and Lord Cowan heard the appeal of John Orr, farmer, in the parish of Irvine, in an action against Mr Cuninghame of Auchenharvie, for £1 1s 0d, which had been decided against appellant by the Sheriff in Kilmarnock.

The action arose out of a dispute about the use of a stallion belonging to Orr, the terms for which were two guineas for gentleman’s mares, and one guinea for farmers’.

The respondent pled a special bargain he had made with the groom for one guinea, and the appellant answered that the groom had no authority to make such a bargain.

The Sheriff decided against Orr; and after hearing Mr Crichton for the appellant, and Mr Orr Paterson for respondent, the Court dismissed the appeal, and sustained the Sheriff’s decision, with five guineas of expenses.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
8 APRIL 1882

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD

The new Board has been elected without a contest, and very little interest was taken in this matter by the ratepayers. Two candidates withdrew, leaving six for seven seats.

On Saturday, Mr Dickie, returning–officer declared the following elected: -

Hugh Smith, farmer; William Gemmell, tailor; Rev. John Grahame, M.A., Established Church; Adam Wilson, farmer; Rev. Joseph Forrest, M.A., Free Church; and William Stewart, colliery agent.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
9 APRIL 1918

Died on service, Sergeant ROBERT GALT, Service No. 56584, 14th Battalion Highland Light Infantry – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – born at Stevenston.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
10 APRIL 1911

ARDEER GOLF CLUB

Heys Monthly Medal – L. Forsyth, (7) 77; James Slaven, (2) 78; D. Martin, (9) 79.

Robertson Medal – D. McLarty, (18) 80; W. M. Alpine, (14) 81.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
10 APRIL 1917

The WWI Memorial at Stevenston bears the name HENRY McGHEE the identity of whom my late brother, whose research notes I’m interpreting, doesn’t seem to have been able to establish. However, he also had an Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald newspaper cutting on file which he maybe never have got the opportunity to examine, which I’ve transcribed in italics immediately below: -

“PRIVATE HENRY McGHEE – SOUTH AFRICAN INFANTRY – (DIED OF WOUNDS)

Confirmation has now been received that Private Henry McGee, South African Infantry, eldest son of Mr Henry McGee, late of Stevenston, was wounded and died in hospital, on 10th April.

Our sympathies are with the friends and relatives.”

You may have noticed the discrepancy between the headline name (McGhee) and the two references to the surname (McGee) in the body of the article.

There is no trace of a Private Henry McGhee on the Commonwealth War Graves Commisssion listings, but I did find a Private H. McGee, Service No. 8238, 1st Regiment of the South African Infantry, who died on 10th April, 1917, and who is buried at St. Nicolas British Cemetery, France.

My conclusion, rightly or wrongly, is therefore that that the name on the Stevenston WWI memorial should perhaps be Henry McGee and not on Henry McGhee, or perhaps the Army records are wrong.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
10 APRIL 1917

Died on service, Private MALCOLM MIDDLETON, (22), Service No. 32491, 3rd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers – Theatre of war, Home – buried at New Street Cemetery, Stevenston; son of James and Margaret Middleton.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
10 APRIL 1917

Died on service, Private THOMAS MACKAY, Service No. 20837, 1st Battalion RoyalnScots Fusiliers – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – listed as being born at Stevenston.

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
10 APRIL 1918

Died on service from wounds received in action, Private EDWARD BURNS McEWAN, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – son of Mrs Bernard McEwan, Woodvale, Moorpark East, Stevenston.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald subsequently reported: -

“Mrs B. McEwan, Woodvale, Moorpark East, Stevenston has received official intimation that her son, Private Edward McEwan, died of wounds on 10 April, 1918.

In a letter to Mrs McEwan, the nurse says that Private McEwan required to have his left leg amputated, and in his weak condition the shock and loss of blood proved too much. He never rallied after the operation.

He enlisted shortly after the outbreak of war in the R.N.D. He was discharged, but was called up again in September, 1917. He was scarcely two months at the front when he was wounded.

Edward McEwan was well known in the town. He also had three brothers in the Army and Navy. His young brother has been in the Army for over three years, serving through the whole of the Dardanelles campaign, and has come through a great deal of hard fighting both in Egypt and Palestine without a scratch.

The community will sympathise with his widowed mother, sister, and brothers in their deep loss.”

[Penny Tray]

CASUALTY OF WAR
11 APRIL 1917

Died on Service, Private PATRICK LARKIN, Service No. 25060, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – born at Dundalk, enlisted at Ayr, resident of Stevenston.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
12 APRIL 1900

FATAL ACCIDENT

Yesterday morning a collier named WILLIAM McINTYRE was accidentally knocked down by three loaded hutches in the No. 5 Pit, Auchenharvie Colliery, Stevenston, and so severely injured that he died the same day.

Deceased resided at Auchenharvie Cottages, was 36 years of age, and leaves a widow and five of a family.