The Scottish War Graves Project

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Name: MCKEAND, WALTER ARMSTRONG
Initials: WA
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry, 72nd Bn
Age: 29
Date of Death: 29th September 1918
Service Number: 2137707
Additional Information: Born at Minnigaff, Scotland. Son of the late George McKeand and of Marrion McKeand, of Cumloden Mill, Newton Stewart, Scotland.
Grave Reference: II. C. 10
Cemetery: Bourlon Wood Cemetery

The Canadian archives hold Walter McKeand’s Attestation Papers which show he was born in Minnigaff parish and, at the time of signing, was living in Ismay, Montana. He also stated he had previous military experience with the British Territorial Force previous (to) 1912.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Well found Mike. Must have gone to Specsavers!
Walter was a bank cashier in Ismay, Montana, USA when he received his draft card to register for service with the US Army. He made his way over the border to Victoria in British Columbia where he enlisted in December 1917. He's also named on the Ewart High School Memorial and on the Creebridge Free Church Memorial now in Penninghame Parish Church, both in Newton Stewart.
Ken

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Peter and John McKie

Memorials are in a small, family enclosure

Peter Lawrie McKie

Galloway Gazette (11th July 1896): The death is announced as having occurred at Kimmerghame, Duns, on Wednesday, after a lingering illness of Mr Peter Laurie McKie, second son of the late Mr James McKie of Bargally, MP for Kirkcudbrightshire. The deceased, who was in his 36th years, served for 8 years in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and for two years of that time was captain of C troop, Bechuanaland Police, with Col Sir Peter Carrington. Mr McKie leaves a widow and one daughter. Funeral from Kimmerghame on Saturday 11th inst, to Edrom Churchyard, arriving at 2pm.

Col John McKie

Galloway Gazette (25th August 1934) carried a photograph of Col McKie and a long obituary. He was educated at Harrow and before he was out of his teens was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Scottish Borderers. He served in South Africa.

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Sergeant William Agnew, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. Died 11 April 1920. He is relatively well documented in the local press:

Wigtownshire Free Press (22 July 1915): ... Further information to hand is that Sergt Agnew was shot about the knees by a shrapnel bullet, and is now in hospital in Alexandria, doing well.
Wigtownshire Free Press (2 September 1915) reported: Two members of the 5th KOSB – one Sergt W Agnew, a Newton Stewart man, and the other Private RM Wells, a Maxwelltown man, who have just arrived home wounded from the Dardanelles, had an interesting experience. They fought side by side in Gallipoli, and then one was wounded on the 1st of July and the other on the 12th. They were brought to this country in the same hospital ship, and were conveyed from Southampton to Edinburgh on the same hospital train, the one occupying a bunk above the other; but all the time each was unaware of the other’s presence.
Galloway Gazette 17th April 1920 reported at length of Sergt Agnew's death he was a compositor for the newspaper. That report included a summary of his military career: "Mr Agnew, when in his teens, joined the Galloway Rifle Volunteers and later when the Territorial scheme came into force he enlisted in the local company of the 5th KOSB. He was a regular attender at drill and on the shooting range and was soon promoted to non-commissioned rank, ultimately rising to platoon sergeant. He was a member of the Territorials when war broke out and was mobilised in the first week of the war. For some months he served with the Battalion on coast defence at Queensferry and Rosyth and went to the Dardanelles with the 52nd (Lowland) Division. Shortly after the Division was landed he was badly wounded in the knee and some months later after undergoing hospital treatment at Alexandria and Edinburgh he was invalided out of the Army. Although he had the very best skill and attention, among those who operated on his knee was the eminent surgeon, Sir Vistor Horsley, he never had the full use of his leg again and there is little doubt that his general health suffered from what he came through. On recovering from his wound he came back to his former employment. Mr Agnew held the office of Registrar for the parish of Minnigaff and was secretary of the local branch of the Scottish Rural Friendly Society. He was a member of St Ninian’s Lodge of Freemasons."

Mike Morley · Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 389 Location: Wigtown

Michael Maxwell Heron, former Captain of the 87th R I Fusiliers. Died 3 April 1873. Vicar of Heddon on the Wall.