Introduction

In 2014 the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, Cumnock History Group began researching the names on the Cumnock War Memorial plus other men and women with Cumnock connections mentioned on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in the Cumnock Chronicle of the time. The research is not limited to those who died but also to men and women who served, using family history information.

The group would like to appeal to individuals with knowledge of family members for photographs of the soldier, either in uniform or not, and photos of medals or other memorabilia eg letters sent home from the Front. If you would be prepared to share these on this site, please email the web manager info@cumnockhistorygroup.org The group is willing to share any copies of documents found with the soldier's descendants.

Saturday 1 March 2014

Captain Robert McCowan Hill, DSO


from the Cumnock Chronicle

Scotsman Thur  18 May 1916
WAR HONOURS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDERS
Temp Captain Robert McCowan Hill MB, a son of ex-provost Hill, JP. He is a graduate of Glasgow University.


From the London Gazette, 6 April 1918




Kilmarnock Standard, 20 May 1916

The Distinguished Service Order has been conferred upon
temporary Capt. Robert McCowan Hill, M.B., R.A.M.C., attached 2nd
Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty". It appears that he "went into an area which was under intense bombardment, amputated the leg of a wounded officer, and attended to other wounded under most difficult and dangerous circumstances. Finally,he accompanied two stretcher cases back under shell fire." He is a son of ex-Provost and Mrs. Hill, Hartfield, Cumnock, and a grandson of the late Provost McCowan, Cumnock, who was widely known in his day as an auctioneer and valuator. On completion of his training, Capt. Hill was appointed House Surgeon in Paisley Royal Alexandra Infirmary. About 4 years ago he settled in Upper Tooting, London, where he married Sister Jordan of the Royal Alexandra Infirmary, Paisley.


He received his DSO from the King at Buckingham Palace on 27th May 1916.


Robert McCowan Hill born about 1882 in Ayr was the son of William Hill, a commercial traveller born in Cambusnethan and Jeanie Hart McCowan. She was the daughter of John McCowan an auctioneer and keeper of the Eagle Inn in the Square, Cumnock in 1861.

Both William Hill  and John McCowan were former Provosts of Cumnock.
 
1861
Eagle Inn, Square Cumnock

John Mccowan             49 auctioneer & innkeeper (his grandfather)
Elizabeth C Mccowan             49
Jessie Mccowan             18
Elizabeth Mccowan             16
James Mccowan             14
Jane H Mccowan             10 (his mother)
Robert Mccowan             7
Mary Hunter             19


1891
Hartfield Cottage Ayr road
William Hill             44  commercial traveler, draper’s
Jeanie H Hill             40
Bessie Hill             15
William Hill             13
John Hill             10
Robert Hill             8  b Ayr
Margaret Hill             6
Catherine Hill             3
David Hill             2
Martha Lorimer             16

In 1901 Robert was a medical student lodging in Arlington Street in Glasgow.

He married Alberta Brooke Jordan a nurse in 1913 at the Royal Alexandra Infirmary in Paisley where they were both working and he died in Wallington Surrey in 1958.

His sister Margaret Walker Hill was the wife of  R D Hunter the lawyer and Provost.

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