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.

Sunday 16 March 2014

Stillie cousins

John Stillie, the son of Mr and Mrs Hamilton Stillie, was 32 when he was killed in action in the Balkans on 19 September 1918. He was a private in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and he is buried in Doiran Military Cemetery in Greece. He left a wife living at 103 Townhead Street. He is remembered on the Cumnock War Memorial.


From the Cumnock Chronicle 1918
It is now officially announced that Pte  John Stillie who was reported missing some time ago was killed in action on the Bulgarian front on 19th September Pte Stillie was the youngest son of the late Hamilton Stillie, and learned the mason trade with the late Provost Richmond. When the building trade came to a standstill owing to the war, he entered the pits and was employed there when he was called up. He had been on foreign service for fully a year. Pte Stillie who was a quiet well-living young man of 23 years leaves a widow and three children.
This is his entry on the Commonwealth Graves Commission
and on the Cumnock Connections family tree

Andrew Stillie, a cousin of John Stillie above, of 98 Townhead Street, Cumnock, survived the war. He was born on 17 Sep 1893 to Andrew and Christina Stillie. He served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders  and the Royal Field Artillery in France and enlisted in the Territorials in 17 Dec 1920 and completed another year's service in the 5th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and was promoted to  sergeant. He had grey eyes and fair hair and was 5ft 7in. He married Grace Armstrong in Ripon, Yorkshire in 1918 and they had children Andrew and Margaret Mary Wilson in 1919 and 1920 at Townhead St.

See Andrew on Cumnock Connections tree

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