N / P / R
Andrew Watson NEIL (Labour Corps)
Private 221156 (formerly Highland Light Infantry)
Born 31 Mar 1877, Symington; Died (unknown)
Enlisted Sep 1916; after the death of his wife in Nov 1917, he applied for discharge to army reserve on compassionate grounds as he had no relatives in England, where he was based, to look after his children. His request was denied as his services were required in the army.
He lived at Corona Place, and was a gardener. In 1910 he married Margaret Noble in Dundonald, and they had three children.
William Neugent NEWCOMBE (Scottish Rifles, 4th Btn)
Private 56378
Born 13 Feb 1900, Fairlie ; Died 1972, Glasgow
Enlisted Mar 1918.
He was born and lived at Railway Buildings, and later at Curneil Villa. He was a marine engineer, and in 1931 he married Janet Cameron Fisher in Glasgow.
John Mair PARK (Royal Field Artillery, 51 HDAC)
Bombardier 645090
Born Abt. 1880; Died 27 Dec 1954, Glasgow
Enlisted Dec 1914; posted France May 1915; invalided home to Stobhill Hospital Oct 1915; served France May to Sep 1916; discharged physically unfit Apr 1917 suffering from shell shock.
He lived at Kelburn North Office and Fairlie Craig, and he was a clerk. Possibly born in Canada, before the war he worked for the Union Bank of Canada in Manitoba for ten years and as an accountant/salesman in the U.S.A. for three years. In 1909 he married Agnes M. Peebles in Canada, and in 1914, on the day he enlisted, he married Sarah Purvas Jones in Fairlie. He is the brother-in-law of David and William Jones.
Alfred Chevallier PARKER (Egyptian Army)
Lieutenant Colonel
Born 3 June 1874, New Zealand; Died 27 Dec 1935, Gloucestershire
Known as Parker Pasha, he served for several years in the Sinai; worked in the Intelligence Department in Cairo; and in 1915 was appointed Governor of Sinai, reporting to the Director of Intelligence. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918.
The nephew of Lord Kitchener, he married Winifred Margaret Parker, daughter of the late Alfred T. Parker of Fairlie House, at Fairlie Parish Church in 1909. He is the brother-in-law of Alfred Ernest Parker.
Alfred Ernest PARKER (Royal Highlanders, att. Seaforth Highlanders)
Captain
Born 30 Dec 1880, Lancashire; Died 7 Nov 1914, Belgium
A retired officer, he was posted to Belgium Oct 1914. In Nov 1914 he was severely wounded in action, but his men were unable to recover him. Initially reported killed, this was amended to wounded and missing and enquiries were made as to his fate (including to Berlin via the Swedish Minister to ascertain if he’d been taken prisoner). In Jan 1915, the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade replied, “Captain Parker’s body was found with his identity disc inside the Eastern edge of Ploegsteert Wood. It was buried by our men”. He is buried at Strand Military Cemetery, Belgium.
He lived at Fairlie House and The Gondola. In 1909 he married Joan Isobel Margaret Bowes Lyon, cousin of the future Queen Mother. He is the brother-in-law of Alfred Chevallier Parker.
Ernest Alexander PAXTON (Royal Navy & Royal Air Force)
Cook’s Mate M17962 & 313204
Born 25 Nov 1877, Glasgow; Died 6 Jan 1955, Inverness
Enlisted RN Dec 1915; transferred RAF Adriatic Group Clearing Station Apr to Dec 1918.
He lived at Winton Place, and was a baker and later a restaurateur.
James RAMSAY (Royal Garrison Artillery)
Gunner 2262 & 301687
Born 13 Aug 1892, Glasgow; Died (unknown)
Enlisted 4th Highland Mountain Brigade Oct 1911; posted Gallipoli May 1915; also served Egypt and Salonika; suffered recurrent malaria throughout service. In a letter home from Suvla Bay in Dec 1915, he requested the gift of a football.
He lived at Bay House, and was a French polisher. He is the brother of William Ramsay.
William Graham RAMSAY (Royal Garrison Artillery)
Gunner 2272 & 301620
Born 22 Feb 1895, Rochdale; Died 11 Apr 1961, Irvine
Enlisted 4th Highland Mountain Brigade Dec 1911; posted Gallipoli Apr 1915; reported to be dangerously ill in hospital in Salonika Apr 1918.
He lived at Bay House, and was a painter. After the war he lived in Irvine, where he married Elizabeth Wilson in 1921. He is the brother of William Ramsay.
David McQueen REID (Royal Naval Reserve)
Captain
Born 3 Dec 1876, Port Glasgow; Died 16 Feb 1962, Inellan
Commissioned Aug 1914, he captained H.M. Supply Ship Baron Ardrossan conveying ammunition and stores to the fleet. In Sep 1919, he was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross, which he’d won for “seamanship and pluck in a brush with a German submarine when he not only brought his ship home safely, but succeeded in sinking of the Huns”.
He lived at Castle Park. A sea captain, he gained his master’s certificate in 1900. In 1909 he married Marjory Logan Anderson at Ardrossan.
Andrew Royston RODGER (4th Canadian Mounted Rifles)
Private 158174
Born 3 May 1898, Fairlie; Died 1 Oct 1916, France
Enlisted Sep 1915; killed in action at the Somme while employed as a runner carrying messages to the front line under heavy bombardment. Initially reported missing, having last been seen heading for the dressing station after being wounded, he was later believed to have been killed before reaching it. He is buried at Regina Trench Cemetery, France.
He lived at Ferry Road, and emigrated to Canada in 1911. Prior to the war his birth year is 1898, but when he enlists he gives his date of birth as 1897 – possibly because he was under 18?
William D. ROSS (Royal Army Service Corps)
Driver 6274 & 247167
Born 11 Apr 1878, Old Cumnock; Died 29 May 1955, Fairlie
Enlisted Aug 1914; served Salonika and Egypt from Jun 1916 to May 1919.
He lived at Curneil Villa and Allanton Park Terrace, and owned a butcher’s shop at Bourtree Bank. In 1906 he married Elizabeth Guy in Carmyle.