News and site updates

19 October 2014: Now that Answering the Call is almost sold out, I will add more details to the individual entries within the Roll of Honour and Nominal Roll sections of the Auchencairn section of the web site. Due to time constraints, it may be a slow process, so please return occasionally to check on progress. I will also add new information and photographs that surfaced after the book was published in 2009.

18 October 2014: The final print run of Answering the Call is almost sold out at Auchencairn Post Office. The last I heard was fewer than half a dozen copies remaining.

06 March 2014: The recent BBC and other media coverage of the upcoming centenary is obviously sparking people's interest in their family WW1 history. Thank you for all the recent contacts and information and photographs which you continue to send.

25 October 2012: There are now only a couple of dozen copies of Answering the Call - Auchencairn and the First World War left of the second (and final) print run. The remaining books are available at Auchencairn Post Office. Once they're gone, they're. . . gone. Thank you to everyone who has bought a copy.

5 January 2012: I'd like to say many thanks to Ken Morrison for all the information freely given from his research into the fallen of Kirkcudbrightshire in WW1. Details have been added to the relevant entries in the ongoing project to update the Stewartry Roll of Honour

31 December 2011: the main achievement of the past year's research has been indexing the Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser for the years 1914-1918. It has been a major undertaking, but was worth the effort in helping to identify the families of soldiers with common names and by the discovery of many men who were not included in the original Stewartry Roll of Honour

June 2011: it was a truly sad morning in June when I received word from his daughter Anne, the news that Morton Gellatly had died. He was a true gentleman and a lover of all aspects of the people and history of Auchencairn. His offer of help regards my Auchencairn WW1 project came out of the blue, but was readily accepted and from that time on we got on famously well, considering the amount of red pen he used on my manuscript drafts! Goodbye Morton, you will be sorely missed, but the memories of your selfless generosity and encouragement live on.

1 May 2011: amended examples in the Stewartry RoH Examples page to show addition of extra details and photographs.

23 February 2011: added James Keith's story in the 5th KOSB Soldier stories page

29 September 2010: presented a talk focusing on the 5th King's Own Scottish Borderers at Gallipoli during 1915 in Castle Douglas on Sat 11 September. A very good turnout - thank you to everyone who came and for all the interesting information and promises of photos of relatives who served

15 March 2010: added the story and photo of 2nd Lieut Thomas Gormley, please see other KOSB. Thank you to his grand-daughter for sending me photos and many other items of interest

6 November 2009: DGFHS confirm invitation: Researching WW1 Soldiers: The King's Own Scottish Borderers 1914-1918, King's Arms Hotel, Castle Douglas on Sat 11 September at 2.0pm

13 October 2009: invited by Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society to give a talk on the King's Own Scottish Borderers as part of its 2010 syllabus

23 July 2009: Dr David Devereux, Stewartry Museum, published a complimentary review in his monthly column for the Galloway News. A local resident has posted the review on the Scottish War Memorials Project web site

3 July 2009: first print run of Answering the Call sold out; second run ordered and will be ready for late July

27 June 2009: I attended the Family History Fair held at Dumfries Academy and spent a very busy day helping people with queries about their ancestors' service during the First World War. Due to the number of follow-up searches requiring a summer visit to the National Archives in London and other commitments, most queries will be responded to in August

23 April 2009: the Auchencairn 1914-1918 project has been written up and the book, Answering the Call, is now available to order. For further information please refer to the linked page

7 April 2009: over the last few days I have added a number of photos and summaries to the 'Those who served' pages:

Most of the new content is based on photos and family information submitted by relatives. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these projects to date. Contributions are always warmly welcomed - please get in touch

29th March 2009: the Auchencairn 1914-1918 project has been written up and the book, Answering the Call, is at the printers. It should be available by early May