Alexander McGurk Arras Memorial

[sancti]

Alexander McGurk Private  22456  Highland Light Infantry died on 27/04/1917 

I am trying to establish his parents names

[SueK50]

If it helps to narrow him down - Soldiers Died in the Great War (which is reasonably reliable - but like most sources - certainly not foolproof)  - shows him born and enlisted in Glasgow

1901 Scotland census on Ancestry has only 1 possibility in the likely age group for overseas service in WW1 - 25 years old married to 27 year old Maggie - with 2 children - Helen 9 and Andrew 2 living at 52 Dale Street Govan

The 1891 census suggests his parents were Alexander (40 - born Ireland) and Jane (35 - born Glasgow)

Probably worth double checking this info on Scotland's People though as Ancestry is only a transcription - can't view the originals

It doesn't seem to wan't to work at the moment - but the index to the Glasgow Evening Times Roll of Honour - at

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Library_Services/Family_Local_History/eveningtimesrollofhonour.htm

would be worth a look to see if he is mentioned - if so and you can access the originals you might be able to learn a little more about him from that

Good Luck
Sue

[sancti]

Thanks Sue

SP has this record

1917 MCGURK ALEXANDER     Male aged  31 SERVICE AND WAR RETURNS /MINOR RECORDS

Giving him a birth year of around 1886, so around 15 yrs old on the 1901 census. I suspect his parents to be Alexander McGurk and Mary O'Neill but would like a way to confirm this.

[SueK50]

Do you know specifically what that record on SP refers to - is it definitely a record of his death?

The Scottish National War Memorial also has only the 1 Alexander McGurk - and again they have him born Glasgow

The 1901 census has a 13 year old Alexander McGurk with those parents - born Hartwood, Lanarkshire, living at the time at North Rd, Wypers Land, Holytown, Lanarkshire

I'll have to check the map to see if this could be considered part of Glasgow

Cheers
Sue

[sancti]

Thanks Sue

Yes that is a death record from SP. I don't think Holytown would come under Glasgow. Maybe he enlisted in Glasgow but I was hoping for some way of confirming parents

[SueK50]

I notice Alexander and Mary had a son Charles - 8 in 1901 - if you are researching this family - do you know if he was this one:

Name:     Charles MCGURK     
Regiment, Corps etc.:    Highland Light Infantry
Battalion etc.:    8th (Lanark) Battalion (Territorial).
Birthplace:    Omoa, Lanarkshire
Enlisted:    Shotts, Lanarkshire
Residence:    Newarthill, Lanarkshire
Rank:    PRIVATE
Number:    7471
Date died:    30 December 1915
How died:    Killed in action
Theatre of war:    Gallipoli

He also has no next of kin information on CWGC - but he does appear to have a will in the National Archives of Scotland

SC70/8/200/87      Will of 7471 Private Charles McGurk, 8th Bn. (T.) or 1/8th, Highland Light Infantry, Cause of death: Killed in action, Gallipoli, Turkey, Theatre: Gallipoli., 30 Dec 1915     16 Aug 1915

Don't know if this helps or muddles things up??

Cheers Again
Sue

[sancti]

Not muddling things at all Sue

I suspect that Charles and Alexander were brothers and I have contacted NAS by email about the Will information you posted, hoping that it may mention parent names or wife information that I can check on SP.

I will let you know the outcome

Thanks again for your help.

[sancti]

I have found the death of Alexander McGURK in 1942 so the above Alexander was not the brother of Charles

[SueK50]

Glad you got to the bottom of it any way - I got the Evening Post ROH index working again last night but no mention of an Alexander at all

All the Best

Sue