Lives of the First World War

20th January 1916 - 3rd December 1919

When researching local men from the Rhins of Galloway in Wigtownshire, who were killed in the war I came across many names of men who were not on their local war memorial. It seemed odd to me that Carr's name was on the family headstone, and his listing of death was with the CWGC , yet he was not named on Kirkmaiden War Memorial in Drummore. Carr was the third son of Robert and Elizabeth Simpson (nee Graham) of Damnaglaur, Drummore, Wigtownshire. Born on 6th June 1897 at High Drummore, he was one of eight children that included three sets of twins. There were five boys and three girls but sadly two of his sisters died in their infancy. Carr had been a ploughman before the war and had a close friend in Agnes-Grace McGaw and had given her a gold signet ring as a sign of their friendship. He enlisted on 20th January 1916 to the 10th Battalion of the Scottish Rifles (Cameronians). Carr was seriously injured and lost his arm in the war and he was honourably discharged from service on 10th October 1917. His family have his discharge certificate. The wound on his arm would not heal and had become infected. At the site of the wound a malignant tumour developed and within seven months of this diagnosis he died at home at Damnaglaur. Two weeks before he died, he managed to come down the stairs to see the family wedding of his sister Jenny to James Cochrane. Aged just 22 when he died, he is named on the family headstone in Kirkmaiden Old Churchyard. His brother, Morland Simpson remained friendly with Agnes-Grace and her sister Ina, and he knew that each year Agnes-Grace visited his grave on 11th November to lay poppies. Others in the area would be attending the war memorial and Agnes-Grace likely did this too, but she didn't miss out on ensuring Carr was also remembered. She never married, and it was on 11th November 1972 that Agnes died aged 75. When Agnes-Grace died, her sister Ina passed the signet ring down to Carr’s great niece, Kathryn Simpson. It is poignant that Agnes-Grace died on Remembrance Day. The week after Carr’s death, Rev. David Williamson wrote a poem which was published in the local newspaper: EPITAPH TO A SOLDIER (to the memory of Carr Simpson, Kirkmaiden) Why do the radiant and the free Die first in this dark world of ours; Melt like a wave upon the sea Or fade like fragile flowers? No Nobler spirit e’er was laid In reverence ‘neath the hewn grass; What nature so divinely made, From memory cannot pass. Rapt from the glory of our gaze, The light still burns where he has been; No sunset crowns our Autumn days With beauty more serene! It was particularly sad that Carr was not included on the war memorial as he fought for his country and there is little doubt that he died as a result of his injuries. Whilst the minister was moved to write a poem to him, again one wonders what the criteria was for having his name placed on the Parish Memorial, it is likely the death would have to be within a certain time from armistice, although other parishes include those men who died as a result of injury. It was perhaps seen that his family had a grave they could visit and the memorial was only for those who would never be returned home. Although he was not on any local war memorial, or the SNWM, Carr is listed on the CWGC. In 2011 after I researched the men on the Kirkmaiden Memorial in Drummore, and the men who also died who were not on the memorial, the local council agreed to have Carr’s name added. His niece (who served in the ATS in WW2) and nephew attended the service on Remembrance Sunday that year.

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