tracking down relatives of Muirkirk warhero

[anne_p]

Think I've located a sister via newspaper articles
Alison Coulthard Girdwood, daughter of Mr & Mrs James Girdwood of Muirkirk, Ayrshire married Alexander Forbes Hamilton at Alexandria North Church on 29 Oct 1935.
Sister Helen Girdwood was bridesmaid.
Alexander Forbes Hamilton was  from Stirling and a banker with the Clydesdale Bank
Also, from another article dated Oct 1925, there was a brother named James Girdwood
( middle name possibly Brown)

Based on the names, I guess that the WW2 airman was the grandson of John Girdwood and Alison Coulthart after all

Definitive children of James Girdwood and Helen McCall who married in 1911
( may not be all of them)
Ellison Coulthard Girdwood b 1911 Muirkirk
 ( married Alexander F Hamilton in 1935. Announcement names her as Alison)
Helen Gibson McCall Girdwood b 1914 Muirkirk
William McCall Girdwood b 1922 ( The airman)

You may be wondering how I knew that William & Thomas Girdwood were the brothers of James?
Thomas emigrated to the US in 1910.
He gave the address for brother William in PA but his UK contact was for his mother in Muirkirk
Both men died in the US

[anne_p]

Ellison Hamilton b 1911, other name Girdwood died 1970.
Her death is recorded in Falkirk, Stirlingshire.

Alexander Forbes Hamilton b 1909, died in 1966
Death also recorded in Falkirk

As the marriage announcement states that Alexander was a banker from Stirling, I would guess that any children born to the marriage would probably be born in this area.

Could be?
There is the probable birth of a son b 1940, (same names as Ellison's husband) .
Registered Haggs, Stirling

This son married in Bonnybridge in 1967

[Ad van Zantvoort]

Hi,

  Got in touch with James McCall Girdwood(Nephew of F/O William Girdwood) Thanks to your professional help. He was glad to be in touch with him and shared all the info I have collected sofar.
Many,Many Thanks to Anne and ev

Regards,
Adrian

[lauralouhamilton]

Hi Adrian,

Only just found this site and hope you are still active on it!
My mother (Janet Girdwood) was the niece of William Girdwood. Her father was John Girdwood. She is also the half sister of James Girdwood whoI believe still lives in Muirkirk.
I've heard so much about William over the years who, by all accounts, was a lovely man. My mum told me he was desperate to join the RAF but couldn't due to a hearing problem. He badgered his parents so much that they paid for an operation to correct it. Of course after being so sadly killed it was, according to my mum, a decision they later regretted. I also have his war time diary which I'm very happy to have copied and sent to you if you'd like.

Kind regards,
Laura Hamilton

[Maiden Stone]

Laura, welcome to RootsChat.
 There is a private messaging feature which new members can use after they have posted a few times.

[Ad van Zantvoort]

Hi Laura,

    Please be so kind and contact me because I have some info to share. Looking forward to hear from you,
Adrian

[Maiden Stone]

Laura can increase her quota by posting another reply on here simply saying "O.K." or similar. Then she will be able to use the private message option.
Putting an email address on the open forum is discouraged.

[Ad van Zantvoort]

Maybe Laura don't know the rules and think some one could send her a PM. I know that an email on a open forum is discouraged but I am still waiting for her message to come, and maybe she missed my email address as she cannot get it because she didn't increase her quota. Anyway i hope she will contact me.

(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.

Regards,
Adrian