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John McPherson went to south Africa with the Lovat Scouts during the Boer War. He was awarded the DCM in March 1901. He also was in the Imperial Yeomanry. His brother Alexander was in the South African Constabulary and is buried in the Municipal Cemetery at Heidleberg, having died in the Hospital there. John appears to have stayed in South Africa married a nurse called Jessie McKay and they had a son Donald who was about 18 months old when his father died in Dingwall Scotland having returned to enlist in the Seaforth Highlanders in WW1. He gave his occupation then as a miner. He died on the 30th March, 1915 of TB. Place of death on his death certificate is given as Ormadale Place, Dingwall (Ormidale I think). He was buried with his parents and some of his brothers and sisters at Croick Churchyard near Ardgay. I note that there is a commemoration for him on the South African War Graves website. Nothing is known of what happened to Jessie and Donald apart from the mention on the War Graves for this country that she was a Nurse Jessie MacKay from Johannesburg. Her name and Donald's is on the War Pension papers for John. It is believed she returned to South Africa with Donald. But I can find no one of their names on any passenger list. I can find no marriage certificate for John and Jessie nor a birth certificate or death certificate for Donald in Scotland. There is a Jessie MacKay sailed from London in 1926 on the SS Borda for the Cape and her occupation is a maternity nurse. Is she Jessie. In 2001 I was at Croick churchyard and the portion on the McPherson headstone relating to John had been freshly painted in black. Who did this was some of his descendents through Donald visiting his resting place. Can anyone help with at least a bit of my jigsaw puzzle. Thanking you in anticipation. A remembrance service was held on the 30th March this year At Croick to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death. It was very moving. Gone but not forgotten.

Also posted here -
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=717424.msg5611846#msg5611846

Trying to find out more about the above Eliza. She marries John Grant a general labourer aged 28 on 15th January, 1909 at Slackbuie (her home I think) Boharm. His father is given as Andrew Grant a Blacksmith and his mother Ann Forbes deceased. John's address was Clachnawarren, Boharm. in the 1911 census he appears there as the grand nephew of Jessie Dougharty. I cannot find Eliza on that census at all. They must have had a son John as I have a picture of Eliza with a young boy called John. I cannot find any later trace of John Grant whom she marries and I wonder if he died during WW1. I did eventually find a death certificate for an Elizabeth McAndie with the other names of Gibson and Stronach. Eliza on her birth certificate is just that Eliza, but the age on Elizabeth's death certificate in 1983 in Huntly is aged 94 years which would be right for Eliza born in 1888.
I know of her address in Huntly as she wrote my late aunt from there and I was given the letter but I have no idea as to her surname then.

Looking for info on a James (Jimmy) but known by his middle name of Tommy MacLeod of Boise Idaho. He was Boise's only bagpiper in the early 1900's.

My grandfather James Gordon was born I always understood in the Cabrach area of Duftown. I have found his marriage certificate and he seems to be in Aberlour working at that time. His wife's name was Annie McAndie and her address is given as Dandaleith Rothes. Granda's Father was a John Gordon, farm servant and his mother as a Isabella McDonald but I cannot find any trace of them at all. I have a cutting from a newspaper of the death in WW2 of an Able Seaman David McAndie from 15 Nicol Street, New Elgin who I take it was related to Annie McAndie ( the cutting was with papers belonging to my late aunt that I inherited).  We have connections with Reids from Duftown i remember going there as a child I am sure they lived near a burn or river and i am almost sure there was a mill on it. They were a very musical family. Does any of this strike a chord with anyone. Please get in touch it it does. I am attaching a photo of Peter and Margaret McAndie (Annie's parents)