234281 L/Cpl. Thomas Barrie Muirhead British Army 1st Coy. Machine Gun Corps from:Gatehouse of Fleet (d.16th March 1917) Thomas Muirhead was born at Lochmaben and lived at High Creoch, Gatehouse of Fleet. On the 1891 Maybole Census, he is recorded at Cutroy Bridge: Thomas Muirhead aged 6, born Lochmaben with father Alexander (46, unemployed shepherd), mother Jane (44) and 3 sisters.
In 1901 on the Kirkcudbright Census, he is recorded at Greatcross Bothy, Thomas Muirhead aged 16, assistant gamekeeper, born Lochmaben with gamekeeper William Stitt.
On the 1911 Girthon Census, at Laghead, Thomas Muirhead aged 26, gamekeeper, born Lochmaben was a boarder with the Caig family.
He enlisted at Dumfries in September 1914, joining the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He served on the Western Front (Loos, Neuve Chapelle, Somme) and was killed on the Somme on 16th March 1917.
He is remembered on the Anwoth and Girthon War Memorial, at Gatehouse and on the Girthon Church Memorial.
He is buried in Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu, Somme, France.
He was awarded the Victory, British and 15 Star medals
which were applied for by his brother on the 27th March 1923 and sent to Mr J. Muirhead, Dungarg Cottage, Castle Douglas.
The Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser reported on the 30th of March 1917 "Thomas Muirhead (previously gamekeeper at Cally when he lived at High Creoch) was killed on 16/03/1917. A letter to his sister in Kirkmahoe says that he was struck by a shell and killed instantly. He said that the whole company mourned the loss of one of their gallant comrades and that he would be missed as a brother.
He had enlisted on 28/08/1914 in the Argyll & Southern Highlanders but later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He was one of the first men from Gatehouse to enlist. He was 31 years old. In more than 2 years at the Front he had never been ill. He was a very popular man."
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