George Cairncross was born 30/11/1885 at 10 Bryson Road in Edinburgh. As a child he had a hard life yet he seems to have grown into a man who was respected and well liked.
He was the illegitimate son of Mary Cairncross (born 1859, died 14/1/1893 Scotland) Mary and George lived with Mary's parents George Cairncross Sen. (born in Gladmuir Scotland abt 1821-1890) and Elizabeth Neilson Craig (1819 Scotland -1891) at 10 Bryson Road.
On the 13/11/1888 when George is about 3 years old his mother Mary married a widower Frederick Augustus Lyon. He was a good few years her senior and had children of his own, so George was left in the care of his grandparents.
Sadly by the time George was 6 years old both his grandparents had died so he was sent to live with aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and Archibald Bathgate in Borthwick. In 1901 George was 15 and on the census he was working as a locomotive guard cleaner.
It is unknown when George immigrated to Australia but by 1910 he was working as a farmer on "Glencairn" in Kojonup and had registered the brand C2G for horses. (1,2)
Towards the end of 1912 George moved to Geraldton and in Feb 1913 he was working on the railways in and around the area. In 1914 and 15 he spent time as the assistant station master at Narngulu marshalling yards about 12km south of Geraldton. (3,4)
In 1914 Margaret McNeill was a nurse at the Geraldton Hospital and it is probable that she met George met at a function in in the local area. (5)
Margaret Helen McNeill was the 6th child of Alexander McNeill (born 1843 Antrim Ireland, died 2/3/1937 Wooroloo W.A) & Mary Ann Jane Pett (born 3/8/1851 Hamilton Tasmania died 16/8/1923 Wooroloo, W.A). The family had spent the early years in Stawell Victoria and moved to Wooroloo a small settlement on the train line from Perth to Northam around 1910.
George was also the night station master in Geraldton for a period and at the beginning of 1916 he took up the post as the relieving Station Master or assistant station master at Mount Magnet. (6)
Around this time Margaret McNeill was working at the Cue Day Dawn Hospital north of Mt Magnet.
In January 1916 the hospital in Mt Magnet closed for a time as the doctor left the district and there was no Matron. The Hospital Committee employed nurse Smith who unfortunately resigned about 6 weeks later in March due to illness. Around the 18th of March the hospital then employed Margaret McNeill. Possibly Margaret applied for the position as George was working there.
"Nurse McNeill, late of the Cue-Day Dawn Hospital. Nurse McNeill possesses excellent references, particularly, in regard, to surgical cases, and took up her duties at the local hospital on Thursday last." (7)
In Feb 1916 George had tried to enlist for service abroad but was rejected for the fourth time and he was taken on for home duties. (6)
A couple of weeks later on the 13th of March Dr A Juett Captain AMC was in MT Magnet examining recruits for active service and George and nine others were passed as fit for service abroad. (8)
A few weeks later on the 30th of March the engagement of George and Margaret McNeill, matron of the Mt Magnet hospital was announced. (9)
By early April George and the other recruits have has moved to the Blackboy Hill Camp near Midland. (10)
A braw Scot is Pte. Cairncross, one of the numerous Northern contingents now at Blackboy. Pte. Cairncross about three years ago was night S.M. (Station Master) at Geraldton and was afterwards transferred to Narngulu. For the last four months he has been in charge of the Mt. Magnet station, where he enlisted. He has achieved much popularity amongst his fellow workmen in the railway service and has made many friends outside. (11)
In May Margaret resigned from the hospital and on the 3rd of June 1916 she married George in St John's Church Fremantle. (12,13)
Part way through July George was transferred to NCO School and in September he spent a day in Geraldton before returning to camp. George sailed from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T Argyllshire on the 9th November 1916 and whilst still at sea in Jan 1917 he sent a letter home describing his current situation and the desire to transfer to be with his mates from Mt Magnet. (14)
SOLDIERS LETTERS
We have received a letter from Private G. Cairncross, written at sea, under date 4th January, in which he says, "There are 70 of us on watch for anything suspicious in the water. We are supplied with ammunition to fire at anything in the water. The head says it is quite possible for mines to float away out this length. Any way, it's better to be sure than sorry. We passed the ship that C. Watson, Dawson, Slavin and Watts were on at Freetown. They say they were held up at all the ports they called at. They were lying in harbor at one place for 15 days. I expect to meet them in England. I tried to get into their company before they left, but it was over strength then, so I did the next best thing — got away as soon as I could. I could have got my sergeant's stripes if I had cared to transfer back, but I wanted to get away; I want to have a cut at the Germans as soon as I can. This is a South Australian reinforcement I'm with, so I'll try and get out of it on arrival in England. The weather is very cold and the ship is pitching and tossing a treat. The mess orderlies get the worst of it as they carry the tucker down the hold to us. It's nothing to see the tucker come down the steps first, followed by the tin and then the man. It's a bit rough on anyone that happens to be passing under the stairs at the time, as they generally catch the stew or porridge on their heads, and then language. The Northern District and Murchison Goldfield are well represented on this boat. I was speaking to Clyde Allan this morning. He has not been too well lately, but he is looking better now that we are in cooler weather. Remember me to all old friends at Mt. Magnet." (15)
George reached the UK and in January 1917 he was in Tidworthy Hospital in England with Bronchitis. After his recovery he joined the A.I.F 12th Battalion and proceeded to France.
George was killed in action on the 6th October 1917 near Ypres. His remains were later exhumed and buried in the Perth Cemetery, China Wall in Leper, Belgium. He has a plaque next to a tree in Kings Park Perth WA and one in Wooroloo.(16)
Private information has been received that Private George Cairncross, of Geraldton, was killed in action on the 6th inst. (says the Guardian). Deceased, who was in the employ of the Railway Department, was assist ant station-master at Narngulu, afterwards being transferred to Geraldton and subsequently to. Mt. Magnet, from which town he enlisted. He was very popular and highly esteemed. He was married shortly before enlisting, and great sympathy will be expressed with his widow, who is at present on the nursing staff at the Old Men's Home. (17)
In 1917 Margaret worked at the Old Men's Home in Perth and after the war she travelled over to the U.K and on her return assisted people to purchase photos of graves in France.
"Sergeant H. B. Harris (Late Official Photographer to the Australian Graves Services ) has decided to carry on the work privately, now that the Australian authorities have ceased active work-in France and Belgium. Relatives of fallen soldiers may obtain a photograph of any grave. Sergeant Harris will send the negative and one print for the nominal sum of 10/. Mrs. M. Cairncross, whose address is Wooroloo, W.A., is acting as agent in this State for Sergeant Harris, and she will he pleased to receive enquiries and supply full particulars if relatives wishing to secure photographs will communicate with her." (18)
1. Advertising.
Great Southern Herald (Katanning, WA : 1901 - 1954) Wednesday 9 October 1912 p 5 Advertising.
2. A BRANDS QUESTION.
Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) Thursday 11 November 1926 p 6 Article.
3. The Geraldton Guardian. For Country, Faith, and Justice. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1913. LOCAL AND GENERAL.
Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1906 - 1928) Tuesday 25 February 1913 p 2 Article.
4. Western Australian Post office directory 1914/1915 Cairncross asst station master Nangulu.
5. Electoral Roll Western Australia Dampier Geraldton.
1914 McNeill Margaret Helen Government hospital Geraldton nurse.
1916 Cairncross George Geraldton railway employee.
6. Early Closing of Hotels. VICTORIAN HOURS. Melbourne, Thursday.
Mount Magnet Miner and Lennonville Leader (WA : 1896 - 1926) Saturday 26 February 1916 p 3 Article
7. Local and Personal.
The W.A. Record (Perth, WA : 1888 - 1922) Saturday 25 March 1916 p 10 Article.
8. AT MT. MAGNET.
The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) Tuesday 21 March 1916 p 6 Article.
9. Mainly About People "Franziska."
The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) Thursday 30 March 1916 p 3 Article.
10. PERSONAL ITEMS.
Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1906 - 1928) Saturday 8 April 1916 p 2 Article.
11. Who's Who in Khaki.
Camp Chronicle (Midland Junction, WA : 1915 - 1918) Thursday 20 April 1916 p 6 Article.
12. Family Notices.
Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) Friday 28 July 1916 p 30 Family Notices.
13. MT MAGNET HOSPITAL. COMMITTEE MEETING.
Mount Magnet Miner and Lennonville Leader (WA : 1896 - 1926) Saturday 13 May 1916 p 2 Article.
14. TRANSFERS TO N.C.O. SCHOOL.
Camp Chronicle (Midland Junction, WA : 1915 - 1918) Thursday 13 July 1916 p 3 Detailed Lists, Results, Guides.
15. SOLDIERS LETTERS.
Mount Magnet Miner and Lennonville Leader (WA : 1896 - 1926) Saturday 7 April 1917 p 2 Article.
16. ILLUSTRATED SECTION.
Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) Friday 9 November 1917 p 1 Article Illustrated.
Picture of George.
17. General News.
Mount Magnet Miner and Lennonville Leader (WA : 1896 - 1926) Saturday 10 November 1917 p 2 Article.
18. Advertising.
The Australian (Perth, WA : 1917 - 1923) Friday 28 July 1922 p 4 Advertising.
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