Corporal Matthew McGinn
Attribution: unknown or not recorded
Corporal Matthew Clark McGinn
Born at Glenmoriston Grange Farm Cottages, Innerleithen in 1892, Matthew was recorded as a farm labourer on the 1911 census.
Upon the outbreak of warin 1914, it is assumed that Matthew immediately signed up as his Ross-shire Journal Extract suggests he was wounded at Galipolli.
Matthew returned to service and by 1916 he was based at ‘The Camp’, Invergordon when he was married to Christina Ross, a domestic servant of Kindeace Mains, Delny.
His marriage entry also records him as being a gamekeeper, but it is not known where he actually worked.
Matthew was eventually sent back to the Front and was recorded as ‘mssing’ in February/March 1918. It would be another 19 weeks before his family were informed that he was a Prisoner of war in Germany.
He was repatriated shortly after armistice. receiving a letter from King George V.
Attribution: Moira Morgan, granddaughter
Attribution: Moira Morgan, granddaughter
After the war
Matthew returned to Portleich, Newmore, (now Barbaraville area) where he worked as a Gamekeeper and Rabbit Trapper.
The couple had four children born in Ross-shire and another 2 when they returned to live at Innerleithen in the late 1920’s.
Matthew died at Innerleithen in 1972 and Christina in 1979.
Attribution: not recorded or unknown
