William McQuat

William McQuat was born on 15th April 1867 near Straiton, Ayrshire[4], and was still living there in 1881[1]. In 1891 he was a locomotive stoker and lived with his parents at Clawfin Farm, 2 miles NE of Dalmellington in Ayrshire[2]. He was probably employed by the Glasgow & South Western Railway (G&SWR), though there were a number of rail-served mines nearby which would also have employed locomotive crews.

In 1893, William was married to Agnes Murray at Muiravonside, Stirling[5],[6]. By 1901 he was a locomotive engine driver, and lived with his wife Agnes and two young children in the left-hand first-floor flat at 6 Carnwood Street in Greenock[3]. If he was still employed by the G&SWR, he could have been based at Princes Pier depot, or there may have been another depot in East Greenock nearer to his home.

During the 1914-18 war, if William remained in railway service with the G&SWR, he is likely to have worn a badge similar to that shown below.

William's last driving turn before retirement (in April 1932 if he retired at 65) was driving a Wemyss Bay to Glasgow train with ex-Caledonian 4-6-2T, LMS number 15354. Members of his family travelled on the train, including his young grandson William.

G&SWR 1914-18 war  Railway Service badge.	William's signature at his son's birth in 1895[6]

William and Agnes moved in the early 1820s to a bungalow at 4 Galt Street in Greenock, where they were still living when Agnes died in 1937. On the night of 21/22nd May 1941 the house was destroyed in enemy bombing, and William moved to Dryfesdale, Lockerbie[7], where he died in a motor car on 2nd January 1942, aged 74[8].

Sources: Census [1]1881, [2]1891, [3]1901; [4]IGI; GRO [5]marriage index, [6]son's birth record, [7]death record; [8]family memories.

Page last updated 03 July 2006