JOHN HOLMES HOUSTON GAMMELL was the 4th son of James Gammell of Ardiffery and his wife Sydney Holmes. He was born at Beech Hill Donoughmore, Co. Down on September 12th 1830, and like his brothers went to Edinburgh Academy for his education, where he attended from 1841 to 1846 in Classes 1-5.

Like so many of the Gammells of that time, he also chose the Army as a career, and was gazetted in 1847. The following is a record of his service taken from the Public Record Office in London:

In 1883, he inherited under deed of entail the estates of Lethendy and Whitewell in Perthshire from his uncle Andrew Gammell of Drumtochty. As there was no house to live in on the estate, he built a substantial residence in the Scottish baronial style, which he called 'The Tower of Lethendy', and there he resided until his death in 1902, by which time he had become a local J.P. and a member of the Perthshire County Council.

John, who was almost universally known as 'The Colonel' led a typical batchelor life at Lethendy, surrounded by dogs, and enjoying the usual country pursuits. He kept a good table, and was a generous host. He was a frequent visitor to Drumtochty and particularly enjoyed the shooting parties that took place there.

During the last years of his life, he did not enjoy good health, and it was at Droitwich, where he had gone to take the waters that he died on February 2nd 1902. At his specific request his body was taken back to Lethendy, and he was buried in the churchyard there. The will contained the following instructions for his funeral:

'A simple funeral at Lethendy Churchyard, no flowers and a good lunch for all who attended, in The Tower.'

The estate of Lethendy and Whitewell, he left to his nephew Sydney James Gammell - he had broken the entail left by his uncle, in 1889. The contents of his house he also left to Sydney James with the following proviso:

'12 chairs and 2 sofas (Louis 14th), the sideboard in the Dining Room and the painting by W. Morris, not to be sold; they are bequeathed as heirlooms to Sydney James and his heirs and successors.'

This clause was evidently ignored or lost sight of, as none of these articles are now in the family's possession. All his silver and plate went to his nephews Hector and Kensington, sons of his brother Harcourt, and the residue including all shares and investments to Sydney Albert Wharton Gammell, only son of his youngest brother Albert. Sydney Albert was also appointed his sole executor.