Official message of condolence sent to grieving Rutherglen couple 102 years ago
This is the honorary gift given to a grieving Rutherglen couple who were mourning the death of their soldier son killed in World War One.
John and Margaret Smith, of 7 Hamilton Road, received a framed official letter featuring a photo of their eldest son John, along with a special message of condolence.
Dated February 7, 1917 and signed by Provost Adam Keir Rodger, the letter reads:“The Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen desire to convey to you their deep sympathy in your great bereavement of the death of Lance Corporal John Smith, your brave son who gave his life for King and country.”
John was killed in action seven months earlier in the Battle of the Somme, aged just 22.
Serving with the 1704 Seaforth Highlanders, John had fought bravely in France between 1915 and 1916.
He was later buried at the St Sever Cemetery in Rouen, France.
A total of 545 Rutherglen men and almost 400 people from Cambuslang were killed during WWI, and it is understood that relatives of every person received the same civic sympathy letter from Provost Rodger.
His brother Daniel Lusk Rodger, who was a distinguished member of the Rutherglen community, founded the Rutherglen Evangelical Institute in 1885.
Many soldiers went to church at the Institute in Greenbank Street before the war broke out, and it became a central base for supporting local troops and receiving correspondence during the conflict.
The institute would often send parcels to soldiers serving abroad with food, clothes, letters and copies of the Rutherglen Reformer.
Daniel Lusk Rodger penned a letter on January 1, 1916 that was copied and sent to around 700 Rutherglen soldiers serving on foreign soil.
He wrote:“Dear Comrade, at the reveille bugle call as the new year dawns, I hasten to wish you warmly‘A Happy New Year’.
“This wish to some may seem vain but, as many of you have yourselves told me, you find happiness even among the hardships and dangers of the trenches in doing your duty and defending our cause and country and the loved ones at home.
“We who cannot stand by you in the firing line at the Front try to back you up here at home as best we can and we earnestly pray that among the happy days of this new year may be the great day of the final victory, and glad day when we welcome our conquering heroes home.
“May God soon grant it.”