Families devastated by death of Gordon Highlanders
Letters from the Front arrived at the home of Mr and Mrs Macdonald, Stein Square, Bannockburn, to say that their son James, a private in the Gordon Highlanders, had been killed in action. He enlisted 12 months earlier and had been at the Front for four months. The 20-year-old was formerly employed at Plean Colliery.
Information also reached Stirling that L/Cpl Richard Dawson, also of the Gordon Highlanders, was fatally wounded during the fighting on November 13, 1916. He joined the home defence force but found himself at the Front when his battalion volunteered for foreign service. The 30-year-old was employed at Fallin Colliery and left a widow and five children.
Mrs Mary Neilson, 16 Orchard Place, Stirling, learned that her son Tom , a private in the A&SH, had been reported wounded and missing since November, 1915, when his battalion was in action.
He was previously employed in Messrs Davie’s Foundry, Orchard Place, Stirling.
The Observer of 100 years ago this week reported fewer troops billeted in Stirling and district than at any time since the outbreak of war. It was thought the present number was unlikely to be added. “Winter will be duller in consequence,”said the paper.
At Stirling Sheriff Court, Sheriff Dean Leslie was taking a hard line on those who came before him charged with breaching liquor sales laws introduced following the outbreak of war.
In one case, a publican and licensee from Torrance of Campsie came before him charged with selling a pint bottle whisky to a farmer at a time when alcohol sales were prohibited.
The accused said the whisky was meant for the farmer’s cow which was said to be“ailing”. The sheriff was clearly unimpressed with the explanation and fined the licensee £10.
And a Denny licence holder and barman were fined £5 and £3 respectively for selling a bottle of alcohol to a boy who said the drink was required for an“invalid”.
In other homefront news, the Observer reported the tragic death of 21-year-old mill worker Rachel Llewelyn who lived with her parents at 44 Baker Street, Stirling. Rachel had been at a dance in Bannochburn and left at 5am to go home and get ready for work.
After putting on her work clothes she set off for Rockvale Mills but turned back after feeling unwell and collapsed and died in the street.
She had been off work for some months suffering from rheumatic fever and her death was due to a“rheumatic heart”.