In brief..

Staff from Stirling Combination Hospital were granted a ‘war bonus’, the Observer of 100 years ago reported. They were to share a total of £77 in recognition of the extra work arising from the admission of military patients.

The committee of management also granted a war bonus of an extra two shillings a week to the hospital caretaker, taking his weekly wage to 30 shillings. He was also entitled to a free house.

Since 1914, £2656, equivalent to around £128,000 today, had been collected in Stirling during war relief-related flag days. A total of £1526 was raised in 1915 but only £1130 in 1916. “Neither the public nor collectors were as keen in 1916 as they were the previous year,” said the Observer.

Miss Colville, Park Place, Stirling, who had for many years taken an interest in “philanthropic matters” and was Scout master in Cambusbarron, was to become a military nurse and had left for Salonica. Before departure , she received a presentation from her troop.

The Observer also reported that in view of the need to increase food production because of the war, the Crown authorities proposed to plough up the whole of King’s Park. Town councillors had been asked for their observations.

On the homefront, an accident occurred in Wallace Street, Stirling, when William Harris (50), engineman, 44 Lower Bridge Street, fell in front of a horsedrawn tram.

Mr Harris’ leg became jammed in the wheel. First aid was rendered by PC Stewart and passers-by, and Mr Harris was taken to Stirling Royal Infirmary where he was found to have “simple fractures” to both bones below the knee, and fractures to his ribs.

Weather through the winter of 1916 and 1917 had been mixed.