Scheme to boost recruits to Services

Fresh moves to boost the number of recruits for the Services were outlined in the Observer.

A scheme had been introduced to obtain from industries less essential to the war effort suitable substitutes to take the place of men who were required for the military but working in essential industries.

To effect the scheme, the country was divided into areas and each was to have a recruiting officer, labour officer and representatives of the ministries of labour and munitions.

The Observer of 100 years ago noted the previous Friday was designated ‘America Day’ to mark the United States’ decision to enter the war in early April, 1917. However, the paper reported that in Stirling not a single US flag was flown.

One hotel keeper had made arrangements to hoist the Stars and Stripes but abandoned the move because of problems with the flagpole.

An Austrian ‘alien’, interned in Stirling since shortly after the outbreak of war, had the licence for his hotel in Aberlour withdrawn by Fifeshire justices. The Austrian was married to a Scot and described by the Observer as a “very respectable man” who had lived in Aberlour for many years before the war.

However, justices were of the view it was not right that the licence of the town’s principal hotel should be held by an ‘alien’, even if the business was being managed by a Scot.

Alexander , 10 George Street, Stirling, received a letter from 2nd Lt King A&SH reporting the death in action of her son George, a private in the A&SH.

The officer said Pte Alexander suffered a fatal wound when he and comrades went over the top under heavy shell fire and came up against ‘Boche’ machine guns.

Second Lt King, said Pte Alexander was one of his best men.

The private was 24 and served his apprenticeship as a butcher with James Cullens.

He later worked for three years with Stirling Co-operative Society, and had joined the Army a year earlier.

A well known and popular young man, he had been in France for nine months.