Flying Corp man killed in France

Mrs Brotherhood, Park Avenue, Stirling, received official news her husband Frank, a lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corp, had been killed in France. He served two and a half years with the Gordons but had a short time earlier received a commission with the RFC. He had only been at the Front for three weeks. Before enlisting, he was engaged in motor engineering in Glasgow. Two months earlier, he married Miss Mary Hogan, daughter of Mrs Hogan, antique dealer, 4 Park Street, Stirling.

A reserve training battalion of the Camerons left Stirling Station aboard a special train for a camp in the south of England. They received a “very hearty send-off ”, said the Observer.

Pte James Kerr, Gordon Highlanders, earlier reported missing, was now said to have been killed in the fighting. Pte Kerr, from Bannockburn, lived with his wife in Hayford Square, Cambusbarron, and was formerly employed at Millhall Colliery.

Mr Gilbert Johnston – whose father James was a timber merchant based at Abbey Road Sawmills, Stirling – had passed the exams required to secure a commission with the Royal Flying Corp. He was an engineer by profession and some months earlier, on reaching the age of 18, joined the RFC. He trained at Farnborough, headquarters of the RFC, and attended various courses of instruction at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from where he obtained the qualification he needed to get his commission.

National War Savings Committee reports showed increasing interest in the movement. According to a Mr Findlay, secretary of the Scottish committee of the organisation, small villages were showing as good a record of helping to pay for the war as larger places. In Kippen, for example, the war savings association had a membership of 159 and had invested £4500 in the previous three months.

In the Observer’s children’s section, known as Daddy’s Circle, a contribution had come from Raymond McKenzie, 21 Cochrane Street, Falkirk, who gave what he said was a report from a military tribunal. He explained that a shepherd, facing call-up, was asked if there was any reason why a woman could not do his work. “A woman once tried and made a mess of it ,” said the shepherd. “Who was she,” inquired the chairman of the tribunal. “Bopeep,” answered the shepherd.