Trio mentioned in Field Marshall’s dispatches

News reached Stirling that L/Cpl CR Stewart, A&SH, was awarded the Military Medal while two Stirling officers – Lieutenant (acting captain) WV McIntosh, quartermaster, and Honorary Lieutenant William Cunnison – had been mentioned in the dispatches of Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, commander of British troops on the Western Front.

Lt McIntosh , formerly a clerk in Glasgow, enlisted as a private shortly after the start of the war. Lt Cunnison was a cashier with Lawson Ltd, Stirling, and a former noncommissioned officer with StirlingshireTerritorials.

*** On the homefront, there were fears for the future in Stirling area of the game of cricket. They emerged after a meeting was called of members of East Stirlingshire Cricket Club for the purpose of discussing whether to wind up the club and sell the pavilion and other effects. Like others across the area, the club suspended its activities because of the war. The Observer said: “We are afraid others will follow. The war has given cricket a setback it will not recover from for many years, if ever. Football is different. It is played by the troops as well as by civilians and soldiers at home.”

*** Pte James MacKay, Highland Light Infantry, was severely wounded while serving in France, and being treated in a hospital in Leicester. He was making “satisfactory progress”. Pte Mackay was eldest son of Mr James Mackay, insurance agent, 10 Dumbarton Road, Stirling, and former manager with the grocery firm Lindsay and Low.

*** Gunner R Campbell , eldest son of Mr W Campbell, Stirling, was awarded the Military Medal and promoted to sergeant. He worked in the pits before enlisting and was the eldest of five brothers serving in the Army.

*** At Stirling Sheriff Court, William Ross, farmer, Durrishill, Denny, and his son James, were each fined £2 follow a“riot”in the village of Cowie. Villagers took umbrage when, while selling from a cart, the pair stipulated that milk would only be sold to customers who agreed to purchase potatoes as well.

The Fiscal said this stipulation “led to a riot”and six particularly angry woman turned on the taps of the milk barrels.

Mr Ross and his son hastily got together their belongings “whipped up their horses and drove away hurriedly”.