New communal kitchen is busy

No fewer than 1500 portions of food were served in a fortnight at Stirling’s new communal kitchen. It was set up in the British Women’s Temperance Association rooms in the former Corn Exchange Tavern and run by a committee of ladies with the town council financing the project.

The aim of the initiative was to conserve foodstuffs at a time when staple products were in short supply. Speaking at a town council meeting, Judge Duff said the uptake was better than expected and if the rate of progress was maintained they would have to add to the scale of the set-up.

Half of the portions served were “carried out” and half eaten on the premises. However, later, carry-outs accounted for most of the servings.

Word reached Drymen that a posthumous Distinguished Conduct Medal had been awarded to Sgt Major George Menzies whose stepfather, Mr George Henshilwood, lived in the village. The 37-year-old, a native of Drymen, had died a few weeks earlier. He joined the Colours during the South African War and went to France in 1914 with the Expeditionary Force; he was gassed three times , the last occasion proving fatal. The sergeant major was grandson of the late Mr Donald Menzies , Critendam, Drymen, and the brave soldier had been buried in Drymen churchyard a few weeks earlier. He was the first Drymen-born soldier to win the DCM.