Doctor reported missing in France

•There was concern in Drymen 100 years ago following the news that a doctor with links to the village, who had been serving in France, was reported missing. Capt John A Gilfillan, Royal Army Medical Corp, was youngest son of the late Mr George Gilfillan and Mrs Gilfillan, Hillside, Drymen. He graduated in medicine at the start of the war and had been on active service for some time. After recovering from injuries sustained in the Somme campaign, he served on medical boards in Britain before returning to duties in France in early 1918.

•In Strathblane, official information was received that Pte William Dunn, Highland Light Infantry (Dumbrock) had suffered a leg wound and was in hospital in England. He was progressing well. And also in hospital in England was Pte James McLeod, who was serving with Australian Forces in France. He was the brother of Mrs Crombie, Gartmore.

Privates Dougal Campbell and James S Blair, both of whom had links to Aberfoyle, were reported wounded during the fighting on the Western Front. Pte Campbell’s father was a contractor in the village, while Pte Blair worked before the war as a salesman in the local branch of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society.

•The Observer’s Doune correspondent reported much anxiety in the area as families awaited news of loved ones caught up in the latest fighting in France. Although there had been rumours of losses, there was at the time little authentic news . There only casualties reported were Lt D McAnish, son of the provost, who was in hospital suffering from shell shock, and Pte Hunter McNaughton, wounded on the second day of the battle.

•On the homefront, the Observer reported“keen disappointment”among cinema-goers in the town a few days earlier. They had been looking forward to the screening of a“local film” entitled `The Banks of the Allan Water’but there was dismay when cinema operator Mr Bowie announced that the footage had been accidentally destroyed by fire. He received the news an hour or two before the performance from those who had acquired the film for screening. Fortunately, Mr Bowie was able to show an alternative picture.