Tears as victims laid to rest

The funeral of the three sisters took place a few days later.

Their coffins were laid on the lawn in front of the house as a service was conducted by the Rev K Sutherland-graeme, minister of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Both the provost and town chamberlain were present as were members of Stirling Rangers and Girl Guides. Helen was a member of the Holy Trinity

Guides in which Isabella was patrol leader.

A large crowd witnessed the service from the road, the Observer said, adding: `The eyes of many were moist while the men in the crowd stood with their heads reverently uncovered.

`Through the open window of one of the rooms the mother, a pathetic figure, could be seen looking with fixed gaze on the three coffins.’

People later lined the streets as the funeral cortege passed through the town.

A crowd of around a thousand gathered outside the town’s post office to pay their respects while hundreds watched from the Castle Esplanade as the victims were laid to rest at Ballengeich Cemetery.

It was not until a day after the tragedy that the young son of Mr and Mrs Wilson, who had been camping at

Braco with 5th Stirling Company of the Boys’ Brigade, was made aware of the death of his sisters.

`The company sports were being held that day and at the close a minister from Stirling took the lad aside and told him of the sad news as sympathetically as possible,’wrote the Observer.

`Great sympathy was offered to the grief-stricken boy by the officers, members and friends.’