THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Second-Lieutenant J. W. Mackay, who has made the supreme sacrifice, was the eldest son of the Rev Dr Patrick R. Mackay, chaplain in Scotland to reservists and timeexpired soldiers. He and his brother, Second-Lieutenant Mark S. Mackay, enlisted as privates on the outbreak of war. In due course they went to France where the youngest brother was killed on April 23. The elder brother was wounded in August, but carried on with the operation, this devotion to duty resulting in the loss of his life.

50 years ago

Four men who work with the National Cash Register bravely fought a fire in a department filling with flames and cyanide fumes last night at the company’s Dryburgh factory on Dundee’s industrial estate. The blaze was in the heat treatment department at the rear of the factory where sodium cyanide is used. A fire officer said it was believed the cause of the blaze was the ignition of quenching oil. The men raised the alarm then tackled the fire. The firemen praised their efforts.

25 years ago

The Duchess of York put on a brave, smiling face for photographers as she and her daughters returned to their rented home after leaving the royal family holiday at Balmoral. They flew from Aberdeen airport and arrived at Romenda Lodge in Wentworth, three days after tabloid newspapers had published intimate pictures of the duchess and her Texan friend John Bryan at a private swimming pool at St Tropez in France. The Palace said the departure was “planned”.

One year ago

Two Fife councillors are seeking support for a £30,000 plan to introduce anti-gull measures in the kingdom’s coastal communities. Councillors Tom Adams and Peter George, who have dubbed themselves the Gullbusters, were asked to investigate potential solutions to the problem. They have now reported their findings to the council’s Labour group, with a hope of getting it approved by the full council later this year. It was a priority for the council to tackle the issue as soon as possible.