THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

There has been a great deal of useful work done in the air, much strenuous fighting taking place. The fine weather enabled photographic and artillery work to be carried out all day. Bombing and attacks with machine gun fire from low altitudes were also carried out incessantly, more than 400 bombs being dropped on an ammunition dump near Roulers and on hostile billets, hutments and railway junctions. Among the targets was a party of the enemy engaged in extinguishing a large fire.

50 years ago

Malcolm Muggeridge, Lord Rector of Edinburgh University, announced his resignation during the annual university service in St Giles Cathedral. He has quit over the official view of the students on the pill. Mr Muggeridge said to the congregation: “This row I have had with your elected officers is nothing to do with any puritanical attitude on my part.” At a meeting of the Students Representative Council, a motion was passed that the medical service should make advice available on the pill.

25 years ago

The aircraft carrier Ark Royal is to spearhead a naval task force with warplanes, artillery and helicopters to former Yugoslavia amid rising fears of increased fighting. Defence Secretary Malcolm Rifkind said the reinforcements would send a powerful warning. He told MPs that the reinforcements, due to leave on Sunday, would help protect the 2,500-member British force in Bosnia. They will be ready to evacuate the troops in a prolonged crisis.

One year ago

Free bus passes for Fife school children could be axed under costcutting plans tabled by education officials, The Courier has learned. Councillors have been asked to consider a change in the local authority’s free transport policy to help plug a projected £32 million budget gap. Free bus passes are given to primary age children who live more than one mile from their school and secondary pupils who live more than two miles from their school. Up to 2,000 youngsters could be affected.