THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

From correspondents’ HQ, France: “There is really very little to add to the official communiqués for the past 24 hours, which is tantamount to saying that the lull continues upon the western front. It has already been recorded that we retook the 150 yards of front line trench upon the rolling ground north-west of Albert, from which we fell back at dawn yesterday morning in what was evidently a fight for position. In every one of his recent attacks, the enemy has been repulsed or beaten off later.”

50 years ago

Surprise news from Parkhead! Jimmy Johnstone will not be going with the Celtic touring party to America next week. He has been withdrawn at his own request. The wee winger feels he has had a hard season and could do with a long rest. Added to that, his wife had a baby recently and Jimmy doesn’t want to leave her. While Celts are playing in the States, Johnstone will spend a long holiday on the Continent, soaking up the sun, then will get tuned up for next season.

25 years ago

The heart of Dundee was paralysed twice after police received a coded warning that bombs had been placed in four city centre letter boxes. The first shutdown of shops and offices came in late morning and lasted about three hours. The chaos resumed in mid-evening after another security operation was set up when two suspicious packages were found in the sorting office at the city’s main post office in Ward Road. Glasgow and Edinburgh were also affected by silmilar alerts.

One year ago

A 14-year-old boy with dreams of becoming a farmer has been left devastated after dogs savaged his prize flock of sheep. Archie Downie saved his pocket money and birthday cash for years to buy nine pedigree animals, caring for them at his family’s smallholding near Ardler. They have been attacked by out-of-control pets twice in 36 hours, just weeks before lambing. Archie’s flock sustained substantial injuries. At least one of a neighbouring shepherd’s flock was also killed in the first of the attacks.