THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

The King has sent this message to the Secretary of State for War: “I desire to express through you to all ranks of the Army of the British Empire, Home, Dominion, Colonial and Indian troops, my heartfelt pride and gratitude at the success which has crowned more than four years of effort and endurance. Germany, our most formidable enemy, who planned the war to gain the supremacy of the world, full of pride in her armed strength, has been forced to acknowledge defeat.”

50 years ago

Britain’s first Polaris nuclear submarine, the Resolution, leaves for an unknown destination this week with 16 Polaris missiles – and a giant Christmas pudding – on board. Today the tradition of stirring the pudding will be carried out by singer Moira Anderson at Faslane Bay, Dunbartonshire. A Royal Navy spokesman said that since the submarine was likely to be away from its base for some time, it was felt that the crew should not be deprived of a Christmas pudding.

25 years ago

Chemists have been told not to expect new supplies of a flu vaccination for at least a fortnight as new figures show Tayside is in the grip of one of the worst flu epidemics of the last decade. GPs in Dundee, Perth and Angus are reported to be run off their feet tending to victims of a cocktail of viral and flu-like illness which has swept through communities over the last month. Schools and businesses are experiencing high absentee rates – in some cases almost half of all pupils are off sick. Efforts will continue to safeguard the future of hundreds of Fife workers following revelations a major employer could be placed into administration. Offshore manufacturing firm BiFab refused to comment on the reports but it is understood the move could be made within days. The firm employs around 450 people in its Burntisland and Methil complexes and another 150 on the west coast. The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and unions will hold talks with the firm today.