THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

Mr JH MacBeth, Duncraig, Wormit, received official information yesterday that his brother, Second-Lieutenant W MacBeth, Black Watch, had been killed in action on April 23. The letter received by Mr MacBeth from Lieutenant Colonel Booth states that Liet MacBeth fell bravely leading his men after the capture of the German first line and during the advance to the second line. He was a splendid and reliable officer and one the army could ill afford to lose.

50 years ago

A 13-year-old boy was held at knifepoint in his home in Broughty Ferry for 15 minutes by two raiders hedisturbed. When David McKenzie, Cottage Lane, returned home from playing football he was unable to switch on the lights of the living-room. As he switched on two wall lights two youths emerged from behind the curtains. One produced a curved butcher’s knife and held it to David’s throat. When they began to ransack the house, David made a dash for the front door and escaped.

25 years ago

A Fife man involved in an accident in his home caused quite a stir in St Monans. It all began when fisherman John Cooke fell while climbing a ladder into an attic bedroom at his home. He had returned home after his daughter Angela’s wedding. He suffered a leg injury but then the family discovered that he had a suspected broken leg. And that is where the problem lay. Mr Cooke could not get down from the attic and the family were wary of moving him. The fire brigade were called, as well as an ambulance.

One year ago

A racing pigeon was found covered in cooking oil and with debris stuck to him in a Dundee housing estate. The Scottish SPCA is now urging residents to dispose of their household waste correctly to avoid similar incidents. The bird was found by a passerby struggling near a garden in Fintry. He was taken to the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre at Petterden, where staff have named him Sparky. He has been given several baths in order to remove all of the oil and is recovering well.