In brief: News from the home front

Men from the Doune area flocked to join a new“home guard”set up because of fear of invasion.

The Observer reported considerable satisfaction in the village over news that 76 locals had signed up for Volunteer No2 Platoon, B Company, Perthshire Volunteer Regiment.

Recruits met days earlier for “squad drill”.

An instructor, Staff Sgt Moir, put the men through a series of military drill and physical exercises.

“The men responded with smartness and intelligence, giving an excellent promise of rapid soldierly efficiency,”added the paper’s correspondent.

In Balfron, it was reported that Reverend Mr Campbell, of The Manse, had formed a company of Boy Scouts.

Mr Grey, a teller at the British Linen Bank, was to act as scoutmaster and Mr Campbell would provide instruction in ambulance work.

The Observer said: “The community is indebted to Mr Campbell for taking on this work especially at the present when so many boys lack the usual parental control on account of their fathers having joined the colours.”

Members of St Ninians School Board, at their latest meeting, were told that soldiers had vacated Cambusbarron Primary School where they had been billeted for many months.

It was decided that the committee would make a claim for any damage or loss caused during the soldiers’occupation.

During the time they had been there, Mr James W Drummond, Westerlands, had given the school board use of the old Free Church for one of the school’s classes. He would not accept any recompense and it was agreed that a letter of thanks should be sent to him.

Officials at the War Office had indicated that the school would not be required again for troops.

At a meeting of Perth County Council, members were told the War Office had applied for sanitorium treatment of tuberculosis for Pte Archibald Graham, Port of Menteith.

He had been discharged from the Army. Half of the expenditure for his treatment – expected to take place at Hillside, Perth – was recoverable from the War Office.