On the home front, corn growing at King’s Park proves to be a spectacle

The Observer’s Kippen correspondent reported that news of the village’s “soldier lads” over the last 10 days had not been good. Cpl James Lowe, Scottish Rifles, whose parents lived at Parklea Lodge, was “unofficially” reported missing, the news having come from a pal. Cpl Lowe returned to the Front a short time earlier after having been wounded. Mr and Mrs Sharp, Edinkill, received a letter from a chaplain to say there son Peter, a private in the Seaforths, had been severely wounded in the shoulder and breast. He had been in the Army for 18 months. Mrs Stewart received a letter to say her husband, Sgt John Stewart, Canadian contingent, was being treated for wounds to the back and arm. Sgt Stewart went to the frontline with the Canadians who had seen a good deal of severe fighting. The correspondent hoped there would be better news in the future and added: “It is through the courage and sacrifice of those who have gone out that we have been able to live in comfort and it is up to some of those who have until now made no sacrifice to step in and fill the gap in the ranks. Then there will be less talk of unrest in the country.”

People in Aberfoyle learned that Pte Norman Morrison, Highland Light Infantry had been gassed and was being treated in hospital in Bristol.

Sgt Macgregor, Black Watch, and Cpl Macneil, Scottish Rifles, were at home in the village on Gartmore on a few days well earned leave. And also returning to Gartmore after a lengthy spell in France was Pte Charles Ferguson, Motor Transport.

Mr R Muirhead, Causeyhead, Port of Menteith Station, learned his son, a machine gunner, had been wounded and slightly gassed in August 8, 1917, while serving in France. He was admitted to a hospital in England.

Rev GWS Cowie, UF Church, Buchlyvie, was back home after a “strenuous but interesting” six months working at the YMCA huts in France.

In Doune, Capt John McFarlane, Army Veterinary Corp, son of Bailie McFarlane, arrived home for a few days leave after two years in France. Capt JS Keane, also AVC and well known in the village, paid a visit to the area. He was formerly an assistant to Bailie McFarlane.

Meanwhile, on the homefront, the spectacle of corn growing at King’s Park proved quite a sight and stirred memories among Stirling older residents.

Part of the park had earlier in 1917 been taken over for agriculture as the problem of food shortages, caused by the warm became more acute.

According to the Observer, no one living could remember corn growing there although others recalled half a century earlier the area being used for cultivating potatoes and turnips.