Bell tolled at 42

Public health statistics for Stirling, printed 100 years ago, showed the number of deaths registered in the Stirling Burgh in 1917 was 300, with the average age at death 41.95 years.

Births during the year numbered 416 and included one set of triplets and eight sets of twins.

No fewer than 38 children under the age one died that year. A total of 178 marriages took place. Officials logged 107 cases of infectious diseases including – civilians: scarlet fever, 13; diphtheria, eight; enteric fever (typhoid) , seven; meningitis, five; erysipelas, 14. Soldiers: scarlet fever, three; enteric fever, three; meningitis, three; erysipelas five.

*** A dedication service conducted by the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, took place in St Mary’s Church, Aberfoyle, for a tablet laid in memory of Lt Alan Kennedy Williamson. The lieutenant, who was killed in action in France, was the son of a former incumbent at St Mary’s. ***

*** Western Front veteran Sgt Stewart Mitchell, Black Watch, from Dunblane, was awarded the Military Medal. He was the 22-year-old son of Mr and Mrs George Mitchell, who farmed at Greenloaning but formerly of Auchinlay Farm, Dunblane. Sgt Mitchell joined Scottish Horse on the outbreak of the war before transfer to the Black Watch and had been on the Western Front for 12 months. There was no indication of how he won the medal and the sergeant made no mention of it in letters home.

***