Meat shortage forces butchers to close as Doune‘tightens waist belt’

Under the heading ‘Doune tightens its waist belt’, the Observer correspondent in the village told how people there had been reacting to the latest phase of food scarcity caused by the war.

For the first time since the start of the conflict, butchers were having to close because of meat shortages.

The Observer said villagers were used to the unavailability of other food essentials and remained “comparatively cool in the presence of this fresh ordeal of self denial”. ***

*** In Strathblane, a parcel containing 19 mufflers – produced during the winter months by Mrs Moyes’ Young Girls Knitting Class – was sent out to the A&SH, serving abroad, with instructions that the contents went to the men of the 7th Battalion. It had been commanded by Capt Eric R Orr, from Strathblane, who was at the time a prisoner -of-war.

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*** Among the soldiers home on leave in Doune were Gunner Charles Stewart and Pte John McIntyre. Gnr Stewart had been serving in France for a lengthy period and before the war was head gardener with the Earl of Moray at Doune Lodge. Pte McIntyre, whose wife lived in Deanston, had been on active service in France for two years and was “looking in the best of health”. ***

Visiting the burgh of Doune was Pte Oliver Thorogood, of Australian Forces, He was one of five brothers fighting for their country and joined up in the early days of the war. He was in the village with Pte RF Tredennick, nephew of Mr and Mrs May of The Cross.