Homefront hit as flu virus kills

Military medallist and Navy man succumb

Evidence that the influenza epidemic was taking a grip on Stirling area appeared in the Observer of 100 years ago.

The paper reported 33 funerals in Stirling in October, 1918, compared with 11 during the same month in the previous year. Flu and pneumonia were thought to be responsible for most of the deaths.

Stirling’s Craigs, Abbey and Allan’s schools were closed due to flu and Stirling Infirmary was shut to visitors. Flu had also hit St Mary’s School and the Public School, both Dunblane. And at Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, half the boys had gone down with the virus.

Among the early victims of the epidemic which was to kill millions around the world was Sgt Donald Thomson, A&SH, and labourer Charles Ross, 5 St John Street, Stirling.

Sgt Thomson, whose wife and four children lived in Baker Street, Stirling, contracted a cold while home on leave.

On his return to Folkestone, where he was stationed, his illness developed into bronchitis and pneumonia and he died in hospital. He was buried with military honours at Ballengeich Cemetery.

The 36-year-old – who had worked for a cabinet maker – enlisted at the outbreak of war and served in France for two years, winning the Military Medal.

He was also wounded and lost the fingers on one of his hands. This left him unfit for active service and he was appointed to a post with the Embarkation Staff at Folkestone.

Charles Ross, 46, was working at Throsk on the new Naval installation when he succumbed to the disease.

Mr Ross was himself a former Navy man who enlisted in the Senior Service in 1886 and served over 11 years before retiring with a good record.

The Observer told how of his miraculous escape from a Naval disaster which occurred in June, 1893, in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Tripoli.

Mr Ross was on HMS Victoria, flagship of Admiral Sir George Tryon, when – due to an ‘error of judgment’ – it was rammed by another Naval vessel, the dreadnought Camperdown.

The Victoria ‘turned turtle’ within minutes and sank. Admiral Tryon, 21 officers and 350 men lost their lives but Mr Ross was among the 357 men saved.

After leaving the Navy, Mr Ross joined the Mercantile Marine and sailed round the world several times before returning to Stirling where he was employed in the gasworks.

Mr Ross’s funeral was of a military character and his coffin, draped in the Union flag, was escorted to its final resting place by 30 soldiers from Stirling Castle.

Naval representatives and former shipmates also attended the funeral which was organised by undertaker Mr David Mundell.