Survivor arrives home to tragedy
How news of Armistice was greeted
celebratory whisky they had set aside for the peace announcement.
Consequently , they had nothing with which to toast victory when Stirling’s cautious magistrates finally received confirmation of the accord at 12.40pm on November 11, 1918. At which time, the bell on the King Street steeple ‘rang out the glad tidings which set all doubt at rest’. Flags quickly adorned the newlyopened Municipal Buildings, in Corn Exchange Road, and there was a general display of bunting through out the town. Bells of the Peter Memorial Church, Broad Street steeple and South UF Church also chimed and, added the Observer, people poured into the street and ‘universal congratulations’ took place.
Flags and streamers appeared as if by magic in every thoroughfare and in a short time the town was in a blaze of colour,’ the paper continued. ‘Bands of young people paraded the streets and squibs (fireworks) and other explosives were let off in all directions.
‘Every youngster who could walk carried a hand flag of some kind and when the boys’ band of the A&SH emerged from Our World War One Centenary coverage has unearthed many heartbreaking stories but one of the most tragic was that of John Harvey. We told in September how – having survived months in the trenches –John arrived home to a devastating family fatality. The incident began when John’s wife left their home at Herdsbrae, Sauchieburn, to greet him at Stirling Station when he arrived home on leave. Their 13-year-old the Castle and paraded the burgh playing patriotic pieces, they were followed by a large procession of soldiers and boys and girls.’
Performances were also given at different locations in the town during the evening by the Stirling Burgh Band.
All public lighting, which had by law been either off or subdued for fear of Zeppelin attacks, was turned on, as was lighting in shops. Restaurants and hotels stayed open late to feed the revellers and the pubs were full although licensing laws were not relaxed and stocks of drink were not high.
Stirling provost John Raffan declared a public holiday for the remainder of the day and immediately shops and other businesses closed. A holiday was also granted to all schools. Workers who were not afforded time off took it anyway.
A service of thanksgiving was held at the East Church of the Kirk of the Holy Rude and also in the Albert Halls where the Dunblane Cathedral organist Mr Herd played the National Anthem. A ‘public meeting of citizens’ organised by the provost and council was held in the evening at North Parish Church, then situated in Murray Place. and he found the teenager to be seriously burned to the legs, arms, head and face. She was taken to Stirling Royal Infirmary but died that night. Following publication last month, John’s grandson, also John, who is 69 and lives at Whins of Milton, contacted us. His father Daniel, 88, of Milton Terrace, Stirling, who was not born at the time of the fire , had also read the piece.
John, who handed in a picture of his grandfather,
The church’s choir led the singing of Psalm 100 and Rev DP McLees gave thanks to “those whose steadfast endurance had won for us, and themselves, the victory’.
Resolutions were then past expressing “the great satisfaction of the whole community in the magnificent triumph over the cause of right,’ and also expressing the town’s gratitude to the nation’s Forces who had ‘valiantly and unflinchingly stood between us and the unspeakable horrors of German domination’.
There was applause, and Dr Lowson, Rector of Stirling High, who moved one of the resolutions, said ‘Stirling had known no such day since 1314 when the forces which threatened to engulf Scotland were driven back, broken and defeated.’
Dr Lowson told his audience the sacrifices to the war, made by many families, could not be forgotten.
In recompense, he added, they had a duty to ‘make the world purer, richer and nobler.’ A hearty rendition of the National Anthem followed by the playing on the organ of the Hallelujah Chorus closed the meeting. People celebrated until late into the night but there were no reports of anyone being arrested for disorderly conduct.