Tuesday 1st June
Buccleuch Estates collected rents from its tenants in the Temperance Hotel from 10 am to 2 pm.
Wednesday 2nd June
The Langholm Horticultural Society has decided to cancel its annual flower show.
‘Gilnockie’ had a letter to the editor published in the E&L:
Nothing gives the Wild Beast of Berlin greater encouragement in his mad career of deluging the Continent with blood as does the postponement of any of our British pastimes. […] O, ye wet blankets o’ the Langholm, ye spoil sports o’ the Muckle Toon, ye’ll never be forgiven for no’ haddin’ the Common Riding in 1915. […] Get up an indignation meeting, and come roun’ good auld Provost Easton, and tell him the Muckle Toon’s dander is up, and you mean to assert your rights by riding the marches.
E&L, 2 Jun 1915
Provost Allan of Selkirk has resigned as he feels he cannot take part in the Selkirk Common Riding which is proceeding in a modified form on the approval of a large majority of the town’s council.
An open air meeting was held in Market Place under the auspices of the Central Scottish Recruiting Committee. Three new volunteers came forward.
Saturday 5th June
The usual mass exodus during the annual June holiday did not happen yesterday and today, due to the recent cancellation of discounted railway fares. Instead, the main activities were bowling tournaments at the Old Town and New Town clubs.
Winston Churchill addressed his constituents in Dundee, saying that he did not believe that conscription would be necessary to win the war.
Professor Frank Dyson*, the ninth Astronomer Royal, delivered an annual report at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, announcing that the 1914-15 winter was the wettest in the UK for 100 years.
* Dyson’s measurements from a solar eclipse in 1919 provided empirical support for Einstein’s general theory of relativity, for which see 25th November 1915.
Sunday 6th June
James Dalgliesh (36) of 1st KOSB, a career soldier after being a tailor, was killed in an Ottoman counterattack after the Third Battle of Krithia in Gallipoli. He had previously served in South Africa, India (twice), Burma, Aden and Egypt, before heading to Gallipoli in April 1915.
1st/5th KOSB landed at V Beach on the Gallipoli peninsula, under fire from Turkish guns across the Dardanelles strait, having travelled from Liverpool via the Greek island of Lemnos.
Monday 7th June
John Bell, janitor of the Langholm Academy and a member of its School Board, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and an annuity of £10 in recognition of his long and distinguished service with the army. He was a colour sergeant in the Gordon Highlanders. The decorations in the photo below are (left to right) the Afghanistan Medal (with three clasps, i.e. three separate awards), the Kabul to Kandahar Star and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Tuesday 8th June
Broncho Bill’s Great Wild West Circus put on two performances in a 10,000-seat tent with two rings, as well as exhibitions. It was well attended with many travelling long distances to see it. It follows a similar format to shows developed by Buffalo Bill Cody in the 1880s.
E&L, 26 May 1915
In a letter to the E&L, ‘Interested’ wrote that ‘If we do not carry out the great event [the Common Riding], then we will be acting the part of cowards, and doing what we can to dishearten our brave lads who have gone to the war’.
Wednesday 9th June
2nd Lieutenant Harry Robinson died of wounds today, aged 19, after being shot in the back yesterday by a sniper near Ypres. He worked in the Land Values Office in Melrose, Roxburghshire and his father Harry is the scoutmaster in Langholm. Prior to the war, Harry junior received a Silver Wolf award, the highest Scout decoration, ‘for services of the most exceptional character’, from Chief Scout Robert Baden-Powell.
Thursday 10th June
The town council is going to take legal action in the Sheriff Court against Joseph Turnbull, a slater in the High Street, to resolve a boundary dispute involving the new fire station. Another legal issue is an action by Dumfriesshire County Council against Langholm over sewage discharge into the River Esk. Provost Easton, convenor of the town’s Sewage Purification Scheme, is seeking to negotiate a settlement.
Friday 11th June
The Selkirk Common Riding took place in a modified form, with only 14 riders compared to 136 last year. The burgh colours were handed to the flag-bearer by the chief magistrate instead of the provost due to the resignation of the latter.
Sunday 13th June
William Herries, baker, gave a talk at the South UF Church about his work with the YMCA near the front line. His sons George (30) and David (29) are serving with 1st/5th KOSB and the Gordon Highlanders. The YMCA has 40 centres and 40 vehicles in France, providing refreshments, stationery, books, magazines and games. They hold nightly and Sunday services and help to organise some of the many concerts for the troops, such as those by theatre manager and actress Miss Lena Ashwell’s touring groups.
William gave an account of obtaining his passport from the War Office:
I was handed a form on which I had to state my profession, age, and general description of myself, colour of hair, eyes, and shape of nose, etc. […] When the official asked me what kind of face I had, I replied at once, “Very intelligent”. His stare of surprise was so marked that I hastily corrected myself and now I appear on the official passport as a human being with a long face.
E&L, 23 Jun 1915
Tuesday 15th June
Joseph Turnbull (33) was killed near Festubert, France, in the Second Battle of Artois, during a charge on enemy trenches (he is not closely related to the Joseph Turnbull mentioned on 10th June). He first enlisted at the age of 15 and served in the Boer War. Prior to re-enlisting, he was a worker at the Dalzell steelworks (pronounced ‘Dal-yell’) in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, the largest in Scotland.
Thomas Maxwell, a woollen scourer (cleaner), was officially informed that his son William Maxwell died around 11th May in the Dardanelles, aged 29. Further details are awaited.
Wednesday 16th June
The E&L published three letters about the Common Riding from ‘Thistle’, ‘Muckleholm Pool’ and ‘X.Y.Z.’. All three are in favour of holding the event, the first two advocating some modifications. The third wrote a satirical piece, noting the recent visit of the circus at which the ‘Mover of the Common-Riding Wet Blanket Resolution seemed to enjoy the fun and frolic very much’, without mentioning Robert Ramage by name.
William Ross, son of tailor William Ross of David Street, has been wounded in the right arm and hand by an explosion while he was driving a wagon for the Army Service Corps. His brother Frederick lost his left arm last month and has been discharged.
David Douglas, writing to Arthur Bell from Hill 60, thanks him for the last newspaper (the E&L) but says that ‘our friends across the way have been giving us such a lively time of it that it was very uncomfortable reading this time.’ The ‘friends’ are 80 yards away and have been making raids with hand grenades, returned in kind by David’s section.
Saturday 19th June
Margaret Mallison or Smith of no fixed residence was convicted by bailie Cairns of being drunk and disorderly and sentenced to £2 or 20 days. It was her forty-fourth conviction at Langholm burgh police court. She did not pay the fine and went to jail.
The annual golf competition for a silver rose bowl was won by Rev David Inglis who beat Simon Hyslop, draper, in the final.
Former colour sergeant John Bell, janitor of the Langholm Academy, was presented with his Meritorious Service Medal by Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Leith, Fortress Commander at Aberdeen, at the Aberdeen Links. The 3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders formed three sides of a square on the links. Mr Bell served two years with the Grenadier Guards and 29 years in the Gordon Highlanders.
The South UF Church held its annual Sabbath School event, involving a drive along the banks of the Esk and Wauchope rivers, followed by a tea and games at the manse with Rev James and Ada Macdonald. It was the largest turnout for years, assisted by ideal weather.
Sunday 20th June
Thomas Maxwell, who was informed five days ago that his son William had been killed in the Dardanelles, has received a letter from William dated 1st June, written over two weeks after his reported death. It was published in the E&L under the heading ‘Erroneously Reported Killed’.
Monday 21st June
William Ramage, son of Robert Ramage, was struck on the side of the head by shrapnel in the Dardanelles and died almost instantaneously, aged 24. He was leading his KOSB company from the firing line through a communication trench. He was buried a few hours later in a funeral attended by his younger brother John and some other fellow Langholmites. The battalion’s colonel and Major William Millar also attended the funeral. William Ramage was the first of the Langholm Territorials to fall.
Later today, Lieutenant James McGeorge, who grew up within a few hundred yards of the Ramage family in Langholm, sent a letter to William’s father:
It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, Willie, at 6.30 this morning. […] The whole company is downcast over his death, as he was well liked by all and was without a single enemy. I consider this to be a very fine testimonial to his character, as one in his position exercising authority over men who have not been accustomed to strict discipline before mobilisation, is very apt to make one or two enemies, but I can vouch for it that this was not so in his case. […] I have lost not only an excellent platoon sergeant, but also a good friend.
E&L, …
Tuesday 22nd June
Harry Robinson, scoutmaster, has received a letter from Robert Baden-Powell:
I am deeply grieved to hear of the death of your son from wounds received in action. It is only natural that the finer the character of the boy the greater must be the blow to the parents on losing him, and yet you have the proud consolation of knowing that in falling thus he proved to the world his patriotism in the highest form of self-sacrifice, and offered to his young fellow-countrymen a splendid example. To none will this appeal with greater force than to his comrades, the Boy Scouts. To them it will be an inspiration. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.
E&L, …
The Press Association’s special correspondent at the Dardanelles has written a report about the contrast between the rain, mud and shells in France and the sunshine and flies in the Dardanelles. The sky in the Dardanelles has been almost cloudless for two months and flies cover any exposed part of the body:
Their numbers are amazing. Food is black with them the instant it is set on the table. They fill the tents and shelters with their idiot-buzzing and madden the men trying to snatch half an hour’s snooze. […] They rise up in great clouds before you on the road.
E&L, …
Wednesday 23rd June
Grouse prospects in the area look good, after 1913 being one of the worst on record, followed by a minor recovery last year.
Robert Bell of Caroline Street is advertising the availability of Overland and Ford cars for hire.
24 June Thursday
The Langholm Liberal Club held its annual meeting, chaired by Charles Paisley, tanner. Treasurer David Harkness, draper, reported a small positive balance and Provost Easton made a few remarks.
29 June Tuesday
A sundial donated by David Beattie, sculptor and poet, has been installed in the playground of Langholm Academy. It is made of Aberdeen granite and is inscribed ‘Presented to Langholm Academy by David J Beattie, a former pupil’.
From Lawson Cairns’s diary: ‘Recd. a card from General Snow thanking me for my services at St Jean.’
Wednesday 30th June
Thomas Maxwell has now had an official update that his son William died on 5th June, not on or around 11th May, as previously advised. The letter written by William on 1st June was therefore not an indication that he was still alive. He was wounded on the Gallipoli peninsula and died on the hospital ship Ascania at the island of Lemnos, Greece.
Piper Herbert Burnett of 1st/5th KOSB was wounded in the side while performing stretcher-bearer duties in the Dardanelles. He is going to be relocated to Malta for recuperation.
‘Whita’ wrote to the E&L: ‘It will be a bitter disappointment to real Langholmites if the marches are not ridden. I quite admit that the statutory meeting decided otherwise, but the meeting was suffering from the effects of gas.’
A letter from ‘Langholmite’ says that the many letters supporting the holding of the Common Riding have all been one-sided and that ‘Mr Ramage as the mover of the resolution against the Common-Riding has come in for a very large share of criticism, a criticism which is unfair in the light of the news which reached the town in the past few days’, i.e. the death of his son William.