Sunday 1st August
Lawson Cairns noted in his diary that he had received his watch back in France from Joe Anderson, watchmaker and jeweller in Langholm. It had been sent to Joe two weeks ago for repair.
Monday 2nd August
George Irving Bell, the town clerk, is looking for volunteers to help with the distribution and collection of forms for the forthcoming national registration day on 15th August. It will record the skills of all those between 15 and 65 to assist with workforce planning.
The UK used to import two billion eggs per year, weighing about 120,000 tons, mostly from countries now at war, including over 825 million from Russia. Its own production of a little over two billion per year will need to increase significantly to make up some of the considerable reduction of imports.
Tuesday 3rd August
The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch have arrived at Langholm Lodge, shortly in advance of 12th August, the start of the red grouse shooting season.
Angling has been excellent over the past week, with numerous catches of different types of trout. Joe Anderson’s wife Mary caught two and a half dozen yellow trout in one session.
Prime Minister H H Asquith, in a written reply to a question from Percy Molteno, MP for Dumfriesshire, stated that in the war to date 69,313 soldiers and sailors have been killed, 196,620 wounded and 63,885 are missing. Of the deaths, 51,660 have been in France and 8,134 in the Dardanelles.
Kirst Elliot, fair crier, was re-elected as Chief Templar of the Langholm branch of the International Order of Good Templars.
Wednesday 4th August
Today is the first anniversary of the UK’s declaration of war against Germany. The Parish Church held a public devotional service with a very large attendance. The Episcopal Chapel held three intercessory services, the two morning ones being attended by the Duchess of Buccleuch.
The E&L reported that bugler John Warwick and Thomas McVittie have been wounded, not yet knowing that John Warwick died in action on 12th July and that Thomas McVittie died of wounds on 18th July.
Thursday 5th August
Lawson Cairns’s sister Ella (23) married William Clayton (28) in the Langholm parish church today. Her bridesmaid was her younger sister Betty. The newlyweds headed off by motorcar for a honeymoon in Wales and will live in Huddersfield, where she was born when her family lived there for a few years and where her husband is from.
Sunday 8th August
The railway line between Longtown and Gretna will be closed to the public from today so that it can be used exclusively by the new munitions factory.
Monday 9th August
From Lawson Cairns’s diary: ‘Aymer came down & we drank Ella’s health’, referring to Ella’s marriage. Lieutenant Aymer Maxwell is the son of Rev David Maxwell of Broomholm house, two miles south of Langholm, and is with 1st/9th Royal Scots. Aymer’s elder brother Herbert is in the Royal Army Medical Corps and his younger brother Malcolm is with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. The Maxwell family has been a major property owner in the southwest of Scotland for centuries.
David Wallace, stepson of William Douglas, owner of the Eskdale Temperance Hotel, was killed in the Dardanelles. He worked as a groom and coachman in the hotel in the late 1890s before becoming a coal miner in Cumberland, where his wife is from. He served with the KOSB in the Chitral Expedition and in South Africa, and rejoined the army in the Border Regiment. The first of his six children was born in Langholm before he moved to Cumberland.
Tuesday 10th August
Lawson Cairns has been awarded a certificate of commendation for gallant conduct. The E&L writes:
It appears that he earned this praise in the spring of the the year for refusing to leave a number of wounded men who were lying in a dangerous zone. Despite the fact that his battalion had been ordered to get clear of the danger zone, Lance-Corporal Cairns stayed with the wounded and succoured them in spite of the enemy’s fire.
E&L, …
His diary records: ‘Received a P.C. [postcard] from Ella from Liverpool. At 4.30 p.m. we had tea & enjoyed the bride’s cake very much. […] Sir Douglas Haig visited the camp & spoke to us.’
Wednesday 11th August
Alex Erskine has received a certificate of distinguished conduct for devoted and continuous work as a stretcher-bearer during recent fighting. He is one of four Erskine brothers serving in four different regiments:
- Charles, b. 1886: Scottish Horse
- David, b. 1888: Army Service Corps
- Walter, b. 1889: Highland Cycle Battalion
- Alex, b. 1893: 1st/5th KOSB
Their father Henry Erskine was Langholm’s inspector of the poor and registrar who recorded his own death in the parish register before taking poison in the masonic lodge in 1896. He miscalculated the strength of the poison and died instantly, half an hour before his recorded death.
Robert McGeorge, solicitor and the local recruiting officer, has publicised an army circular about the raising of two Labour Battalions of Royal Engineers for fortifications in the field. The circular indicates that men between the ages of 40 and 47 wishing to enlist should apply at the nearest Labour Exchange, ‘provided they are accustomed to digging’.
‘An Exposer’ complains in the E&L about the prevalent borders practice of livestock buyers asking for a ‘luck-penny’ upon a purchase at auctions. The writer says that the fee charged at modern auctions has replaced traditional one-to-one arrangements whereby individuals could agree for the seller to pay the buyer a small amount for luck at the conclusion of a transaction.
Thursday 12th August
The Town Council debated whether the town clock and streets should be lit nightly or not, given the general threat of aerial bombing raids and the cost of lighting. It was decided by three votes to two to light the clock but not the street lamps, the restriction being primarily for economic purposes. It also decided not to take any action in response to a circular about insurance against aerial bombing.
Yesterday’s issue of the E&L lists some notable ‘Phrases of the War’:
A scrap of paper – Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg.
I nibble them – General Joffre.
Too proud to fight – President Wilson.
French’s contemptible little army – The Kaiser.
It’s a long, long way to Tipperary – Mr Jack Judge.
Business as usual – Mr H E Morgan of newsagent W H Smith, in a 1914 letter to the Daily Chronicle.
Every shell is a lifeguard – Mr Lloyd George.
Gott strafe England (‘May God punish England’) – The German people.
To the last drop and the last shilling – The English people. (Perhaps an alteration of ‘To the last man and the last shilling’ in a speech by Andrew Fisher, Australian prime minister.)
Silver bullets (the importance of public finance in warfare) – Mr Lloyd George.
Somewhere in France – The Press Bureau (referring to press censorship of locations).
E&L, 12 Aug 1915
Saturday 14th August
A French Flag Day (a fundraiser by selling flags) was held in showery weather and resulted in a collection of £22 7s 6d.
Sunday 15th August
National registration forms had to be completed today, giving personal details, occupation and alternative skills.
James Robinson, son of Charles, woollen pattern weaver, was advancing with the Highland Light Infantry when a British shell from covering fire landed near him, kicking up stones, one of which hit him in the eye and knocked him out. In hospital, it was decided that the eye needed to be removed. He is now in Queen Mary’s Hospital, Whalley, Lancashire. His younger brother Robert is serving with the KOSB.
From Lawson Cairns’s diary: ‘It simply poured till 12 noon with thunder & lightning as well but has cleared up beautifully now. Church parade should have been at noon but was put off till 3.00 p.m. We had a service first after which about 300 of us took communion.’
Monday 16th August
From Lawson Cairns’s diary: ‘Sick parade had to be at 9.00 a.m. today owing to an inspection by General Pultney commander of the 1st Corps [in fact Lieutenant General William Pulteney*, 3rd Corps]. We paraded for the inspection at 10.00 a.m. I was again being in charge of the stretcher bearers. I was honoured by the General speaking to me.’
* Not a close relation to William Pulteney (1684-1764), 1st Earl of Bath, or William Pulteney, 5th Baronet (1729-1805), Thomas Telford’s sponsor.
Wednesday 18th August
To date, the Comforts Committee has sent 56 parcels to France; 62 to the Dardanelles, Egypt and Malta; two to military ships; and one to a prisoner in Döberitz prisoner of war camp near Berlin, Germany.
Harrison and Son sold over 1,200 lambs in Langholm in their first special lamb sale of the season, with the top price being 39 shillings 9 pence per lamb for a cross-breed.
Adam Waldie was hit in the right arm by shrapnel in the Dardanelles when undertaking orderly duties near the firing line and is recuperating in New Southmead Hospital, Bristol. He was working for Charles Carruthers, hairdresser, before joining 1st/5th KOSB.
Thursday 19th August
A presentation was made by Rev James Buchanan on behalf of the parish’s Woman’s Guild to Miss Janet Scott, who is leaving to join relatives in Ontario, Canada. She has been living with her aunts for many years, who have now both passed away. She was given a travelling rug and a writing case.
White Star’s ocean liner SS Arabic was sunk by a U-boat 50 miles south of Ireland while travelling from Liverpool to the USA, resulting in the deaths of 44 passengers and crew, including three US citizens. Diplomatic relations between the USA and Germany are already very tense after the sinking of the Lusitania and are on the verge of being broken off, potentially leading to US engagement in the war. Considerable German efforts are being made through negotiations to prevent this.
Saturday 21st August
The Langholm Horticultural Society decided some weeks ago to cancel its annual show, but instead it put on a fund-raising sale today of flowers, vegetables, cakes, handiwork and refreshments in aid of local war funds. It was opened by Lady Ewart who was introduced by the society’s president Clement Armstrong. Music was provided by the Eskdale Orchestra.
William Hyslop of the London Imperial Yeomanry was hit above the eye by shrapnel while advancing from landing at Suvla on the Gallipoli peninsula, requiring hospitalisation. He is the son of Simon Hyslop, draper. His younger brother John is with an anti-aircraft unit in the Royal Garrison Artillery and the youngest brother James is with the KOSB.
Monday 23rd August
Robert Bell (21) of the KOSB died of enteric fever (typhoid) on board the hospital ship Dongola, near the Dardanelles. He was the son of John Bell, janitor at the Langholm Academy who was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal a few weeks ago (see 7th June). Robert was a plumber, working for Alex Stewart in Market Place.
The Scottish Temperance League held an open-air demonstration in Market Place today, chaired by Richard Smith of the EU Congregational Church. One of the speakers said that David Lloyd George had declared on three occasions that strong drink is a greater enemy than the Germans.
Tuesday 24th August
Hardy Grant, elder son of Annie Grant who runs the Buck Hotel, died instantaneously when shot by a sniper in the Dardanelles. He was buried by a small group of fellow 1st/5th KOSB Langholmites including his brother, reminiscent of the burial of William Ramage on 21st June. He was a property painter and had served his apprenticeship with John Goodfellow.
The Soldiers’ Comforts Committee has now sent 141 parcels containing items such as cigarettes, bootlaces, writing pads, chocolate, thirst-quenchers, raisins, lemonade crystals, peppermints, pencils, matches, condensed ‘Swiss milk’, handkerchiefs and soap.
Wednesday 25th August
Prince Paul of Serbia, nephew of King Peter I of Serbia, is visiting the Duke of Buccleuch at Langholm Lodge. He studied at Oxford and has served six months with the Royal Serbian Army, but is more suited to diplomatic roles.
‘Ratepayer’ wrote to the E&L to complain about the town council’s decision not to provide street lighting, noting that this was for economy, not for national security. The writer asks what the consequent reduction in rates will be, and who will pay compensation for any accidents in the dark streets.
A Langholm angler caught a sea trout just south of the town but it was snatched away by an otter before it could be landed.
Thursday 26th August
William Scott was killed in the Dardanelles, aged 29, serving with the 7th Royal Munster Fusiliers. His family moved from Langholm to Pontefract, Yorkshire, where his father was a skin puller (removing the wool from sheepskins) and William was a skin washer in the fellmongery (skin trading) business.
Carlisle held its Great Fair which was proclaimed at 8 am in the usual way at the Market Cross. The ceremony has taken place for nearly 600 years.
From Lawson Cairns’s diary: ‘Received letter from Aunt Marie & watch holder from Joe Anderson.’
Saturday 28th August
Robert Milligan (72), one of the Milligan brothers who run the Buccleuch Hall, is closing his joinery business and handing it over to his son Thomas (51). Thomas has three sons of military age, two of whom are on active service:
- Robert (22): 3rd Glasgow, Highland Light Infantry.
- Thomas (20): 1st/5th KOSB.
- Frank (17): taking civil service exams.
The Parish Church choir had an enjoyable afternoon outing to Mosspaul, with tea and dancing, indoors due to the onset of rain. The trip was funded mostly by James Cairns, Ford mill co-owner.
Sunday 29th August
Lawson Cairns received a parcel yesterday from the Langholm Soldiers’ Comforts Committee and wrote a letter of thanks to Mrs Maggie Hamilton (wife of the Langholm Academy rector), the committee’s secretary and treasurer.
Rev David and Mary Inglis of the Chalmers United Free Church had a son, David.
Tuesday 31st August
Over 2,500 half-bred and Cheviot lambs were sold by Harrison and Son in the second special lamb auction of the season.