Friday 1st October
A minor earthquake took place in southern Scotland and northern England shortly after 3 am. Langholm residents said that it felt like the passing of a heavy motor lorry or a traction engine.
Walter Wilson has been advertising passages to Quebec and Montreal on SS Metagama. Launched on the River Clyde in 1915, it is owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway Line and has a single ‘cabin class’ rather than two or more classes.
Saturday 2nd October
Angus Comrie was born in Langholm, son of John Comrie who was killed seven days ago. John’s widow Jane is not yet aware of his death. Their next-youngest child, born in 1913, is called Bertha Roeber Comrie, probably named after a German-born nurse at the Thomas Hope Hospital who assisted with outpatient childbirth. Bertha was originally a governess, then undertook nursing training in Leith. Perhaps she helped the Comries to avoid a fourth infant’s death, after three earlier losses. She faced hostility in Langholm after the start of the war and returned to Germany a few months ago, after living in the UK for over 35 years.
Sunday 3rd October
The Eskdalemuir Observatory recorded a large earthquake in the western US at around 7 a.m. GMT. Its epicentre was in Pleasant Valley, Nevada, and although it was the strongest earthquake to have taken place in the state, little damage was done due to the lack of buildings in the area.
LC diary: ‘Received a parcel of tobacco from Cornet J. Wilson.’ This was one of 108 parcels of pipes, tobacco and cigarettes purchased for local soldiers with funds raised by the Common Riding. Chocolate was sent to known non-smokers. The accompanying note was ‘From Langholm Common-Riding, 1915. Wishing you good luck and a safe return. Cornet J. Wilson, W. F. Scott, hon. secy.’
Monday 4th October
Four teachers were given pay rises by the Langholm School Board. There are 500 pupils on the school roll with an overall attendance rate of 92.3 percent.
Tuesday 5th October
The Langholm School Board is providing continuation classes for Division I, Needlework, Cookery and Shorthand. Other classes were also offered (English, Arithmetic, Laundry, Dressmaking, Physical Exercises and Ambulance Work) but there was insufficient uptake.
Thursday 9th October
Angling for herling has been disrupted by sharp overnight frosts but John Morrison, baker, caught two salmon of 15 and 11 pounds in the last few days.
Friday 8th October
The Langholm Gas Light Company is increasing the price of gas by fivepence per thousand cubic feet and discontinuing volume discounts for large purchasers, due to the high price of coal.
The Langholm Carpet Bowling Club held its annual meeting at the Douglas Hotel. Membership and match entries reduced during the year. It was decided to curtail playing nights to three times per week, to be increased if membership recovers.
Saturday 9th October
Langholm New Town Bowling Club has completed the purchase of its green from the Duke of Buccleuch. If the green ceases to be used for bowling, the Duke has the option of repurchasing it at the original sale cost.
The Town Band played an afternoon programme, conducted by Cephas Brown, including works by Sir Henry Bishop and Ord Hume.
Monday 11th October
London introduced a ‘no treating’ order, meaning that it is no longer possible to buy someone else a drink or give them money to buy a drink, as part of the government’s restrictions on alcohol. The Press Association issued a light-hearted analysis, saying that it signalled the death of the ‘sponger’ who always relied on others buying his drinks.
Tuesday 12th October
Edith Cavell, a British nurse originally from Norfolk, was executed in Belgium by firing squad for helping around 200 soldiers to escape from German occupation, drawing international criticism.
A concert in aid of the Chalmer’s Church Ladies’ Work Party was held in the Temperance Hall which was full to the extent that there was standing room only. The soldiers at the Red Cross hospital attended and were given a loud cheer. Songs were performed by a choir and various individuals, followed by a short dramatic sketch.
Wednesday 13th October
A Zeppelin raid over part of London and surrounding areas including Croydon resulted in 71 dead and 128 injured.
Robert Grieve, baker, has obtained 135 pounds of heather honey from his four bee hives this year, considerably less than last year, perhaps due to the heather blight (see 7th September).
One of the soldiers injured in the Battle of Loos was William Younger, son of Barbara Younger, keeper of the Crown Hotel. He has a three and half inch wound to his scalp but is recovering in Lord Derby Hospital in Warrington, formerly Winwick Asylum.
The USA is planning to double the size of its navy in five years, including the addition of 15 to 20 dreadnoughts.
Thursday 14th October
Harrison & Son held their second special sale for ewes, lambs and cattle, with prices slightly higher than those in the previous sale. The top price for a bullock was £23 2s 6d.
The Town Council held its last meeting of the current year (November to October). There were 19 ordinary, special and statutory meetings over the course of the year. The council decided to make a payment of £10 to the Town Band for the current year instead of the £20 paid last year, in the interests of economy.
Friday 15th Octobery
- Alexander Cormack fishmonger 28 High Street died. Business taken over by James C Bell.
Saturday 16th October
General Sir Ian Hamilton, commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, was recalled to London to report on the stalled campaign in the Dardanelles. He will be replaced by General Sir Charles Monro, commander of the Third Army on the Western Front.
The Red Cross Hospital celebrated its first anniversary with a concert. It has treated 184 soldiers wounded or fallen sick in France, the Dardanelles and on home service.
Sunday 17th October
In his evening sermon in the South UF Church, Rev James Macdonald said:
‘The war is now coming home to Langholm as it has never done before. No place has done better in the way of recruiting than this district, and now it is giving its tell to the number of the fallen brave.’
He spoke about Frank Thomson, a member of the congregation, who died on 25th September. He was a ‘quiet, simple, gentle lad but at the same time brave and courageous.’
Monday 18th October
The Langholm Curling Club held its annual meeting in the Crown Hotel, re-electing Robert McGeorge, solicitor, as president and electing John Cairns, co-owner of Ford Mill, as vice president in place of Henry Sanders, draper, who died last year. Secretary William Hyslop, mason, reported that the tarmac surface of the new pond needs to be re-tarred and the iron posts of the boundary fence need to be repainted. The new Duke of Buccleuch will be asked to take over his deceased father’s role as patron of the club.
Tuesday 19th October
LC diary:
[T]he doctor came in & said one of us would have to go up to the trench & see the feet greased. It fell to my lot & I started at 4.00 p.m. & it was a long walk but I enjoyed it. I had tea in the trench with the C.S.M. [Company Sergeant Major] & got back about 6.15 p.m. Played cards till bedtime. Killed 20 rats just outside our little home.
Joe Allison of Allison’s Band had prepared a talk entitled ‘War Songs – Past and Present’ for the Townhead Literary Society but as he had a heavy cold it was read out by John Hyslop. It covered songs from numerous countries, including ‘Scots Wha Hae‘ (Scotland), ‘La Marseillaise‘ (France) and ‘The Vacant Chair‘ (USA).
At the same event, John Hyslop sang ‘The KOSB’, a new song with words by Rev George Orr and music by Joe Allison, being sold to raise funds for the support of soldiers.
Wednesday 20th October
Henry Irving, 7th KOSB and mill worker, gave an account of the beginning of the Battle of Loos in a letter home:
I am still alive, but thought it was all over. … [O]ur losses were very heavy, over 900 going into action, and about 150 returning. … I think I am one of the luckiest men in the world, as the doctor and I had to stop and attend to men, with bullets coming between us, and shells dropping all around. … The doctor and I were reported killed or wounded, and our equipment was thrown away. From Friday night till Monday night I was without a bite, and was tottering like a drunk man.
The E&L published letters of thanks for tobacco parcels purchased with funds raised by the Common Riding, including:
Many thanks for the handsome gift of cigarettes from you, Cornet Wilson, and the subscribers at Langholm Common-Riding. It came as a pleasant surprise to me when I saw the contents. It once again proved the kindness of the people belonging to the Muckle Toon. I often think if some of our soldier pals were remembered the same way by their friends as we Langholmites are, their hardships would be much easier borne.
The local soldiers’ comforts committee has sent 108 parcels in the last month, bringing the total to 368. The contents of the last month’s parcels were: 1 tin biscuits, 1 tin fruit, 1 handkerchief, 1 carriage candle, 2 boxes safety matches, 1 tin Swiss milk, 1 tin cigarettes or tobacco, sweets and 1 ‘Tommy’ cooker.
Electric Pictures showed The Champion by Charlie Chaplin.
Thursday 21st October
The matron of the Red Cross hospital and some soldiers made a trip by motorcar for tea in Carlisle and a visit to a picture house, courtesy of two hospital donors.
Friday 22nd October
Piper Herbert Burnett of 1/5th KOSB, who was wounded in the side while on stretcher duty, made a recovery in Malta and became a hospital orderly at St George’s Hospital there. However, he has died of blood poisoning, leaving a wife Harriet and two children, Margaret (12) and Anna (1). He worked at Ford Mill before the war.
James Scott, co-owner of Waverley Mill, was re-appointed president of the golf club at its annual meeting and Robert Hamilton was re-appointed captain. There are currently 156 members. No inter-club matches have been played, due to the war. The bank balance increased over the year but there is still a debt of £19 for the new clubhouse, built in 1912.
Saturday 23rd October
A flag day was held for the Red Cross, with hospital nurses and Girl Guides selling flags depicting the crests of twelve Scottish regiments. They were hampered by rain and wind.
The Boy Scouts assembled in the Academy gym for a presentation by Arthur Bell, manufacturer, and Lady Ewart, commandant of the Red Cross Hospital. Ten scouts were awarded war service badges for assisting the hospital with the delivery of messages.
The Parish Church Woman’s Guild had a sale of cakes, sweets, country produce and handiwork, opened by the guild’s president Mrs Amy Maxwell of Broomholm. Three quarters of the funds will go towards soldiers’ comforts. Mrs Maxwell has three sons in the forces: two soldiers and a chaplain.
W G Grace died of a stroke in his garden in Kent, aged 67. Although best known for his cricketing prowess, he was also keen on lawn bowls and founded the English Bowling Association in 1903, inaugurating and captaining matches against Scotland, Ireland and Wales from the same year. In August last year, he called for county cricket to be cancelled and for first class cricketers to enlist. He was infuriated by Zeppelins flying over Kent and was sometimes seen shaking his fist at them.
Under the auspices of the South UF Church, Max Philpot gave a lecture to a large audience in the Temperance Hall on ‘The War: Its Meaning and Tragedy’. Major Bell introduced the speaker and was accompanied on the platform by soldiers from the Red Cross Hospital. Songs were sung by John Hyslop including ‘D’ye ken John French’ and ‘King George’s Contemptible Army’.
- After dinner I paid my daily visit to the trenches & had tea there with the Coy. S.M. Got back about 5.30 p.m. & found letter from Mrs Loudon & papers from William.
Sunday 24th October
Rev George Orr told his congregation about the death of John Wright on 30th September. John had been working away from Langholm recently but Rev Orr remembered him and his brother Richard as diligent members of the Bible Class. John had already served with the KOSB and need not have re-volunteered, but did so out of duty. The Wright family have a long connection with the congregation including John’s namesake grandfather.
Tuesday 26th October
Harrison & Son held their closing special sale of cattle and sheep, with all lots being sold at strong prices.
Christopher ‘Kirst’ Elliot was re-elected as chief templar of the IOGT at its quarterly meeting in Lodge Room in the EU Church hall.
Wednesday 27th October
The E&L published King George V’s appeal to the nation for military volunteers:
Mr Molteno, MP for Dumfriesshire, asked a question for Winston Churchill in parliament about a comment Churchill had made earlier about delays in the Middle East. Churchill, who is now the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was not in the chamber, causing cries of ‘Where is he?’ and ‘Why has he run away?’
A new scheme of allowances for the dependents of fallen servicemen has been introduced, providing up to 10 shillings per week, depending on various criteria.
James Harkness has retired from his coal agency, which has been bought by James Little & Sons.
The Langholm District Committee authorised the surveyor to proceed with work on various roads but to delay it for some others. The funds will be sourced from the County Council.
Electric Pictures showed a Charlie Chaplin movie called Getting Acquainted.
Thursday 28th October
George V’s horse reared and fell when he was inspecting troops in France, causing severe bruising to the king. He was taken by car to a hospital train then by the hospital ship HMHS Anglia to the UK.
