Wednesday 1st December

Captain James McGeorge of 1/5th KOSB is in hospital in Alexandria with enteric fever. He is a solicitor in his father’s firm, Dobie & McGeorge, and played rugby for the West of Scotland in 1912-13.

Unofficial news has been received that David Wallace, formerly a groom and coachman in his stepfather William Douglas’s Eskdale Temperance Hotel, is seriously wounded in hospital in Alexandria and has memory loss. In fact he was killed on 9th August.

Referring to King George V’s recent accident in France, the E&L mentions other royal equestrian mishaps, including the death of William III (William of Orange) after his horse stumbled on a molehill. It notes that after this the Jacobites used to toast ‘the little gentleman in velvet’.

There was a considerable shortage of men at the Martinmas hiring fair, with wages up on last year by over £2 per six months. Experienced ploughmen are now earning £18 to £22 per six months with board and lodging.

Walter Wilson, bookseller, is advertising the Christmas or annual editions of various publications, including the following:

John Hume, an outfitter in the High Street, is responding to the demand for workers in the new Gretna munitions factory.

Thursday 2nd December

Fred Graham, partner at woollen mill Reid & Taylor with his brother, married Anne Macpherson in Elgin, Morayshire, with the service being conducted by the bride’s father in his own church. Three of the bride’s brothers were present in khaki. A fourth, John, was killed in France two months ago, and the wedding was conducted as a very private and subdued event.

On the other hand, Reid & Taylor employees enjoyed a half-day holiday and a lively evening soiree in the Buccleuch Hall which included music, dances, movies and a performance by comedian John Hyslop.

Messrs Harrison & Son held their annual Christmas Show with a combination of prize competitions and sales for various categories of cattle and sheep. Competition judges came from as far away as Manchester and Newcastle.

Lodge Eskdale Kilwinning No.107 installed new office-bearers, with the ceremony conducted by the retiring Right Worshipful Master James Petrie, baker.

Office	Name	Occupation
Right Worshipful Master	Thomas Easton	Grain merchant; provost
Secretary	Thomas Moses	Tweed designer
Treasurer	Robert Laidlaw	Shoemaker
Substitute Master	William Allen	Hotel keeper
Senior Warden	John Hawkins	Warehouseman
Junior Warden	Edward C Armstrong	Warehouseman
Chaplain	Rev Alderson Seaton	Chaplain, All Saints; PM*
Senior Deacon	Thomas Lightbody	Tailor
Junior Deacon	Alexander Montgomery	Hairdresser
Inner Guard	John Gill	Painter
Tyler	Joe Anderson	Watchmaker
Organist	Cephas Brown	Musician

Also participating in the ceremony were three Past Masters: Major Edward Bell (manufacturer and soldier), William Elton (solicitor) and Thomas Welburn (excise officer; now of Lodge Hubli, Bombay, India).

Friday 3rd December

The annual soiree of the South UF Church included speakers and songs. Rev James MacDonald mentioned that the church’s roll of honour of members serving in the forces has 30 names.

Saturday 4th December

Burgh assessments (rates) were collected by the town clerk George Irving Bell in his chambers in the British Linen Bank building.

Monday 6th December

At a School Board meeting, it was decided that if the rector Mr Hamilton is called up under Lord Derby’s scheme, the board will appeal on the basis that his services are indispensible.

Average attendance for the week ending 3rd December was 88 percent across 491 pupils.

The county has indicated that its school dental services will not be available for the remainder of the war due to a staff shortage caused by military service.

The Dux medallist for the year is May Dinwoodie, daughter of William Dinwoodie, gardener at Broomholm.

• Parish Council statutory meeting. Increase to gravedigger.

• Parish Council special meeting. Cemetery keeper’s refusal of 3s increase and immediate resignation.

Wednesday 8th December

The Langholm Women’s Work Party has made 137 pairs of socks which have been passed to the Soldiers’ Comforts Committee.

Thursday 9th December

At a town council meeting, the wages of two scavengers (street cleaners) were increased but the role of a third was abolished.

Sunday 12th December

Many men left their attestations under the ‘Derby scheme’ this weekend until late in the day yesterday and today, or did not appear at all. A significant number of those who have attested have been rejected on medical grounds.

• Rev R H Falconer, National Bible Society of Scotland, at Parish Church and Chalmers Church.
  
• Death after recent birth of son:

Monday 13th December

In the morning, the Parish Council held a statutory meeting and re-elected Charles Paisley, tanner, as chairman. It agreed a pay rise of three shillings per week for the grave digger and discussed the distribution of donations and payments from legacies to the poor, including a gift of ten tons of coal from the Duke of Buccleuch. Arrears of assessment payments will be pursued vigorously.

Prime Minister Asquith announced that forces have withdrawn from the Anzac and Suvla zones of the Gallipoli peninsula and will be deployed elsewhere.

In the evening, the Parish Council held a special meeting to discuss the immediate resignation of the cemetery keeper who refused a three shilling per week pay rise and will not adhere to his contractual one month’s notice. It will advertise for a new keeper and meet again on Friday.

Wednesday 15th December

An advert was published for a new cemetery keeper.

General Douglas Haig has been appointed to succeed Field Marshal Sir John French as commander of the army in France and Flanders. Born in Edinburgh to a whisky distiller, he has served in the Sudan, South Africa and India.

Sir John French resigned under pressure from Prime Minister Asquith and will be Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, and made a viscount. He served in the Boer War where his victories earned him a knighthood.

Herbert Samuel, postmaster-general and cabinet minister, gave a speech in Cleveland, Yorkshire, referring to various ministers who are abstaining from alcohol during the war, following the lead of King George V. They include Herbert Kitchener, David Lloyd George, Reginald McKenna, Andrew Bonar Law and himself.

Thursday 16th December

Twenty wounded soldiers arrived at the Red Cross Hospital yesterday and today for recuperation, almost all from Scottish regiments.

Friday 17th December

David Scott, plumber, was appointed as the new cemetery keeper at a special meeting of Parish Council, replacing the keeper who resigned without notice.

A total of 627 parcels have now been sent by the Soldiers’ Comforts Committee.

Choirmaster Charles Metcalfe and eight members of the Parish Church choir gave a performance of the Messiah in the church to a large audience.

Saturday 18th December

Monday 20th December

A public notice was put on display across the country announcing the calling up of the first groups of men under Lord Derby’s recruitment scheme. Those who have been attested and placed in Army Reserve Group B will be called up progressively from 20th January. Claims for postponement can be made by individuals or their employers to the clerk of the local recruitment tribunal.

Tuesday 21st December

The Royal Mint has asked local authorities to make more frequent collections of copper coins from meters due to an imminent shortage. The Mint has been prioritising the production of silver for various war payments.

Wednesday 22nd December

Boy Scouts across the country, including in Langholm, are looking to do paid tasks to raise funds for a new ambulance at the front to replace the one that they provided earlier.

News has been received of the death of John Miller, reported missing in France over a year ago. He was the son of Gavin Miller, Langholm’s former vet, and grandson of William Keir, former keeper of the Commercial Hotel.

The E&L printed an article about a new government town being developed by the Ministry of Munitions ‘somewhere in Great Britain’, quite possibly describing new facilities at HM Factory, Gretna.

Thursday 23rd December

After last month’s meeting with Gretna munition workers, Ernest Lowthian of the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers returned to Langholm to address a meeting for all workers in the Temperance Hall. He highlighted differences in wages and conditions in workplaces where workers were organised compared to those where workers were not organised. A Langholm branch of the union was formed, with D[avid]? Morrison being elected secretary [died 1929 age 48, seven days after wife Helen Scott…?].

The Annan Town Council discussed a resolution sent by the town’s licence holders to the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), objecting to the amount of compensation being offered for compulsory purchase of their premises. Provost Foster described the scheme as ‘robbery’.

Friday 24th December

Langholm Academy held its annual religious examination, consisting of questions and answers led by Rev David Inglis and Rev James Buchanan, followed by its annual presentation of prizes for good school attendance. The number of prizes was down significantly on previous years due to infectious diseases and a number of boys leaving early to fill job vacancies left by soldiers. The awards (books) were handed out by Mary Inglis, wife of Rev David Inglis.

The school Roll of Honour has over 320 names including 17 commissioned officers. Every eligible male member of staff has volunteered for service, although some have been rejected on medical grounds.

Arthur Bell, chairman of the board, encouraged all children to use the penny savings bank in the school to learn a good life habit and to make a contribution to the war effort. Rev Inglis said a few words about patriotism.

The Parish Church conducted a carol service, with the collection going towards a treat for the Sunday School.

The South UF Sabbath School held its annual Christmas entertainment of tea, music and games, led by superintendent David Hogg, postman, with musical accompaniment by Euphemia Fletcher. Prayers were said for one of the Sabbath School teachers, Patrick Friell, who is with the Royal Horse Artillery.

The EU Congregational church also held its annual Christmas entertainment for its Sabbath School, with tea, music, recitations and good attendance prizes.

Christmas week postal volumes were about the same as in previous years. In common with other areas, postwomen were introduced to assist deliveries.

Saturday 25th December

Two communion services were held at the well-decorated Episcopal Church.

An evening concert was given by the Red Cross Hospital for the soldiers, also attended by a few people from the town.

There was no cessation of hostilities on the Western Front this year, unlike last year.

Sunday 26th December

Several of the Parish Church choir visited the Red Cross Hospital to sing carols.

Tuesday 28th December

John Bell, a tweed merchant, gave a talk to the Townhead Literary Society on ‘A Railway Journey and Some Observations’. The journey is along the main lines between London and Edinburgh, and the observations are those that can be made by an alert traveller studying the many devices that assist the journey. Mr Bell described a number of them, including lights and signals, as well as the types of people who can be found on railway journeys.

It seems that the John Bell who gave the lecture is Arthur Bell’s nephew, son of Rev Herbert Bell who took his own life on a railway line in 1887.

David Beattie, the sculptor who donated a sundial to Langholm Academy in June, has published a book of poetry and prose entitled ‘Oor Gate-En’, with a foreword by Robert Hyslop, author of ‘Langholm As It Was’.

Wednesday 29th December

Charles Metcalfe, Parish Church organist, responded furiously to Semiquaver’s letter to the E&L last week about the performance of Handel’s Messiah:

Egotism which knows not humility: a deplorable lack of knowledge of the matter in hand: these things prejudice and render of little value or consequence the verdict of any person who arrogates to himself the unenviable position of unqualified criticism.

Who it is that hides himself, disguised, behind the fraction of a quaver will, of course, always remain a mystery. Evidence, however, is not wanting that his knowledge of affairs in connection with the Parish Church choir is small, and his knowledge of music less.

The E&L editor (Walter Wilson) responded by saying that ‘We consider “Semiquaver’s” notes were not only accurate, but quite fair to organist and choir alike.’

Mabie, Todd & Co., a well-known pen-making company, is advertising its low-priced Blackbird fountain pen for Tommy (soldiers) and Jack (sailors). Its more upmarket Swan version has been promoted as the ‘pen of the British Empire’.

A court hearing was held by six justices of the peace to consider an application for a game-dealing licence by Alexander Henderson, fish, poultry and rabbit dealer. He indicated that Langholm is the only significant place in the county where there is no game dealer; that he would not give encouragement to poaching; and that he would keep a book of game purchases which would be available for inspection. A licence was granted.

The justices also discussed a petition by hotel keepers to sell liquor on New Year’s Day to bona fide travellers, which is permitted by a local regulation but forbidden by the new Liquor Control Board. However, the court hearing was not for the purposes of liquor licensing so the application could not be considered.

Electric Pictures showed Charlie Chaplin’s In the Park, his fourth release by Essanay Pictures this year.

Thursday 30th December

Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, Earl of Dalkeith and heir of the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, celebrated his majority (21 years of age). He is a subaltern in the Grenadier Guards.

SS Persia was torpedoed without warning and sank, killing 343 out of 519 people on board. One of the survivors was John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, a grandson of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch, who was heading to India to take up an army post. He managed to stay afloat on an upturned lifeboat with a dislocated shoulder.

His secretary and mistress Nelly Thornton died in the sinking. She was the model for a personal ornament (‘The Whisper’) made for the bonnets of his Rolls Royce cars from 1909. She was possibly also the model for Rolls Royce’s own mascot ‘The Spirit of Ecstasy’, introduced in 1911.

Friday 31st December

The usual Auld Year’s Night crowd gathered below the clock in Market Square but the weather became so unpleasant that many went home early and few went first footing. The Town Band did not make its traditional appearance, perhaps for the first time in its history.

Tomorrow the annual regional carpet bowling competition will take place in the Eskdale Temperance Hall.