Sunday 1st August
Lawson Cairns has received his watch back in France from Joe Anderson, which was sent to him in Langholm 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 forthcoming national registration day.
The UK used to import two billion eggs per year, 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 the ‘Glorious Twelfth’ of August, the start of the red grouse shooting season.
[Duke of Buccleuch’s window in Westerkirk Church]
Angling has been excellent over the past week, with numerous catches of different types of trout. Mrs Anderson caught two and a half dozen yellow trout in one session.
Kirst Elliot, fair crier, was re-elected as Chief Templar of the Independent Order of Good Templars.
Wednesday 4th August
The E&L reported that bugler John Warwick and Thomas McVittie have been wounded, not knowing yet that John Warwick died in action on 12th July and that Thomas McVittie died of wounds on 18th July.
The Parish Church held a public devotional service with a very large attendance today, the first anniversary of the UK’s declaration of war against Germany.
The Episcopal Chapel held three intercessory services, the two morning ones being attended by the Duchess of Buccleuch.
Reply to Mr Molteno.
- North UF Sabbath School train trip to Gilnockie.
- Letter from an Achi Baba wounded soldier from Cairo.
- Scotsman article on a day in the Dardanelles.
- Common Riding report. Message to the troops.
- Article on eggs. UK normally imports 2 billion eggs per year.
Thursday 5th August
Lawson Cairns’s sister Ella (23) married William Clayton (28) in the 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 father James Cairns
The church organist for the marriage Charles Metcalfe probably also sped off, as his son Walter is getting married in London in two days’ time.
Comforts subcommittee meeting.
- Weekly 8pm prayer meeting at Home Mission Hall, Kirk Wynd.
- Marriage of Isabella Cairns to William Clayton. Honeymoon in Wales.
- Received letter from Nessie & a paper from Cissy Wilson also a parcel from Dad. Trotter & I went for a short walk, then had a hot drink & turned in. Aymer came down & we drank Ella’s health. (Her wedding day) [Prob Capt Aymer Maxwell, Broomholm, 1/9th Royal Scots. Maybe Christina Wilson 1886, daughter of woollen pattern weaver, Buccleuch Terrace; sister of John Wilson, cornet.]
7 Aug Sat
- Horticultural Society sale of flowers in Temperance Hall for war causes. Eskdale Orchestra to play.
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
LC diary: ‘Aymer came down & we drank Ella’s health.’ Lieutenant Aymer Maxwell is the son of Rev David Maxwell of Broomholm House, two miles south of Langholm. His 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, a coal miner, was killed in the Dardanelles. He served with the KOSB in the Chitral Expedition and in South Africa, and rejoined the army in the Border Regiment. His stepfather was William Douglas, owner of the Eskdale Temperance Hotel, where David worked as a groom and coachman in the late 1890s. 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 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.
- Received a P.C 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
Alexander 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 brothers serving in four different regiments. Their father Henry Erskine was Langholm’s inspector of the poor and registrar who recorded his own death in the 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, 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.
- Evacuation of Warsaw.
- 326 killed, wounded or missing in Dardanelles to date.
- When I got back I went along to see Aylmer & gave him your [?] message. We walked up & down the road for about ½ hour talking about old times. He gave me one of his fine electric lamps.
- Red Cross gifts for July.
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, primarily for economic purposes. It was 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 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.]
Silver bullets [the importance of public finance in warfare] – Mr Lloyd George.
Somewhere in France – The Press Bureau [referring to press censorship of locations].
Saturday 14th August
A French Flag Day was held in showery weather and resulted in a collection of £22 7s 6d.
Sunday 15th August
- National registration.
James Robinson 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. At hospital, it was decided that the eye needed to be removed. His younger brother Robert is serving with the KOSB.
- 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.
16 Aug Monday
- Sick parade had to be at 9.00 a.m. today owing to an inspection by General Pultney commander of the 1st Corps. [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.
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 Germany.
Harrison and Son sold over 1200 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. He was working for Charles Carruthers, watchmaker and hairdresser, before he joined 1/5th 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 both now passed away. She was given a travelling rug and a writing case.
Saturday 21st August
British casualties in the war to today’s date are 75,957 killed, 251,059 wounded and 54,967 missing, totalling 381,983.
The Langholm Horticultural Society decided some weeks ago to cancel its annual show, but instead it put on a fund-raising sale of flowers, vegetables, cakes, industrial work and refreshments in aid of local war funds. It was opened by Lady Ewart, 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 of 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 and a distinguished former soldier who was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal in June. Robert was a plumber, working for Alex Stewart in Market Place.
The Scottish Temperance League held an open-air demonstration in Market Square today, chaired by Richard Smith of the EU Congregational Church. One of the speakers claimed that David Lloyd George had stated on three occasions that strong drink is a greater enemy than the Germans.
The Control of Liquor Act came into operation today…
Tuesday 24th August
Hardie (sometimes Hardy) Grant was the elder son of Annie Grant who runs the Buck Hotel. He was shot in the head by a sniper today in the Dardanelles and died instantaneously. He was buried by a small group of fellow 1/5th KOSB Langholmites including his brother, reminiscent of the burial of William Ramage on 21st June. He was a painter and had served his apprentice with John Goodfellow, town councillor.
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 is visiting the Duke of Buccleuch at Langholm Lodge.
‘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.
- Further heavy fighting for 1/5 KOSB at Krithia.
- Letter from J K Armstrong with dysentery from Cairo.
- Letters to Miss Byers, matron, from two patients.
- White Star liner Arabic sunk off Ireland going from Liverpool to NY.
- Letter by Lieut-Col Millar to his wife, published 22 Sep. Son Jack serving with him.
Thursday 26th August
William Scott was killed in the Dardanelles, aged 29, serving with the Royal Munster Fusiliers. His family moved from Langholm to Pontefract, Wales, where his father was a skin puller (removing the wool from sheepskins) and he was a skin washer in the fellmongery (skin trading) business.
Carlisle held its Great Fair which was proclaimed from the Cross at 8 am. The ceremony has taken place for nearly 600 years.
Saturday 28th August
Robert Milligan (72), one of the Milligan brothers who run the Buccleuch Hall, is closing his joinery business and handing over to his son Thomas (51). Thomas advertises himself as a joiner, cabinetmaker, upholsterer and funeral undertaker. His son Robert (22) is with the Highland Light Infantry, Thomas (20) is with 1/5th KOSB and Frank (17) is taking civil service exams.
[Thomas’s advert.]
The Parish Church choir had an enjoyable afternoon outing to Mosspaul, with tea and indoor dancing, due to the onset of rain. The trip was funded mostly by James Cairns, manufacturer.
- Received parcels from Uncle Tom & the Langholm Soldiers’ Comfort Committee.
Sunday 29th August
Lawson Cairns received a parcel yesterday from the Langholm Soldiers’ Comfort Committee and wrote to Mrs Maggie Hamilton today to thank the committee.
Rev David and Mary Inglis had a son, David.
Tuesday 31st August
Over 2500 half-bred and Cheviot lambs were sold by Harrison and Son in the second special lamb auction of the season.