The Horticultural Society usually arranged an annual flower show with prizes, but it was cancelled in 1914 and was turned into a fundraiser in 1915 for local war funds.

The president was Clement Armstrong, coal agent, and the secretary was George Paterson, tailor.

At the 1915 fundraiser, Clement Armstrong introduced Lady Ewart, who opened the event. Stalls offered flowers, vegetables, textiles, refreshments and guessing competitions. Music was provided by the Eskdale Orchestra and everything had been sold by 6 pm, raising £21 6s (£1,840 today).

In 1913, the last ‘normal’ show before the war, there were 829 entries in four main categories:

• Cut flowers and pot plants. John Hotson, mason, won most of the prizes for roses and Simon Hyslop, draper, took most of the carnation awards.
• Vegetables and fruit. John Jardine, grocer, excelled with his vegetables.
• Industrial: sewing, knitting, painting, drawing and photography.
• Birds: cage birds, pigeons and poultry (see below).

The cage bird groups were Border fancy canaries, goldfinches, any other British birds and foreign birds, with Thomas McVittie, joiner, winning most of the prizes. Canaries can be crossed with finches to generate ‘mules’ (like horse/donkey crosses) which are attractive songbirds but sterile.

The pigeons were almost all homing pigeons, but keeping them in wartime was regulated due to the important role of carrier pigeons.

The poultry consisted mainly of Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons and Wyandottes.

Langholm previously had an Ornithological Society, which held its first show in 1872. Langholm residents also competed in regular events arranged by the Hawick Ornithological Society.

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