The following appeared in the towns newspaper of 10 February 1917

As we briefly stated last week, Lt. T K Stevenson, RSF, youngest son of Mr Thomas Stevenson, headmaster, Greenhills School, and of Mrs Stevenson, Gordonshill, Beith, fell in action in France on 29 January. It appears from a letter received from his Captain, A Gardiner, that Lieutenant Stevenson was looking for a new gun position, when a shell struck him and his runner. He lived for about 2 minutes and was never conscious and could not have suffered any pain. He was brought out and two padres had him buried in a little cemetery about 3 miles behind the line, beside his chums in the Fusiliers who had fallen before. The Captain was terribly cut up at the loss of such a promising life. He described Lieutenant as the best second-in-command that he had ever had, and conveys to the stricken father and mother, brothers and sisters, his heartfelt sympathy. The sad intelligence of this young officers death was received in Beith with feelings of the deepest sorrow, the more so that he was so well known and highly thought of by the whole community. Lieutenant Stevenson, though only 19 years of age, when the country’s call resounded throughout the land at once responded. He enlisted in December 1915. In December 1916 he was mentioned in dispatches by Sir Douglas Haig, the Commander in Chief, for various conduct in the field. The deceased officer apparently had a brilliant career in front of him. He had already distinguished himself at school and university. He was at Spier’s School from 1904 to 1912. He was one of the ablest pupils the school has had in recent years and left behind him a fine record of successful work in all subjects of the school course, especially Latin and Greek. He was also a keen participator in the school games and excellent at rugby football and cricket, being a prominent member of both match teams for a number of seasons. In 1912 he gained a Spier’s School Bursary to university as the dux pupil of the school. He took fourth place in each of the bursary exams for Glasgow and St Andrew’s Universities. Electing to go to St Andrew’s, he at once took rank as the best classical scholar of his year and before leaving to take up a commission at the outbreak of war, he had already gained to first prizes and medals in Classics, besides prizes in other subjects. At university he was a member of the Officer Training Corp and played in the first rugby xv. Mr Stevenson has received numerous letters of sympathy from officers and friends of the deceased, including a telegraph from the King and Queen.

Private John Dickson, A & SH, son of Mrs Dickson, Mains Road, and formerly clerk at Laigh Station, is suffering from shrapnel wounds in the face, and is in hospital in France. This is the second time he has been wounded.

Company-Sergeant-Major Samuel McGill, son of Detective Sergeant Hugh McGill, Cathcart, both natives of Beith, was here this week on a visit to relatives. Sergeant-Major McGill is a magnificent specimen of the Scottish race and possesses all the attributes which goes to make up the British soldier. As a young men he went to South Africa 17 years ago, and he has since had his full share of fighting on behalf of his native land. He went through the Boer war and possesses military medals that testify to the many engagements in which he took full and active part. When the present war broke out he at once volunteered his services and he has been in many a warm corner since. In November last he married a daughter of the lateAlexander Walker, under manager, Barkip Works and immediately returned to the scene of hostilities in France. He was wounded a short time ago in one of his legs and he is now recuperating.

Castle Semple loch was bearing all last week but only an occasional friendly game of curling was indulged in. Like everything else the war has claimed the majority of the patrons of the roaring game, and what in normal times would have been the scene of many enjoyable and hilarious tussles has resolved itself into a contest between the military ‘unfits.’ However, on Saturday last the school  turned out en masse to the skating and gave some zest to the otherwise lonely proceedings.

The report for the Beith Nursing Association for January is as follows: Patients on books at first day of month, 36. New patients added, 28. Total nursed 64.  Visits paid by Nurse Cochrane, 392.

Photos of Hamilfield Church destroyed by fire. Twopence each at Millar’s.

Beith Picturedrome and Electric Theatre. Monday and Tuesday. Meg, the Lady. In Four parts, featuring Elizabeth Ridson. 

As a means of economising on our bread supply a very pertinent suggestion is being considered by the authorities, which, were it adopted, would be both a saving and an improvement to the public health. The proposal is to make it illegal to sell new bread, and that what are popularly known as ‘cutting’ loaves should be sold. Certainly a new loaf is more toothsome than one 12 hours old, and a great quantity is therefore consumed on that account; but bread fresh from the oven is decidedly indigestible , and the mature loaf preferable if for no other reason.

For the past four weeks the weather in Beith has been exceptionally severe to the hindrance of outdoor work of every description. Keen frost, particularly during the last ten days, has had the ground in a grip of iron and curlers and skaters have had every opportunity of practicing their favourite sport. There are signs, however, that less severe conditions are approaching, a change which will be appreciated generally by those who have work to do on the land particularly.

What has hitherto been known in Ayrshire Constabulary regulations as the Beith Petty Sessions District, which embraces Beith, Dalry and Kilbirnie, is now being transferred to the Irvine Division under Superintendent Happell, who is stationed at Irvine. Superintendent McCreath, Dalry, who has had charge of Beith Petty Sessions for a long period, and has about 43 years service, retires today. Inspector John Anderson of Troon, a native of Beith, has been promoted Superintendent and will take charge of the Saltcoats Division. He joined the Ayrshire Constabulary in March, 1893 and has seen a lot of duty in towns in North Ayrshire including Stevenston, Ardrossan and West Kilbride. He was promoted to the rank of Inspector in 1906. Fully three years ago he was officer in charge of a detachment of constables on duty while the coal strike was in progress at New Cumnock. His services were requisitioned in a similar capacity when a dispute took place among the dynamite workers at Stevenson. At the monthly meeting of Troon Town Council on Monday evening, Provost Muir and Bailie Johnstone, and Town Clerk Young delivered speeches congratulating Inspector Anderson on his promotion.