The following appeared in the town’s newspaper of May 26, 1917

A prohibition meeting and concert will be held in the Mission Hall, Barrmill, on Wednesday, 30^th May, commencing at 7.00 pm. The chairman is Rev James Baillie. The speaker on this important topic is Mr Tom Honeyman, Glasgow and the elecutionist is Miss Esther Wilson, Glasgow. The soloist is Mrs Jamieson, Kilbirnie. A varied programme will be submitted by a choir from Kilbirnie, Barrmill Choir and pupils from Greenhills School. Admission is sevenpence. The proceeds will be given to Barrmill War Work Party.

Mr and Mrs James Reid, Wilson Street, Beith, lost their eldest boy very suddenly on Thursday morning. The little fellow was only 10 years of age and was in his usual health the night before. Acute diarrhoea is attributed as the cause of death.

Mrs Robert Kerr, Bunswynd, Beith, has received information that his second son, Private John Kerr, RSF, is suffering from gunshot wounds in the right shoulder and is getting on first class in hospital in Leicester. Her eldest son, Corporal R Kerr, Royal Engineers, who was awarded the Military Medal some time ago, is in Cairo, laid aside with a chill.

The French War Office has conferred the Medaille Militaire on Sergeant William Guy, RSF, for meritorious service in the Gallipoli campaign. The recipient is now with the Battalion in Palestine and has since been promoted in the field to Second Lieutenant. . He is now in command of a Signal Section of the RSF. He is the eldest son of Mr Andrew Guy, painter, and has been with the battalion in all engagements

So, ‘Beautiful Beith’ is, or rather has, stepped into line with most districts now and gone on war service. It is pleasing to know that our staple industry has been found to be suitable for a certain class of war work. A class of work which, I may say, is proving very satisfactory and necessary. We have gained the mastery of the air, thanks to the bravery of our flying men, and thanks also to the height of perfection reached in the building of their machines. Beith, I am sure, will take pride in their share of the production of such machines, and the workmen will see to it that the high standard of workmanship for which Beith is rightly famous in ordinary times will still prevail in the class of work in which they are to be engaged.