The following appeared in the town’s newspaper of May 12, 1917

A special meeting of Paisley UF Presbytery  was held on Tuesday afternoon in St George’s UF Church – Rev J Bonnar Russell, moderator, when the call to the Rev James Baillie MA, Beith, from Sanquhar UF Church was down for consideration. Commissioners were present from Sanquhar and Beith (Messr Thomas Thorburn and William C Wilson) congregations, and these having addressed the court, the call, signed by 170 members and 11 adherents, was placed in the hand of Mr Baillie, who intimated his acceptance of it. Rev John Russell (clerk), moved that the translation of Rev Mr Baillie be agreed tlo.  Rev C Jack, seconded, and the motion having been supported by Revs Mr Lennox and Mr Baillie, was agreed to. Rev John Russell then moved that the vacancy in Beith, through the translation of Rev Baillie to Sanquhar, a committee be appointed to act along with the Central Interests Committee, and confer the with officer bearers of the three churches in Beith as to a reajustment of agencies. This was seconded by Rev James Cabies and agreed to.

Corporal Jack Muir, Royal Engineers, is home on sick leave. Mr John Darroch, Wardrop Street, was granted permission and a pass by the War Office to visit his son in France who had been severely wounded. He crossed the channel last week and saw his son who had one of his legs amputated below the knee, and is progressing satisfactorily. . Mr Darroch was grateful for the kind concession  and the generous treatment to him of the War Office. Mrs Wallace, Eglinton Street, has received notice officially that her son, Private Robert Wallace, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) has, on 27^th April, been severely wounded in the right arm by gunshot. He joined in March last year and was drafted to France in June. He was previously employed at Giffen Quarries. Mrs Wallace has three sons in the army. One at Solinica and another in Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, who has lost his right arm. Private Robert Kerr, RSF, son of Mr Matthew Kerr, Bunswynd, has been wounded – shot in the head. Private James Kirkwood, RSF, son of James Kirkwood, Kings Road, is reported wounded. Private Neil Hamilton, RSF, son of Mr Neil Hamilton, Woodside Road, has been wounded in the leg. Private Alan McKenzie, RSF, son of Mr Allan McKenzie, Grahamfield Place, is reported wounded. These four casualties occurred in Palestine on 19 April, 1917.

We much regret to announce that Private Archibald Peat, Canadians, third son of Mr James Peat, Main Street. Beith, was killed  at the taking of Vimy Ridge by the Canadians on April, 9. Private Peat who been seven years in British Columbia, joined the Canadian Forces last year. He was drafted to England and paid a visit to his native town in February. He journed to Oban and married his sweetheart there. After a honeymoon of two days duration, he returned to England and was immediately sent to France, where he died in the field of battle as stated. His commanding officer wrote a most sympathetic letter to his bride, in which he said that Private Peat was “a good soldier and served his country well.” Mrs Peat is heart-broken over this terrible affliction which has overtaken her.

Seatholders in Beith Parish Church are advised that the Collector of Seat Rents for the Heritors and Kirk Session will be in attendance at the Church on Monday first, 14^th current, at 6.30 pm for the purpose of re-letting pews and collecting the rents thereof for next year.

On Saturday morning, a lad, 16 years of age,  named Thomas McCabe, son of Mr Hugh McCabe, Mains Road, Beith, while at his usual employment in Caledonia Cabinet Works, took seriously unwell and had to be conveyed home where he died the same afternoon. It is believed he caught a chill while bathing in Kilbirnie Loch the night previous. He was a strong healthy boy, and his death is a great grief to his parents, who have already lost a son in France. Young McCabe was a member of the Boy Scouts, and in respect to his memory the Beith Company, and a detachment of Kilbirnie Scouts, attended his funeral on Tuesday.