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Mr William Anderson, currier, Wilson Street has received this rather touching letter from an officer attached to the Battalion to which his son belonged.
July 15, 1916. Dear Mr Anderson. I have been asked by my senior officer to herewith return the 10s note, which you daughter sent to William. I am sorry to say that he was killed in the action which the Battalion underwent some little time ago. His death occurred in the first day of the offensive. . Though I was not with him, I learned he died a brave soldier. Nearly all of the officers fell in this action and almost half of the men. My senior officer wishes me to give you his sincere sympathy, I on my part tender the same. The letter you daughter sent I have destroyed. I hope the War Office has sent you official notification by now.
It is reported that Private Alexander James Love, HLI, youngest son of the late D S Love, Procurator Fiscal, Beith, and a cousin of Mr A G Love, Solicitor, was killed in the recent fighting.
It is reported that Andrew Irvine, a native of Beith who enlisted in England, has been killed. He was the son of Mr Andrew Irvine, silk printer at Roebank for many years, now in England, and the grandson of Mr and Mrs John Walker, Grahamfield Place, Beith.
Mr James Robertson, Bunswynd, Beith, has been notified by a senior officer of the Highland Light Infantry, that his son, Corporal James Robertson, has been reported missing during the fighting last week. This letter contains all the information that has reached the anxious parents. It is sincerely to be hoped that more cheerful news will reach them ‘ere long.
Mrs Andrew Bell, 40 Bridgend, Kilbirnie, has received official intimation that her husband, Private Andrew Bell, RSF, who was last week reported wounded, has died in hospital at the base in France. He leaves a widow and two young children.
Mr George Hynd, 15 Bridge Street, Kilbirnie, has received word that his second son, Private Robert Hynd, of the Canadian Highlanders, was killed on 27 June. He was in Canada for eight years, most in connection with mining, and was 30 years of age.
Sergeant George West, better known locally in Kilbirnie as George Park, whom we reported recently as having been awarded the DCM for bravery in the field, has, we regret to learn, been killed in action on 14 June, while seeking to save a comrade. He was in the Black Watch, but was serving for some time with the Royal Engineers.
Private William Hamilton, son of Mrs John McQuade, has been reported missing since 2 July. He was married and his wife resides at 38 Bridgend, Kilbirnie.
The gospel meeting held in the Masonic Hall on Sabbath evening was addressed by Mr Robert Scott, Glasgow, who gave a very interesting and inspiring Gospel message, which was attentively listened to by a very large audience. Mr Scott has previously been in Beith , and has spoken from both the EU and Parish Church pulpits.
A grand gala was held at Woodside, Beith, courtesy of Mr J ArthurFindaly, and raised the magnificent sum of £241 –0s – 5d in aid of war funds. Mr John Muir Esq., of Mains, presided. On arrival Beith Instrumental Band, conductor Mr Allan Kennedy, which was augmented for the occasion, played in front of the mansion house a selection in a style that reminded one of the old competition days, and thereafter the combined choir of 200 voices rendered Rule Britannia and God Save the King, with true patriotic force and feeling. The entertainment included sketches by Mr C W Anderson, music by Dalry Quintette Party. In front of the mansion house the joint choir organised and conducted by Mr Allan Kennedy, LTSC, who was able assisted by the other conductors, gave two concerts during the afternoon, with Miss Jenny Stevenson as accompanist. This combination, which consisted of over 200 voices, and is henceforth to be known as Beith and District Red Cross Choir, acquitted itself in a manner which gave golden opinions and reflected the greatest credit on all concerned. One of the pleasing features of the gala was the Maybole Dance display given by Miss Hamilton’s Academy pupils on the two occasions they performed on the tennis courts with its beautiful surroundings. The Boy Scouts gave a display of figure marching, Indian club and other movements and exercises, all of which demonstrated that their training is being efficiently attended to. The sale of work and refreshment stalls had such a patronage and support that the ladies on connection with them heaved a sigh of relief when the business was over. A great number of those present came from surrounding towns and villages and the railway company benefited accordingly with over 1,000 arriving at Laigh Station, 200 of whom booked from Johnstone. Such a large representative gathering has not been seen in Beith within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, and for its organisation and success we are indebted to Beith Co-operative Society. To Mr Thomas Smith, the genial manager, fell the greatest part of the work in organising this event and the community owe him a great debt of gratitude.
An important stage in the development of the telephone was inaugurated at Paisley last week. Dial-calling services have been fitted in the exchange at Paisley and subscribers in Beith have lines leading to the automatic exchange. Thus when subscribers in Paisley are wanted by Beith subscribers the telephonist at Beith simply dials the Paisley number wanted and the connection is directly obtained. By the old method the number had to be passed to an operator in Paisley, but under the new system much time and labour will be saved.
Owing to the extraordinary rise in the price of paper because of the embargo by the government on the import of raw materials, coupled to the great increase in the cost of production, we are at last reluctantly compelled to announce that the “Western Supplement” (Beith Supplement) can no longer be given away for nothing, and that in future one half-penny will be charged for each copy. These conditions will take effect from Saturday, 12 August 1905. We are sure that this small cost will not be grudged by the numerous readers of the “Supplement.” |
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