School prizes and a DCM for a Dunfermline man

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the Saturday July 3 1915 issue):

School prizes

Crossford school:

A programme of part songs, solos and recitations were carried out with great spirit to the evident satisfaction of all.  Colonel Hunt, Logie and Mrs and Miss Drysdale, representing an old scholar, were the donors of the beautiful book prizes as well as special prizes for sewing and knitting.  There were present also Mrs Macdonald, member of the school board, and Mr Morgan, local manager - the latter of whom has taken an interest in the school for the past 70 years or so.  After the distribution of prizes by Colonel Hunt for regular attendance and by Miss Drysdale for Bible, writing and sewing, the gentlemen present addressed the children on their privileges and responsibilities.  The present war times gave a tone to all the remarks Mr MacDonald specially addressed the pupils who are leaving at this time and in closing proposed votes of thanks to the Colonel and Mrs Drysdale for their renewed kindness in giving the valuable prizes and for their presence with them that day.  The soloists were Magdalene Stephen, P Cumming, N More, Mabel Angus, Minnie Cumming, Dianah Duncan, Edith Gow and James Coutts.  The dux of the school was Lizzie Allan.  It should also be mentioned that our good friend, Mr Inverarity, again contributed to the prize fund.

[Logie House still exists on the edge of the village of Crossford and is a house built in 1870 iwth a twentieth century extension.  The house has a shield dated 1870 above the doorway with a monogram JAH, for James Alexander Hunt, below.  The gardens of Logie House are usually open to the public once a year through the Scotland's Gardens scheme and the house is still in the hands of the Hunt family.]
DCM for Dunfermline RFA man

Mr John Spence, Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline has received intimation from his son, Bombardier Alexander Spence, 7th Division of the RFA, that he has been awarded the DCM.  Bombardier Spence is unable to say the incident which brought him the honour, but he is inclined to believe that it was for an act prior to the battle of Neuve Chapelle.  A fierce bombardment was in progress between the British and German lines.  Bombardier Spence was in a house undertaking signalling duty.  The signalling wires were cut by a shell no fewer than five times.  On four occasions Spence went out under heavy fire and executed the work of repair, on the fifth occasion his efforts were frustrated in consequence of the lack of material to restore the damage.

Tune in next week to see what happened in Dunfermline next week 100 years ago ..........

Blog written by Jacqueline Hunter of Ancestral Research by Jacqueline, Dunfermline, Scotland. Please email me at jacquelinehunter895@gmail.com if I can help you with your family history research.