Aberdour, Inverkeithing & Bonhill - falls, fever and a marriage

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 25 September 1915 issue)

Inverkeithing

Labourer knocked down on the railway

While walking alomg the railway between Inverkeithing station and Rosyth on Friday night James Convey labourer, Naval Base Mansions, Jamestown, was overtaken by an engine.  He was knocked down and sustained a wound to his leg and serious injury to his head.  He was attended to by Drs Gordon and Aitken and was conveyed to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. 

Fall into the harbour

On Saturday evening about 830 while David Stevens labourer, Naval Base Mansions, Jamestown was on his way home he accidentally walked into the harbour.  His cries were heard by Mr Henry Anderson vintner who along with John Nibble and John MacDonald went to his assistance.  A rope was procured and thrown to Stevens who failed to catch it.  MacDonald then went into the harbour, fastened the rope around the man's body and pulled him ashore.  Stevens was a little exhausted but recovered shortly afterwards and was none the worse of his immersion.  There is no fence at the harbour.  This is the second case of a man walking into the water within the last few weeks. 

Aberdour

There are a few cases of scarlet fever in the village at present all of them of a mild character.

End of holiday season

With the shortening day and lengthening night Aberdour is gradually returning to the state of quietness which prevails during the winter months.  The al fresco entertainers have departed and the spirnkling of visitors ? by the unusually mild weather to rmain is slowly dwindling.  The holiday season is now practicaly ended.

Bowhill

From battlefield to altar

On Saturday Gunner Hugh Lawrie RFA was married to Miss Euphemia Banks in the parish church by the Rev A M Houston.  The soldier came direct from the battlefield in France and left again on Wednesday.

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.

Marine Engineer's Impertinence to Naval Officers

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 18 September 1915 issue)

City Police Court - Friday - Before Baillie Kenny

Marine Engineer's Impertinence to Naval Officers

Thomas Finlay marine engineer late of the steam lighter 'Trephom' admitted having while on board the lighter which was lying alongside one of His Majesty's ships conducted himself in a disorderly manner and committed a breach of the peace.

Accused said he had provocation.  The motors broke down on the way from Glasgow and the ship was kept waiting till 5 o'clock at night before it could get away.  Their ship had to go round the whole of the Admiralty ships.  His ship went to the place where it usually drew up but the officer ordered the ship to  go round to the other side.

The prosecutor had a complaint from the King's Harbourmaster who reported the accused for using filthy, insulting and obscene language to two officers on board His Majesty's Ship.  The accused refused to give his mame when requested.  The lighter was being brought alongside the starboard side of the ship and the accused was told to go to the port side.  In view of the insults to the officers the King's Harbourmaster thought the case should be followed up.  Finlay afterwards absconded and was arrested in Dumbartonshire.  Accused said he did not abscond.  The King's Harbourmaster ordered him to be dismissed which was a very severe punishment when it was considered he had been 2 days in custody.

Baillie Kenny said the charge was a serious one.  It was a big mistake for a man to make under the circumstances and the use of filthy language was very demoralising to every person who heard the language.  The sentence would be a fine of £1 with the option of 10 days imprisonment.

   
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.

Kelty Roll of Honour and News 160 Years Ago

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 11 September 1915 issue)

This week I have chosen 2 articles, 1 name-rich article and 1 article highlighting news from 160 years ago. (The current Dunfermline newspaper, the Dunfermline Press, has a column every week highlighting news from 100 years ago, 50 years ago and 25 years ago and I both enjoy reading the column and seeing if the journalists choose the same news from 100 years ago as I do in my blog!).

Kelty - Roll of Honour

The secretary of the British Order of Ancient Free Gardeners (Kelty branch) has a compiled a list of the members who have joined His Majesty's Forces since the war began.

The following is a list of the names and regiment to which each one is attached:

A and S Highlanders - John Hynd, George Martin, William Cook, George Turner, Alexander Cuthbert, Henry Hynd, William Fisher, James Shields, Sam Drummond, Robert Beveridge, James Beveridge, Archibald Duncan, Sam Robertson, Thomas Wood, William Hall, John Bruce, James Bruce, Willliam Boyd, Andrew Fotheringham, John Wallace, John Redmond.
Black Watch - David Peter, James Campbell, Thomas Duncan, R S Wood, John Hutton, John Croll, William Weir, James Ewing, Alexander Drummond, John Sharp, David Wallace, Robert Millar.
Scots Guards - Alex Dalrymple, Alexander Black, Thomas Smith, James Scott, John Campbell, James T Wood.
RAMC - Thos Hailstones, Wm Miller, Robert Dickson, Thos Lochin, Robert Buchan, Alex Moull, John Ford.
Gordon Highlanders - John Miller.
Cameron Highlanders - Robert Fotheringham, J A Allan.
HLI - William Pate
Scottish Horse - William McKillop
Fife and Forfar Yeomanry - John Newton, Thomas Boyd, David Dalrymple.
Royal Garrison Artillery - Alexander Rankine, David Dewar, John Bruce.
Army Service Corps - William Nicol, Walter Dalrymple.
Royal Scots - Arthur McCurley
Seaforth Highlanders - T F Crowe
Scottish Rifles - Thomas Jamieson, John McCurley
KOSB - George McFarlane
RFA - Joseph Johnstone, John Birrell, William Leach, James Drummond
MTASC - Alexander Clark, John Russell

Tis Sixty Years Since - from Dunfermline Journal September 1855

Military Barracks - We understand arrangements are  progress by which Government intend acquiring those extensive premises known as Baldridge Works for the purpose of having them converted into permanent barracks.  When this object is completed it will raise considerable animation in this locality and besides benefit the town by sending large sums of money into circulation.

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.

Damage caused by flooding

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 4 September 1915 issue)

This week I was rather spoiled for choice as there were quite a few interesting choices 100 years ago in Dunfermline but I have decided to focus on one story based in the village of Cairneyhill where I grew up.  In addition I run a one place study on the people and history of Cairneyhill.

 

Alleged damage by flooding

 

In Dunfermline small debt court on Tuesday John Drummond feuar Main Street, Cairneyhill sued Andrew McLaren 37 Marlborough Road, Cathcart, Glasgow for the sum of £10 in respect of damage caused to his property by flooding.  In his correspondence he states that defender and he are owners of adjoining property on the South side of Main Street, Cairneyhill.  There is a ditch partly on the east boundary of pursuer's property carrying the surface water from the main street.  The ditch after passing through pursuer's property turns to the west and enters the defender's property closely adjoining the east boundary of the pursuer's property.

 

For a few years past the defender has been in the habit of discharging sewage into the ditch where it passes through his property and at the south end of the ditch where it enters a pipe the ditch has become choked with sludge.  Although complaint has been made repeatedly  to the defender he made no attempt to clean it as it was his duty in any event to do.  In consequence of his failure flooding has occurred on 3 separate occasions with damage to the pursuer's property.

 

The first occasion was in December 1914 when the pipe leading the water from the ditch became choked and the water overflowed onto the pursuer's land.  The water was also dammed back into the public street and from there it flowed into the byre belonging to the pursuer doing considerable damage.  On 29th June 1915 there was a very heavy fall of rain and flooding again took place resulting in damage to the pursuer's land and also to his scullery which adjoins the byre.  On 15th August 1915 there was also heavy rain and the pursuer's byre and scullery were flooded and 10 young chickens drowned.  The loss and damage suffered by the pursuer in consequence of the flooding upon the failure of the defender to keep the ditch cleaned out is reasonably estimated at the sum of £10.

 

Mr David Connel said the defence was an absolute denial that the defender was responsible for the flooding of the property.  The flooding was caused entirely by the abnormally heavy rainfall on 29the June.  There was a terrific thunderstorm and no ditch in the country could withstand such a heavy rain.  He also asked for specification of the damage.  Mr R W Currie said it was difficult to specify the damage when a byre was filled with a foot of water for a day.  Mr Conel said the only effect would be that the byre would be a little cleaner the next day.

 

Mr Currie said he had no objection to Mr Connel visiting the place.  Some of the damage could be seen still although he believed it had been necessary to remove the chickens.  The scullery had also been flooded.  The sheriff said that in the circumstances too much specification could not be given.  Mr Currie asked if defender was the owner of the ditch as as it passed through his property and if he was liable to keep it clean.  The Sheriff - I think you are bound to say Mr Connel.  Mr Connel admitted that the ditch did belong to his client where it passed through the ground.  Proof was fixed for 25th October.

 

 

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.