Friday 30 October 2015

Thefts in Cowdenbeath and Rosyth


In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 30 October 1915 issue)

Welcome to the next issue of Dunfermline 100 years ago.  I apologise for the lack of a blog post last week.  I had injured my shoulder and was giving it and the keyboard some much needed rest.

Anyway usual service will now resume ..............

Juvenile Offenders - Cowdenbeath Lad's Record

Sheriff Umpherston at Dunfermline on Monday had before him several lads for various offences - the most serious being theft by housebreaking.

James McDonagh (11) son of Stephen McDonagh, miner, 2 Mungal Street, Cowdenbeath admitted having (1) on 8th inst at the restaurant premises at 54 High Street, Cowdenbeath occupied by Guiseppi Ventura stolen 2s of money and at the premises ar Crosshill occupied by Galtine Campanile ice cream vendor, broken into the shop and stolen 20 packets of cigarettes and 3s of money; (2) on 13th inst at Foulford Farm stolen from a bothy an alarm clock (3) on 15th inst at the shop at 270 High Street, Cowdenbeath occupied by John Levine general dealer pretended to his daughter Diana Levine then in charge that he had been sent by her father and sister to get a woman's watch for a soldier who was waiting in the shop at 174 High Street also occupied by John Levine and thus induced Diana Levine to deliver to him a woman's watch which he appropriated to his own use and thus defrauded her of it and (4) on 18th inst at the premises at 264 High Street occupied by Millie Bolan licensed broker stole a purse.  He admitted a previous conviction for theft in 1913.

The lad's father who was present said that so far as he could learn his son was guilty of all the charges.

The sheriff - you know your boy has been in trouble before.  You have not been looking after him.

The parent replied that he had done his bit but the lad had got a little out of his control of late.  He (the son) was not responsible for all his actions.

The fiscal - he must be an enterprising youth at his age and should be properly guided.

The sheriff said he would send the boy to a school where he would be looked after and where he would not be able to get beyond control.

Albert Hopping (13) son of James Hopping timberman and Charles Lawrey (11) son of Frederick Lawrey labourer Wood Street Rosyth Village admitted having at Rosyth School (1) between 18th and 20th September broken into the school with intent to steal therefrom (2) between 25th and 27th September broken into the school and stolen 4 keys (3) between 2nd and 4th October broken into the school and stolen from a lockfast desk eightpence of money and (4) on 10th October broken into the school with intent to steal.

They were put on probation for 4 months.






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.

Friday 16 October 2015

Price of Victory - Local Casualties - West Fife Heroes


In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 16 October 1915 issue)

 
It struck me on looking through the local newspaper 100 years ago that there were increasing numbers of war casualties and this is what I have decided to highlight this week.
 
 
 
Price of Victory - Local Casualties - West Fife Heroes
 
The Brothers Robertson - A Church Tribute
 
In St Margaret's UF Church on Sunday the Rev John Sanderson made sympathetic references to the death of Private James Robertson son of Mr John Robertson, Reid Street.  He pointed out that of five sons of Mr Robertson who were serving, 2 have been killed and another wounded.  Private Robertson he said was a member of the choir of St Margaret's Church.  He took a known interest in the work of the choir his place being seldom vacant either at the services or at practice.  At the close of the service the 'Dead March' in 'Saul' was played by the organist Mr Wm Davidson the congregation meantime upstanding as a mark of reverence for the brave dead.  
 
[St Margaret's United Free church opened in East Port, Dunfermline on 02 September 1827 with room for 970 people.  The church was demolished in 1981 to make way for a new headquarters of the Dunfermline Building Society.  The congregation had previously moved to a new church in the Touch area of Dunfermline in 1974 and the congregation of St Margarets, which is now part of the Church of Scotland, is still in that same building in Touch].
 
9th Black Watch Cricketer Wounded
 
Twelve Dunfermline men who enlisted in the 9th Black Watch together have suffered badly in the recent fighting.  Nine have been wounded as yet nothing has been heard of the 3 others since the battle took place.  Among the wounded is Private Robert Boyd the well-known Fife cricketer who appeared for many seasons with Fifeshire Club.  He is at present lying in a French Hospital with a severe shrapnel wound in the right breast.  His parents reside in Elgin Terrace.
 
Another member of the company is Private Peter Philip.  He is at present in Edinburgh Infirmary and has been wounded in the legs and shoulder.  After being wounded he had to crawl several miles to safety.
 
Private Henry Wilson of the same regiment who previous to the war resided in Nethertown is in an English hospital with a bullet wound in his hand. He was employed as a miner before enlisting.
 
Private Thomas MacDougall who enlisted at the same time is also in hospital slightly wounded.  He was a rubber worker and when he enlisted resided in Dickson Stret.
 
Private Adamson of Forth Street is another of the unfortunate twelve.  His wounds are also slight.

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.

 

Friday 9 October 2015

Harvest thanksgiving service, a funeral and races


In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 9 October 1915 issue)


Cairneyhill
 
Harvest thanksgiving and flower service

The annual harvest thanksgiving and flower service was held in the church last Sunday.  The Rev William Forbes preached from the text 'Except a corn of wheat fall onto the ground and die it abideth alone'.  Suitable praise was led by the choir who also rendered several anthems.  There was a large congregation.  The gifts of flowers, fruit, eggs etc were afterwards sent to Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital and have been gratefully  acknowledged by the matron.

William Forbes was an Aberdeen man who was minister at Cairneyhill from 1895 until he died in Cairneyhill in 1943.

This is Cairneyhill church:

 
 

Linekilns and Charlestown

Funeral of the late Mr James Bryce

The remains of Mr James Bryce late collector of customs at Greenock were interred in Rosyth churchyard on Monday.  The funeral was attended by many friends from Dunfermline and the villages of Limekilns and Charlestown.  Mr Bryce was a native of the district.  His father was beadle of Limekilns church.  The early service of the boy with his father in ringing the church bell led him to remember his old church connection and when the belfry became so decayed he generously defrayed the cost.  That was some years ago.  The name of the generous friend was not made known at the time for the reason that he shunned publicity of good deeds.  Mr Bryce began life in the Elgin Estates office and his training there served him well when he entered government service.  He was unmarried.

[There is a connection between these first 2 articles in that Cairneyhill church and Limekilns church are now a linked charge.  The Elgin estate is the large estate still belonging to the Bruce family with their house named Broomhall which still covers a large amount of ground to the south of Dunfermline].

Charlestown children entertained

Charlestown children had a joyful surprise on Friday.  They were given a half day and informed that through the generosity of Lady Davis, London who is at present residing in the Elgin Hotel sports were to be provided for them.  The weather was fortunately of the very best and the football ground presented an admired appearance.  Lieutenant Davis who is on board one of H M Ships and is a son of Lady Davis came ashore and directed operations.  He brought with him the ship's band who discoursed mused [?].  There were events for children of all ages and even adults had a share.  The amusement creating items included the familiar old game of shipping the donkey's tail.  The poor aniumal cleverly painted on canvas by the sailors had the tail pinned even in its eye.  Another laugh producing game was the practice of the shying booth - the persons shied at including of course Kaiser Bill, Clown Prince and Von Turpe.  Several of the men from the ship dressed in fancy costume further added to the hilarity of the sports.  The following are the principal results:
Boys race (under 3) - 1 A Roxburgh, 2 O Thomson, 3 D Wood
Boys race (over 3) - 1 George Horn, 2 George Sinclair, 3 William Edwards
Girls race (under 3) - 1 Alice Westcott, 2 Alice Wilson, 3 Ina Roxburgh
Girls race (over 3) - 1 Grace Ferguson, 2 Ethel Phillip, 3 Jane Baxter
Shipping the donkey's tail ladies - 1 Miss Swan, 2 Mrs MacDonald
Shipping the donkey's tail girls - 1 Lizzie Simpson, 2 J Mann
Ladies race (over 21) - 1 Miss Mill, 2 Mrs McDonald, 3 Mrs Talbot
Lemonade and biscuit race boys - 1 John Fotheringham, 2 George Sinclair, 3 William McGregor
Lemonade and biscuit race girls - 1 Ina Thomson, 2 Ella Wood, 3 Eileen McMann.



 
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.

 

Friday 2 October 2015

Kelty - Moray Church and Concert for soldiers


In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the 2 October 1915 issue)

Kelty

The Call to Moray Church

At the meeting of Dunfermline and Kinross Presbytery held at Dunfermline on Tuesday, a call by the congregation of Kelty Moray church to Mr William Craig BD a probationer was sustained.  Two candidates besides Mr Craig were nominated but he was adopted by a clear majority.  Rev George Lake Crossgates said the call was signed by 237 members and 22 adherents.  That might seem rather small out of a congregation of 483 but he wished the Presbytery to remember that 60 young members were at present serving with the army.  Once the new minister was placed the work would go on prosperously and he did not think the Presbytery should hesitate about sustaining the call.  Mr Shorthouse Kelty said he was certain that the new minister would receive a hearty welcome from the congregation.  The call was a most unanimous one.  Mr Duff Kelty said Mr Craig was a young man and there would be great scope for his abilities.  He had no doubt that the future would be very bright. 

This is what was formerly known as Moray church:


Moray Church became a community centre in 1974 and is now known as the Moray Institute.


Concert to wounded soldiers

A highly sucessful concert was given to the wounded soldiers in hospital at Tillryie by the Kelty Junior Orchestra on Wednesday last under the conductorship of Mr Alex R Penman.  The other players who took part were:- 1st violins James Watson, Alex Downie and Alex Mill, 2nd violins Henry Wells and Andrew Galloway, Cello Andrew Forrester, Clarinet David Lawson, Cornet Robert Sneddon while Archibald Penman provided the accompaniments.  Mr A R Penman the conductor, who went through a long course of training in Edinburgh, contributed 2 solos which were much appreciated.  The whole proceedings were a great success and everyone present spent a very enjoyable evening.  Mr John Armstrong and Mr A Inglis, Kelty conveyed the artistes from Kelty to Tillyrie and back in their motor cars free of charge.

Tillyrie House is near Milnathort and was used as an auxiliary hospital during WW1.  The house was built around 1841 and is still standing.
 

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.