These two previously unseen photos are of the same person, Blantyre lad, James Ritchie. However, what is remarkable about them is that they were taken in 1895 and 1908, meaning the earliest photo is 128 years old! His father was David Ritchie, a master joiner who took the photos given his keen interest in photography. […]
Each November, I like to explore and research the bravery of Blantyre soldiers. Today, recognising another brave Blantyre man in 1915. In September 1915, official communication was been received by Mrs. Cummings, who lived at 245 Glasgow Road, Blantyre, from her son. Sergeant James Cummings, that he been recommended for the D.C.M. The official notice, […]
This is F Company of the Scottish 6th Rifles taken in Falkirk in October 1914. One of four Territorial Battalions of the Regiment, the 6th Scottish Rifles covered Lanarkshire and had its headquarters in Hamilton. The officer seated in the centre with a mousache is James Brown the School Teacher from Blantyre, killed in action […]
This is a WW1 photograph of Private G. McGill of the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, a Blantyre lad who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty at Fosse 8 in battle on mainland Europe. In March 1916, when his officer, Captain Farmer, a man in his regiment, was wounded. Private […]
In early April 1916, Private. Joe McAnulty, an Irish Catholic from Blantyre wrote home from the WW1 front. His message was about setting aside petty differences of religion and humankind after seeing the horrors ravaged communities were going through in France. A message of the futility of fighting to keep some indifferent people in the […]
The following letter was received by the Hamilton Advertiser from two Blantyre lads with the Expeditionary Force in Salonica in May 1916. It’s a touching letter written by soldiers sending thanks. It was dated 10th April 1916. “We received your letter, dated 15th April, and return our thanks for you sending our parcel, and wishing […]
Here in the UK, we’ve all grown up with the concept of moving the clocks forward in March by an hour as British Summer Time starts. Just as much as we take for granted it needs to move back an hour in October. That whole concept has its roots back in pre WW1 years. British […]