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Nicky Rowberry sent in a request saying, “Hi. I’m looking for any information on Thomas Rankin Thorburn – a Blantyre man who died in WW1. Is he commemorated on the war memorial? Or mentioned in any local newspapers? Thanks for your help. Nicky” Thomas Rankin Thorburn was born at Kirkton on 13th April 1878. A […]
David Reddiex shared this transcript of a letter from WW1. He told me, “I thought your readers may be interested in this type written letter from the trenches, in 1915. It depicts some of the brave tales of Auchentibber/Blantyre soldiers. My mother, Katherine , was a Strang and my father, James, was a Reddiex…both sadly […]
This is an exclusive look at this photo, the first time it’s been online. Photographed during WW1 by early Blantyre photographer, David Ritchie, its from the collection of photos once shared to me by Alex Bowie. It was dark and not the best quality, but is brought a little to life by the added colour […]
This great photo from WW1 is shared by Rhona Johnson. On the far right is James Russell (born 24th May 1896 Blantyre) who is the wee boy pictured in the left of today’s other post. James is pictured with his bicycle. He was a post boy in the British Army and this photo shows a […]
Here’s a story of true Blantyre heroism and bravery. On Sunday, 2nd February 1919, Private. Matthew Barrie, son of Mr and Mrs Barrie, of 75 Auchinraith Road, was presented on parade with his Distinguished Conduct Medal by Colonel Vandeleur. The act which brought Pte, Barrie the D.C.M. was a particularly brave and meritorious one during […]
How relieved some British Troops must have been in December 1916 to be told they were being given leave to go back home for a short time. War was not going well, and whilst most troops suffered those cold, terrible conditions in the trenches, others were most fortunate to arrive back in Britain for the […]
James Watson fought with the Royal Scots in 3rd Battalion. Standing 5 foot 7 and 21 years old when he enlisted, his story is another remarkable one. Born in Cambuslang on 11th September 1893 to parents Alexander Watson and Janet Scott, he had moved to Springwell, Blantyre by the age of 21 in 1914. That […]
This week’s video, I have to admit has been the most difficult so far to make. The decade from 1910-1919 was of course, scarred terribly by the horrors of the Great War, with monumental loss of life. War featured for more than half of those years and so I’ve focused on people. Ordinary Blantyre folks, […]
Alister Williams recently messaged me with this fascinating information. He told me, “I am the author of REES, VC – the first of the original ‘Few’, being the biography of Group Captain Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees, VC, OBE. MC, AFC (1884–1955). Rees is the world’s first official fighter pilot, serving with the first official fighter […]