The
VILLAGERS
NOVEMBER 2010
Price
40p
T he Vo i c e o f B a l q u h i d d e r, L och earn h ead , S t rat h yre & S t F illans
Pin-Feathers*
by Old Nyati
*Once in demand by Victorian miniaturists, the tiny pin-feather comes from the leading edge of a woodcock’s wing and only two such feathers occur on each bird (one on each wing). This month Old Nyati gives us a glimpse into the years of the First World War, 1914-18.
It was just an old autograph book, but how many times had it escaped being thrown away? Being so near to Remembrance Day it seemed appropriate to highlight some of the entries from it. All I know is that it belonged to one of my aunts and was passed on to me long ago. The aunts were all in the medical profession; nurses, sisters and a matron, and my childhood memories recall that they all seemed to have had operations for gall stones, so it must have been a family weakness!! I remember being shown the removed stones with great interest; sort of marble-sized lumps of conglomerate material. But what of the old book; entries indicate years spent in field hospitals in France and recovery camps in the U.K.
The cross - Unidentified British Soldier - drawn by Capt W Clark.
W. Martin Mclean. 1/5 Cameronians, France, 1914. “A wee reflection from Bonnie Scotland and for the sake of auld lang syne.” “Two Ways!” by J. Johnston (Sgt) 9/5/18 Military Hospital, Catterick. What can we make of this? “….wherefore I schemed to stay behind…” What remorse! Did he not go ‘Over the top’ with his men? My imagination runs away with those words; he was obviously wounded and in hospital. Read the full poem, in all its moving glory, on page 2.
“... all the boys of the shell shock ward” Wounded 1918. Hugh Hammond (Jock) Denny, Stirling. (Perhaps there are still relatives in the area.)
Reading the book Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks gives some idea of the horrors that went on. So what do we make of it all? Those verses, the handwriting, the names and the places! They were brave men who fought for their country and they were young, like some of you. But be in no doubt of this……….. “ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.”