For anyone looking to find out information about Innerleithen Robert Smail’s Printing Works is a fascinating place to start. As part of our World War One research we arranged to visit Smail’s, now managed by the National Trust, to have a look at the St Ronan’s Standard newspapers. We looked at some of the newspapers from 1914 until 1915 when production of the newspaper stopped because of a lack of staff due to the war.

What we found

We started off looking at newspapers around the date that war was declared and also looking for obituaries for soldiers we had identified from Innerleithen War Memorial as being killed in 1914 and early 1915. The level of detail about the war in each paper was surprising – national reporting, not just local news. There were many adverts for things people might want to buy to send to their soldiers – stationary, bibles, scarves, socks, shirts.

Many letters from servicemen to their families were printed in the paper, describing conditions in the trenches; copies of letters to families saying that their loved one was injured, captured or killed; lists of donations to Relief Funds by local people and adverts for fund raisers; lists of those signed up; lists of promotions; some lists of wounded also; details of training times e.g. in Victoria Park or in Innerleithen’s Drill Hall.

There is mention of the locally important Tweed industry, including at one point that machines not working at full capacity because of staff shortage. At the start of the war concerns were of there being a crisis as a result of losing the important German and Austrian markets, their best customers, “the most serious crisis in the history of the Scottish Woollen industry”.

Other things we found interesting were fund raising for Belgian Relief for refugees coming here, reporting of socks being knitted and sent to the front, requests for children to collect eggs – these were needed for wounded soldiers here – there was a national egg collection week!

Smails themselves were advertising sale of war books and maps.

Reading the old newspapers really gave us an insight into how the people of Innerleithen were informed about World War One and we only touched on the information available.

Thanks to Rachel at Smail’s for giving us access to their archives.

---

 

Our Notes from the St Ronan’s Standard

5/8/1914	Declaration of War.
12/8/1914	St Ronan’s Standard reports: Home Defence – members of H Company, 8th Royal Scots, under command of Captain W Thorburn, left Innerleithen per special train. Marched to station where a “huge crowd” witnessed their departure and as the train left “they were accorded a hearty send-off”. Their destination was unknown.
2/9/1914	Example of advert: “Hawick Hosiery for Men at the Front” Will be in Walkerburn with samples. Special offers on war cardigans, jackets, scarfs, socks, khaki shirts, caps. “For the use of our brave soldiers and sailors”
	List of donations to relief funds and adverts for these.
11/9/1914	Example of fundraiser for Belgian Relief
18/11/1914	Example of Private David Mitchell, taken prisoner of war, his father informed.
	Missing – Private Alexander Kennaway
	Private William Gall, Innerleithen is home of leave, wounded in the leg by “dreaded German shrapnel”. Report says he will be going back into action soon “His mind, however, is still rankling at the thought of a German inflicted wound and he is keen for revenge. Good Luck!”
25/11/1914	Lists H Company, Royal Scots who have gone on foreign service – this lists over 80 names. See also 26/8/1914 for lists of those in service.
2/12/1914	Death reported – Sgt W Cleghorn, husband of Marion Simpson, age 42 at hospital in Boulogne. From Munro’s Buildings, Innerlethen. Prints letters to Mrs Cleghorn (24/11/1914 from a nurse to say he is injured and cared for; 27/11/1914 to say he died).List of wounded soldiers – includes mention of Alex Robson, Royal Horse Guards, whos stretched while helping others and got shot in the hand. Expects to be back in service in a short time.
9/12/1914	Reports Mr and Mrs Turnbull of Leithen Mill Lodge who have five sons serving: John 1st KOSB James & Hugh 8th Royal Scots George 14th Australian Forces Robert 12th Royal Scots
30/12/1914	Belgian refugees arrive in Innerleithen
27/1/1915	Reports death of Private Campbell – coming off sentry duty he was shot by a sniper. He leaves a wife and five young children. Only left Innerleithen four weeks earlier, joined up three months ago. Prints a letter from Lt James Young to the wife, with consolation for her loss.
17/3/1915	Reports some promotions, Letters from the front.“Billeted in Innerleithen” Royal Scots 3rd Battalion located in Peebles will be having a route march on Friday. 500 will march from Peebles to Innerleithen where hotel keepers will provide accommodation. Then they will return to Peebles where there will be a dance in the drill hall, free to the public.
24/3/1915	Reports Lance-Corp James Turnbull, killed by a sniper. Previously employed at Tweedvale Mills, Walkerburn, age 23.
7/4/1915	Archibald Smith reported killed, only been in France six weeks, enlisted in Stirling, age 23.List of names joined up.
12/5/1915	Reports of a local family on board Lusitania – a Miss Chrissie Aitken gives an account, members of her family died.
26/5/1915	Lance Corporal Gardner, son of Mrs Gardner, High St. Shot in the head.
1/3/1916	Death of Edward Oliver in Falkirk is reported.
8/3/1916	Last paper printed due to lack of staff.