Porty at War: World War I

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Privates J. Hogg and W. Rowley of Portobello were wounded in action.
Private E. Williams was missing in action.

Lieutenant G. Miller of 9 Park Avenue was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry.

A two year old boy who was crossing Portobello High Street with a companion, fell in front of an approaching tram car. Private Alex. Mitchell of the Royal Scots could not reach the infant in time to drag him clear, but, grabbing a scavenger’s brush, swept the boy off the track with it, falling on the street in the act. The driver of the tram applied his brakes with promptitude, but the front wheels rested on the place where the child had been.

Melrose’s Dairy, High Street Portobello decided to sell off its horses.

Rev. James Ray was inducted as minister of St. James to replace Rev. James Oliver, and Rev. W.L. Fraser to succeed Rev. Robert Whyte at Regent Street United Free Church.

On the beach a steam hammer was busy driving in a wide circle of piles to a profound depth. In the centre of the huge cylinder thus formed there were now being gradually sunk into the earth successive storeys of iron piping. These were to form a huge shaft, which would be connected with a horizontal passage underground and running from the bottom of the shaft into the sea, well beyond the low water mark. The large tank would in this way be supplied direct with salt water for the power station and from it the condensing water would be drawn off to the various engines and returned at a higher temperature.

Miss E. M. Hermanni (ballet mistress at the King’s Theatre) started giving dancing classes at Bath Street Hall. She gave tuition in Ballroom, Fancy and Toe.

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Private James Young of 107 Joppa Road died of wounds received in action aged 29. Second Lieutenant James Hunter of Argyle Place also died of wounds.

Private A. Goodhall of Portobello was reported wounded and missing, but Private J. May, previously reported missing had been found and returned to his regiment. Corporal J. Bell was wounded.

George Slater of 38 Promenade, First Officer of HMS Marina, was among the 17 crew who drowned when the ship was sunk.

The Portobello branch of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association announced that since the outbreak of the war it had supplied over 8,000 garments and more than 500 layettes for new born infants.

Dr. Thomas Whitelaw died at his home in Windsor Place. Dr. Whitelaw was the oldest medical practitioner in Portobello, having run his surgery for over a quarter of a century. Before becoming a doctor he had been a bank inspector in Africa. He was a member of the executive of the Portobello Sick and Destitute Society.

Alexander McBain also died in Portobello. He was the local blacksmith and had for many years been a member of the Regent Street United Free Church and acted as a missionary for the Edinburgh City Mission.

The hairdresser’s business at 315 Portobello High Street was put up for sale.

The North British Railway Company successfully sued the Niddrie and Benhar Coal Company for non payment of charges for transporting coal from Portobello to Granton.

Miss Clara Codd of the Theosophical Society gave a lecture entitled “Why are we here?” in the Bath Street Hall.

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On 18 November the Somme offensive ended

Corporal Fred Blackett of 30 Duddingston Park was killed in action.
Sergeant Major W. Giddes and Private R. Bell of Portobello was wounded

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, William Massey, was given the freedom of the city. In his acceptance speech he recalled that it was the Rev. Thomas Burns, a nephew of the poet Robert Burns, who had set off from Portobello to lead the pioneer band of Scottish emigrants who settled in New Zealand and founded the city of Dunedin.

There was a series of shop breaking incidents. In one case 4,000 cigarettes, 12 lb. of rolling tobacco and £2 11s 6d was taken. In another 38 lb. of tea and 9 lb. of tobacco and in a third 3 cooked hams, 3 roasts of beef, some cutlery and £1. The thief was traced back to a house in Portobello where a further quantity of goods was discovered.
George Baillie, who ran Baillie’s bakery and confectionery shop at 160 Portobello High Street, went into liquidation and was declared bankrupt.

Roberts, the coal merchant put his business up for sale because all of his men had now been called up for military service and he had no one to work for him. The sale included the horses, carts, bags and weights.

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On 6 December Lloyd George became British Prime Minister.

Sergeant William Robertson of Portobello died of wounds received in action.

George Robertson (16) of 55 Portobello High Street was fined £1 for conducting himself in a disorderly manner, committing a breach of the peace and assaulting a constable. The constable was endeavouring to disperse a crowd when the accused rushed at him, butted him with his head and knocked him down.

The Military Institute at the Portobello Chocolate Factory was increased in size with the addition of a large rest room, the cost of which was donated by Mrs. Clark as a memorial to her husband Colonel James Clark, who had been killed in action.

The Figure Eight railway in the Marine Gardens was put up for sale.

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1917
The New Year was marked by a service led by the Rev. Merrick Walker in Portobello Town Hall. The chief speaker was Mr. William Adamson M.P. who had recently lost his son in battle. Mr. Adamson said that the war had entirely changed their outlook on life as well as the circumstances under which they had been accustomed to live. The sacrifice inevitable to such a conflict was being felt in nearly every home in the land, in the home of the peer as well as the peasant. Many of their young men had gone out in the morning of their life and had laid down their lives for their country’s cause. And for the fathers and mothers who remained at home, the eventide of life would be dull and grey as compared to what it would have been but for the price they had paid.

Private J. Wood of Portobello was wounded in action.

The Education Committee were considering erecting workshops in the playground of Towerbank School in order to provide technical training to older pupils.

The death was announced of Anthony Mitchell, the Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney. Before becoming Bishop the Rev. Mitchell had been rector of St. Mark’s, Portobello.

17 John Street came on the market for £850. Nos. 7, 9, 11 and 13 Melville Street were also for sale at £390 each or £1,530 the lot.

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On 19 January the USA declared war on Germany

Following a meeting in Portobello Municipal Buildings it was agreed that a formal Portobello Garden Allotments Association should be formed. It was noted that there were over 20 acres of suitable ground in and around Portobello.

The decision was also taken to put parts of the golf course under the plough in order to increase food supplies. Portobello Park comprised an area of 55.24 acres. It possessed exceptionally good turf and the annual revenue from all sources, including grazing, amounted to £400. It it were ploughed over the public would be deprived of its use for probably four years. The only difficulty would be in obtaining horses and ploughs, though Mr Simpson of Duddingston Mains had offered to carry out the ploughing and assist at harvesting for 68 shillings an acre. Mr. Simpson then placed an advert in the Scotsman for ploughmen. 3 acres of the park were set aside for allotments, all of which were taken up within a few weeks.

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On 12 February 1917 the very first war memorial in the East of Scotland was erected in Joppa, on the wall of St. Andrew’s House of Mercy. It consisted of a decorative panel, flanked by folding leaves, bearing lists of the 160 men of Portobello and Joppa who had so far died in the war. The centre panel was filled with a representation of a soldier who, in the act of dying, reaches out a hand to the feet of Christ. There was a considerable gathering for the ceremony, including several soldiers in uniform. A procession of clergy were led by a boy scout carrying a cross. The memorial was dedicated by Rev. Hugh McKean of St. George’s Episcopal Church and a wreath of flowers was placed by the Mother Superior of the House of mercy.

Mrs. Mary Rae of Hamilton Lodge sued Hendry’s Aerated Water Works Ltd. for £1000 damages. The tram in which Mrs. Rae had been a passenger collided with a lorry owned by the Aerated Water company. The collision was slight and no damage was done to either vehicle, but a delay was caused which prevented Mrs. Rae from attending to her business. Having heard all the evidence the Court found that the responsibility for the accident rested solely with the driver of the lorry and awarded Mrs. Rae £200 damages.

Private Lawrence Handwick pleaded guilty to breaking into the Church of Scotland Guild Institute in Portobello and stealing 1,050 cigarettes, 3 New testaments and 13 pictorial postcards. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

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Private W. Ferme of Portobello was reported killed in action.

A large fund raising meeting was held in Portobello Town Hall. Admiral Sir Arthur Farquhar appealed for people to do everything they possibly could and to go to any inconvenience short of absolute starvation to have revenge on the germans. Lord Strathclyde urged the necessity for supporting the War Savings Association and it was noted that the Portobello Working men’s Institute had raised £750 in only a few months.

Alfred Aaronson of Portobello was fined 3 Guineas for impersonating a sailor. He was seen in Musselburgh wearing a uniform consisting of a cap, overcoat and trousers so nearly resembling a naval uniform as to be calculated to deceive and to induce belief that he was connected with His Majesty’s Navy, contrary to the Defence of the real Regulations. How like his attire as to a proper uniform might be judged from the fact that a sailor saluted when he saw it.

No. 43 High Street decided to sell their horse, who was a quiet, good working draught gelding.

A sale of work at St James Church raised nearly £60 for the war effort.

The Forester’s Arms were advertising for an experienced barman.

The Queen’s Bay Hotel in Joppa reopened under entirely new management.

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On 12 April the Canadian army captured Vimy Ridge

Lieutenant Charles Green of 12 Pitt Street was killed in action aged 20 as was Private Stuart Burns of 7 Durham Road, Private T. Conley, Private W. Gwynne and Private A. Clarke.

Corporals M. Lynch and R. Waldie and Privates R. McDaid, D. Chalmers , O. Lynch, P. Redpath, A. Hogg, J. Montgomery, H. Cummings, J. Whyte and T. Sheil and Private F. Chalmers all of Portobello were wounded in action.

Lieutenant Robert Beattie of Portobello was reported missing.

Rev. Jamieson stepped down as minister and moderator of the Portobello Presbytery after 50 years, during which time the congregation had increased fourfold.

Of the three United Free Church ministers in Portobello, one was on active service and the other two had now been instructed to present themselves for medical examination prior to being enlisted. The Presbytery complained to the military authorities that this would now leave Portobello without a minister belonging to their faith.
Sir Thomas Lipton presented a beautiful silk banner to St. Mark’s episcopal church. It was the workmanship of Belgian refugees.

There was also a problem with medical care. 9 Doctors of eligible age were likely to be called up which would leave a panel list of over 13,000 without medial support.

The Leith and Portobello Meat and Allied ~Trades Red Cross Flag day raised £108 14s 11d. This result was regarded as highly satisfactory in view of the bad weather conditions prevailing during the forenoon and the Committee desired to express their appreciation of the enthusiasm, pluck and perseverance of the lady collectors who undertook the work.

George Bain, a Musselburgh dairy farmer was fined £5 for supplying milk to the dairy in Portobello which was found to contain less than 8.5% milk fat.

Isabella Laing of 4 Adelphi Place and Margaret Wood of 31 Tower Street were both awarded £25 per annum pensions by the Trinity Hospital fund.

It was announced that until further notice the last delivery of parcels to Portobello would be 5.30 p.m.

The Unionist Party held a meeting in the Town Hall, addressed by Mr. G.W. Currie M.P. to discuss reform of the House of Lords.

A gold bracelet with amethysts was lost between Duddingston Park and the station.

13 Rosefield Avenue decided to sell a Wardrobe, hall stand and kitchen table.
182 High Street were selling their four in hand coach, though it did have a bent axle.

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On 7 June the British attacked at Messines.

Sergeant W. Farquhar and Lance Corporal George Tough, aged 22, of Spring Gardens were killed. Sergeant Farquhar had previously been reported missing.

Privates G. Rush, J. Small, J. Christie, J. McInnes, E, Starrs and J. Murray of Portobello were wounded.

Private A. Bartell and R, Lyon were reported missing.

In the High Court Edinburgh Parish Council sued Charles Schulze for two years’ outstanding rates on the Portobello Chocolate Factory, amounting to a little over £55.
Schultze argued that the factory had been requisitioned by the Government in October 1914. However Lord Hunter held that as the name on the valuation roll was that of Mr. Schultze, then Mr. Schultze was liable for the rates whatever use the building was being put to. The circumstance that the Crown had taken temporary possession of the factory did not relieve the defender of his liability as owner to pay the rates and assessments.
George Baillie, baker and confectioner of 15 Hope Street went into bankruptcy.

Mysterious musicians appeared at the Portobello bandstand to raise money for Red Triangle Day. A number of well known ladies, including Princess George of Battenberg, Viscountess Melville and Lady Beatty sold flowers for the fund.

A Regatta and Cafe Chantant was held off the Promenade.

Over 400 players engaged in a charity tournament on the Portobello Bowling Green in aid of blinded soldiers and sailors.

The late Dr. Whitelaw of Windsor Lodge’s wine cellar was put up for auction. It comprised Champagnes of various varieties, sparkling Hocks and Moselles. Burgandies, Sauternes, ports, sherries, clarets, vermouth, cognac, liquers, ginger wine and whiskies by Glenlivet, Ben Lawers, Ballochmyle, Haig, Dewar, and others. Some of these came by the cask, not the bottle.

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On 25 June American troops finally arrived in France

Corporal J. Thomson of Portobello was reported killed in action, as was Lieutenant W. Urquhart of 8 John Street.

Sergeant G. Smith, Privates W. Archibald, S. Bayliss, T. Creamer and W. Sanderson were wounded.

Glasgow workers in large numbers flocked to Portobello, drawn by the favourable weather conditions. The limited train service proved insufficient to cope with the increased traffic, with the result that cars, omnibuses and charabancs were largely patronised. The Promenade and the beach were crowded. Thousands of people took their ease in the sunshine and in the vicinity of the pier there was scarcely room to move on the shore. The walk from the west end to Bath Street was necessarily slow. Neither old nor young betrayed any acute self conciousness.Nearly everyone wore caps and white canvas shoes and went without vests and with their coats open. Broad belts with coloured stripes were much in evidence.Youths, for the most part, were in parties of half a dozen or so and they made things lively. There were crowds waiting for ices and other refreshments. There were crowds who wanted to be photographed. Boating, as usual, was a popular pastime and the boatmen were charging 2s an hour instead of the ordinary 6d. The demand for bottled beer was enormous and stocks in several places were practically cleared out. Sugar also proved a great difficulty. Many of the visitors were now using condensed milk to make up for the lack of sugar. Many people who came to Portobello for apartments had to go elsewhere. They left matters to chance and found on their arrival that there was not an available inch of space them at all. Ransom prices were offered for rooms and in small houses rooms were fetching as much as £2 10s for the week. This left some of the visitors stranded and the spent the night in the open. Some walked about and others made a couch of the sand and, tired and dusty, slept soundly. The police reported that about 400 people had slept on the beach. Over the week the trams carried 22,000 passengers between Waverley and Portobello.

A Pierrot troupe and a military band performed at Portobello in aid of the Scottish Churches Hut fund. Miss Esther Cruickshank held a concert with Mr. Charles Creswick, Miss Bessie Simpson, Mr. and Miss O‘Hanlon and Master Harold Young in the Promenade Shelter Bandstand. A Cafe Chantant was held in the Rowing Club Boathouse.

A Regatta held at Portobello, despite being very much curtailed by rough seas, raised £50 for the Red Cross.

At Lady Elphinstone’s fete the Rosefield Quartette won first prize. in the promenade concert.

Douglas Thomson, the landlord of the pub at 227 Portobello High Streert was fined £10 for serving four half glasses of whisky to a man who was already clearly under the influence of drink.

Mrs. Elspeth Jeffrey, who had run the grocer’s shop at 47 Bath Street for 28 years, was fined £5 for selling a gill of whisky outside normal licensing hours.

John McLaughlin (21) of 1 Maryfield was charged with committing a breach of the peace on a tramcar, assaulting a tram inspector and three lance corporals in uniform, one of whom was now suffering from concussion of the brain. He was granted bail of £10.

Simeon Rathbone, of Portobello passed the piano examinations of the Royal Academy of Music.

Agnes Major of 25 Ramsay Lane obtained a divorce from Thomas Major on the grounds of infidelity. Thomas Major had absconded to Salt Lake City, Utah, with his mistress Nellie Hawthorn. Peter Drysdale of 6 Tower Street, who was currently serving abroad with His Majesty’s forces, obtained a divorce from his wife Margaret on the grounds of infidelity.

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Privates George Gibson of 49 Melville Street and T. Reid were killed on active service. Privates W. McQuillan and A. Banks were wounded.
Private J. Johnston was reported to be a prisoner of war.

There was a spate of over half a dozen reported assaults in Portobello on soldiers stationed at the Marine Barracks. In each case the assaults were carried out by a gang of roughs who for the most part were youths under the age of nineteen. The feeling of resentment in the battalion was so strong that there was concern that the soldiers were likely to take the law into their own hands.

The Rev. Ireland of the Free Church submitted a petition stating that the great cause of drunkenness in Portobello was owing to the existence of hotels in the place and urged the magistrates to refuse a renewal of licences to hotels in the town. The petition bore the signatures of 641 inhabitants. All sorts of indecencies were seen on the road leading to the railway station, caused by drunken people and the most foul and abominable language was used. It was impossible for any lady to walk in Brighton Place in the evening without becoming disgusted with the sights to be witnessed.

Eight year old James Ford of 48 Kings Road drowned in the sea at the end of the street.

There was a demonstration at Brunstane of the new Eros tractor attachment. Fitted to an ordinary ford car, the attachment could do ploughing work equal to four good horses, while it did the work untiringly. It was predicted that tractors would take over from horses for ploughing in the future. The price of the tractor was £90.

Musselburgh Town Council resolved unanimously to petition the Secretary of State for Scotland that it should be amalgamated with Portobello and in future form part of the City of Edinburgh.

Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in Portobello, with the macadam on the roads torn up and washed away in several places. A portion of the retaining wall, about 30 feet long by six feet high, opposite Joppa Chains, was cast down. Two houses at Eastfield were struck by lightning, demolishing their chimneys.

J. Brockie of 8 Mentone Avenue came second in the Edinburgh Allotment Holder’s competition. Mrs. Richardson of 12 Wellington Street won a silver medal for the best crop of potatoes.

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Major John Adams of 6 Argyle Crescent died of wounds caused by a bomb dropped from an aeroplane. In civilian life he was the joint proprietor, with his brother Bailie Adams, of the Portobello Newspaper.

Lieutenant William Davison died of enteric fever. Privates P. Punton and T. Todd died of wounds.

Sergeant W. Strang, Bombardier J. Crombie and Privates E. Aiston, M. Moore, A. Young, R. Laing, J. Folie and D. Baxter were wounded.

Private J. Pairman was missing in action.

Private G. Hall was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

The Church of Scotland Young men’s Guild held a farewell concert in the Town Hall for the Marine Gardens’ Battalion who were leaving for the front. Colonel Lord Crofton, commanding the Battalion, said they had received nothing but kindness in Portobello. He could not express the indebtedness of the Battalion to the helpers in the Guild Hut and, in the name of the officers and men, he presented a piece of plate to Portobello.

The Rev. R. Davidson was chosen to succeed Rev. Jamieson as minister of the Old Parish Church.

Three fifteen year old boys were arrested in the Fun City pleasure ground on Portobello Promenade, accused of stealing £100 from a baker’s shop in Kirkintilloch. The theft of the money included gold, bank notes, treasury notes and silver. The boys being suspected, their description was duly circulated. Thinking that the attractions of Portobello might have appealed to the lads, the police determined to search for them and within forty minutes of the Portobello police being informed, they were secured in Fun City. The boys made no effort to elude capture. More money was actually found in their possession than the total sum reported as missing. The lads admitted their identity and seemed pleased that their adventure had come to an end.

A new course in General Knowledge was started in Portobello High School. It covered English, Arithmetic, Geography, History, Mathematics and Science and was intended for apprentice Bankers, Chemists and Dentists.

Because of shortages special sugar allocation cards were issued. These could be redeemed for sugar at local schools, including Portobello High.

The dairy at 15 Bath Street came on the market as the proprietor had been called up for active service.

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Corporal William Shearer of 20 Promenade and Privates John Lockhart (21) and W. Murray died of wounds received in action.

Grenadier J. Crawford and Privates R. Ferguson and W. Fergus were wounded in action.

Sergeant J. Deas and Private W. Keddie were missing.

Corporal Martin Lynch, who had been a well known Portobello footballer before the war rescued Martin Murphy, who had been playing on the beach and was swept away by the tide. Hearing the child’s cries, Corporal Lynch hurried to the spot, plunged in and after swimming out to the boy, seized the child and brought him ashore. The boy was unconscious but was brought round by Lynch applying resuscitatory methods.

The Rev. James Jardine asked his congregation for four months leave so that he could go to France as a chaplain to the troops. The presbytery agreed to the request.

A meeting of the Naval and Military War Pensions and Welfare League was held in Portobello Town Hall. Mr. Hogge M.P. gave an account of a visit he had paid to the front with Harry Lauder. He had come away tremendously elated with the spirit of the boys. However, he was most concerned about the proposals for establishing three institutes in Edinburgh to deal with discharged soldiers suffering from neurasthenia and epilepsy or who required orthopaedic treatment. These institutes were having to be funded by charities such as the red cross. Charities had no business collecting money for this purpose. The money ought to be provided by the Government. The more charitable institutions collected for purposes for which the State should be responsible, the more the Government would evade its responsibilities. His remarks were met with applause.

Nos. 5 and 7 Bath Street came on the market at the same time. The asking price for No. 5 was £600 and for No. 7 £500.

Mrs. J. Gilmour of 43 Tower Street wished to commend her housemaid to anyone else who was prepared to take her on.

The sight of a glittering fish in the beak of an adult tern aroused the cupidity of three large gulls, which, whenever the tern attempted to reach the young bird, made determined attacks on the fish. Realising that strategy was essential, the tern, dipping, wheeling, twisting, drew the gulls about a hundred yards away from the young bird. Then, suddenly dodging its more cumbrous pursuers, it darted back to the young bird, which promptly swallowed the bone of contention, seeing which the gulls disgustedly resumed their places on the beach.

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On 12 October the British offensive at Passchendaele began.

Grenadier D. Bell was killed as was Bombardier T. Towert of 17 Mentone Avenue, Corporal George Howison of 9 Stanley Street and Private J. Lockhart, Trooper Henry Farmer of 8 Park Avenue and Private A. Paton.

Sergeant J. Brown, Corporals R. Waldie D. Collins, H. McLeod and A. Kay, Grenadier R. Blackie and Privates P. Bannon, T. Connor, R. Crockett, J. Reynolds, C. Tomlinson, J. Nolan W. Faichon and Private R. Hay were wounded.

Private P. Monro was reported missing.

Lieutenant W. Beattie, a well known member of the Portobello Amateur Rowing Club was awarded the Military Cross for bravery after carrying wounded men to safety under heavy shell fire.

A tribunal was held into the case of an unnamed Portobello man who was declared fit and recruited into the Scottish Rifles despite suffering a double rupture, a damaged hand and extreme nervousness. Three days after entering service he was admitted to hospital where he displayed all the symptoms of acute neurasthenia. Having received treatment for fourteen days, he was ordered to rejoin his unit. On the first day on the parade ground he collapsed. It was contended that his health was being greatly impaired by the severe strain imposed on it by the military service.
Corporals George Gregory and William Painter, both billeted at the Marine Gardens, rescued a boy from drowning in the sea at Portobello. Both swam pout a distance of 40 yards before reaching the boy and succeeded in bringing him to the shore. Each of the rescuers was warded a silver watch with a suitable inscription.

Mr. Wroblewski, Polish artist, gave a course of three lectures in Bath Street Hall on the relationship between science, art and occultism.

59 Argyle Crescent decided to sell off their leghorn cockerels for 7s 6d each.
4 Duddingston Crescent were trying to offload a bath chair, washstand and anthracite stove.

No 12 James Street came on the market. It’s selling point was that it had electric light.

The Congregational Church was looking for a lady organist until the end of the war. The salary was £15 per annum.

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Trooper William McCraw (19) of 6 Wellington Street and Corporal James Miller (20) of 1 Straiton Place were killed in action.

The Galloway Saloon Steam Packet Company announced that it was prepared to receive tenders for the demolition and removal of the whole of the materials constituting Portobello Pier. The problem was that the pier required renovation, but the ministry of Munitions refused to allow the supply of the necessary wood, which it stated was required for more urgent military purposes.

A middle aged woman stepped of the tram car near the Joppa terminus and slipped on the frost bound road, sustaining in juries from which she died at the scene.

Donald Maclean was moving house from Wallyford to Leith and had loaded all of his furniture on to the back of a truck. At the Kings Road junction the truck was hit by a tram. The furniture was thrown off the truck and damaged. Lord Anderson awarded him £50 damages, holding that the driver of the tramcar was at fault.

A variety entertainment on behalf of the Portobello Cottage Home, took place in the Town Hall. A farce, a comedy, a monologue and national dancing with vocal and orchestral numbers all contributed to raising funds for the Children’s Shelter.

Sugar continued to be rationed and the price of cheese had risen to prohibitive levels.

The Rev. James Kelly, who had been minister of Portobello Congregational Church for 25 years, resigned.

The year ended with scandal hitting Portobello when it was discovered that a brothel was being run at Rathbone House, 1 Promenade. Jane Alexander, the madam of the disorderly house, was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment and a fine of £20.

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1918

On 8 January President Wilson of the USA announced a 14 point peace programme

Corporal J. Willetts and Private W. McCraw of Portobello were killed in action. Privates P. Riddle, R. Rae and J. Learmouth were wounded.

The Rev. James Oliver, former minister of St. James, died in his 82nd year. In 1880 he has taken up mission work in a hut off Brighton Place, Portobello and built up the congregation to a point where they could afford to build St. James Church, which was opened on 9 June 1912.

A flock of 11 snow buntings were observed on the beach near to the Marine Gardens. 28 pink footed geese passed over the pier honking loudly

Andre Letta, Scotland’s Court Conjuror was advertising for a portable piano, which he wanted cheap, in fair condition.

Over the previous year 10,524 books more books were borrowed from Portobello library than in 1916. Most of the increase, 6287 was down to fiction, with 3828 being childrens books. 5906 books in braille were borrowed by blind readers.

48 Promenade, complete with cafe and tea garden came up for rent at £110 per year.

Adolf Schumann, of 1a Bath Place, who worked in the bottleworks, did a runner. His wife Agnes successfully sued for divorce on the grounds of desertion.

Madame Smyth Glen’s Ladies Choir, who were based in the Bath Street hall were advertising for two good contraltos.

Mrs. White of 24 Kings Road found a pomeranian dog straying in the street. If it wasn’t claimed within three days, she intended to sell it.

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Sergeant Alec. MacHutcheon of 24 Lee Crescent died of illness contracted on active service.

Captain John Crawford of Portobello was awarded the D.S.O. for gallantry and distinguished service in the field.

Andrew Fox, a 15 year old message boy from 6 Kings Road decided to go boating from the beach at the foot of the road. Unfortunately, he did not have any oars and used a bit of plank as a paddle. A strong wind blew up and he got into difficulties, with the boat drifting further and further out to sea. Eventually he decided to abandon the boat, intending to use the plank as a float. This didn’t work and he began to sink. He was spotted by two pals, 16 year old William Abbott from 12 Kings Road and Michael McCarthy (14) from 67 Joppa Road. They both stripped and swam to his rescue. They were joined by Private Thomas Mason from the Marine Gardens battalion. Together the got the by now unconscious Fox back to the shore where he was given artificial respiration by other soldiers from the Gardens and recovered. Both Abbott and McCarthy were subsequently given a Carnegie Award for heroism.

Portobello Baths were advertising reduced prices to season ticket holders. There would be special days for ladies with swimming and gymnastics, replete with every comfort. The Turkish and Russian baths were to be especially recommended.

In the Lost and Found column it was noted that somewhere between Portobello and Haddington Mungo Gray of 94 Hope Street Glasgow lost the hood of his Ford car ( and presumably didn’t notice until he got to Haddington!)

Nos. 10 and 12 Rosefield Avenue were on the market for £950 the pair.

Cowan and Glover, Pawnbrokers, opened a branch at 69 Promenade, advertising for clothing, jewellery, furniture and pianos.

A large conger eel was washed up alive on Portobello beach. It measured over 5 feet in length.

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Private J. McGinnes of Portobello was reported killed in action.

A report of the national Coal Conservation Committee proposed the building of Super Electric Light Stations. These would be gigantic power stations. It was suggested that one of these, located in Newcastle, would be able to supply most of Scotland and would eliminate the need to build the new station at Portobello. Edinburgh Town Council still believed that Portobello still had immense possibilities and instructed Sir Alexander kennedy to write to the Minister of Munitions craving leave to begin construction of the Portobello power station.

Rev. Strang spoke in Portobello Town Hall about the formal closing of evening classes at Portobello High School. It appeared that many of the senior youths had left the classes during the session owing to their attaining military age and consequently being called up for duty.

Under the auspices of the Portobello War Time Prohibition Council Sir Arthur Farquhar K.C.B., C.V.O. moved a resolution calling on the Government to suspend the liquor traffic in Scotland during the war. The motion was carried.

The Edinburgh City Mission was advertising for a missionary to work in Portobello. They had to be between 35 and 45 with a knowledge of music. The salary £100 per annum.

Captain John Riddell of 23 Abercorn Terrace was divorced by his wife Beatrice on the grounds of misconduct.

Three swans were observed on the disused clay pit in Figgate park, which was now full of water. It was hoped that the birds would nest, assuming they could locate a suitable nesting place. However this was very difficult as they were much annoyed and troubled by boys.

Galloway’s, the Portobello paper makers were urgently in need of 100 tons of wheat or barley straw.

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The start of The German spring offensive began on 21 March.

Captain Walter Gerrard of John Street was severely wounded by shell splinters in his body and foot. Captain Alexander Milne of 41 Abercorn Gardens was wounded and taken prisoner. Before the war he was Captain of the Portobello Challenge Golf Club.

A rally was held in Portobello to raise funds for the aid of orphans of soldiers from Portobello. There was a parade of discharged men and a gathering of over 2000 persons at the Promenade bandstand. Portobello Boys’ Brigade band and the Musselburgh Pipe band provided the music. Mr. J. Hogge M.P. detailed the improvements the Government had made in the allowances to deceased soldiers’ dependents which would come into force later in the year. This did not go down well with the assembly and he stated that he did not mind how many bricks were thrown at him, provided there were reforms.

The Portobello Hospital wanted to recruit 2 house table maids, 2 sewing maids, a kitchen maid, a scullery maid and a laundry maid. The salaries ranged from £18 to £30 per annum.

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Lance Corporal David Mills, 25, of 9 Promenade Terrace was killed in action.Private H. McIntyre, of the camel corps, was also killed in action.

Captain Walter Gerrard of John Street, was awarded the Military Cross and was twice mentioned in dispatches. Second Lieutenant J. Calder of 7 Duddingston Park was also awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous and gallant conduct under heavy shell fire.

William Hunter, the butcher at 228 Portobello High Street, was fined £1 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for selling 1lb of sausages to someone without the requisite coupons.

The Edinburgh Electric Lighting Committee resolved to send a deputation to London to urge the Government to proceed with the new power station at Portobello.

The Chocolate Factory advertised that it had a sausage making machine for sale for £29, but no reasonable offer would be refused.

George Dovins pleaded guilty to 15 charges of theft from the railway. Among other offences He stole 1,040 cigarettes and 100 cigars from the tobacconist’s stall at Portobello Station, along with a tin of biscuits. He was given three months imprisonment.

Mrs. Jessie McLeod of 25 Bath Street was being pursued through the courts by her creditors.

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Private John Pairman,19, of 35 Regent Street died in a german prisoner of war camp.

Sergeant H. Gardner was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

A concert was given in the Promenade bandstand by the Edinburgh Continuation Class Ladies’ Choir in order to raise money for a Scottish Church hut in France.

When the Voters Roll was published those eligible to vote in Portobello had more than doubled from 3,795 in 1914 to 8,413 in 1918. Most of the increase was due to women registering. The Portobello Conservative Club took out an advert in the Scotsman urging all of their members to register if they hadn’t already done so.

The owners of Portobello pier started to dismantle it, selling off the steel and timber piece by piece.

Catharine Ireland of 32 Melville Street obtained a divorce from her husband Harry on the grounds of infidelity.

14 Melville Street was selling a navy blue pram in good condition for £2.

9 Rosefield Place was selling his motorbike, with all the accessories and a new spare tyre. It had only done 400 miles. He had bought it for £50 but was prepared to take £40.

Ethel Barr of 72 Ethel Terrace was selling herself, and was sentenced to thirty days imprisonment for accosting several military officers and a civilian in Princes Street.

The owners of 22 Regent Street had put their house up as security for a business transaction which had gone wrong. Consequently the house was sold from under them for £260.

No. 25 Bath Street was up for sale for £550. The advertisement emphasised that this was a good sized plot of about 657 sq. yards with a 55 ft. frontage on to Bath Street and if the existing villa was demolished would form a very eligible building site.

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On 15 July the second Battle of Marne began, leading to the German retreat.

Walter Lees, 32, of Portobello died on active service in France.

Sergeant S, Jenkins and Private H. Lamb were awarded the Military Medal for gallantry.

The Public Health Committee ordered the closure of all of the schools and picture houses because of the continuing spread of influenza. There had already been three deaths in Portobello. One of the victims was a girl from Falkirk who was on holiday. The other two were young men ordinarily resident in Portobello.

Portobello was inundated with Glasgow Fair trippers. One cottage consisting of two apartments was reported as being occupied by the wife of a soldier on service, her five children, two lodgers and six Glasgow trippers, making a total of 14 persons in total. She was charging each tripper £2 a week.

James Robertson, who for two years had been captain of the Portobello Ward of Edinburgh High Constables , was found hanging by the neck, dead, in the back premises of his licensed grocery shop at 318 Portobello High Street. A week later his estate had put the business on the market.

The hairdresser’s business at 237 Portobello High Street was up for sale, as was the Portobello Public Washhouse, whose owner had been called up for military service.

Mr. Grindlay of 26 Southfield Place wanted to buy a St. Bernard dog.

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On 8 August the Amiens offensive began, leading to the Allied breakthrough which led to the end of the war.

Military Medals for gallantry were awarded to Sergeant W. Wilson and Private R. Veitch of Portobello.

William Hall, an eleven year old school boy residing at 7 Straiton Place, slipped while climbing over some railings near his home and was impaled on a spike, which inflicted a severe wound. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary.

Thomas Gilmour appeared in the High Court charged with being a habitual criminal. His speciality was stealing from people on the tram cars between Portobello and Waterloo Place. It started with the theft of £20 from a miner. Then he stole a pocket book, £32 10s and a £20 deposit receipt from a Private in the Black Watch. This was followed by 9s 6d from a plumber, then £3 12s from a coppersmith. He followed this up with 14s from a publisher’s agent, £11 from a farmer, £2 15s from a clergyman,and £2 10s from another miner. He was sentenced to 7 years penal servitude and a further 10 years preventative detention.

Andrew Linn, the licensed grocer at 26 Portobello High Street was fined 15 shillings for having sold a quart bottle of whisky at the price of 15s when the maximum price was 9s 6d.

Miss Proven of 4 Hope Street and Mr. D. Blyth of 6 Rosefield Avenue won the Ladies and Gents prizes for best allotment awarded by the Portobello Parks Committee. Each was presented with a silver medal.

The Co-op needed a new baker.

Mr. Locke of 27 Wellington Street was offering to purchase deceased persons’ old clothing. £3 per jacket.

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Both of the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Mabon of 33 Brighton Place, John and Robert were killed in action. Captain Arthur Rawson,28, of Eyre Lodge, Portobello was also killed in action. Second Lieutenants James Lynch of 1 West Bank and John Forsyth were both killed as was Private Richard Lees, 22. Private James Currie of 130 Portobello High Street died of wounds. Private P. Young was also killed.

Second Lieutenant R. Cavaye,20, of 12 East Brighton Crescent was wounded.

Company Sergeant Major J. Shiels of Portobello was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the front line was driven back he at once turned out all men at battalion headquarters and got the into new fire positions, stopping all further efforts of the enemy to advance. Lieutenant Arthur Bennerr was awarded the Military Cross.

210 people drowned when the Hirano Maru, bringing nurses back to Britain, was torpedoed. Among them was Miss Sarah Johnston of Portobello.

Private William Wood appeared at Portobello Police Court. He had been challenged by a constable of being absent without leave and had struck the constable over the head with a large glass jar, inflicting a severe wound.

Of the 7,976 people registered to vote in Portobello, 1,693 were absent on military service.
Bizarrely it was announced that in Portobello, if your street name began with the letters A - M, your polling station would be Portobello High School. If your street name began with N - W your polling station would be the Town Hall.

In Portobello Town Hall Mr. J. Hogge M.P. gave a speech in which he said that it was all very well for people who were not fighting to talk about peace, but these people were not entitle to fight the war to a finish with other people’s lives. Soldiers in the field and sailors on the sea, these were really the only people who had the first right to determine whether war was to proceed or not. He would not be prepared to agree to any peace which did not involve the absolute and complete defeat of Germany. He was roundly applauded.

Mr. Thomas Sawers of 34 Esplanade Terrace was appointed Deacon of the Edinburgh Baker’s Incorporation.

A gold RAF badge, mounted as a brooch, was lost in Joppa.

2 Argyle Place had two pretty female persian kittens for sale.

Nos. 10 and 112 Rosefield Avenue were sold for £900 the pair.

The Niddrie and Benhar Coal Company applied for a licence to sell intoxicating liquors.

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On 9 November Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicated and on 11 November the Armistice was signed.

Portobello streets were filled with crowds of cheering children and with people wearing flags and tricolour rosettes. Large numbers of people went to the centre of the city to assist at demonstrations there. The tram car service was stopped and the thoroughfares were left to the promenaders. A covey of aeroplanes circled over the Waverley Market and dropped smoke balls. Three of them flew along Princes Street low down over the heads of the crowd.Princes Street became a channel along which, from one side to the other, flowed a broad stream of humanity. Searchlights, no longer used as a defensive precaution, played on the crowd. The Waverley Market was crowded to its utmost when the citizens of Edinburgh, led by the Lord Provost, gave vent to their feelings in loud cheering for the Army and the Navy. The singing of patriotic songs began with the Old Hundred, God Save the King, Rule Britannia and ended with the singing of Scots Wha Hae. Bands of young munition girls paraded with flags singing Till The Boys Come Home. When someone mentioned France, the crowd burst into singing the Marseillaise. The Lord provost said they were well entitled to be filled with joy. It was right that they should give vent to their exuberance and then go quietly home thanking God for the victory.

Gradually over the following days came the notification of those who had died just before the armistice was signed. Private Alfred Brown of 22 Park Avenue died from gas poisoning at Rouen on 10 November. Private G. McIntyre died of wounds

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There will now be a short period of peace before hostilities resume in 1939