22 March 1922 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

As cold as ever + some showers of fine rain + hail. More snow on hills. Went along to the Reporter office¹ about notice for medal presentation². Called for Smith³ at County Building about same. Walked to Forest Mill + Dunsdale. Motored to Philiphaugh Stables to Mrs McDonald [and] found her sinking. Went back at 7.30 to find she had died at 6!⁴ David⁵ left for London at night. He came up + arranged things. A man Miles⁶ was sent up to Viewfield from … [?] Mill with a cut hand which I stitched. He turned out to be a patient of Hiddleston’s⁷.

¹ The Southern Reporter office, High Street, Selkirk

² Sir David Wallace (1862-1952), KBE, CBE, CMG., LL.D, FRCSEd. medical practitioner and British Red Cross Commissioner for the South East District of Scotland, was to award medals at the Victoria Hall on 30th March to members of the 2nd Selkirkshire Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) for their war service [sources: ‘Selkirkshire V.A.D.s Presentation of Medals’, The Southern Reporter, 6 April 1922; https://archiveandlibrary.rcsed.ac.uk/surgeon/3771473-david-wallace%5D

³ Smith, County Buildings, has not been identified with confidence though it could refer to Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and Sheriff Substitute for Selkirkshire, who was to be part of the medal ceremony being planned for the 30th March

⁴ Jessie McDonald née Campbell, died 22 March 1922, at Philiphaugh Stables, Selkirk, of bronchitis and cardiac failure, aged 70; she was the wife of George McDonald, estate forester

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁶ This may refer to Thomas Miles, mill manager, Proprietor Occupier of a house and garden at Parkside, 84 Forest Road, Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/298, Selkirk Burgh, page 298 of 644]

⁷ John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954), L.R.C.P.S., L.R.F.P.S., medical practitioner

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]