Extremely cold but dry up till late afternoon when some snow fell which was lying at night. Motored to Hospital, Sunderland Hall (where I gave Charlie1 600 antitoxin2), Nether Whitlaw3 [and] Sprot Homes4. Called for Charles Dunlop5 who is now confined to his bedroom. Was shocked to see his emaciation. Message to Howden6 which I did + after lunch saw some town cases walking. Met Sir D Wallace7 at 6.49. Presentation of war service medals in Victoria Hall. A lot of V.A.D.s in indoor uniforms8. Pat Smith9 + Mrs Mack10 dined with us after. The whole ceremony very interesting.
1 Assume Charles Henry Scott Plummer (1859-1948), J.P., Lord-Lieutenant of Selkirkshire, of Middlestead and Sunderland Hall
2 At this time it seems probable that this was diphtheria toxin-antitoxin mixture (T.A.T.) but the Editor would be pleased to be corrected
3 Nether Whitlaw, Galashiels (Lindean area), grid reference NGR NT513,296 and Canmore ID 100153
4 Sprot Homes refers to the homes provided at Lilliesleaf by the Miss Frances Sprot Trust
5 Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), merchant (stuff dealer) of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk; married, Dec 1870, Edith Mary Sugden (c.1847-1926), York 9d 7; children Walter Dunlop (c.1872-1941), Marion Edith Dunlop (1873-1958), Katherine Mary Dunlop (1874-), Margaret Isabel Dunlop (1875-1965), Charles Bertram Dunlop (1877-1960) and Janet Jardine Dunlop (1880-1956) [children all born Bingley, Yorkshire]; died 1922, buried Ashkirk Parish Churchyard Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), merchant, of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk
6 Dr Muir had been attending Michael Reddington, ploughman, at Howden a small cluster of properties south west of Selkirk
7 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 in Selkirk to award medals at the Victoria Hall 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
8 The report of the event noted that Mrs Scott Plummer of Sunderland Hall presided and on stage with her were Sir David Wallace and Dr Muir himself as Commandant, the 2nd Selkirkshire V.A.D.; Sheriff Smith made some introductory remarks after which a presentation was made to a small number of recipients. Dr Muir then read the list of recipients each of whom was applauded by the small gathering of spectators as she came forward to have the medal pinned on. There were a large number of absentees, only about 20 being present to receive the decoration. The following is the complete list of recipients :-
List of officials eligible for B.R.C.S. War Service Medal :- President, the Duchess of Buccleuch, Bowhill; vice-presidents, Mrs Scott Plummer (Sunderland Hall), Mrs Steedman (Ravenshaugh), Miss Lang (Harewood Glen); Hon. Secretary, Mrs Roberts (Wellwood); county director, Sheriff Smith (The Firs); Hon. Treasurer, Mr A E S Thomson, solicitor, Galashiels; V.A.D. Commandant, Dr Muir, Thorncroft.
V.A.D.s with over 1,000 hours: Miss Gertude I Craig-Brown, Woodburn, Margaret I Dunlop, Whitmuir Hall, Miss Jemima Gow, Forest Road, Miss Marion Lindsay, Edinburgh, Miss Mary P Park, Thorniehall, Miss Agnes C Rodger, Bridgelands and Miss Carlotta Rodger, Bridgelands
V.A.D. Red or White Stripe: Miss Minnie Blacklaw, Killmount, Hawick, Miss Ella L Connachie, Braeside, Galashiels, Miss Margaret E Crerar, 30 Victoria Street, Galashiels, Miss Janet Dobie, Victoria Hall, Selkirk, Miss Agnes W Harper “now Mrs Durnford”, Elm Park, Selkirk, Miss Annie H Little, Hawkshaw, Kirkhope, Miss Margaret T Lunn, Ivybank, Selkirk, Elizabeth V O McCulloch, Peebles, Jean McRobie, Highfield, Galashiels, Mrs Maguire, High Street, Portobello, Mrs Mary Milne, Bridgeheugh, Miss Ethel Pollok, Heatherlie Hill, Miss Helen M Smith, Lauriston House, Miss Agnes McD Sutherland, 7 Paton Street, Galashiels, Miss Jean C Tyrrell, Wellwood, Galashiels and Miss Mary C Scott, Greenwells, Yarrowfeus.
Organisers of work parties: The Lady Napier and Ettrick, Thirlestane, Ettrick; Mrs Scott Anderson, M.B.E., Ettrickshaws; Mrs W R Mitchell, Fairholm, Ettrickbridge; Mrs Johnston, Chapelhope; Miss Johnstone, Chapelhope; Miss Carment, U.F. Manse, Yarrow; Miss Kirkpatrick, the Manse, Yarrow; Mrs Thomson, Craigview, Clovenfords and Miss H D Thomson, Fairnilee.
Special Workers at Work Parties: Mrs Margaret Kemp, Spion Kop, Selkirk; Mrs M Scott, 103 Forest Road, Selkirk; Mrs Susan Moyan, Edinburgh; Mrs Riddle, Schoolhouse, Ashkirk; Mrs Gray, Ashkirktown, Ashkirk; Mrs Scott, Burnfoot, Ashkirk; Mrs Fox, Synton Corses, Ashkirk; Mrs Buckham, Synton Cottage, Ashkirk; Miss Cook, Castleside, Ashkirk; Miss Laidlaw, the Guir [Gair], Tima, Ettrick; Mrs Scott, Midgehope, Ettrick; Mrs Stapley, the Schoolhouse, Ettrick; Mrs Fletcher Mitchell, Borthwickshiels, Hawick; Mrs Thomas, Ramsycleuch, Ettrick; Mrs Brydon, Annelshope, Ettrick; Mrs Smith, Tushielaw Hotel, Ettrick; Mrs Stewart, Tushielaw Farm, Ettrick; Mrs Nichol, Crosslee, Ettrick; Mrs Grieve, Buccleuch, Ettrick; Mrs Anderson, Hopehouse, Ettrick; Miss Helen Graham, Wardlaw, Ettrick; Miss E Brydon, Dundas Cottage, Ettrick.
[Source: ‘Selkirkshire V.A.D.s Presentation of Medals’, The Southern Reporter, 6 April 1922]
9 Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute, of The Firs, Selkirk
10 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, whose home was known by Dr Muir as ‘the Magic Cave’
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 