Greenhead, Peat Law +c all white + a sprinkling of snow on Tennis Green but it all disappeared: no doubt it will be lying on the higher hills. There was some rain at night. No sunshine. Wind S.E. to N.E. very slight. Had a very busy day = 4 town cases + then home + motored to Beechwood, Philipburn, Cannon Street + Ettrickhaugh Road. Finished making out the quarterly accounts. Did not go to church. H. + D.¹ lunched at Elmpark² + Mrs Mack³ supped here.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s third and youngest daughters

² Elmpark, Scott’s Place, Selkirk

³ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), ever-generous friend of the Muir family

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

As cold as ever but not as much wind + it was therefore bearable. There was a little snow lying in the angle of the hay shed roof this morning. During the day there were a few flakes of snow. I saw some town cases walking + then cycled to Lower + Upper Faldonside + Lindean School + after tea, which I didn’t get till 3.15, I cycled to Whitmuir to see Mrs Neil¹ + also took Comm[union] cards to the Halls² + Harveys³ + voting papers for Alder⁴. David⁵ came out tonight till tomorrow.

¹ Christina Neil née Scott who had given birth to Agnes Grey Neil on 14 April 1921

² William Hall, dairyman, Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a cottage at Whitmuir [ibid.]

³ John Lawson Harvey, ploughman, Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house at Whitmuir [ibid.]

⁴ Charles Anthony Alder, poultry farmer, was proprietor of a house, land and store at Ladylands [1925 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/542, Selkirk County, page 542 of 611]

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Still bitterly cold + several blasts of snow but wind not as strong. No sunshine till evening. News that the strike has been called off¹. I saw some town cases cycling in the forenoon + gave gas at Clark’s for tooth extraction². In the afternoon motored to Gilmanscleuch School, Crosslee, Dundas Cottage and Oakwood. Lot of people in at night. Helen Smith³ + the 2 little boys McQueen came to tea. Helen⁴, Dora⁵ + Mrs Mack⁶ were in the Picture House.

¹ The leaders of the transport and rail unions announced a decision not to call for strike action in support of the miners in their fight against post-war re-adjustment to their terms of employment thereby leaving, as History Today states, “the miners to fight on alone for three months, until they were driven back on worse terms than they could have had at the start.”

² Assume Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (1879-1943), dental surgeon at 8 The Green, Selkirk and of Ettrickbridge, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ Neither Helen Smith nor the two boys are identified – though they may conceivably be Helen Mary Locke Smith (1878-1958), who was a friend of Dr Muir’s daughters (and was recorded as looking after children in 1915) and two boys are perhaps James Chalmers McQueen and William John McQueen who were born at Innerleithen in 1908 and 1910 respectively

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

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

⁶ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), formerly of Elm Park, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

I was knocked up at 4.15 this morning to attend Mrs Neil, Whitmuir¹. The child was born just as I arrived + I got back before 6. It was frightfully cold with a N.W. cutting wind. In the afternoon there was snow but it was on the whole dry + sunny. David² went off to Duddingston³ in the afternoon motoring. I motored to Middlestead, Bluecairn + Linglie Cottages. Went to performance of … at night. We went before 7 + got good seats in Gallery but did not get out till 10.30 after which I had to go to see Mrs Walker, Curror Street.

¹ Agnes Grey Neil, born 14 April 1921, the daughter of Adam Grey Neil, forester and joiner, and Christina Neil née Scott, married 4 April 1919 at Oxnam [1921, 778/ 32, Selkirk and 1919, 802/A 1, Oxnam]

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner; it is worth commenting that around this date Dr Muir switched to calling his co-partner David instead of the previous ‘Dav.’

³ Dr Graham had been called up to the 4^th K.O.S.B. and had to report to Duddingston, see diary entry for 13 April 1921

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Dull sunless day with slight rain almost continuously from 10. N.W. [wind] saw a few town cases walking + went at the accounts. Dora¹ came at 3.54 very well + as fat as ever. David² called with the momentous news that he has been called up with the 4^th K.O.S.B. + has to go to Duddingston tomorrow³. I also got a notice from Morren⁴ to be prepared as Cap^t of Chief Constable.

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter who had been working away from the Scottish Borders

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

³ There was a declaration of a state of emergency in anticipation of a widespread strike on 15 April 1921 with the government establishing a special Defence Corps to confront striking workers and, as this post indicates, there was a widespread mobilisation behind it

⁴ John Morren (1863-1950), O.B.E., K.P.M., Chief Constable of the separate forces of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Berwickshire from around 1909

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Heavy hoar frost this morning which soon disappeared under brilliant sunshine. Wind S.W. delightfully warm but in afternoon N.W. Message to Dundas Cottage¹ + Amos², Crosslee. Went off on bike but found the gears wouldn’t work, only the low: so came back + took motor. Got back about 4 to find message to an accident at Tushielaw which Norah³ ‘Phoned but Graham⁴ came back before I started + he went with Mrs Mack⁵ in a car a picnic up Ettrick⁶. Some of the Wellwooders⁷ were there. Dav. brought the accident case to Viewfield + late at night under Chlor[oform] he stitched the scalp wounds. The man named Knox was motor cycling from Peebles to Langholm when he came a cropper above Crossleeburn⁸.

¹ Christina and Elizabeth Brydon were joint Tenant Occupiers of a house and garden ‘Dundas Cottage’, Thirlestane, Ettrick [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/312, Selkirk County, page 312 of 611]

² Walter Amos (about 1853-1922), shepherd, born Yarrow, widow of Janet Amos née Armstrong (about 1836-1916); they were at Crosslee, Ettrick, from at least the 1880s and he died there in 1922

³ Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), formerly of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁶ The passage about the motor cycle accident is garbled but its implications are clear enough so the Editor has left it ‘as is’

⁷ The Wellwooders were John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

⁸ It is not clear how the motor cyclist would have been “above” the Crosslee Burn unless he had taken the old road east of Birkbrae and Turnercleuch Law which is indicated BR [Bridle Road – Richard Oliver, 1993, ‘Ordnance Survey maps: a concise guide for historians’, London, Charles Close Society] on the Ordnance Survey Six Inch Selkirkshire Sheet XIV.SW published 1900

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Dull morning with a sensation of damp but a lovely afternoon. Wind still E.N.E. Just slight: clear sky at night. I sat at the accounts all day only going out at 5 to see Miss Dunn¹ + Stenhouse², Wellwood. David³ had a second confinement at the Home last night = a Mrs [blank] from [blank]. Louisa⁵ came home today + came up with a speck in her eye.

¹ Hyndmer Rutherford ‘Miss’ Dunn (about 1843-1922), daughter of John Dunn, chemist & druggist

² William Wilson Stenhouse (1872-1961), gardener and chauffeur at Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk; born Traquair, married Alice B Welsh 1900 at Selkirk, died Galashiels

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁴ This event is not yet identified

⁵ Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Dr Muir’s granddaughter, at school in Cumberland

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Very dull + cold with the biting E. wind but not nearly as strong till above 2 when the sun came out. Cycled to Yarrow Manse, Henderland + General’s Bridge. Took 1h.33m to go + 2h. to return (excluding stoppages). Gave chlor[oform] for Dav.¹ for an appendicitis + ovarian cyst, which took from 5.15 till 7.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Some hoar frost again + sunny for a short time but cloudy + dull all day after + a bitterly cold E strong E wind an the whole conditions suggestive of snow. Dust flying in clouds. Saw a few cases + met Dav. + Fordyce¹ at the Home at 10.45 when the latter did a coporrhaphy [sic²] on Mrs Linton³ + Dav. on Mrs Cockburn⁴ a widow in The Glebe. [text deleted] After tea I cycled to General’s Bridge, Beechwood + Bleachfield Road. Got a present of lovely ¹/₂ dozen trout from Jas. Buckham. Got ‘Phone from Henderland that Polly⁵ was “Nae Naur”.

¹ Assume William Fordyce (1863-1941), M.D., F.R.C.P.Ed., F.R.C.O.G., consulting gynaecologist, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

² Assume Colporrhaphy

³ Not identified; there is a number of women called Linton who could be referred to here

⁴ Mrs Elizabeth Cockburn née Elliott (about 1872-), widow, was Tenant of a house and garden at The Glebe, Selkirk; she was the widow of Serjeant John Simpson Cockburn, Service Number: 12220, 9th Battalion The King’s Own Scottish Borderers, died 14 August 1916, aged 43 and buried Berwick-upon-Tweed Cemetery, grave reference CA. U. 1120; they had married March Quarter 1898 at Berwick [10b 604] and he was the son of James and Margaret Cockburn, of Ness Street, Berwick-on-Tweed, husband of Elizabeth Elliott Cockburn, of 9 Glebe Terrace, Selkirk and his brother Corporal Andrew Cockburn, who also died 1916, is buried at the same location [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/222, Selkirk Burgh, page 222 of 644; https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/658230/JOHN%20SIMPSON%20COCKBURN/%5D

⁵ Polly is presumably Mary Mitchell (about 1888-), see diary entry for 8 April 1921, but the meaning of the comment is unclear

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Heavy hoar frost: Annular eclipse of Sun¹: splendid unclouded day. Gave John Brydon² Chlor[oform] + David opened his Whitlow extensively. Saw a few town cases walking. Began to make out quarterly accounts. Message at 5.15 to Polly Mitchell, Henderland³. Motored up in 54 minutes. Did first 9 miles in 30 m + the second in 24 minutes. Polly had slight flue. Came down in 56 m. Keen drying E wind. Dust thick on roads.

¹ This was a partial solar eclipse visible (92.04% coverage of Sun) with a magnitude of 0.9453: its duration at Selkirk was 2 hours, 27 minutes, 14 seconds (Partial begins: 8 Apr 1921, 08:41:37 / Maximum: 8 Apr 1921, 09:52:30 / Partial ends: 8 Apr 1921, 11:08:51 – times shown in local time BST) [Source: http://www.timeanddate.com]

² John Brydon may be the joiner of Fleshmarket Street or the librarian at Selkirk Library

³ James Mitchell senior and James Mitchell junior were tenants at Henderland Farm, Yarrow [1925 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/549, Selkirk County, page 549 of 611]; at the 1911 Census the family at Henderland [Megget] was James Mitchell senior, farmer, and his wife Margaret and their children James, Mary [perhaps Polly], Andrew, Isabella and Eliza.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]