A fresh sprinkling of snow this morning but it was fresh + raining during the day + at night. Motored to Bleachfield Road, Glebe Terrace + on to Yair + Sunderland Hall. Spent most of the afternoon at the accounts. D. [Dr David Graham] was in the town. Carlota Rodger¹ has suddenly had to leave for Cape Town on a visit + called for a certificate of health. Sent P.C.s [postcards] to Jean + Dora [Muir] about patients at Bangor + Craigleith viz. Jas. Jamieson + John Smith at former + James Ballantyne at latter.

¹ Elizabeth Charlotte ‘Carlota’ Rodger (1884-), Dr Muir’s wife’s 1st Cousin Once Removed, at Bridgelands, Selkirk, 1901 Census and wartime V.A.D. at Bowhill [SBA/657/20/48]; the Southern Reporter later noted that she was a Red Cross VAD “with over 1000 hours’ voluntary service” in an article ‘Selkirkshire V.A.D.’S.’, the Southern Reporter, 6 April 1922

¹ Bangour Village Hospital was a psychiatric hospital near Dechmont, West Lothian and Craigleith Hospital, now the Western General, previously Craigleith Poor Law Hospital and the 2nd Scottish General Hospital

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Weather the same.

Helen went¹ to Edinburgh for Xmas shopping + met Jean whom she thought not looking well. She came back at 7.30 + went to a concert in the Union Hall. I had only a few town cases to see + gave Chlor[oform] for a case of curettage at the Home. Cycled round town. Saw Sheriff Smith about another meeting of Red X Com^ttee. Called for Called for Minnie Brown + took her the minute books &c + a letter to send to Headquarters. Also documents to circulate among the members. Got … “Impression & Recollection” as a Xmas present for Mrs Mackintosh. David at a tennis club ball at Hawick.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Still fresh + wet. River very big. Motored to Shawpark, Ashybank, Dunsdale, Beechwood + Bowhill where I saw the Duchess re Red X [Cross]. Scurrilous letter in ‘Reporter’ about Jack insinuating that he was taking advantage of a Medic’s cert[ificate] to shirk his work as Provost while he went hunting. Pollok [Pro. Fiscal] considered it almost libellous. Dav. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] attended Mrs Henderson (Nelly Thomson).

¹ Helen Broadfoot ‘Nellie’ Henderson née Thomson (1880-1960) gave birth to a daughter Helen Broadfoot Henderson on 11 December 1919; Nellie had married James Henderson at Hill Street, Selkirk, on 13 December 1907

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Fresh rainy day: wind S. to S.W. Snow all disappeared during the day. In town only. Douglas Forbes, larking at Commercial Bank back green dislocated his patella: an injury I have never seen before. Tried to reduce it along there but failed + had to bring him to the surgery + do it under Chlor[oform]. Lent him crutches. Helen [Muir] came down in post lorry to Ettrickbridgend where David [Graham] picked her up. Attended meeting of War Memorial Committee. A motion by Jack Harrison¹ to include women in Roll of Honour refused as was also one by Bailie Dodds to exclude alcohol from supper [two illegible words].

¹ There was a John Harrison, a “woollen manufacturer” lodging at Glebe Terrace, Selkirk in the 1911 Census; perhaps the same John Harrison junior, manufacturer, as was living at Levenlea, Selkirk in the 1919 Valuation Roll

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Weather the same: but calmer + beautifully clear. Some snow fell after dark. Walked round town + to Ettrickhaugh + Sloethornbank seeing 12 cases. Got communication from Duchess of [?] + Atholl &c¹ on the Red Cross business. Jean Ballard² sent all the secretarial books &c for Minnie Brown the new Sec[retary]. Ordered Panatellas for Jack [Roberts] + Dav. [Graham] for Xmas + some cigarettes for myself. Also Marsala + Sherry from Godfree.

¹ The Editor assumes Dr Muir means Katharine Marjory ‘Kitty’ Stewart-Murray née Ramsay (1874-1960), Duchess of Atholl, D.B.E., Scottish noblewoman and Scottish Unionist Party politician

² The Editor assumes this refers to Jean Charlotte Ballard (about 1866-1936), Madras born daughter of George Alexander Ballard, Madras Civil Servant, and Julia Mary Ballard née Anderson; she died at Philipburn, where her mother, a widow, was tenant in 1919 [Valuation Roll]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Dry hard frost: roads splendid. Sharp N.E. wind. Cycled to Beechwood, Bowhill West Lodge + Scaurneuk¹ + enjoyed it greatly. Got back about 1.30. Met Helen, Nancy + Mrs Andrew Linton² in Market Place + the latter asked if she might take Helen up with her till Wednesday so I was left alone once more. A good many people in at night.

¹ Scaurneuk Cottage, Yarrow, home of John Geddes, shepherd, and Margaret Geddes née Graham, see diary entry for 4 December 1919

² Victoria Winona Linton née Johnston, known as Winona, wife of Andrew Linton (1873-1951), agriculturalist, of Gilmanscleuch but sometimes working in Africa

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Fine dry frosty day with keen N wind. Motored to Helmburn Woodend, Fairholme (Rob. Mitchell) and W. Deloraine (Willie Laidlaw), W R Tweddle the farmer there is married to one of the Newburgh Mitchells¹. Her oldest brother Jas. is home at present + her brother Willie (married to Grace Geddes) is coming home in spring. Saw Mrs Russell after getting home a little after 1. Went to evening service. [The Reverend Andrew] Ross spoke on the Covenanter + the praise was all from the Psalms sung without the organ. The 23 Psalm was sung to an exquisite tune “Covenanters” I never heard before². Supped at Wellwood.

¹ Robert Kyle Tweddle married, 1919, at West Deloraine, Jeannie Mitchell of Newburgh, daughter of James Mitchell and Helen Nichol; for information about her brother Willie see Dr Muir’s diary for 4 December 1919

² The Editor has not been able to identify this tune and would welcome information

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Except for a little rain in the morning this was a better day. Colder, some snow on hills again. Went down + saw Geo. Niven early + arranged his removal to Asylum¹. Had operation with D. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] on And. Cowan, Dryden which took till 12. Called at Firs + saw Smith about secretaryship of Red X Com^ttee which he said he would carry on if I got nobody but I got Minnie Brown². Attended Mrs C McKearney, Backrow, who had an illegit. son³. Helen busy at drawing room.

¹ See diary entry for 5 December 1919; George Begbie Niven (about 1847-1920), powerloom tuner and husband of Mary Marshall, born Alva, Clackmannanshire and at different times living at Muiravonside and Irvine, by 1911 he and his family were at Mavisbank, Selkirk; he died 2 June 1920 at the District Asylum, Melrose, aged 73, and had been suffering from Hemiplegia

² Minnie Mackay Brown (1874-1966), a teacher before the war when she left for Egypt September 1915 as part of the Selkirk Voluntary Aid Detachment of the British Red Cross Society and served until 29 May 1919

³ William Bathgate or McKearney, born 6 December 1919 at Back Row, Selkirk, his mother was Margaret Bathgate, hosiery millworker and widow of Charles McKearney, woollen millworker, who had died 3 February 1908 at Galashiels; in a humane (albeit from 1975) Register of Corrected Entries (R.C.E.) William’s name has been accepted as William McKearney and at his mother’s name in column 4 “Margaret Bathgate or McKearney” has been inserted

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Another wild day but wind + rain less, also milder + snow all off Peat Law &c. Got my Burberrys back from Turnbull. Saw eleven town cases walking. Geo. Niven¹ very difficult to manage. Saw him 3^rd + had to Chloroform him to give him a hypo. Beautiful moonlight night. Helen [Muir] busy cleaning the drawing room.

¹ George Niven was at 8 Mavis Bank, Selkirk, in one of Gibson & Lumgair’s properties

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Very windy wet day. Torrential blasts merging with sleet in afternoon + [?] the hills white. Motored to Hutlerburn, Helmburn, Thirlestane, Scaurneuk + Beechwood. Lady N. [Napier] had Asthma last night, returned by [illegible]. At Scaurneuk scraped papilloma on John Geddes’ hand¹. He is 78 + his wife 66. Their daughter Grace, married a Mitchell² [and living] in Philadelphia, is coming in Spring for a visit. Nelly³ is at home + an adopted grandchild Lilly [?]. Called for Mrs Mackintosh. She brought me 2 silk handkerchiefs from London.

¹ John Geddes, shepherd, and Margaret Geddes née Graham lived at Scaurneuk Cottage, Yarrow

² The Geddes’ daughter Grace Grey Geddes was born 1881 at Deuchar and married William ‘Willie’ Mitchell of Newburgh on 26 March 1913 at Scaurneuk

³ Assume Ellen Nichol ‘Nelly’ Geddes (1885-), though she appears to be known as Helen in the 1901 and 1911 Census returns

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]