Another day’s steady book work, a town list of only 3- [?] of whom D. [Dr David Graham] saw 4. He was also at Oakwoodmill, Bluecairn, Thirladean + Fairnilee. I got all the ledger posted to the end of Dec. It was pretty wet today.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Frost gone: a mild wet day. South wind. Sat at the Army accounts the whole day + finished them to the number of 43 at 11 p.m. Their value is about £18 10 0. Got a letter + a pocket book from Molly Bullough1 + wrote her + also Colonel Turnbull, India2. Went over to see Murdoch at Victoria Hall at 5. David [Graham] resumed his lectures on child welfare. He was at Ettrick Shaws.
1 Marian Chambers H ‘Molly’ Bullough née Spittal (1865-1921), daughter of Charles Grey Spittal, Sheriff Substitute for Roxburgh and one of Dr Muir’s friends, is referred to as being under some sort of care in Edinburgh a number of times in 1915, early 1916 and more recently on 29 April 1918 and 2 June 1919; her husband William had died in 1913
2 Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Eyre Turnbull (1862-1927); ironfounder and soldier and known, presumably familiarly and jocularly, as Hot Pipes because he owned the Abbeyhill Foundry, Edinburgh which manufactured cast (i.e. hot) pipes.
Born 1862, Galashiels, died 1927, Cupar, Fife, he was also a Territorial, formerly of 4th Volunteer Battalion, The Royal Scots. (Lothian Regiment) in 1905; the 1/6th Battalion (’into 5/6th’) 4 August 1914 to 5 September 1915, and later in the First World War of the 23rd (North Western) Battalion “formed at Halton by drafts principally from men of the King’s Liverpool, South Lancs and Manchester Regiments, who previous to their transfer were guarding prisoners-of-war at the Knockaloe Camp in the Isle of Man. It remained throughout under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel T E Turnbull, V.D., and sailing in S.S. Euripides from Devonport on 12 January 1916, proceeded via the Suez Canal to Karachi, where the battalion disembarked on 10 February. Their history was an uneventful one, the Battalion was employed on Internal Security duties throughout its stay in India; first at Multan, where it was quartered in the Edwardes Barracks, then from 22 July 1918 at Bareilly in Clyde Barracks; one company was at Amritsar, according to the Indian Order of Battle, in May 1916, but there were no other detachments. The Battalion was demobilised in India; by 12 July the numbers were reduced to fifty; on 25 October it moved to Sialkot and the cadre was not finally dispersed until 4 February 1920.” [Source: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/topic/135336-rifle-brigade-service-numbers/ post #16 by ‘stiletto_33853′; London Gazette 1 August 1905 p.5296; http://www.ww1infantrycos.co.uk/royalscots.html; and the Supplement to the London Gazette 12 September 1919, both accessed 2018.04.25]
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Glass rising: frost + clear sunny day when I feel it a hardship to be indoors plodding away at the books. Gave Mrs Jas. [?] Turnbull’s boy Chlor[oform] for Dav. to extract teeth. There was no Country work except Midgelands where D. [Dr David Graham] inoculated again for Typhoid1.
1 The editor has not been able to identify Midgelands in the area covered by Dr Muir’s practice
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
I wasn’t out of the house at all + sat in the Smoke Room all day working at the books. Made out some of the D.D.M.S.1 accounts but hadn’t nearly enough Arm [Army?] Form 0. Wrote for more. Posted October into ledger. David [Graham] was at Thirladean, Deuchar Mill and Mt Benger. Helen lunched at Elm Park. Glass very low.
1 Deputy Director Medical Services; the form has not been identified
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Mrs Williamson had a [stroke ?] a little after 12 + I got to bed at 1.30 + slept till 9. Was not out at all except to meet Pollok + Jack1 in the Municipal Building to have a talk about the hospital. Dav. [Dr David Graham], Menzies + Hiddleston there2. The latter opposed to the scheme without any good reasons. Dav. was at [Thirladean ?], Bluecairn, Ettrickshaws + Oakwoodmill. It was a fine day with some sunshine + clear at night with a curiously low flare [?]. There has been heavy snow in England.
1 John Pollok (1858-1938), Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal, Selkirk and John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner with Roberts of Selkirk and three time Provost of Selkirk
2 Dr David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), Dr James Menzies (fl.1889-1919) of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk and Dr John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954), all local medical practitioners
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Dull damp day but no rain. Gave Hall the builder’s boy Chlor[oform] + D. [Dr David Graham] extracted 2 teeth. Went to forenoon service. A small party of the A & S H1 (15) were present. Got on with writing in afternoon. Wrote long letter to Patrick + sent his last letter to Jean2. David [Graham] had a consultant out from Ed. [Edinburgh] seeing Carnegie [Alexander]. Jack, Nancy, Jock + [Barb?] came to supper3. The Durnfords called but I didn’t see them4. Was called at 10 to Miss Williamson, Kilncroft.
1 The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; they were in the process of demobilising
2 Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902 and Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941), one of Dr Muir’s daughters
3 John Roberts junior, Agnes ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir and two of her children, John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts and Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts
4 Major Norman Stanley M and Agnes Durnford, see 1 January 1919 entry
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Dav. was called up at 5 a.m. to see Carnegie Alexander who had an unconscious turn + he was sent for again in the forenoon1. After sick parade he came to breakfast + we arranged the work. I was not out [at] all + got a lot of clerical work done + sat mostly in the Smoke Room. Paid various moneys + wrote Dora + Guy2. D. [Dr David Graham] was at Thirladean + Bluecairn. It was a raw day with some sleet + the roads were very slippy. Helen, Nancy + Mark walked to Faldonside + had lunch with Jessie Boyd3. It was very wet as they came home.
1 David Carnegie Alexander aka ‘Carnegie Alexander’ (1856-1928); solicitor, often described by Dr Muir as D.C.A.
2 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), one of Dr Muir’s daughters, nursing in the Baltic and Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother
3 Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961); of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Knocked up at 2 a.m. for Murdoch1. Roads frozen. Sick parade 7.30. Motored down Forest Road to Glebe Terrace, Thirladean, Bowhill N Lodge, Mount Benger + Lewenshope Hope. It was a fine sunny day + the frost improved the ground for walking. Took 45 minutes to go + 40 to return. Saw [illegible] town cases in afternoon. Paid Income Tax. David returned to Mauldsheugh from London. Helen had tea with Mrs Robertson2. Dav. [Dr David Graham] returned tonight earlier than I expected.
1 Murdoch, editors assume that this is George Murdoch (about 1842-1919), hall keeper, previously police constable, of Victoria Hall, Scott’s Place, Selkirk
2 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s daughter and housekeeper
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
Wet morning but nearly fair all day. Fresh. Only a powdering of snow left on higher hills. Sick parade 7.30 + saw Murdoch. Message to Ettrickshaws and Faldonside. Went to former (after seeing 6 town cases en route), Annelshope and Bluecairn. Got home at 3 found message to Stewart, Thirladean, which I did first + then Faldonside + Hosp. (where a case of S. has come in from Ashkirk). Long letter from Minnie Brown1.
1 Minnie Mackay Brown (1874-1966), teacher and nurse: prior to war she was a school teacher. She left for Egypt September 1915; was part of the Selkirk Voluntary Aid Detachment of the British Red Cross Society and served until 29 May 1919. She was stationed at the Citadel Hospital, Cairo, 11 September 1915-13 April 1916 before she was moved to France where she served at the 11th Stationary Hospital from 15 July 1916
Was asleep when New Year came in. Ground white with snow this morning but it soon disappeared & the day was dull and mild with heavy rain in the evening. At sick parade only one man turned up but I had a cut head on a [sergeant ?] to dress in the forenoon. Message to Bluecairn to May Johnston. Almost nothing in town. Henderson’s party. Williamsons, Boylan, Durnfords, Mrs Robertson1. Spent a pleasant evening. Anne Brodie came to help. Wrote Jean2.
1 Those mentioned are respectively: unidentified; John Dun Boylan, retired engineer and friend of Dr Muir; Major Norman Stanley M Durnford (1889-1965), Army Service Corps and Agnes Watson Durnford née Harper (1888-1976), daughter of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, Sheriff Substitute of Selkirkshire, and Agnes Harper née Watson, later Mackintosh; and unidentified
2 Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941), one of Dr Muir’s daughters
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 