Keith and Strathisla during World War I

August 1915

Mon 2. Keith shoppers enjoyed a choice of Summer Sales at various Mid Street establishments including Greig’s, Gray’s, Cran’s and Mitchell’s.

Tue 3. A shooting match took place at the Newmill Rifle Range between teams from the Railway and Isla Bank Mills.

Wed 4. This was the first anniversary of the Declaration of War by Britain on Germany. Pupils at Sillyearn and Crossroads Schools were given stirring speeches by their respective headmasters.

Keith Hortus Club held their annual flower show with only 15 classes compared to the 103 of 1913.

Fri 6. A shooting match was held at the Strathmill Rifle Range between No 3 Company National Reserve and the Keith District Volunteer Training Corps.

The August meeting of Keith Town Council agreed to erect speed warning signs at the entrances to the burgh: “Ten Miles Per Hour”.

Sat 7. The crowds flocked to Balloch Road for Bronco Bill’s Great Wild West Exhibition and Mammoth Two-Ring Circus. The tent could seat 10,000.

The last train ran on the Highland Railway’s line from Buckie to Keith.

Mon 9. Andre Letta and his Royal Bohemians started a three night variety show in Reidhaven Square.

A meeting was held at Botriphnie to finalise arrangements for the forthcoming National Registration Day. Similar meetings were held throughout the county.

Wed 11. Banffshire League of Honour organisers, meeting at Rothiemay Castle, heard that 1,200 women in Banffshire had now been enrolled.

Fri 13. The annual summer meeting of the local Onwards and Upwards Association was held in Milltown of Rothiemay. The Association, established by the Marchioness of Aberdeen, provided servant girls with postal courses on a range of topics from geography to literature to domestic science.

Sun 15. National Registration Day: males and females aged 15-65 had to register in a nationwide census. Wed 18. At the Fancy Fair in the Drill Hall, Keith, in aid of 6th Gordon’s comforts, a popular attraction was “Nailing the Kaiser’s Coffin”.

Sat 21. The Banffshire Herald was able to quash the rumour that a man had been killed by lightning near Keith Town Station.

Mon 23. Isla Bank Mills began their annual week’s holiday but Seafield Mills was busy with urgent government orders.

Wed 25. The Drill Hall in Union Street was the venue for a Grand Concert in aid of the 3/6th Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band Fund.

Thur 26. A Cake and Candy Sale was held at Rothiemay for the War Aid Needlework Guild. The local branch had so far sent over 1,000 garments to the troops.

Mon 30. It was the end of the summer holidays and back to school for pupils at Newmill where the school roll was now 123 pupils.

Tue 31. The first batch of 3/6th Gordon Highlanders left their Maisley camp for “somewhere” in France.