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Auld Hamilton

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Auld Hamilton,
By Kit Duddy.

Aye it’s chinged ye ken
fae in ma day, never be
the same. Streets huv
gone withoot a song an
naebuddies tae blame.

The hert o’ auld Hamilton
has chinget ower the years,
a remember ma ain wee
granny saen the same an
fu o’fears.

Yit still they hivnae kilt it,an
staunin up will be, a chinget
face o’Hamilton in the year
3333.

So here’s tae yir future an the
kids the world you’ll gie, yir
blessed an safe and hearty
an fur aw that chinge,
ye still ur Free!

Happy New Year
when it comes.

Kit.

THE LORNE STREET WASH HOUSES.

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It’s freezing today!

In 2018 we are so lucky to have our very own appliances like washing machines etc. Can you imagine a time when disposable nappies were not yet invented?

Terry toweling nappies, bed sheets and clothes had to be washed daily and the Hamilton housewife who did not have modern day technology would have had to go outside and get to work doing the washing even in these cold conditions.

Tom Hewitt sent us these pictures of the old wash houses at Lorne Street, Tom told us:

“These are photos of the old wash or laundry buildings. Located behind the old tenement houses on Lorne St. These were taken in April 1971.

The tenements were torn down shortly thereafter. My family lived at 34 Lorne Street and my mother’s parents lived just up a few houses. My parents were Thomas Hewitt and Anne Donaldson Hewitt.

My Grandparents were Margaret Caird Donaldson and Alexander Donaldson. My aunt Helen Donaldson Wilson moved back to Lorne St in the sheltered housing. My family moved to America in October 1951. I was stationed in Italy with the US Army so my wife two children went for a visit in April 1951.”

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Tom, I have a question for you? I found this newspaper article which was printed in the Dundee Courier on the 10th of October 1951. It seems to be relating to your family, perhaps you could shed some light on what this advert was about?

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The tenements in Lorne Street were demolished at some point after 1971 and this made way for the sheltered housing complex. Did you or any of your family live at the Lorne Street tenements? Let us know, or even better share your pictures.

James Robert Caird  (Captain) Kings Own Scottish Borderers.

James Robert Caird.

James Robert Caird  (Captain) Kings Own Scottish Borderers – 3rd Battalion- Attached to the 2nd Battalion Highland light infantry.

 

James applied for a Commission and being a member of the Inns of court officer training corp, was gazetted second Lieutenant in 15th of August 1914 and promoted to Lieutenant on 3rd December 1914.

He was killed in action on the 23rd of April 1915 while leading his platoon over open ground in the advance on St. Julien near Ypres.

Sergeant Hugh McMurchy, in a sworn statement declared, “I saw Lieutenant Caird killed, he was advancing in front of me and was shot through the forehead.” He was killed instantaneously.

James was promoted to captain after his death, as from the 2nd of February 1915. His last letter to his father contained an interesting account of the assault and capture of Hill 60, in which he took part.

James was born on the 4th of November 1892 at Dalhousie, India and he was the son of Major Lindsay Henryson Caird (Late Border Regiment) infantry records office, Hamilton, and his mother was Janet Laura Haunt.

He had been educated at Bedford and Carlisle Grammar Schools. When war broke out James was employed in the office of the Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Co Ltd.

Joseph Burnett (Private) Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 6th Battalion.  

Joseph Burnett.

Joseph Burnett (Private) Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 6th Battalion.

Joseph was killed in Action on the 15th June 1915 at the second action of Givenchy. He was 23 years of age. Joseph was the son of John & Christina Burnett and they lived at Low Waters Road.

William Alexander Blair – Highland light infantry.

Willoiam Alexander Blair

William Alexander Blair – Highland light infantry. William Died on the 8th of December 1918, he was 20 years old. He and another officer were on duty when a bomb was accidentally struck and exploded, killing the other officer instantaneously and wounding William, who succumbed to his wounds the following morning.

Prior to enlisting he had been a student at the University of Glasgow. He was the son of Malcolm Blair (Headmaster at Beckford Street Primary School) and Annie Hardie. He lived at Allanshaw Street.

Robert Bailey (Private) Highland Light Infantry.

Robert Bailey.

Robert Bailey (Private) Highland Light Infantry. Killed in Action on 26th September 1915 on the second day of the battle of the Loos. He was 28 years old, son of Robert & Martha Bailey, 38 Burnbank Road. He was the Husband of Minnie Bailey.

John Hamilton Allan Royal Scots Fusiliers – 1st Battalion. 

John Allan.

John Hamilton Allan Royal Scots Fusiliers – 1st Battalion.
John Died of wounds on the 7th of April 1915 near Dickebusch in the Ypres Salient, Belgium. He was 29 years of age. He was the second son of John & Mary 6 Guthrie Street. He was married to Helen Breakenridge and he lived at 5 Wylie Street. He had one child.

John Aitken (Private) Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 

John Aitken D 09-05-1915

John Aitken (Private) Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
John Aitken was killed in Action on the 9th May 1915 during an attack on Auber’s Ridge. John was the son of John & Elizabeth Aitken and lived at 9 Greenfield Road in Burnbank. Before he enlisted he was a coal miner.

Limekilnburn Now & Then.

LimekilnburnWM

Limekilnburn now & then.
 
In this picture is the little hamlet of Limekilnburn. The first picture was taken roughly between 1945 & 1948. The old houses now demolished and new ones occupy the land.
 
Do you have an old picture of Limekilnburn? If you do then please send them to Admin@Historic-Hamilton.co.uk
Likmekilnburn1