Category Archives: Perth and Kinross

The grounds of Scone Palace are nothing short of spectacular. Scone Abbey once stood on the site where early medieval Scottish monarchs were crowned atop the famous ‘Stone of Scone’. Centuries later, in 1661, Charles II was crowned King of Scotland at Scone whilst exiled from Cromwellian England. There are few visible remains of theContinue reading “Remembering James Justice”

Today, demolition of the Crieff Hotel commenced. Formerly known as ‘The Star Hotel,’ the East High Street establishment served the residents of Crieff and Strathearn for generations, hosting weddings, christenings, significant birthdays, and funeral teas. The public bar was the ‘local’ for numerous Crieff punters. The hotel was also the home of Mary MacDonald (neeContinue reading “Remembering Mary MacDonald”

Dundurn Churchyard is located east of St Fillians, in the attractive River Earn valley, close to the foot of the Pictish Hill Fort. It contains the ruin of the 17th-century Stewart of Ardvorlich Mausoleum, a local aristocratic family whose ancestral home is nearby at the foot of Ben Vorlich. Mary Stewart’s remains are also amongContinue reading “Remembering Mary Stewart”

The Armistice, signed on November 11, 1918, would have been received with mixed emotions. Some would have undoubtedly celebrated the war’s end and looked to the future with hope and optimism. For the families of the millions who perished, the Armistice was merely another signpost on their long road of grief and sorrow. The sameContinue reading “Remembering William Nicoll Foote”

The Spanish influenza devastated the east coast of the USA during its outbreak. Cities like New York and Philadelphia suffered significantly, with entire households succumbing to the virus. Mortuaries overflowed with unburied dead, and church bells tolled continuously for the deceased. The situations in Corona, located in the New York borough of Queens, and BlackfordContinue reading “Remembering Jane McPheat”

Diseases travel with people, and the Spanish flu is no exception. As hundreds of people packed onto ships to cross oceans, the vessels became incubators for the influenza virus. The USS Leviathan, the world’s largest ship at the time, departed from Hoboken, New Jersey, on September 29th, heading for Brest, Brittany. The voyage’s purpose wasContinue reading “Remembering William Nairn”

On October 12th, The Strathearn Herald highlighted a concerning surge of influenza cases in the village of Comrie. Andrew McDonald appears to be the only fatality. He rests in Comrie’s South Crieff Road Cemetery on the village’s eastern edge. A plain headstone marks his grave. Though still legible, it has partially subsided into the ground.Continue reading “Remembering Andrew McDonald”

Alongside Jessie McRobbie, Sister Mary Watson is one of two QAIMNS nurses interred in Ford Road Cemetery in Crieff. Mary died of influenza on November 6th in Farco Military Hospital, Sailsbury, Wiltshire aged thirty-two (a day before Jessie McRobbie). Her familial headstone is in excellent condition, and cared for by the CWGC. Mary was bornContinue reading “Remembering Sister Mary Watson”

As I acknowledged in my biography of Jeanie McClymont, nurses selflessly put their own lives at risk treating Spanish flu patients. Sister Jessie McRobbie is another. Jessie succumbed to influenza and pneumonia on November 7th 1918 in Bagthorpe Military Hospital, Nottingham aged thirty-two. She was repatriated to her home town of Crieff and interred inContinue reading “Remembering Sister Jessie McRobbie”

Margaret McBeth, who served in the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS), lost her life to Spanish flu while caring for patients. She died on October 31st 1918 at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital aged twenty-eight. She battled influenza for seven days before succumbing to fatal pneumonia. Her remains were repatriated to her homeContinue reading “Remembering Margaret McBeth”