Events

James Foyer was a weaver from Campsie Parish. He was enlisted to fight in the Napoleonic wars and was killed in battle during the Siege of Burgos, Spain, in September 1812. During a battle to capture the Fort St Michael, Burgos on September 19th, Jamie was shot in the chest, and as he lay dying, he wished for a drink of water from Baker Brown's well in Lennoxtown. The Well was in Lennoxtown, down Well Lane, just off the Main Street, opposite the Health Clinic. However, despite the photograph of the well (in the Local Studies Collection of the William Patrick Library) and its known location, as well as an appeal for information, Don Martin's research of the site in 2003, revealed only a few stones, which may not even have been part of the original well. An unknown author commemorated the incident in a 19th C Folk song, based on the words of the dying soldier. It's noted in the Lennoxtown history pages that locals sang the song in the streets of Campsie, especially in front of a shop owned by Mr. James Jack, who usually rewarded the singer. The account also notes that in 1887, Mr. Jack told of two strangers arriving in Lennoxtown, looking for the well. They wanted to fill bottles of water to take with them to Spain, where they intended to drink it as near as possible to the spot in Burgos where Jamie died. 'Oh! if I had a drink of Baker brown's well, My thirst it would quench, and my fever would quell; But life's purple current was ebbing so fast That young Jamie Foyer soon breathed his last. They took for a winding sheet his tartan plaid, And in the cold grave his body was laid; With hearts full of sorrow, they covered his clay, And muttering "Poor Foyer," marched slowly away.'

On the 4th of August 1914 Germany invaded Belgium and more than a million Belgian refugees subsequently fled from the advancing German armies. Around 8,000 refugees were housed in Glasgow and the surrounding towns and villages. In response to an appeal for help Kirkintilloch Town Council offered hospitality for a group of refugees. Accommodation was found for them at some empty estate cottages at Rowantreefauld in Lennoxtown courtesy of Colonel King of Antermony. Generosity and support for the refugees began to fade as the War dragged on and food supplies began to dwindle. Nevertheless many of the refugees got local jobs, joined the armed services, and generally supported themselves until the end of the War. The local committee in Kirkintilloch continued to raise money for the refugees throughout the War and created a repatriation fund to help them rebuild their homes and lives when they returned to Belgium in 1919. Few remained here, and there is little legacy of this small group of foreign refugees that was welcomed so openly into our local communities.

Uniface, gilt-bronze medelet, showing a monorail train above a steam locomotive. Lettering around depiction reads: “The George Bennie Railplane Opening June1930” George Bennie was born in Auldhouse, Glasgow, in 1892, the son of an engineer. The Bennie ‘Railplane’, which was essentially a monorail, would be built above existing railway systems as a passenger-only service, separated from the slower, heavy freight trains below. During 1929-30 a test track of 426 yards was built at Burnbrae, near Milngavie, above the existing L.N.E.R. line. Although the car was capable of travelling 120mph, the length of the test track only allowed for a top speed of 50mph. The official launch was a resounding success and adults and children could experience the short journey for a shilling and sixpence respectively. Proposals for an Edinburgh-Glasgow line were suggested, however, George Bennie was unable to secure financial support for further development of the system. He had invested large amounts of his own money in the construction of the test track and was eventually declared bankrupt in 1937. He died in obscurity in 1957. The track stood until 1956 when it was sold for scrap.

In 1792, at the age of seventeen, Thomas Muir abandoned his Divinity studies at Glasgow University in favour of Law. This was also the year Thomas’s father bought property at Huntershill in the Parish of Cadder and Thomas adopted the style of extended name then customary in Scotland and became Thomas Muir, Younger, of Huntershill. When the French Revolution stimulated a desire for parliamentary reform in Britain, Muir associated himself with the radical wing of the movement. He was charged with sedition and stood trial on 30th August, 1793 for “exciting a spirit of disloyalty and disaffection”, for recommending Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man” and for distributing and reading aloud inflammatory writings. Muir defended himself at the trial but was found guilty by Lord Braxfield and four other anti-reform judges and sentenced to fourteen years transportation to Botany Bay in Australia. In 1796 Muir arranged his escape to America aboard the “Otter”. Shipwreck, captivity among American Indians, detention in Mexico and imprisonment in Havana followed. Whilst returning to Europe he was severely wounded in a naval engagement with the “Ninfa”. It was as a result of these wounds that he died less than two years later at Chantilly in France.

First Aid certificate related to Air Raid Precautions (ARP) issued by St Andrews Ambulance Association, June 1939 to Mrs Janet Y Primrose during WW2. This is a record of certification for First Aid related to ARP WW2. Brought to Trails and Tales by Carol Primrose, as part of a wide range of family material, the certificate belonged to Carol's mother in law, Mrs Janet Primrose, who was tragically killed when a German bomb was dropped on Bishopbriggs school - she was killed by the blast. Janet Primrose is on the Bishopbriggs war memorial as killed in enemy action. Other items include Willie Primrose's Air raid warden's note book and a notification of respirator inspections as well as a selection of post cards and photos belonging to Bill Primrose, during his time as an Army Signaller he was posted to Gibraltar where part of his work became as an interviewer - of people who travelled on/off the Rock - workers, refugees etc. He was transferred to Intelligence Core where his role was to monitor radio broadcasts - and he travelled widely as part of this. The collection of images, post cards reflects something of Bill’s journeys and locations where he was billeted and offers a window to the world from a very different time; there is a group photo where Bill can be seen on extreme left.

This bullet shot Frances’ grandfather, Joseph Butler (born 17th January (?) - died 17th April 1917). It was kept by his wife and handed down in the family. Joseph was in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was shot by a sniper while walking through some woods. The bullet entered through his mouth, down his throat and lodged in his stomach. As the bullet went through soft tissue without hitting bone it did not explode. Joseph was transferred to hospital and operated on and the bullet removed. Unfortunately he died shortly afterwards. Joseph is remembered on the memorial in St Kentigern’s Cemetery, Glasgow and also in Ireland. Although the family lived in Milngavie, Joseph joined an Irish regiment so he would have access to a priest. Frances showed us a letter written by the regimental priest commending Joseph’s valour. The number 17 is noted as a recurring theme throughout Joseph’s life and death. Joseph’s father was born in Ireland and the story goes an English lord gave his great grandmother a penny. She then named his father after this lord – Tristan. Frances keeps this bullet safe in a Tiffany jewellery pouch. Other objects Frances brought were – a photo of Joseph Butler; a photo of Joseph Butler’s mother – Granny Butler; Joseph’s marriage certificate to Mary McQueenie; a Canadian postcard, an example of WW1 embroidered silks which we believe was sent by the man who was next to Joseph in bed in the hospital; a Widow’s Penny in the original envelope; letter from the Secretary state for War ; Joseph’s will ; his medal.