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Far From the Front
On August the 4th, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. To anyone following international events this came as no great surprise. Since before the start of the new century tensions between the super-powers and those who aspired to that role had been growing.
Whilst these events were happening in far away Europe, in the Scottish village of West Calder the last week- end of peace was a memorable one. The annual Cauther Games, held at Burngrange Park to the west of the village, had attracted a record entry. “The Games act as a rallying point for friends from a wide area, and no matter where West Calder people may be an effort is made to get back to the old home on the games day”, reported the local press.
The morning trains brought a lively and enthusiastic crowd into the village to participate in or watch events that included relay and cycling races, highland dancing, ‘hop, step and leap’, and, so no-one would feel left out, the ‘old mans race’. The racing caused some excitement, attracting entries from as far afield as Edinburgh, although it was a local man from Addiewell, J Simpson who led the way in the half-mile and one-mile handicaps. The closing stages of the games were spoiled by a sudden and prolonged thunderstorm, an omen of what was about to come.
By the Tuesday of that week Scotland was at war.
This is the story of life in the village of West Calder during the years of the Great War.
Whilst these events were happening in far away Europe, in the Scottish village of West Calder the last week- end of peace was a memorable one. The annual Cauther Games, held at Burngrange Park to the west of the village, had attracted a record entry. “The Games act as a rallying point for friends from a wide area, and no matter where West Calder people may be an effort is made to get back to the old home on the games day”, reported the local press.
The morning trains brought a lively and enthusiastic crowd into the village to participate in or watch events that included relay and cycling races, highland dancing, ‘hop, step and leap’, and, so no-one would feel left out, the ‘old mans race’. The racing caused some excitement, attracting entries from as far afield as Edinburgh, although it was a local man from Addiewell, J Simpson who led the way in the half-mile and one-mile handicaps. The closing stages of the games were spoiled by a sudden and prolonged thunderstorm, an omen of what was about to come.
By the Tuesday of that week Scotland was at war.
This is the story of life in the village of West Calder during the years of the Great War.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2010
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