Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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CASUALTY OF WAR
27 OCTOBER 1918

Died on service, Private ROBERT McCRORIE, Service No. M/37709, Royal Army Service Corps – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – born at and a resident of Irvine; enlisted at Ardrossan; son of Robert McCrorie, 73 Fullarton Street, Irvine.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 OCTOBER 1839

EGLINTON BANQUET

The superb and fast new steam ships on the Ayr and Stranraer stations, SIR WILLIAM WALLACE, Captain Galloway; and ROBERT BURNS, Captain Thomas Houston.

By Particular desire, the SIR WILLIAM WALLACE, will sail from GLASGOW to ARDROSSAN and intermediate ports, on Tuesday next, the 29th current, at eight o’clock morning, to suit such as intend being present at the Grand Banquet to be given in Irvine on that day, in honour of the Earl of Eglinton, and return to Glasgow and intermediate ports, at half-past nine o’clock.

The ROBERT BURNS will sail to AYR and intermediate ports, at half-past nine o’clock as usual.

Apply to James Paul, at the Ayrshire Stranraer Landing Box, Broomielaw; Mr Lamb, Ayr; and Mr Hunter, Stranraer.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 OCTOBER 1839

BANQUET AT IRVINE

On Tuesday the 29th instant, the fast sailing steamer, AYRSHIRE LASSIE, Captain Hunter, will sail at half-past 8 morning for ARDROSSAN, where there will be a van waiting to take her passengers to the banquet at Irvine.

The AYRSHIRE LASSIE will sail for ARDROSSAN every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at half-past 8.

Fares – one shilling.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 OCTOBER 1898

ARDROSSAN - FATAL ACCIDENT ON STEAMER

Yesterday morning PATRICK LONG, seaman on board a Newry streamer was accidentally killed under circumstances somewhat curious.

It appears that while the vessel lay moored in the harbour Long was engaged cleaning some of the heavy shafting in the interior of the vessel and connected with the driving gear, when the machinery moved, crushing him against the framework of the vessel. He sustained such serious injuries that he died less than an hour later.

Long, who was a man about 30 years of age, belonged to Carlingford, County Louth, Ireland.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 OCTOBER 1847

VISITORS TO ARRAN

His Highness Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte arrived at Brodick Castle, Arran, on Thursday last, on a visit to the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale.

The Marchioness (Princess Marie of Baden), the Earl of Lincoln, a German Count, and Lord and Lady Dalmeny have, for some time past, been guests at the Castle. The latter left it yesterday, per the ISLE OF ARRAN steamer, for Ardrossan; and thence proceeded per railway.

Amongst the visitors there this season, there has also been Viscount and Viscountess Canning.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 OCTOBER 1847

MAN DROWNED AT ARDROSSAN

On the morning of Friday last, the 22nd instant, while ANGUS McKAY, carpenter with Messrs Barr & Shearer, shipbuilders, was working on a stage at the bow of the schooner JAMES AND ISABELLA of Belfast, presently lying in the wet-dock here, he accidentally overbalanced himself and fell into the water.

Notwithstanding every exertion having been made for his rescue, fifteen minutes elapsed before his body was found, but life was extinct.

He was unmarried, about 24 years of age, and was much respected by his employers and fellow-workmen. He belonged to the North of Scotland.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 OCTOBER 1847

FATAL ACCIDENT AT ARDROSSAN

On the evening of Sabbath last, the 24th instant, about 7 o’clock, RICHARD HOWELL, an apprentice on the schooner SARAH, of Dublin, while stepping on board that vessel, presently lying here, accidentally missed his foot, and fell into the water; his fellow apprentice, who was along with him, cried out for help, when several came to his assistance. The mate threw a rope to him, but he could not seize it.

After about ten minutes’ exertions to get him, they at last succeeded through means of the grappling iron. He appeared to be dead; but for fear they might be mistaken, he was immediately taken to an adjoining house, and medical aid sent for, when Doctors McFadzean and Steven were promptly on the spot with the usual restorations, but their services were of no avail, as the vital spark had fled.

He was 17 years of age, and belonged to Llanley, Wales, and bore a very good character.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 OCTOBER 1846

DEATH

At Ardrossan, on the 24th instant, Miss Locke.

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GLASGOW HERALD
30 OCTOBER 1944

MEDAL

Mr JAMES WELSH, who has been a member of the Ardrossan Life Saving Company for 20 years has been presented with the King's Silver Medal for long service.

The Life Saving Company, which is associated with the Coastguard Service, has assisted in saving many lives in shipwrecks.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
31 OCTOBER 1915

Died on service in a railway accident at Tonbridge, England, while returning to active service in France and Flanders, Sergeant ARCHIBALD MACDONALD, (22), 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers - Theatre of war, home - son of Mr and Mrs John MacDonald, 18 Winton Street, Ardrossan.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald subsequently reported: -

“News of a particularly distressful nature was received by Mrs MacDonald, 18 Winton Street, Ardrossan, on Friday afternoon that her son, Sergeant Alexander MacDonald, of the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, had been killed by an accident on the railway in the South of England.

Sergeant MacDonald was home on leave from France, after having taken part with his regiment in the recent successful operation on the western front. No word was received from him immediately after the action, and much anxiety was felt by his relatives and friends as to his welfare.

About a fortnight afterwards he wrote home that he had come through the ordeal unscathed.

Without sending any intimation to his parents, although he wrote home regularly twice a week, he arrived home on the evening of Thursday, 28th October, in full fighting kit and equipment, and with half the soil of Flanders on his uniform.

He left Ardrossan to return to the front on the Wednesday following, and the accident by which he met his death, precise details of which are not yet to hand, occurred on the boat train after he had left London.

Sergeant MacDonald was 22 years of age, and prior to enlisting, after declaration of war, was employed as a fireman with the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Company at Ardrossan.

He was a cheery and amiable young man, and was greatly esteemed by a wide circle of friends in the town.

During his leave he had many interesting incidents to relate, and told how after the recent big battle, when they had been in the captured trenches without food for three days, the first thing to arrive was a book of Spurgeon’s sermons.

The funeral, which was accorded military and naval honours, took place from his residence to Ardrossan Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. The coffin was wrapt in a Union Jack, on which were laid garlands of flowers.

A detachment of the R.S.F. from Ayr, headed by the pipe band of the Battalion, led the way, and were followed by a company of officers and men from HMS PACTOLUS. The route to the cemetery was lined by crowds of people, and the slow, reverent step of the men, and the lament, “Flowers of the Forest,” from the pipes, made the scene most impressive.

At the cemetery a short service was conducted by the Rev. S. Lyle Orr, Saltcoats and Ardrossan Free Church.

The firing party discharged three volleys, and the ‘Last Post’ was sounded.”

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 NOVEMBER 1811

GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND ARDROSSAN CANAL

The Glasgow, Paisley, and Ardrossan Canal, being now navigable from Port Eglinton, at Glasgow, to Johnstone, the passage boats will ply daily between these two places.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 NOVEMBER 1841

COURSING – CALEDONIAN CUP

The running for this great prize, by the winners of the Highland and Lowland Stakes, came off at Ardrossan on Thursday.

The competing dogs were Dr. Brown’s DRIVER and Mr Geddes’s QUEEN OF HEARTS – the best of three courses.

The QUEEN OF HEARTS gained the first and third runs and won the cup.