Thomas Cairns was born in Lower Largo on 26 April 1867 to Robert Cairns, a fisherman, and his wife Ann Warrender. His father was originally from Methil and his mother from Buckhaven but in the early 1860s the family had relocated to Drummochy. Thomas was one of ten children. At the time of the 1881 census, fourteen year old Thomas was noted as a scholar, while an elder brother worked at the nearby Oil & Cake Mill and one of his sisters at the Cardy Net Works.

When Thomas left school, the expectation was that he would follow his father into fishing. This was not the occupation that Thomas wanted for himself. However, with money tight and Largo harbour on his doorstep, his first job was indeed fishing in the Forth, alongside other Largo men. Aged sixteen, Thomas took steps to find an alternative option. He, along with another local lad, walked through snow to Pathhead (part of Kirkcaldy) to look for Captain Swan, the skipper of a deep sea trading vessel. The Captain told them to come and join his ship at Dundee.

However, without the necessary funds to travel to Dundee, a disappointed Thomas had to return to the life of a fisherman - at least in the short term. Thomas resolved to save every halfpenny he could towards his eventual move out of Largo. By the age of nineteen, he had accumulated sufficient savings for a single fare to Glasgow and accommodation in a seaman's home for one week. Within days of arriving there, he had signed up on a home trade sailing ship, where earned enough money to send some back home.

With some experience behind him, Thomas eventually achieved his dream of joining a deep sea trader and for a number of years travelled to locations such as the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Baltic. In 1892, aged 25, he married Davina Gillies in Leith. Davina had grown up with Thomas in Lower Largo. She was the daughter of fisherman David Gillies and Christina Abbie, who lived at Defoe Place. In 1893, Thomas and Davina's daughter, and only child, Christina Abbie Cairns was born. Soon afterwards, Thomas gave up his sea-faring job on the Methil-Hamburg trade to be based at Methil Docks - first as berthing master, and later deputy dockmaster. In the 1901 census the family were at East High Street Methil.

Thomas carried out his duties as Bo'ness Harbourmaster for 22 and a half years, before retiring in September 1930. His retirement came about due to a new upper age limit, and his deputy of 17 years, Robert Smith, took over as dockmaster. To mark his retirement, Thomas was entertained by traders, pilots and other officials in the Douglas Hotel and was presented with a wallet of Treasury notes. During the speeches, the changes over time at the docks were highlighted. Notably, during the past year only one solitary sailing vessel had arrived in Bo'ness Dock as compared with 287 of that type in 1908.
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Thomas spent most of his retirement living at Inch Vanie, on Church Road, Leven (pictured above). In 1942, Thomas and Davina celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Several years before this, Thomas had bought a bottle of champagne to put away for this special occasion. However, when the happy day came around, it was the middle of the Second World War, and a champagne celebration felt inappropriate. The couple decided to gift the bottle to Leven Warship Week Committee and offers were invited for the bottle, to support this cause (see 15 April 1942 Leven Mail piece below).

Thomas also made many ships in bottles and was a talented painter. While he created some landscapes, most of his artworks were of the sea or of ships. Thomas said "I have enjoyed every minute of my retirement and one of my greatest likings is to make these models. I make them just for the love of it and then I give them away". On 5 February 1952, Thomas and Davina reached their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Local newspapers noted that the pair were in good health and had three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. However, Davina passed away on 2 August 1953 aged 83 years. Thomas died on 4 January 1955 at the age of 87. The 5 January 1955 Dundee Courier below reported his death at Bridge of Earn hospital. The piece described Thomas as "one of East Fife's best-known personalities in shipping circles". 
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The Reverend William Neve Monteith was killed at Loos on 25 September 1915. Only months before, he had married Miss Muriel Cox at Largo Parish Church. Muriel was the eldest daughter of Benjamin C. Cox, the long-term tenant of Largo House. Monteith had been Parish Minister at Elie for seven years before the outbreak of war. He was born at Glencairn in Dumfriesshire on 22nd August 1878 - the second son of Reverend John Monteith and his wife Ellen Maria Neve. William took a BA at the Magdalen College Oxford before studying Theology at Glasgow. After a spell in Argentina, he served as assistant to the Reverend Dr Ernest Playfair (1871–1951) of St Andrews, before getting his own parish in Elie in 1907. 

In early September 1914 the St Andrews Presbytery granted him leave of absence for the duration of the war, he was one of the first ministers (if not the first) to enlist as a combatant. Below from 8 September 1914 Dundee Evening Telegraph, which reported how the minister had "laid aside his cassock and gone forth to do battle for his King and country in the uniform of a soldier". He did not join the army as a chaplain but responded to the call to arms. On the day he enlisted in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, he also proposed to Miss Cox. Letters sent between the pair after their engagement are held in Fife Archives. 
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William obtained a commission as a Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion Rifle Brigade on 22nd January 1915. Before going on active service, he married Muriel on 30th March 1915. ​The wedding was described in detail in the 1 April 1915 Leven Mail. On a gloriously sunny day, Largo Parish Church was bedecked with plants and flowers from the gardens and greenhouses of both Gilston House and Largo House. Among the display were "Great palms flanked the pulpit, which was garlanded with laurel leaves and white blossoms, while in front and from out the marble font reared stately lilies of the Nile." 
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Earlier in the day, friends and members of Elie Parish Church had gathered in their village to see off the bridegroom - flags flying from every house. Likewise villagers turned out en masse in Largo to catch a glimpse of the couple. The men of B Company, Highland Cyclist Battalion, who were stationed at Upper Largo, formed a guard of honour at the church door. After the ceremony the couple emerged through an arcade of bayonets.

Initially serving in the 6th (Reserve) battalion, William was transferred to the 2nd (Regular) after that battalion suffered heavy losses at Fromelles on the Aubers Ridge. He arrived in France at the end of May 1915. Lieutenant Monteith was killed in action on 25 September 1915 at the first day of the Battle of Loos. His brother, John, was killed in action at the same just a few days later, on 1 October. Another brother, Hugh, served with the R.A.M.C. and gained the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). William was mentioned in despatches posthumously by General Douglas Haig for his gallant and distinguished service in the field.

John Pearson Douglas Ferrier was born on 25 July 1884 at James Street, in the Pilrig are of Edinburgh, to James Douglas Ferrier, a commercial traveller and grocer's son, and Janet Ferrier (nee Middlemass). Janet, who had two older daughters, had been widowed when her first husband died of tuberculosis. By 1891, the family had moved to from James Street to nearby Montgomery Street.  James had become a Grocer's Assistant and the family appear to have been living above the shop. John Ferrier attended Leith Walk Public School (pictured below). The map further below shows the proximity of those locations:

1. James Street
2. Biscuit Factory (for which James may have acted as a commercial traveller)
3. Montgomery Street
4. Leith Walk Public School

James Ferrier's business must have been successful, as the advert above appeared in the 6 June 1912 Leven Advertiser.  James "removed to new and commodious premises at the west end Upper Largo". The notice stated that he had been in business in the village for eleven years at this point. The photograph below shows the two different shop premises - the new one in the foreground, next door to the United Free Church and his original shop close to the junction with St Andrews Road. The newer shop building, west of the entrance to North Feus, was also demolished long ago.

Two years later, in 1914, the First World War broke out.  John Ferrier was attested under the Derby scheme. and called up in October 1916. He became a Private (No. 267309) with 1/6th (Territorial) Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from June 1917. Sadly, John was killed in action near Ypres on 16 September 1917, while preparing for the British offensive on the 20th of the month. He was 33 years old. The piece below was published in the 27 September Leven Advertiser. The notice of death further below was published in the 29 September St Andrews Citizen.
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John was buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery near Ypres. At the time of his death, Major C.H. Maxwell wrote to his parents "I have heard how uncomplainingly your son stuck out the hardships of the trenches, and also how bravely you have done your part...He was an honour to the regiment and has died in the tartan." A comrade also wrote saying that the whole company looked on him as the one who would help in any trouble, and added that whenever any difficulty or trouble arose it was always "Let's tell Ferrier". 

John Pearson Douglas Ferrier is one of the 51 men who fell in the First World War named on Largo War Memorial. His name can be seen fourth from top in the photograph above and is noted as D. Ferrier (suggesting that he was actually known by his middle name Douglas). His mother, Janet Ferrier, died the following year aged 74, on 11 December 1918, at home on Upper Largo's Main Street. James Ferrier lived until 16 September 1923. When he died aged 77 at North Feus, the official informant of his death was his friend the joiner Agnew Broomfield.

The Victory Medal belonging to Private J.P.D. Ferrier is pictured below. The medal shows the winged figure of victory on one side and the words THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919 surrounded by a laurel wreath on the other. The medal is bronze, circular and 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter. The recipient's name, rank, service number and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal. This particular medal was issued in 1921, so would have been sent to James Ferrier, John's father and next to kin, his mother having already passed away. Where it has been during the century since James's death is a mystery but its resurfacing now has allowed the story of one of Largo's lost to be retold.

The above postcard is postmarked Lundin Links 21 November 1917 and was addressed to Mrs Bushell, 36 Kett's Hill in Norwich. The sender was Sergeant George Ballingall and his message was as follows:

Dear Mrs Bushell, I have arrived here all safe and glad to say found all my dear ones in the pink. I am pleased I am the same. Hoping that this P.C. finds you all well. I don't know how to thank you for the fruit etc as it came in very nice on the journey north. Note the cross on house where I stay. I remain yours sincerely, Sgt. G. Ballingall

This was during the First World War and George Ballingall was a joiner who lived at 3 Park Terrace in Lundin Links (in the house he had marked with a cross on the postcard - see detail below). George was the son of John Ballingall the cork cutter and artist. Having been in the volunteers when war broke out, George left Fife to serve with The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). At the time he sent the postcard, in November 1917, he must have been on a visit home. The "dear ones" that he refers to in his message are his wife Elizabeth Horne and three children, Isabella (born 1908), Annie (born 1910) and John (born 1916). He must have been relieved to find them all "in the pink". The postcard had been produced by Young's newsagent of Emsdorf Street and conveniently featured the Ballingall family home at 3 Park Terrace in the centre of the image. 

The First World War ended in November 1918 but in 1919 George was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for services in the field. This award was part of the King's Birthday Honours, which in 1919 were dominated by awards related to the recently ended war. The 3 June 1919 Dundee Courier below detailed the "Gallant Scots decorated by the King for services rendered in France and Flanders". Ballingall's name is highlighted below. The 14 June 1919 St Andrews Citizen piece further below notes his "considerable service in France" but few details are given of the nature of the distinguished service being awarded. If you know more about the events that led to his MSM award - please comment.

It must have been a huge relief for his family that George returned safely home at the end of the war, given that Largo Parish lost 51 men in the First World War. It must have been a source of great pride to see him awarded the Meritorious Service Medal after the war had ended. However, George Ballingall's story was not to have a happy ending. He became unwell shortly afterwards and was ultimately admitted to Glenalmond Sanatorium in Perthshire, a facility for patients with tuberculosis (a bacterial infection of the lungs which was common at the time). After serveral months as a patient there, George died on 23 June 1921, aged 32 years. 

George's wife had given birth to twin sons days before, on 10 June 1921 at the family home at 3 Park Terrace. In the days between the birth of twins Thomas and George and the death of their father, the 1921 census was taken. At 3 Park Terrace, Elizabeth was recorded as the head of the household, her five children were listed and in addition her sister Mary Ainslie (nee Horn) and niece Isabella were also living there. Meanwhile George was recorded as a patient at Glenalmond, where it was noted that he was a joiner with R.G. Galloway and had five dependent children. He died two days after the census was taken.

The 30 June 1921 Leven Advertiser below gave an account of the funeral of George Ballingall, which was a military and masonic funeral. Over 100 masons attended, along with representatives of the Black Watch and the pipe band. Largo Silver Band were also present. 

As a footnote, the purple pencil in which the postcard was written was likely an army issue copying pencil. Copying, or indelible, pencils were widely used during the First World War to assist officers in completing paperwork. They were used in the field as the non-erasable qualities of indelible pencils made them much more convenient than the alternatives.
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The previous two blog posts have explored the origins of the former grocer shop at the foot of Hillhead Street (seen on the far left of the image above) and the somewhat turbulent turn of the century period for the shop. The next chapter in its history picks up from the departure of Matthew Barrie to Melrose and the arrival of Lawrence Smith from Carron Bridge, Falkirk. Born in 1881, Lawrence Smith was the eldest son of pattern maker Lawrence Smith senior, and was grocer's assistant at the time of the 1901 census. Five years later he married Alice Lawson and the couple relocated to Fife. The notice below from the 1 November 1906 Leven Advertiser notes the grant of a license for Smith for the Lundin Mill grocer premises. ​

The next year Lawrence and Alice's eldest daughter Jessie Watson Smith was born in Lundin Mill. The 1911 census records Lawrence, Alice and a 3-year-old Jessie in the household. Later that year another daughter, Jean, was born. The photograph below shows Jean (left) and Jessie (right) a couple of years later.
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​The image above shows Jessie outside the entrance to the grocer shop, seated in the carriage of the delivery horse. The same image is below, superimposed on the shop building in more recent times. Nowadays the street is filled with parked cars.

Lawrence Smith can be seen in the photograph above at the rear of the shop with his prize-winning dog and a trophy. He frequently entered dog competitions and was well-known in these sporting circles. Of course, 1914 saw the outbreak of the First World War and in September of that year, Lawrence joined up at Leven. Joining the 9th Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, he left for the front in April 1915. Lawrence is pictured below in his uniform. 

In his absence, the grocer shop was supported by the wider family, including Lawrence's wife Alice, his widowed mother Jean and his younger brother William M. Smith. The extract from the 7 September 1916 Leven Advertiser tells us that two years later, William became the third Smith brother to join the army. According to the valuation roll, the official proprietor of the grocer shop at this time was their mother Jean Smith. 
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Meanwhile, Lawrence had a short spell at home on leave in October 1917. Sadly, only two months later he was killed by an enemy shell on 13 December 1917, aged 36 years. In the 27 December 1917 Leven Advertiser below, Lawrence was described as "an excellent leader of men, and devoid of fear, who had won the hearts of all the men in his platoon" and "a man of outstanding qualities, calm and unperturbable, and always brave and cheerful".  Touchingly the letter received by his widow stated that "you have lost a husband of whom you should be proud and your daughters can always refer to their father in future years as a gallant and efficient soldier". Sergeant Smith was buried with full military hours in a British cemetery. 
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Sergeant Lawrence Smith is one of the 51 men who fell in the First World War named on Largo War Memorial. The detail on the memorial shown below includes his name in the middle of the list on one of the panels.

After the war, the shop continued for a time. The 1920 valuation roll for Largo Parish still lists the property as a shop, with Jean Smith as the proprietor. However, by 1925 the former shop was described as an 'office'. It had become the office of Largo Parish Council (see above) and remained as such for many years, even after the death of Jean Smith in 1934. In October 1925 a "daring fraud" took place in the office when David Smail pretended to have obtained work as a miner. He was given £2 by the Inspector of the Poor to purchase a pick and shovel and to tide his family over until the work began. However, the job did not materialise and he used the money himself, leaving "his wife and children destitute" according to the 22 December 1925 Leven Advertiser below.
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David Baldie (pictured above as featured in 22 October 1960 Fife Free Press) was born in Woodside on 15 December 1881 to coal miner William Baldie and his wife Martha Hamilton. David was named after his paternal grandfather, David Baldie (who came to Woodside when it was a newly built settlement and is recorded there in the 1841 census as a 30-year-old coal miner). In 1841 the immediate neighbour of the Baldie family was James Black and family, including a 2-year-old Robert Black, who would go on to be Chair of Largo Parish Council.

Young David attended New Gilston Primary School until 1893, when the family relocated to Kettlebridge for a few months. When they returned to Largo Parish later the same year, he started at Largo Primary School. However by the 1901 census, the Baldie family had moved to the neighbouring Parish of Scoonie, where they lived on Waggon Road, in a cottage they named 'Woodside Cottage'. William was engaged as a coal carter and he placed the notice below in the 5 December 1901 Leven Advertiser to advertise his services. A 19-year-old David was working as a coal miner hewer, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather before him. This occupation, however, was short-lived and in 1905 David joined the police.
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When David joined Kirkcaldy Burgh Police, the force was only 36 strong. Quickly making his mark, David was promoted to sergeant after six years, becoming the youngest person to hold the rank. In December 1912 he married Wilhelmina McKinnon at his parents home, Woodside Cottage, in Leven. The couple had their first child, William, in Kirkcaldy the following year. During the First World War, David was in charge of the "aliens and suspected persons department" at Kirkcaldy - receiving a commendation from the Home Department for his work. Promotion to the rank of inspector followed in 1925 and a year later was appointed Deputy Chief Constable.

In February 1933 David Baldie became Chief Constable of Kirkcaldy Burgh Police. He continued in that role until his retirement in May 1949, just before the merger of Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Fife Country Police Forces. During the 16 years of his leadership, the force grew to become 64 strong. Notably, he oversaw the development of the fingerprinting and photographic department during his tenure. During those years, Baldie also held the role of President of the Chief Constables (Scotland) Association and represented the Scottish Chief Constables at the coronation of King George VI in 1937. 
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In 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, David was awarded the O.B.E. for his services - the burgh's first official to receive this award. The photo below from the front page of the 14 July 1939 Dundee Evening Telegraph shows him at the King's investiture at St James's Palace. ​Wartime brought increased responsibilities, with David becoming A.R.P. Controller for Kirkcaldy. The Burgh Police Force was augmented by 200 Special Constables during the Second World War. One of David's own daughters served under her father as a member of the Women's Auxiliary Police Force. In June 1948, David was awarded the King's Police Medal in the Birthday Honours List. A few weeks later he was presented to the King and Queen on their tour of Fife.
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In May 1949, David retired from the police after 44 years service, and on the eve of the merger of Fife's Police Forces. Pictured above in the 11 May Dundee Courier, he described his career as "a wonderful adventure" and that he "would not hesitate to go through it again". Following his retirement David became a member of Kirkcaldy Town Council - serving on many of its committees. For many years he was secretary and treasurer of the local branch of the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He also had a long association with the St Andrew's and Red Cross Scottish Ambulance Service. He served on the Board of Management of the Kirkcaldy Y.M.C.A., was a long-time elder of the Victoria Road Church, a past president of Kirkcaldy Rotary Club and a member of Kirkcaldy Bowling Club.
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The previous post covered the life of Robert Black - a native of Woodside who became Chair of Largo Parish Council and Inspector of the Poor for the Parish. Indeed it was Robert Black who, towards the end of his life, cut "the barricade of red, white and blue ribbon" with "a pair of silver scissors" to allow the first cars to pass over the new bridge linking Drummochy to Lower Largo on Saturday 3 October 1914. Many years in contemplation, the long-desired bridge was composed of steel girders and troughing and parapet railing, with concrete wing walls. It came at a cost of £1,455, 8s and 5d.

The commemorative photograph above was captured by keen amateur photographer, Robert Paxton of Homelands. It shows the first of the three cars that crossed the new bridge as part of the opening ceremony. This car, registration SP 708, bedecked in flowers, belonged to Lower Largo's Walter Horne. Another of the cars belonged to Upper Largo's Thomas Wishart. The cars carried members of the Largo Parish Council, the engineers and the bridge contractors. A profusion of flags and bunting surrounded around the bridge. The buildings in the background from left to right are The Railway Inn (light-coloured gable end), Alexandra House (centre), Beach House (3-storey terrace with dormer windows and many chimneys) and the Crusoe Hotel (extreme right). Robert Black and his wife Eliza could well be among the crowd. Are you able to identify any of the faces shown below? 
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​Having been presented with a pair of silver scissors by Walter Horne, Robert Black declared the bridge open "in the name of the Parish Council" and expressed "the hope that it would fulfil all their expectations and be of advantage to all and disadvantage to none". As the ribbon was cut, there was "a great scramble on the part of the spectators to secure a piece as a remembrance of the occasion". The 8 October Leven Advertiser ran a lengthy article describing the occasion. A large crowd raised loud cheers "as the first gaily decorated motor car sped across the bridge". 

After the official party crossed the bridge in the cars, they, and a few select others, made their way to the recently completed Victoria Hotel for a "daintily cooked and perfectly served dinner" supplied by Miss Brown. Toasts were made, including one to Messrs Bruce and Proudfoot of Cupar and Kirkcaldy, the civil engineers. The building contractor for the bridge project had been Mr Henderson of Markinch. The Motherwell Bridge Company was also acknowledged, having supplied specialist materials. The engineers and contractors presented Robert Black with a silver tray and Walter Horne with a silver cigar case, in recognition of their co-operation as members of the Parish Council. After completion of the toasts, speeches, and presentations the national anthem was sung.

The pair of maps below compares the harbour area before and after the building of the road bridge. Close inspection shows that the corners of a couple of gardens had to be clipped to enable smooth entrance to and exit from the bridge for vehicles. One of those who gave up a portion of their garden was Dr Selkirk, owner of Alexandra House (which had a large rectangular front garden in the older map). 
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As we pause to remember those named on Largo War Memorial - notice the new addition to the memorial site this year. The photograph above was taken earlier this year, soon after the weekend of events remembering the Polish soldiers in Fife under General Stanisław Sosabowski. Three floral wreaths in red and white can be seen at the base of the memorial and the Polish flag is flying behind it. A new commemorative plaque was unveiled to the right hand side of the memorial, shown in detail below, which reads:

"In memory of Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade headquartered in Largo House and the Polish soldiers assigned to defend Fife during the Second World War who all fought as part of the Allied forces."

In his memoir Freely I served, Sosabowski states that in 1941 "I made up my mind to form a Polish Parachute Brigade. I was all alone in my office on the second floor of the Leven YMCA; a small coal fire burning in an iron grate spread a meagre warmth through the stolid bare office. It was afternoon and everyone was out training, and I had several hours in which to pace the room and make plans". Sosabowski chose Largo House as the official training centre.

The 23-25 August 2024 programme of events marked the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem where many of the Parachute Brigade eventually fought. Events at Largo comprised a wreath laying at the War Memorial, candle-lighting at the graves of Sosabowski's soldiers at Largo cemetery and a ceilidh at the Simpson Institute. Other events included a ceremony at the cliffs on Kincraig Point, a march along the General Sosabowski Way (a route that runs through places closely associated with the presence of the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade in Fife during World War II), a cross-country run, a series of historical lectures and a service at Falkland Palace. A video showing highlights from the weekend of events can be viewed here.

Pictured above is Stina, a two-masted 100-ton steel and timber schooner built by Bodewes at Martenshoek in the Netherlands in 1902. Incredibly, this vessel still sails the seas today and her story is a remarkable one. Stina was originally a sail-powered cargo ship, designed to carry heavy loads across the North Sea. She was described in the book 'Coastwise Sail' by John Anderson as "a very handy type of shallow draught coaster". Her visit to Largo took place very soon after her construction and certainly before 1905. A clue to what Stina may have been doing in Largo can be seen in the newspaper snippet below (30 May 1903 Edinburgh Evening News) when she arrived at Burntisland with a load of oil cake.

At this time there was an oil cake mill at Burntisland, owned by David Russell of Silverburn. Russell also owned the Largo Oil and Cake Mill (pictured further below). This former flax spinning mill had been modified around 1860 by Russell so that box presses could be used to extract oil from linseed, cottonseed, rapeseed, etc. The leftover material was then turned into 'cakes' (e.g. linseed cake and cotton cake) which could be used as animal feed). Some years later, David Russell acquired the old sugar mill at Burntisland and converted it for similar purposes. 
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In 1905 the Stina (a female forename popular in the Nordic countries) was sold and renamed Adolf. She traded across the Baltic and North seas under the German flag until the outbreak of World War One. During this conflict she was taken as a prize of war by the British Navy and turned into a Q-ship - in other words a decoy ship intended to lure enemy submarines into making surface attacks. Q-ships had concealed weaponry which could then be used to open fire. Such vessels formed a fleet to sail in front of the Merchant Fleet to protect them from being torpedoed.

Around 1922, the vessel was sold to Dalbeattie-based shipping company John Carswell and Sons. There in the Solway Firth, she had a paraffin engine fitted and was given the name Solway Lass. For years she transported all sorts of general cargoes across the Irish Sea, often calling at Liverpool. One typical cargo example was maize brought into the Solway Firth to be processed for use as animal feed. ​Carswell sold her in 1935 to Kristian Andersen, a Swede who had settled in Portmadoc in Wales.

Shortly after this sad incident, Andersen's widow sold Solway Lass to Peter Pedersen of Lemvig, Denmark. She was renamed Bent - a male forename of Danish origin which means 'blessed'. From there she once again carried cargo across the Baltic and North Seas. The Second World War interrupted her trading exploits. Some stories report that she was seized by the Germans, who then used her a supply ship. Her troubles continued beyond the end of the war. The book 'Coastwise Sail' states that "in 1946 she was struck by two mines and had to be beached in a sinking condition but was salved and repaired".

Around 1949 she was given yet another new name - Sundeved - and carried cargo for a Danish Shipping Company. Sundeved is an area on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in South Denmark. After a couple of decades, in late 1971, Dane Leif Brochmann took Sundeved on a voyage from Dover to Fiji, via Barbados, the Panama Canal and Tahiti. The vessel then remained in Fiji for many years, where she was rechristened Lawendua. She traded between the Fijian Islands and at some point appears to have been given another new name - Tui Na Savusavu.

In 1983, Sydney businessman Tim Lloyd found her in Fiji in a rundown state but still being used to transport cargo. He bought her, took her to Sydney, restored the name Solway Lass and embarked upon a full refit. During this lengthy and costly process, her cargo hold was fitted out in teak as a large dining room to seat 60. Below is an image of the refit which appeared in the 26 June 1986 Galloway News. Once restored, Solway Lass operated out of Sydney Harbour and was quite the tourist attraction as an historic tall ship. 

In a proud moment, in 1988, Solway Lass took part in Australia's bicentennial celebrations, participating in the First Fleet re-enactment. Several tall ships were chosen to follow part of the route of the First Fleet which sailed from Portsmouth in May 1787, arriving in Sydney in January 1788. The 18th century fleet of eleven ships carried around 1400 colonists, including 759 convicts, who founded modern Australia. The original route went from Portsmouth, via Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town. Solway Lass followed the last part of the route from Botany Bay to Sydney. The image of Solway Lass below appeared in the brochure for the event and was reproduced in the 9 January 1986 Galloway News.
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Having survived two world wars, almost becoming a wreck twice and having given many decades hard service around the globe (not to mention many name changes) the warm, calm waters of the Whitsundays seem a most fitting place for Solway Lass to enjoy her old age. Recent images of her are shown above (from Wikipedia) and below (from John Downie). Having celebrated her centenary in 2002, and had another major refit in 2018, she continues to be an important and iconic ship. ​Her present life is certainly a world away from carrying oil cakes along the Fife coast.

Football had been played in Fife for some time before the game was formalised with the foundation of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) in 1873. Above is the description of a chaotic sounding match played in 1845 in Cupar, where twelve writers took on twelve tradesmen (Fife Herald 13 March). As the popularity of football accelerated among the general population, the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) was formed (in 1886). The word 'junior' indicated the grade of football played rather than the age of the players. The term 'juvenile' was used for young players aged under 21 years.

The top tier Scottish Football League began in 1890 and over the years that followed football flourished at all levels, senior, junior and juvenile. Numerous teams were established, including many in Fife. An East Fife Football Association was set up in the early 1890s for junior clubs, with a 'juvenile' section added in 1895. Around the same year Largo had formed its own juvenile team, named Largo Crusoe. For many years, 'The Crusoe' flourished, competing in various cup competitions as well as local leagues. They played their home matches in Lundin Links, specifically at the ground which was then referred to as Homelands Park but is now known as The Common.

The match report above from 6 March 1896 East of Fife Record tells of a game against the L. and C. (Largoward and Colinsburgh). This report lists the Largo players' names and includes some familiar surnames such as Horne, Ballingall, Kidd, Clunie, Simpson and Gillies. Such names suggest much of the team were drawn from families with fishing connections - perhaps the reason for the team taking the Crusoe name (in a nod to their sea-faring heritage). 

In 1897, the new season kicked off with the Largo men taking to the field in an opening match against Kilrenny F.C. - a team that called themselves the ”K.Y. team”. A good game was anticipated, as the opponents were chiefly employees of Cellardyke boot factory and hailed from Dundee. Nevertheless, the K.Y. "could not withstand the rushes of the Crusoe and retired defeated 7 goals to 4. The Crusoe were aided by Kennedy, Leven, who did some smart work centre-forward". Alexander Kidd the Largo Crusoe Club Secretary suggested that those interested in spectating "should lose no time in writing for dates". Above are the type of football shirts that players back then might have worn (from an 1897 catalogue).
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In 1897 a short history of the first 11 years of the SJFA was published. This included professional photographs of 98 of 170 clubs with membership of the association. This included the St Andrews-based Ancient City Athletic - featuring John Ripley (2nd from left in the back row) who went on to be awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915 and is buried at Largo Cemetery. Also included was neighbouring team Leven Thistle. If you have or have ever seen a photograph of the Largo Crusoe Football Club from any stage in their existence, please get in touch. If you know what their team colours were, or have any other information about them, please comment.

Players Horne and Thomson (mentioned in the 1896 match report against the L. and C. above) must have been Largo Crusoe's star players. Both were chosen in 1898 for the East Fife Association select team to play against Edinburgh Association. The same year, both Andrew Horne and Thomas Thomson moved from juvenile to junior level to play for Leven Thistle (the year after the photo of the team above was taken). Horne in particular distinguished himself at Leven Thistle, which led to further moves - first to Buckhaven and then to Cowdenbeath to play at senior level in the Northern League.
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Unsurprisingly, the Largo Crusoe team went into abeyance during the First World War. The local team re-emerged in the 1920s under the new name of Largo Rovers, who were later rebadged as Largo Thistle. The Second World War interrupted play once again, with Largo Villa being the team name thereafter. More on the exploits of those later teams another time.
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