STurner

Published at 01:00, Thursday, 26 July 2007

THE 1907 Cornet was John Reid Wallace, a butcher, who was one of two candidates to stand for election that year.

Up against him for the honour was James Young, a vanman. John Wallace was proposed by William Pendreigh, junior, and seconded by R Hotson, and James Young was proposed by Clement Armstrong and seconded by F Scoon. On a vote being taken, Mr Wallace was elected.

Several years later John, like many other young men in the town, went to war. He joined the Lovat Scouts and served in France and in the Dardanelles. On December 30, 1921 he married Mary Roddick, the daughter of butcher George Roddick, in the Eskdale Temperance Hotel. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev R H Kerr.

The couple, who lived at Esk Cottage, had three children, Isa, Helen and Billy. Isa, who married Col Lachie Robertson, went to live on the Isle of Skye and Helen married Alex Smith and now lives in Cumbernauld.

Billy is married to Connie (Erskine) and they live in Edinburgh.

Sadly, John died on March 10, 1930 and an obituary in the E&L Advertiser said: “John Reid Wallace died 10th March 1930, a vanman and butcher, living at 32 Henry Street, Langholm. His wife was Mary Roddick, and he was buried in Langholm Cemetery.

“Mr Wallace contracted malaria while on war service, and it was a recurrence of this old trouble, with complications, that brought about his death, after a fortnight’s illness.

“He was an ex-Cornet, and leaves a widow and three little children.

“There were many beautiful wreaths from, amongst others, Langholm Freemasons and Langholm Football Club.”

A number of people in the town are still in touch with the family, including Bunty Elliot and Jean Erskine. Billy also has cousins in Langholm, including Neil Roddick and Jean Currie (Roddick).

Published by http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk