It is nearly 100 years since Earlston War Memorial was unveiled in November 1921. To mark this occasion, Auld Earlston member Jeff Price has published his book “A Village at War: Earlston 1914-1918”. - a description of the village in the war years and its aftermath, interwoven with detailed accounts of the fate that befell the many Earlston men who fought.
The emphasis in the book is very much on the human stories of courage, tragedy, and pathos for both the men and their families back home - it is not just a listing of battles and casualties . Many of the names will be familiar to local residents today.
Jeff takes us in turn through the four years of war, looking at the economic background, notably in relation to mill workers, and the farming community; the post war discussions on the form of a village memorial, and the impact of the war on social change. Contemporary newspapers are a key source of material for the accounts. The book concludes with a Roll of Honour of the men remembered not only in Earlston but in cemeteries and on memorials abroad.
Unveiling of the War Memorial in November 1921.
Photograph from the Auld Earlston Collection
This readable account is a must for anyone interested in the history of the
village and the impact of the war on one small community - a valuable addition to the publications available on Earlston.
Available from Amazon in both Kindle and Flexicover format.
Earlston War Memorial, November 2018
Photograph: Neil Donaldson, Earlston
Contributed by Susan Donaldson of the Auld Earlsotn Group
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