100 years ago

OFFICIAL information had reached Coatbridge that Private William A Pithe, of the Glasgow Highlanders, had been killed in action at the trenches of Givenchy.

He had been shot through the head while carrying a drink to a wounded companion. His two brothers Robert and Hugh, of the Lowland Engineers, also in the fighting line, had been present at the burial of their brother, whose remains were interred by lantern light in a plantation near to the regiment’s quarters.

In answer to a question of Mr Sanderson, Mr Tennant had stated that the total casualties from frostbite to January 24 amounted to 9175. Large numbers of gum-boots and similar articles and waterproof coats and capes had been provided, in addition to the usual Army boots and greatcoats.

 

50 years ago

FOR the first time in the North, there was to be a chance for people to learn, in non-technical language, about chemicals in relation to the welfare of man.

About 450 farmers, gardeners, naturalists, scientists and others interested in the subject were expected to attend a three-day conference on chemicals and the land, to be held at the Yorkshire Institute of Agriculture, Askham Bryan, during April.

The main speaker on the first evening would be the Archbishop of York Dr Donald Coggan, whose subject would be the ethics of scientific farming. For the previous six months, seven study groups had been investigating the problems from various aspects, and would present their reports at the conference.

Mr FG Smith, director of the Ministry of agriculture’s Horticultural Station, Cawood, would report on chemicals in horticulture; and chemicals and man would be the subject of Dr CW MacKenzie, a retired consultant, of Clifton, York.

 

25 years ago

PAULINE Collins was the housewives’ choice to carry off a best actress Oscar for her role in the film Shirley Valentine.

“We are expecting a rush of small money for Pauline Collins,” said a spokesman for bookmaker William Hill. Tom Cruise was favourite to win the Best Actor Oscar for his role as a paralysed Vietnam War veteran in Born On the Fourth Of July, which was tipped for Best Film.

British actor Daniel Day Lewis was 4-1 to be Best Actor for his moving portrayal of paraplegic artist Christy Brown in My Left Foot. The film was also 10-1 to win the Best Film Oscar. The winners would be announced on March 26.

Also nominated for the Best Actor award was Kenneth Branagh for the film version of his stage production of Shakespeare’s Henry V.