WWI - 1914-1918 - the Ayrshire Experience

In August 1914, the conflict that became known as the Great War began. It drew in nation after nation until it became truly a World War, affecting the lives of millions. This important anniversary will be marked nationwide. Our exhibition concentrates on the experiences of men and women of Ayrshire who served in the armed forces or who worked on the land, in factories, or in hospitals. The ways in which the war and its fallen were commemorated in the years afterwards will also be featured. Each section will be illustrated by contemporary objects and images. Linked to the exhibition is a digitisation project, supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, which will allow us to work with young people to make our World War One collections more accessible online. This is an an on-going project and more images will be added as it progresses. This exhibition was on display from May - December 2014 at Baird Institute, 3 Lugar Street, Cumnock, KA18 1AD Thursday - Saturday 11am - 5pm Closed on public holidays Admission free Tel: 01290 427084

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Cumnock Chronicle November 1918

Cumnock Chronicle November 1918 edition featuring news articles from shortly after The Great War end

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Cumnock Chronicle August 1914

Cumnock Chronicle August 1914 edition featuring news articles after Britain joined what was named 't

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John Gibson Protection Certificate

Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity for Private John Gibson.

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Private John Gibson of Kilmarnock and fellow Soldiers

John Gibson, first on the left back row.

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John Gibson Certificate of Transfer

Certificate of transfer for John Gibson, Kilmarnock. He served Overseas on Active service and was a

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John Gibson National Health Insurance Book

Health Insurance book belonging to John Gibson, Kilmarnock.

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Press cuttings collected of John Gibson

These press cuttings were collected and stuck to old cereal boxes to preserve. The boxes included we

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John Gibson Pension Award & Certificate

John Gibson of Kilmarnock was awarded this Pension Certificate on 15/02/1919 at the ages of 22 years

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Identity Tags

Identity tags. From November 1916 a British solder carried two identity tags made of vulcanised asbe

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Army Field Message Book

Field message book as used by officers.

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Dalmellington War Memorial Committee Minute Book (1919-1923)

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Dalmellington War Memorial

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Souvenir postcard; "Forget me Not"

Embroidered postcard sent by servicemen during the war. Hand embroidered postcards like these we

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Letter to Leiper

Letter to Thomson Leiper from a fellow soldier.

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Demobilisation letter

Lieutenant Leiper's demobilisation letter. Dated 02/04/1919

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Postcard; "Greetings from Girvan"

Postcard sent to a patient at the Dick Institute. Bill Watherill of the Yorkshire Regiment was a pa

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Photograph of Nurse, Marie

Marie, sister of Eileen Boyd Auld served in the Craigronnach auxiliary hospital at Troon.

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Photograph of Nancy Wilson

Photograph of Nancy Wilson, the young lady that wrote to Bill Weatherill (patient at Dick Institutut

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Postcard; "This is such a little card..."

Postcard sent to a patient at the Dick Institute. Bill Watherill of the Yorkshire Regiment was a pa

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Postcard; "Loving Wishes"

Postcard sent to a patient at the Dick Institute. Bill Watherill of the Yorkshire Regiment was a pa

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Postcard; "Have You Forgotten Me?"

Postcard sent to a patient at the Dick Institute. Bill Watherill of the Yorkshire Regiment was a pa

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Photograph from patient at Dick Institute

A photograph of a patient at the Dick Institute, Bill Weatherill of the Yorkshire Regiment. He was

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Eileen Boyd Auld

Eileen Boyd Auld was brought up at Craigend House, Troon. She had been educated in Germany and Fran

Ayrshire and the Red Cross

A book published by the Red Cross in 1918 to illustrate the range of its wartime work in Ayrshire.

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Souvenir Postcard; "SOUVENIR DE BELCIQUE"

Embroidered postcard sent by servicemen at Christmas during the war. Hand embroidered postcards

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Memorial of Brave Life Scroll

A plaquette, together with a letter and a scroll, was sent by George V to the next-of-kin of all Bri

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Postcard; "V - Little Jim"

Postcards sent by his wife to Private Percy Schultz serving with a Protection Company at the POW cam

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Postcard; "III - Little Jim"

Postcards sent by his wife to Private Percy Schultz serving with a Protection Company at the POW cam

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Postcard; "II - Little Jim"

Postcards sent by his wife to Private Percy Schultz serving with a Protection Company at the POW cam

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Postcard; "V1 - Little Jim"

Postcards sent by his wife to Private Percy Schultz serving with a Protection Company at the POW cam

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Postcard; "Good Luck"

Postcard sent to a patient at the Dick Institute. Bill Watherill of the Yorkshire Regiment was a pa

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Postcard; "FORGET-ME-NOT"

Postcard sent to a patient at the Dick Institute. Bill Watherill of the Yorkshire Regiment was a pa

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Yours Sincerely, Nancy Wilson

Photograph of Nancy Wilson, the young lady that wrote to Bill Weatherill (patient at Dick Institute)

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Souvenir Postcard; "Christmas Greetings"

Embroidered postcard sent by servicemen at Christmas during the war. Hand embroidered postcards

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Souvenir Postcard;"QUO FAS ET GLORIA..."

Embroidered postcard sent by servicemen during the war. Hand embroidered postcards like these w

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Souvenir Postcard; "1918"

Embroidered postcard sent home by servicemen during the war. Hand embroidered postcards like th

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Souvenir Postcard; "TO MY DEAR BROTHER"

Embroidered postcard sent home by servicemen during the war. Hand embroidered postcards like th

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Souvenir Postcard; "I AM THINKING OF YOU"

Embroidered postcard sent home by servicemen during the war. Hand embroidered postcards like

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Soldier's Compendium

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Press Cutting Thomas Leiper

Thomas Leiper tells the Kilmarnock Standard how close he came to death while fighting for King and c

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Thomas Leiper as a young officer

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Thomas Leiper's Protection Certificate

Protection certificate issued on leaving the army.

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Lieutenant Leiper's bank book

The bank book belonging to that of Lieutenant Leiper.

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Movement Order for Lieutenant Leiper

Movement order for Lieutenant Leiper and other officers, 1918

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Postcard sent home by a serviceman at Christmas

Postcard from Jack Morris to Miss Dora Smith, Christmas 1917.

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Letter and souvenir from Private Barr

Correspondence from Private Robert Barr, including a souvenir handkerchief from D'Albert. The handke

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Sapper Alex W. Simpson

William J. Howat Last Order

In Memoriam last order of Corpl. William J. Howat who was killed in action Friday 12th October 1917,

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Dalmellington War Memorial - The Unveiling Ceremony

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Postcard of two soldiers

Postcard sent to parents. Bill Weatherill on the left

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Lance-Corporal Hugh Watt Obituary

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Songs of the Ayrshire Regiment

Songs of the Ayrshire Regiment', one of many collections of poems by amateurs published during the w

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The First Hundred Thousand

The First Hundred Thousand' was one of the most popular books published during the war, selling almo

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An unidentified soldier and family

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Infantry Training Manual

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Letters from Private Robert Orr

Two letters from Private Robert Orr, 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, to his friend Robert Sams

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Postcard from Private Robert Orr

Postcard from Private Robert Orr, 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, to his friend Robert Samson

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The Soldiers' English-German Conversation Book

German-English phrase book. Several publications of this type were available to British occupation f

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Kilmaurs Work Party

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Postcards sent home by servicemen.

A selection of souvenir postcards sent home by servicemen.

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During the Great War

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Field Service Pocket Book

Field Message Book as used by officers.

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Royal Flying Corps badge

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Ceramic Field Gun

Manufacturers were quick to produce ornamental miniatures of the latest British weapon, the tank, an

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Ceramic Mills Bomb (Hand-grenade)

Manufacturers were quick to produce ornamental miniatures of the latest British weapon, the tank, an

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Photograph Album

Photograph album containing illustrations of nurses and soldiers at Craigronnach hospital, Troon.

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Herbert Dunsmuir’s photograph album

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Small photograph of Herbert Dunsmuir

Herbert Dunsmuir served with the Highland Light Infantry in the Middle East.

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Glass Chessboard

This glass chessboard was made by a serviceman at the aerodrome at Loch Doon or Bogton (Dalmellingto

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Pocket compass used by Herbert Dunsmuir

Pocket compass used by Herbert Dunsmuir of the Highland Light Infantry, who served throughout the Fi

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Lightweight sun helmet

Lightweight sun helmet made of cork with cloth cover, worn by British troops in the Middle East, Afr

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Lieutenant Leiper’s steel helmet

Thomson Leiper of Kilmarnock was a 2nd Lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers, serving in F

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Lieutenant Leiper’s uniform

Thomson Leiper of Kilmarnock was a 2nd Lieutenant in the King's Own Scottish Borderers, serving in F

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Gift Box sent to every British and Empire serviceman at Christmas 1914

The gift was suggested by Princess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of George V and Queen Mary. The ti

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Certificate of Appreciation

Certificate of appreciation presented by Newmilns to Private W. Young of the Royal Army Medical Corp

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German Trench Helmet

Trench raids at night by both sides were a feature of the Western Front; the object being to kill th

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German Trench Armour

Trench raids at night by both sides were a feature of the Western Front; the object being to kill th

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School class at Crosshouse

School class at Crosshouse about 1900. Three of the boys in the photograph were killed in the war.

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Ceramic Tank Ornaments

Ceramic tank ornaments publicised Britain's newest weapon. This example was manufactured by J.W. &am

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John Gibson's Cigarettes

John Gibson of Kilmarnock kept these cigarettes as a souvenir of his time with the Machine Gun Corps

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Bullet Cartridges

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Spent bullets

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Souvenir of War Pen

An example of Trench Art

Memorial of brave life given for others in the Great War

Hugh Watt was born in Glasgow and grew up in Saltcoats. He was posted to the Western Front with the

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"The Love that rules the World" postcard

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"God bless and keep you" postcard

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