Armistace – Kilmarnock Harriers Remember

When Kilmarnock Station  Railway Heritage Trust partnered with East Ayrshire Council Education Services, were successful in obtaining Heritage Lottery Funding, they decided to use local school children to research railway workers who served in the First World War.

In carrying out this research they found an article in the Kilmarnock Standard of 19th February 1916, which Reported that Fusilier William Thompson of 1/4 Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers had been wounded at Gallipoli and was being evacuated home. The article went on to say that in addition to being a railway worker, he was “a member of the local Harrier Club and had figured in their prize list”. This is the article. 

We were then approached by the research team,  headed by Graham Boyd, to see if we were able to provide any further information on William who appears to have been a talented runner.

Whilst we could not find any record of his athletic performance in our archive, we were able to establish that at the AGM of 31st August 1924 he was appointed Club President.

The minutes of the meeting also record that the club assets amounted to £26 11d, including £1 cash in hand. At the same meeting annual fees for seniors were set at 3 shillings and sixpence (17.5p) for seniors and 2 shillings (10p) for juniors.

Other records show that he was appointed a Life Member on 20th August 1928. Finally we were able to pass to the researchers an early photograph which, whilst unconfirmed, we believe shows William in his role of President with a group of runners. He is on the left of the back row.

A Remembrance Service was held on Platform 1 of Kilmarnock Railway Station on Friday 11th November. The club were represented by Hugh Rankin, Ronnie McCormick and Ian Gebbie. The archive of the research material “World War 1 – Then and Now” was opened by Provost Jim Todd and is on display in the “Storm In A Teacup” Cafe at the station.

The research into our man, William Thomson, was presented by Callum Hart – Annanhill Primary 7