I thought it might be a good time to recall the Stewarton of the war years and how it affected the townspeople, before moving on to the years which followed.

It is now history that after Germany invaded Poland in late August, 1939, that war was on the way and it came as no surprise when, on 3rd September at Ham, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced on the wireless "that the country is at war with Germany".

Earlier that year gas masks had been issued to adults and local school children, and I was one of the latter, and soon the wee brown square cardboard boxes became a familiar sight supported by a string round the shoulder.

In mid-July of that year young men of twenty years had been called up to serve six months in the Army. They were named "militiamen" and most of the Stewarton men were posted to the Royal Scots Fusiliers barracks in Ayr. It was not known then that the six months was to be extended to six long years. Some, sadly, were never to return.

Two days before Chamberlain's announcement, the evacuation scheme came into operation when dozens of school children, aged from 5 to 13 accompanied by some mothers and five teachers, were sent here from a school in Glasgow. On arrival at Stewarton station they were marched to the school in Dunlop Street where what might be called "a human auction" took place as Stewarton adults selected the kids they fancied as boarders to keep them safe from the expected bombing of Glasgow and the Clyde.

While most were billeted in homes, some were given accommodation in outhouses at Lainshaw Estate, and the scheme, which was organised by Town Clerk Jack Hamilton, Headmaster William Waddell and teacher Harry Milford, seemed to be working fine. But this was not the case for some of the Glaswegians hated Stewarton where, they said: "There's nuthin' tae dae but look at green fields".

Some returned after only a weekend and gradually over the next few weeks nearly all had made their departure.

Civilians who were either above forty and exempt from call-up and those in reserved occupations joined the voluntary services such as the Red Cross, the Fire Service, the Special Police, the ARP and the WVS. After Dunkirk in 1940 the Local Defence Volunteers were formed (or LDV as they were known) and at the outset they were something of a laughing stock with their inferior uniforms and sticks for rifles. However, they were eventually equipped with proper uniforms and rifles and after training, became a highly efficient civilian army, and not the buffoons portrayed in "Dad's Army", although funny stories were told about some of their antics.

In 1941 the real Army came to town to set up camps under canvas at Kennox and Lainshaw. Subsequently. Lainshaw Estate, including the big house, which had been commandeered, was established as a large Army camp and among the regiments which were stationed there were the Lothian and Border Horse, the Lancers, Rifle Brigade and the Royal Engineers.

A Church of Scotland canteen was set up in the Church Hall of the Laigh Kirk (now St Columba's) and this proved to be a marvellous refuge for the soldiers, it was staffed voluntarily by women and girls of the town and large quantities of sandwiches, rolls, etc, were sold at very reasonable prices over the next few years. In fact some army personnel stated at the time that it was the best canteen of its type that they had encountered. To misquote Churchhill, never was so much done for so many by so many. Soldiers were also invited into local homes where they were made very welcome and so an excellent relationship was formed with the military.

Stewarton was a real swinging place at this time as very regular dances were held in both the Institute and drill Halls. And as a young budding drummer at the time, I was invited to play with army bands, an experience I enjoyed very much. In addition all the local organisations held their own sprees, socials and whist drives, etc, and Stewarton Picture House, with three changes of programme per week.was packed every night. Entertainment played a big part in our lives with "going to the pictures" the most popular.

Stewarton had a very important visitor in October, 1942, when King George VI came to the town to inspect the troops prior to their embarkation to war zones.

Dancing too was a great pastime either in the big ballrooms in Glasgow or Edinburgh or in the local halls in Stewarton and in Dunlop where they called it "The Jiggin'".

As a Messenger in the ARP I was on duty regularly in the Institute Hall waiting for the call which fortunately never came. Although we heard the German bombers passing overhead as they had a peculiar dronning sound which was different from our planes, they flew over us on their way to Clydeside and no bombs were ever dropped in Stewarton. I was also called up to do firewatching duty in connection with my work.

This went on until 4th September, 1944 when I was called up to the Royal Navy and after extensive training I became an Air Mechanic (Electrical) in the Fleet Air Arm. My serial number was FX724663. Isn't it strange how every ex-serviceman remembers his service number?

The conflict ended in Europe in May of 1945 and the war against the Japanese was over by August of that same year. Soon local service personnel began to trickle home as the demobilisation operation came into effect. It was then that many men were to be seen in grey double breasted, pin striped suits. Those demob suits along with various other items of clothing were issued to everyone returning to ciwy street and to "peace in our time", seven years after Chamberlain's announcement in 1938.

The local Town Council had established a welcome home fund and each service man and woman and member of the merchant Navy or the next of kin of those who were killed, received the sum of £12 which was about four week's wages on average at that time. It was a fine gesture.

The ex-servicemen and women then returned to their old jobs which they were entitled to do under the law. Some settled down well to ciwy street life but there were others who found the transition difficult and missed the Comradeship of the life in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

After a spell at a transit camp for refugees, Lainshaw Camp and its buildings were taken over by Stewarton Town Council who secured a tenure of the site. Lainshaw was then turned into a camp for local families who set up home there until the council erected proper houses. But the short time promised lasted for some five years of frugal living in abnormal premises. Yet, even to this day, the families who resided at Lainshaw Camp recall the period as a happy time as there was tremendous camaraderie among the residents.

It was in the early 1950's that council housing schemes began to appear at Lainshaw and at Robertland. Little did we know then this was just a small start to something big and that the wee toun of three thousand residents would one day become a much bigger town with treble the population.