Orkney Image Library

What was 'warriors day' all about ?

Warriors Week was a nationwide effort as part of Earl Haig's appeal for funds for ex-service men. In Kirkwall there was a concert and films in the Electric Theatre on the Thursday followed by the fancy dress football match on Saturday and a service of praise in the Paterson Church on the Sunday. Shops closed for the afternoon to enable people to attend the match and the footballers marched to the Bignold Park with the Pipe Band in attendance. The Orcadian named the footballers: J Hourston, W Davie, J T Reid, Sinclair Ross, T Gourlay, H Smith, A J Grant, A Mitchell, J Norquoy, J Smith, G Muir, G Smith, T Thomson, J F Shearer, P Brass, D Wooldrage, A Kenyon, R Cromarty, J Grieve, T Delday, J Linklater, D Flett, R Cumming jr, J Norquoy, Bryce R Miller, James Dunnet, J Smith. My late father-in-law Bob Spence took part in the Thursday concert. Along with John Hourston and John T Reid he sang "We're Nae That Fu" which apparently brought the house down! The total raised during the week in Kirkwall amounted to £79. There were similar evants in Stromness.

Many thanks for that Cathleen