​

Although the 50th Object had been completed last October, it was never intended that that would be the end. In reality, it was only the end of producing an Object each month with all the strictures and pressures that entailed. This, therefore, is the first Object produced without time constraints and the dominating effect of a deadline. It is the team's intention to publish these additional Objects on an ad-hoc basis.

 

There are a number of Kirkcaldy stories yet to be told, which will be told through time, but our first choice is the history of the Boys' Brigade in Kirkcaldy. At one time, the 4th Kirkcaldy Company was the largest in the country and the opportunity is also being taken to bookend the story by including a review of Peter K. Livingstone, a man who has these days sadly slipped under the radar. However, for Langtonians of a certain vintage, he will be remembered as a councillor, an honorary sheriff, a historian, an author and, above all, as an officer in the Boys' Brigade for 50 years –  38 of these as the Officer-Commanding.  Peter Livingstone had a brother and two step-sisters. None of the three siblings married and so there were no children to carry on the line. Peter and his wife lost a premature baby in 1916 – the child only living for 6 hours. The Livingstone family therefore came to an abrupt end when the last sister died in the 1970s.

 

Nowadays, it is all too easy to underestimate the part the Boys' Brigade once played in the lives of the youth of Kirkcaldy. The sheer volume of the numbers of boys and officers involved, contained in the full story, are almost unbelievable to 2025 eyes. Who can imagine buses and a special train ferrying 1,200 parents and friends to Visitor's Day at a Summer Camp – barely creditable – but it happened – that was the power of the Boys' Brigade in Kirkcaldy!

 

The skeleton of the story was taken from Captain P.K. Livingstone's own book – 'The Boys' Brigade in Kirkcaldy', published in 1953. That skeleton has been fleshed out, thanks, in no small measure, to the copious press reports which were carried on the Brigade, especially by the Fife Free Press. The Boys' Brigade was founded in Glasgow in 1883 by William A. Smith. Smith had joined the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers in 1877 and reached the rank of Lieutenant. This, along with his being a Sunday School teacher, were the two conduits which led to his forming the Brigade. Smith was knighted by Edward VII in 1909 for services to children and he died in May 1914.  In a span of 31 years, Smith took the fledgling Boys' Brigade from a zero starting point to one of the largest movements for boys in the United Kingdom with representation in many parts of the globe. The Boys' Brigade came to Kirkcaldy in 1893.

 

The object of the Brigade, as laid out by William Smith is -“The advancement of Christ’s kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect, and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness”.

 

The motto of the Brigade is “Sure and Steadfast” and the current patron is King Charles III. The motto is from the Book of Hebrews in the bible – Verse 6; chapter 19.

 

Kirkcaldy, after a slowish start, embraced this new movement with a passion. As previously mentioned it was, at one time, the largest company in the United Kingdom. Much of the credit for this has to be laid at the door of Harris L. Stocks. Stocks was one of two sons of former Kirkcaldy Provost, John T. Stocks. On his death, his linen business, in the Links, passed to his son Robert, while his shipping line was bequeathed to Harris.

 

The full story traces the progress of local movement, decade by decade, with particular attention being paid to the work of Captain Stocks during the years 1893 until his death in 1916. His energy, enthusiasm, devotion and commitment to the youth of Kirkcaldy, urgently requires to be reappraised – he is another, all but forgotten figure, whose legacy needs to be examined and resurrected.

 

The founder and first Captain of the 4th Kirkcaldy Company, which was connected to St. Brycedale's church, was the Assistant Minister, the Reverend J. N. Balfour. Out of interest, Harris Stocks, married the Reverend Balfour's sister. Sadly, Annie Stock's died on the 26th July 1906 and while Harris would be grieving her loss on the first anniversary of her death – Annie, his one year old and only child, died on the 27th July 1907.

 

When the Rev. Balfour left for Crieff it was Lieutenant Stocks who was promoted to the position of Captain. Harris Stocks remained in that position until he was killed in the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. In his term as Captain, he first leased the Mitchell Street Halls as a meeting place and headquarters. This however was outshone, dwarfed and superseded, by his purchase of the Victoria Halls in Victoria Road, which he both equipped and extended, thus turning it into the outstanding Brigade headquarters in the country. This certainly played a significant part in launching the 4th Company into being one out of the ordinary in terms of both numbers and facilities.  The furnishings and equipment available are contained in the main narrative.

 

It would be a mistake to solely associate Captain Stocks with the Boys' Brigade, as he also formed a Boy Scout Troop, which also operated from the Victoria Halls. His largesse extended to purchasing a house in Balsusney Road for the Scouts which was referred to as the Wigwam. Every week, four scouts lived in the property learning to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. The rationale for operating both a Boy Scout Troop and a Boys' Brigade Company are covered in the full story. Both the Victoria Halls and the Wigwam were visited by no less a figure than the founder of the Scout movement – Lieutenant-General R.S.S. Baden-Powell. Baden-Powell's sister, Agnes, was the founder of the Girl Guides Association but there seems to have been no visit to the Lang Toun by that lady. Baden-Powell's widow, Olave, held the position of Chief Guide until her death in 1977, with 1,300 Guides and Brownies from all over Fife attending a memorial service to her in Dunfermline Abbey.

 

In 1911, Captain Stocks had led his Scouts on a two week trek in Norway and as a gesture of thanks they presented him with an engraved silver cigarette case. This was to play a huge part in the identification of Captain Stock's remains. Although he died in 1916, the mud and carnage on the former battlefield, meant that his remains were not unearthed until 1923. It was that very cigarette case which helped identify the body!

 

Pat Livingstone followed Major Stocks as the Captain of the Company from 1917 until his own retiral in 1955. The Object focusses on the magnificent legacy of Major Stocks in Willing the sum of £25,000 and the Victoria Halls to the 4th Kirkcaldy Company. There was a proviso that, if the Company ceased to exist, then the funds were to be utilised for the benefit of the youth of Kirkcaldy.

 

The legacy brought about a significant change to the structure of the Brigade in Kirkcaldy. That change was that the 4th Company became the Headquarters Company (Number 1 Platoon) with all the other companies becoming platoons of the Headquarters Company, being numbered from 2 to 12. The formation of the platoon system thereby allowed other companies to share in the benefits of the legacy as it had been left exclusively to the 4th Company. In essence everyone became part of the 4th Company and all could then share in the benefits of the well equipped hall and the Trust monies.

 

The story outlines the camaraderie and comradeship the Brigade offered – whether it be in its three bands (silver, bugle and pipe), its offer of competitive organised sport, or the opportunity to take part in a summer camp – make no mistake, for many lads that was once their only opportunity for a holiday!

 

The part played and the guidance offered by Pat Livingstone and his officers is central to the story and the gradual expansion of the Company through the founding of new platoons is fully told. Acts of heroism resulting in the saving of lives, on three separate occasions by brigade members, is recounted. A number of Kirkcaldy members were awarded the highest honour the Boys' Brigade can offer, initially – the King's Badge and then, from 1952, the Queen's badge are also mentioned.

 

The full story is punctuated by the names of boys, officers and even families, who played a huge part in the history and activities of the brigade. Space was found to devote time to John Methven M.B.E. - a man who joined the brigade in 1935 and stayed with them until his 2015 retiral. John Methven was a pall-bearer at Peter K. Livingstone's burial in 1963. Methven's contribution to the Boys' Brigade can only be described as immense and unlikely to be beaten or even matched. The dedication of all the platoon officers is nothing short of amazing and the careers of many span decades. The contribution of the Officers who commanded the 4th Company is breath-taking – Stocks, 20 plus years and only death halted his period in charge, Livingstone – 50 years, his replacement, Tom Lumsden, accumulated over 40 years and John Methven's 80 years is the icing on the cake. Each one had only one intention – helping and supporting the youth of Kirkcaldy.

 

Although the main part of the story was always scheduled to conclude with Pat Livingstone's death in 1963, it does touch on two later celebrations of important centenaries. These are the 1983 celebration of the Boys' Brigade Centenary and then, 10 years later, the celebration of the centenary of the 4th Kirkcaldy Company. Photographs from both celebrations are carried in the extended narrative.

 

This Object has had a twofold purpose. Firstly, it is the first Object to be completed since the death of our colleague, Tom Reid, and the story is dedicated to Tom's memory. Secondly, it is also dedicated to the individuals who selflessly devoted their hours and energies to making generations of Kirkcaldy laddies into good men and citizens. Theirs and the Brigade's values of truthfulness, self-discipline, self-improvement, duty, camaraderie and respect, have perhaps faded through the recent more hedonistic years but, possibly, society is all the poorer for the apparent demise of such values.

 

There can be no question that Harris Stocks was the initial driving force behind the success of the Boys' Brigade in Kirkcaldy but again, without question, Peter K. Livingstone built on and enhanced Stock's work. They were industrious youth workers, prior to the invention of that description and great ones at that!

 

The full story augmented by photographs and newspaper snippets can be reached from the icon on this page. It is hoped that some readers may spot themselves or relatives in either the text or the images. The team hope that readers find the story interesting and, to some, brings back happy memories of the days of their youth.