READERS will be aware this month marks the 100th anniversary of Britain entering the First World War.

It prompted Elspeth Stephen to look out an item that belonged to her late mother Elsie, who was brought up in Greenock’s Holmscroft Street.

It is an autograph album which was given to her by a friend called Madge in 1915, when she would have been 19 or 20.

In addition to the signatures of family and friends, the album contains bits of verse written by local men who went off to fight in the war.

Some of the servicemen only gave initials but two who supplied surnames were Gunner N S Black (Regimental number 100117) and Gunner S W Bell (100120). Given that their numbers are so close together, these men clearly joined the unidentified regiment at the same time and were almost certainly friends as both signed facing pages of Elsie’s book on 16 August 1916.

The book also contains the accompanying humourous illustration of ‘The Saucy Puss’ as a kilted soldier with the message ‘Tell the boys I’m coming over’.

It was signed by Albert King in 1917, who possibly may have been leaving to join the conflict.

Elsie’s daughter Elspeth said: “It would be interesting to know if these men survived the Great War. Some of their descendants may recognise the names.” As to Elsie herself, her maiden name was Murdoch and she worked with Coopers the grocers.

The group photograph which appears today shows Elsie, extreme left in the back row, with colleagues from Coopers including her sister Chrissie, back row second from right. Chrissie was to marry a Willie Walker and live in the London area. Sadly Chrissie died at an early age leaving four children.

Elsie and her husband John Cameron, who worked in the Torpedo Factory, brought up their children — Elspeth and Murdoch — in Hopeton Street, Gourock.

In 1955 the family went to live in Balloch when John’s job was transferred to Alexandria. Elspeth was 19 at the time and worked in the Post Office at Gourock pierhead.

Grandmother Elspeth still stays in Balloch as does her brother Murdoch, who was made an MBE for many years of service with the Boys’ Brigade.