This page celebrates some of the people of Carluke. If you know of someone that deserves a mention please get in touch.
Corporal William Angus V.C.
Home Coming of Corporal William Angus V.C. 1918
After leaving school William Angus was employed as a miner but was able to find himself a place as a professional footballer with Celtic FC in 1912. However he struggled to find himself in the starting 11 and decided to join the British Army when the war began.
On 12 June 1915 at Givenchy, France, Lance-Corporal Angus voluntarily left his trench under very heavy bomb and rifle fire and rescued a wounded officer who was lying within a few yards of the enemy's position. The lance-corporal had no chance of escaping the enemy's fire when undertaking this gallant deed, and in effecting the rescue he received about 40 wounds, some of them being very serious.
After the rescue he taken to a military hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where he learned of his award of the Victoria Cross. After 2 months in hospital he returned to London where he was given the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 30 August 1915.
On his return to Carluke he was given a hero's welcome. He later became president of Carluke Rovers FC, a position he held until his death in 1959. He lies at Wilton Cemetery in Wilton Road, his Victoria Cross is displayed at the National War Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle.
James Scott 1890-1935
James Scott 1902
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Captain James Scott
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The 'Jeely Scott Monument' was drawn by James Scott when he was a boy. James was the youngest grandson of Robert Scott, one of the founders of Scott's Jam Works. During the war James was a Captain in the 7th Royal Scots, he survived a bullet to the head at Gallipoli. After the war he took his place as a director in the family business, he was also once manager of the Trustee Savings Bank and one of the founders of the Carluke Operatic Society.
James died of pneumonia in 1935. This letter was written by his sister Jessy just after his death.
Fairyknowe, Carluke. December 2nd 1935.
My dear old Alec,
 I don't know how to tell you and I wish I could soften the blow in some way. Jamie died on Sunday morning about six o'clock. We are all stunned and heartbroken. Dr McLean was called in on Wednesday after Jamie had had a bad rigor. He sounded him in the evening and found some rough sounds - not bad - but next morning pneumonia had developed definitely. Dr McLean brought down Robert Marshall to see Jamie and Robert phoned to us on Thursday evening. Father and I had just got home from the south the day before. We came through here on Friday morning and found Jamie much worse than we had been led to expect – Robert had tried not to alarm father. Jamie had a bad night on Friday, restless, vomiting frequently, and breathing quickly with difficulty. He couldn't get rid of the mucus in his throat. About 6 o'clock he seemed rather better and seemed easier till the afternoon, asked to have his face and hands washed and looked at the pictures in the Bulletin. Later he wasn't so well, and about 2 o'clock there was a decided change for the worse till about 6 o'clock he turned on his side and died. Bob and I were with him. Bob came up on Friday evening. Father went back to his own bed at the Orchard every night.
A specialist from Edinburgh Dr Hewitt saw him twice took a very gloomy view of him the first time but was more hopeful next day. All agree that it was a particularly vicious infection. The poor boy was felled by it. I can't get his pathetic face out of my mind. He looked so boyish, eager to do anything that would make him better. He began to wander towards the end and about a few minutes before he died he begged me to get his shirt and socks. He was going to Bridge of Allan. I said it was much too early in the morning but he replied, 'No we'll be there by half-past eight just a nice time and will go to our beds.' Poor boy he was tired to death. Will miss him terribly and it is painful to be in this house that he had made so comfortable and tasteful. He had had a few friends in on Tuesday evening for Bridge and as I write I can see the flowers which were put in for the party.
Father is terribly cut-up. Nan says she has never seen him so grieved at any time. Though Jamie was so ill Father thought he would pull through and he couldn't believe his youngest had gone – always a loveable boy. It has meant something to us to find his friends in Carluke have loved him. He was very popular (how horrible to need to use the past tense.) He was tolerant and kind and enthusiastic in his interests, indeed a lovable boy.
And now our wee brother is being buried in the Carluke Churchyard on Wednesday, beside wee Willie and our grandfather. It is fitting that he should lie in Carluke where he belongs. He was just a visitor to Bridge of Allan. How we are going to go on without him I don't know. He brought so much ---- into our lives and we were so proud of him. He was so ornamental.
These are dark days and now that death has got him I am sorry I didn't do more for him. Will you excuse this scrawl, father wanted me to write. He will write himself when he has more heart for it.
Much love Jessy
Punkie Willie!
The following information was very kindly sent to us by Dr Peter J. Gordon. He is a descendant of the Scott family who started the Jam 'Jeely' Works in Carluke.
When people recall their childhood in a town, they remember not only the buildings but also the people who were important to them. Every town had its 'characters' - men or women who stood out from the ordinary in some way or other. 'Punkie Willie' was a great Carluke favourite - an 'old worthy' who befriended all with his couthie town cry and his tinkling bell. He used to sweep people's chimneys and also acted as town crier. He was often to be seen going about the town ringing a small hand-bell and announcing the latest news!
These days he is forgotten and no tombstone marks his grave. Very sad as the villagers of Carluke loved him so.
Punkie married Sarah – who belonged to the Scott family.
The following are extracts from the census records. The records show Willie living in Old Bridgend but locals remember him living in a cottage between the chapel and the parish church in Mount Stewart Street.
1851 census - Lainshaw Muir, Carluke
William EWING, Head, age 38, Hand loom Weaver, born Carnwath c1813
Sarah EWING, Wife, age 25, born Hamilton c1826
1861 census - Mount Pleasant, Carluke
William EWING, Head, age 48, Cotton Weaver, born Carnwath c1813
Sarah EWING, Wife, age 34, born c1827 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire
William L EWING, Son, age 7 born Carluke
Robert M EWING, age 1, born Carluke
1871 census - Old Bridgend, Carluke
William EWING, Head, Town Crier, age 58, born c1813 in Carnwath
Sarah EWING, Wife, age 44, born Quarles, Lanarkshire c1827
William L EWING, Son born 1854, age 17, Miners Drawer, born Carluke
Robert W. EWING, Son, Scholar, age 10 born c1861 in Carluke
Sarah W. EWING, Dau, age 6, born Carluke
Margaret S. EWING, Dau, age 3, born Carluke
1881 census - Old Bridgend, Carluke
William EWING, Head, Married, Pedlar And Town Crier, age 68, born Carnwath
Sarah EWING, Wife, age 54, born Quarter
William EWING, Son, Unmarried, age 27, Ironstone Miner, born Carluke
Robert EWING Son, Unmarried, age 21, Ironstone Miner, born Carluke
Margaret EWING, Dau, age 13, Scholar, born Carluke
Daniel EWING, Son, age 7, Scholar, born Carluke
1891 census - John Street, Carluke
William EWING, Head, Pedlar, age 79, born c1812 in Carnwath
Sarah EWING, Wife, age 65, born Hamilton c1826
Daniel VALLANCE, Adopted Son, Coal Miner, age 17, born c1874 in Carluke
Sarah EWING, Granddaughter, age 1 born K, N.
1901 census - Old Bridgend, Carluke
Sarah EWING, Head, age 76, born c1825 in Hamilton
Margaret EWING, Daughter, Gen Dom Servant, age 34, born c1867 in Carluke
Sarah EWING, Granddaughter, age 11, Scholar born Edinburgh
Margaret EWING, Granddaughter born Carluke c1898
Sarah EWING, Granddaughter born Carluke age 5 months
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