In 1960 the Drogheda Independent carried this tribute to Lieut.Colonel Tom Algar Elliot Cairnes. D.S.O. a member of the Church of Ireland who had served in the infancy of the Royal Flying Corps, later to become the RAF.
The Drogheda Independent recorded:
It is with great profound regret that we record the death of Lieut.Colonel Tom Algar Elliot Cairnes. D.S.O., Stameen. Drogheda, which occurred on Saturday last.
By his passing Drogheda has lost one of its most distinguished citizens and a void has been created which will be difficult to fill, for the late Colonel Cairnes as he was known and respected over a wide area, played a very important role in the commercial and social life of Drogheda for almost 40 years.
Son of the late Mr. And Mrs. William P. Cairnes, he was born in 1888, and was a member of a Louth family which played a prominent part in the commercial life of the county for generations. It was his great grandfather who established Cairnes Brewery Ltd. in Drogheda and deceased was chairman of the Board of Directors of this important concern until it closed a few years ago. As well as devoting a great deal of his time and energy to the affairs of the Brewery, Colonel Cairnes’ interests spread in quite a few directions. He was managing Director of Black Bull Motors Ltd. Director of small wares Ltd.
Castlebellingham, director of the Shelbourne hotel, Dublin, director of the Dublin Board of the Yorkshire insurance company and proprietor of the former Stameen Turkey Breeder-hatcheries. He was also an extensive farmer being approximately the owner of 250 acres.
He was also in charge of the Cairne’s Housing Trust which was established in 1890, to cater, to some extent, for the housing needs of Drogheda’s townspeople. There were 100 houses built under this scheme.
Army career
The late Colonel Cairnes had a distinguished career in the British army which he joined in 1906 and with which he served until 1924 when he retired and married his late wife, formerly Miss Katherine Hosken, daughter of the Lieut- Colonel Hosken. Mrs. Cairnes, to whom he was devoted , died in 1950.
In his army days he saw service in the first world war with the 7th Dragoon Guards and later with the Royal Flying Corps to which he had been attached. He won The distinguished service order in 1917. In World War II Colonel Cairnes joined the Royal Air Force and served in Northern Ireland.
The deceased Gentleman, who was a prominent churchman, was a former secretary of the Diocesan Council Of Meath and was a member of the representative Body of the Church of Ireland. In his younger days he was a keen sportsman and was a frequent follower of the Louth Hounds and other hunts.
The late Colonel Cairnes was a most charitable and kindly person who took a deep intrest in the wellbeing of his employee’s by whom he was held in the highest esteem.
A cultured gentleman and a person of the highest principles he won the respect and affection of all with whom he came in contact and his old-warm charm inate courtesy, coupled with his integrity and sense of fair play, combined to make him a type of personage who is all too rare in the world to-day and whose passing is to be mourned by all who hold in high regard to the qualities which are synonymous with the title-given to so many but fitting so few-of gentleman.
The chief mourners were his son, Mr. David Cairnes; a daughter, Mrs. A. K. Purdon, Lisnabin Killucan Co. Westmeath and a brother, Major F. H. Cairnes, M. C. Suffolk, he is also survived by, Mrs. S. Woods, Kilsharvan, Drogheda, Mrs. S. Woods, Kilsharvan, Drogheda, Mrs. L. Hunt, Drogheda, Mrs. Shorter, Bairothery, Major C. R. P. Barrow, Mayne Manor, Castlebellingham, Major B. E. Brarrow, Mayne Manor, Castlebellingham, Rear-admiral H. C. and Mrs. England ans Miss Bellingham Dunany House Dunleer, and Mr. And Mrs. R. Russell, Co. Waterford (relatives).
The funeral
The Primate of Ireland, Most Rev. Dr. James McCann, the Bishop of Meath, Most Rev. Dr. Pyke and the Dean of Clonmacnoise, Rev. R. J. Charters officiated at the interment in St. Mary’s Churchyard on Monday. The coffin was borne from St. Mary’s Protestant Church to the churchyard by members of the staff of deceased’s farm at Stameen.
The attendance included representatives of various firms throughout the country, with some of which Lieut.- Col. Cairnes was connected.
Among the firms represented were Messrs. John Jameson and Sons (Capt. C. W. Robertson); Messrs, Preston Bros. and Co. Ltd., and Directors of Messrs Guinness, (Squadron Leader D. E. Dixon), Black Bull Motors; Capt. Peter Jury, Managing Director, Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, and Mrs. Jury, Motor Distributors and Volkswagen Distributors.
Among the general attendance were Lord Dillon, Capt. And Mrs. Osbourne, Dardistown Castle, Mr. Keogh, Cherry Breweries Ltd., Mr. Ellis, Mr. Mccormack, Mr. Skelleter, Mr. W. Greene, Mr. G. Jordan, Mr, R. W. Mcculloch, Mr. O. Lochrin, Mr. G. A. O’donoghue, Mr. P. J. Carroll and Miss G. A. O’donoghue, Mr. P. J. Carroll and Miss G. Carroll, Killineer, Mr. N. Macquillan, Mr. D. Grant.