The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[dhubthaigh]

[dhubthaigh]

[dhubthaigh]

Private Marc Ferns was killed in an improvised explosive device attack in Basrah on 12 August 2004. Aged 21.
He was single and serving with the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, based at Warminster.
He came from Glenrothes in Fife, and had previously served in Iraq with the Black Watch during the initial period of major combat operations in the spring of 2003.



Private Scott William McArdle of the 1st Battalion The Black Watch was killed by a suicide car-bomb attack on a vehicle check-point in Iraq on 4 November 2004. Aged 22, he was single and came from Glenrothes. Scott McArdle had served in the Army six years.

[mfi]

I wondered whether the opening of the Glenrothes memorial dedicated to Scott McArdle and Marc Ferns, raised the issue of other Glenrothes lads, dating back to the town's formation in the '50's that may have been fatalities in say Korea or Northern Ireland. ( There may be none this is a hypothetical inquiry). Would these men be commeorated on other local sites such as Leslie or Markinch, or are they effectively unrecorded?
_________________
I am interested in the full contemporary recognition of current conflicts, (Afghanistan, Iraq, UN peacekeeping service etc.).

[Adam Brown]

MFI

Glad to see you on the forum. This is a good point but I think it was looked into and no other locals have died in Post-1945 conflicts.

It's funny you chose today to post this because Arbroath is commemorating a Scots Guardsman who died in Northern Ireland in 1972 by adding his name to their war memorial today.

Adam

[john burnett]

According to the attached it looks like there is another memorial in Glenrothes. Cutting is from Courier.
Hitch in bid for new town war memorial

By Stewart Ross

A PERMANENT memorial to the people of Glenrothes who have been killed on active service has taken a step forward with £120,000 of funding approved by Fife Council—but there is a problem.

As it was only established in 1948, Glenrothes is unlike other Fife towns which have a war memorial to remember the fallen of the first world war and which have been added to as conflicts ensued.

It is known men from Glenrothes served in Korea, Malaya, Northern Ireland and the Falklands but those who fell during these conflicts are remembered only by their comrades and their families—there is no list.

The need for a memorial was thrown into sharp relief by the loss of young Black Watch soldiers Marc Ferns (21) and Scott McArdle (22), who died in Iraq in 2004.

In the wake of the tragedies, councillors, ex-servicemen and veterans’ groups stepped up their demand for some sort of poignant reminder, where locals could pay their respects to townsfolk who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Fife Council organised a questionnaire which was sent to libraries, schools and local authority offices to gauge people’s views of what form the tribute should take and where it should be located.

A cairn in memory of Marc Ferns has been built alongside the Exit Community Centre in Pitteuchar where he lived but there was widespread public support for a memorial to all Glenrothes war casualties.

Following consultation with the public and veterans’ groups three designs were shortlisted with the chosen design representing past, present and future.

The memorial will feature six standing stones in a landscaped site in Church Street with seating and illumination.

With Fife Council cash in place—local groups have generously played their part as well—all that is needed are the names.

“Unfortunately the only names we have at present are those of Marc and Scott,” said Lynn Hoey, locality manager for Glenrothes north and west.

“We have spoken to the Ministry of Defence but due to the way they record casualties they have been unable to help.

“This is a chance to commemorate those from Glenrothes who lost their lives in conflicts so we would be happy to hear from anyone who can help.”

Anyone able to help in the quest for Glenrothes casualties should contact 01592 416808.

[Adam Brown]

[David]

Photos of above cairn

[David]

Sorry wouldn't let me post them all in the one post.

[David]

More up-to-date photos of the first memorial.