The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

DerekR · Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject: Galashiels

Galashiels War Memorial

OS map ref NT 489 364
N55.61459 W2.80675

In June 1919 a War Memorial Committee was appointed to act in conjunction with Gala Town Council which agreed to extend its burgh buildings.
Plans for the proposed war memorial and the council extension were prepared by Sir Robert Lorimer. The memorial would take the form of a peel tower with chiming clock, in front of which would stand the bronze figure of a Borderer, armed and mounted on horseback.
The statue, known as the Reiver monument was sculpted by Thomas J. Clapperton, a native Galalean with an international reputation.
It was officially unveiled by Field Marshall Earl Haig in October1924.
The cluster of bells in the tower, donated by the benevolent mill-owning Cochrane family, which lost 2 sons in the Great War, became fully operational in 1928.
At 8pm each evening after the eighth strike, the bells ring out the first four melodic lines of Braw, Braw Lads, written originally by Robert Burns, as a daily tribute to the fallen of Galashiels in two world wars.

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:51 am Post subject:

Great pic Jamie.

Here is Douglas Haig at the unveiling:

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:00 pm Post subject:

Derek,

Is the following casualty named at Galashiels?

Surname CARRUTHERS
Firstname James
Service number 6088
Date of death 01/12/1914
Decoration
Place of birth Galashiels
Other
SNWM roll SCOTS GUARDS
Rank Gdsn
Theatre of death F.& F.

Name: CARRUTHERS, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 01/12/1914
Service No: 6088
Additional information: Son of James Pirrie Carruthers and Elizabeth Carruthers (nee Millar), of 44, Ochil St., Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 1.
Cemetery: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

He is on the Alyth War Memorial but wondered if he is also listed at his pob. He may also be on Tillicoultry.

regards,
Mark

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

Mark,
Yes he is. Sorry but there are no other details listed just his regiment.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject:

The Galashiels Roll of Honour for the Great War:

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject:

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject:

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject:

Superb Derek, I'm pleased James Carruthers is listed. That's also an excellent names post. I will study that later, at my leisure.

regards,
Mark

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject:

Derek, Re. James Carruthers.

I had a bit of bother connecting him to the War Memorial at Alyth. However from civil records I noted that his sister, Annie, was married in Alyth in 1922. From this record I saw that their father, also James, was the woollen mill manager at Alyth - his expertise must have been sought there.
From your book, Chapter 1 - The Golden Age specifically refers to woollen manufacture in the area.
( For info. 1 x wedding witness - Isabella Blackwood, 11 Roxburgh St., Galashiels).

I also see directly beneath James Carruthers, the name of Thomas Dickson. He is also on Alyth War Memorial and at Morebattle (where I posted info.)

Finally,for the moment, another name appears on the list which has beaten me, thus far. Robert Laing - KOSB. Robert Laing is commemorated on the Coupar Angus Public School Memorial & Blairgowrie High School. Blairgowrie Advertiser 1915 shows Robert Laing KOSB's enlisting from Hill St, Coupar Angus - E. Perthshire Roll of Honour.
I have tried & tried through various sources to establish the link. I may 'get him' on the 1911 census. Perhaps he lived up this way for a short time only. However there was no casualty report/mention of him in the papers & someone must have put his name forward?!

regards,
Mark

DerekR · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:18 pm Post subject:

Mark,
The Robert Laing on the Gala Memorial is listed under KOSB and it will be this chap killed at Gallipoli on the infamous 12th July 1915:
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=690083
SDGW have him as born, lived and enlisted in Gala.

The other possibility that sprung from the SDGW is this chap:
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=835191
He was born in Wemyss and lived in Kirkcaldy according to SDGW.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

DerekR · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:09 pm Post subject:

Surname McLAREN
Firstname John
Service Number 204536
Date Death 26/09/1917
Decoration
Place of birth Galashiels
Other 1st Bn.
SNWM roll THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
Rank Pte
Theatre of death F.& F.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Cinnamon Girl · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 8

My grandmas uncle was Pte Peter Oliver (36yrs) of the KOSB. He died in the First World War at Galipoli, (Dardanelles) July 12, 1915. Apparently there was a big loss of men (I heard the number was about 200) from Galashiels on that day. I believe it was the Battle of Achi Baba.

Peter Oliver is also named on the National Memorial in Edinburgh, and the Helles memorial in Turkey.

We have a copy of a photo of him as a trainer for a regiment rugby (not football!) team taken just months before his death. The men are named in the photo. One of the young men in the photo was from Kelso and was named on their war memorial. His name was Charles Street.

spoons · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:24 am Post subject:

DerekR · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:17 am Post subject:

Lori,
The 1/4th KOSB were THE battalion for the Scottish Borders during the Great War.
There are several threads relating to this unit on the forum such as the Gallipoli Old Comrades plaque at Hawick etc.
I'd really appreciate seeing the photograph you mentioned - hopefully I would be able to identify some men for you.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.