The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Raymond Bell · Joined: 17 Dec 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Glasgow Scotland UK

The Men of Lyon Street—A Memorial

Can Anyone Add to this?

If you travel on the Garscube Road in Glasgow heading towards the town just as you pass St Georges Road look to your right you will see a football pitch—look beyond the pitch and you will see the playground of St Joseph’s Primary School . In the playground are a small group of masonary stones that have a small fence around them—these are all that remain of what used to be Lyon Street, a long gone street which disappeared as part of the redevelopment of the area from 1960 to the late 80’s. Lyon Street bred it’s own hero’s, for during the period of the first world war most of the men of enlistment age joined the forces to fight Germany, it is believed that this street suffered more casualties than any other during this period of war.

In honour of these men a memorial was made by a local craftsman– this memorial found it’s home in one of the local pubs—Keirens or the Milestone and on Armistice Day the memorial would be taken from the pub and paraded along the street to allow the street to remember the actions of their men. Maryhill Barracks would send a piper and bugler along to play the lament at 11 O’clock —Flowers o the Forrest with the bugler playing The Last Post. This parade continued as far as I know up to 1939—due to another conflict (WW2) then afterwards up till the late 1950’s—after the parade the memorial would be returned to the pub. As would the piper and bugler along with the locals. During the 2 minutes silence the local school kids of St Joseph’s would stop lessons—remain at their seats—put their pencils down and rest their heads on their arms on top of the desk to observe the silence in order that they pay their respects. In the period of the 60’s—80’s the area was under development and the pub was demolished and the memorial appears to have been moved to St Joseph’s Chapel for safety but the chapel too was demolished and the whereabouts of the memorial is a mystery. It was thought that the chapel removed it into storage but speaking to the priest at Hopehill Road it appears not—he recons it was never put into the chapel, another thought is that it was given to either the Peoples Palace or Regimental Museum of the Royal Highland Fusiliers—both have been asked but with no results. The next path to follow was, that when it’s final home was raised to the ground it was taken by the Brewers and it is said that it may be either in the foyer or the boardroom of the Brewer office—But, who were the brewers in the area at the time?—I believe that there were many small breweries operating in the area many of whom have disappeared just like the memorial. In the search a lady who works at St Joseph’s and has spent much of her free time including her own holiday time over the years searching for the original memorial has arranged that a plaque be commissioned to remember these men—the plaque was unveiled two years ago in the school and a smaller version passed to the local library which is displayed at the war book section in the library to remind those who visit the library that the men of Lyon Street made their mark on the area. The plaque’s in the school and library do not contain the names or the information contained on the original but lists a poem written to honour these men in 1917. The reason is that we do not know what was written on the original, as all we have is a well worn newspaper photograph clipping.

The first picture is the only photograph I have of the actual Roll of Honour
The next is the Garscube Bar which hosted the memorial behind the bar. THe pub was also known as Keirens Bar after the owner
The third picture is of the area of Lyon Street

It is also believed that miniatures’ of the roll of honour were produced but no sign of any of these either?

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN HELP IN THE SEARCH?

Please post or contact – Raymond Bell on his email

dinger105@hotmail.com

David McNay · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject:

Moving this to "Lost? Memorials".

Raymond Bell · Joined: 17 Dec 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Glasgow Scotland UK

Thanks David - Just new to the forum - my involvement was that a lady approached my regiment asking for help - the search has been on going for quite a few years and on coming across this forum thought someone out there may be able to add to the search - I have one newspaper clipping of the roll of honour but not very clear once I figure out how to post pictures I will post it. Managed to get the photos on my first posting

Thank you for your help

Dinger

Raymond Bell