The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject:

It looks like the chapel itself is a memorial. http://www.flickr.com/photos/olympus1872/5704188819/

This church is situated on the first floorof G wing of Glasgow Western Infirmary, sandwiched between wards G2 and G£.Adjoining the original infirmary building, the chapel was provided from a donation of £50,00 from Alexander Elder of the famous Elder shipbuilding family. The Alexander Elder War Memorial Chapel was opened on 8th November 1925 to commemorate those that went from the infirmary to the Western Front in the 1914-18 Great War.It now also commemorates those staff members who died in the Far East during the Second World War.

Unfortunately it looks like it will disappear in the near future.

From 2005: http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3077

S2M-03589 Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): That the Parliament welcomes any effort by NHS Greater Glasgow to save the Alexander Elder War Memorial chapel when the Western Infirmary closes in 2010-11; notes that the chapel, which was built by John James Burnet, commemorated its 80th year on 8 November 2005 and houses many beautiful stained glass windows and plaques dedicated to doctors and nurses of the Western Infirmary who gave their lives in two world wars, and therefore believes that the chapel should be retained completely, not only because of its historical importance and beauty, but because it is used daily by all faiths and has multi-faith pastors and nuns and because its very existence came about as an act of remembrance for those lost in war.

Support also came from Ms Sandra White, Phil Gallie, Robin Harper, Tommy Sheridan

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:27 pm Post subject:

Also from 2005: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/campaign.launched.to.save.historic.chapel.in.glasgow/4594.htm

Campaign Launched to Save Historic Chapel in Glasgow

A retired doctor has launched a campaign to save a historic secret chapel hidden within Glasgow's Western General hospital.

by Jennifer GoldPosted: Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 20:39 (GMT)

A campaign has been launched to save a stunning war memorial church hidden inside a Glasgow city hospital due to close within five years, reports Glasgow Evening Times.

Despite NHS Greater Glasgow promising to relocate as much of the old chapel as possible to a new site, art lovers fear that the chapel and its gems could be lost with the closure of Glasgow Western General.

Jean Turner, retired doctor elected to the Scottish Parliament to fight hospital closures, appealed for the full-sized chapel to be preserved in its current site within the hospital.

Dr Turner said: “The chapel houses many beautiful stain-glassed windows and plaques dedicated to doctors and nurses of the Western Infirmary who gave their lives in two world wars.”

Dr Turner also defended the chapel, saying that the Alexander Elder War Memorial Chapel, also plays a huge role in the lives of the people who visit and patients in the hospital.

The hospital chaplain, Keith Saunders, said the chapel had been inundated with visits from patients, staff and visitors since the chapel was featured in an earlier article by the Glasgow Evening Times.

Mr Saunders said that many people had been very touched by the stories of the doctors and nurses from the Western who had fought and died during the world wars, which included one member of staff who was awarded the Victoria Cross.

He said, “nurses especially were very touched to learn of the heroism of their predecessors who lost their lives tending the wounded”,

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow said: “It’s still too early to say what is going to happen, but we are well aware of the depth of feeling.

“We are going to do our best to relocate as much of the chapel as possible.”

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

Quote - “We are going to do our best to relocate as much of the chapel as possible.”

From what I have seen from the the illustrations I shudder to think of what the result of "Relocate as much of the chapel as possible" will be like.

Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.

spoons · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:48 am Post subject:

I can perhaps be forgiven for not identifying this chapel as a war memorial, there is nothing in the chapel to state this or even give the impression. Also, all the memorials inside the chapel are listed on UKNIWM but the chapel itself is not. I would really like to see a contemporary newspaper report or copy of the dedication service. Am I correct in saying that the only evidence for it being a war memorial is something someone posted on flickr?

Tonym · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 224 Location: East Sussex

Paul

Surely the Title above the door identifies the Chapel as a memorial?

Tony
_________________
Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:11 pm Post subject:

Two posts from 'Hidden Glasgow';

by Guacho » Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:18 pm

From the British Medical Journal , Dec 19th 1925

'Two war memorials were unveiled in the chapel of the Glasgow Western Infirmary on December 12th, in the
presence of a large number of nurses and members of the general public. The matron of the infirmary, Miss Gregory
Smith, unveiled a memorial in memory of Lieutenant Donald Mackintosh, V.C., son of the superintendent of the
infirmary, Colonel D. J. Mackintosh, C.B., M.V.O., which took the form of two stained glass windows erected by the
Nurses' League. A tablet was unveiled also in memory of two nurses, Sister Ella Maud Bond and Staff Nurse Margaret S. Dewar, who lost their lives in the war. The Rev. George H. Morrison, D.D., conducted a commemoration service, and delivered an address in which he recalled the high esteem and affection in which those whom they
were commemorating had been held. Such a joint commemoration was particularly appropriate because of the
united comradeship, co-operation, and self-sacrifice of the two sexes in the great war. Colonel Mackintosh for many
years had directed the Western Infirmary with a grasp of detail which had placed him high in the ranks of organizers; no man had surpassed him in devotion to the welfare of the great nursing profession. It was, therefore, fitting that in remembering the son the Nurses' League should also bear the father in mind. The two windows were the first of a series to be placed in the chapel. The matron of the infirmary, unveiling the memorials, spoke of the high esteem and regard in which Lieutenant Mackintosh and the two nurses had been held by the infirmiary staff. Colonel J. A. Roxburgh, accepting the custody of the memorials on behalf of the infirmary board of managers, said that they would serve to remind them of the spirit of devotion to duty and self-sacrifice which had always
distinguished the medical and nursing professions. At the conclusion of the service wreaths were placed at the base of the memorials.'

by dazzababes » Thu Nov 04, 2010 4:49 pm

The Elder Memorial Chapel, opened in November 1925, was built following a donation from the Elder shipbuilding family.
It was designed by Sir John Burnet, and is dedicated to the memory of the doctors and nurses from the Western who died in both World Wars.

As well as numerous plaques, many of the stained glass windows (created on themes of healing) are personally dedicated to staff members who lost their lives.

The chapel is still very much open and is a beautifully peaceful and tranquil little slice of hidden Glasgow.

spoons · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:41 pm Post subject:

spoons · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject:

I think worth noting that the chapel contains memorials to WW1 doctors and WW1 nurses, also WW2 nurses but nothing for WW2 doctors.

There are 9 memorials inside the chapel, UKNIWM numbers:

54483
54486
54487
54488
54572
54573
54574
54575

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject:

Great article about the chapel and memorials in the Feb/Mar 2006 edition of NHS Greater Glasgow Health News.

Available online here http://library.nhsggc.org.uk/mediaAssets/library/nhsgg_healthnews_2006_02-03.pdf

\Paul

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject:

Askari · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 1

Visited for the first time today and spoke to Rev Keith Saunders, Chaplain. He appeared pretty much in the dark himself regarding its future, although he mentioned 2015 as a possible date for closure. Such a pity as its a lovely little place and very atmospheric. He was unaware of the existence of SWMP. I therefore offered to send him details which I will do. I also took more than a few pics which I will post when I master how this site works.

Angus

Jim · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 195

Glasgow University, soon to be owners of the Western Infirmary site, has announced consultations on 'campus development'.

Dates, times and places are noted at http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/campusdevelopment/consultation/

spoons