The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

David McNay · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:53 pm Post subject: Wishaw, First World War

The First World War memorial for the town of Wishaw is located in the Wishaw Ex-Servicemen's Club on Main Street. This was formerly known as the Wishaw & District Memorial Institute.

IMG_9134 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

The foundation stone of the building was laid on 11th October 1924 by Sir Robert King Stewart KBE, the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lanark.

IMG_9137 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

The building was formally opened by Earl Haig on Saturday 7th November 1925.

The whole building is considered the memorial, but inside there is a brass plaque.

IMG_9136 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

IMG_9135 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

Transcription:

WISHAW & DISTRICT MEMORIAL INSTITUTE

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN
GRATEFUL MEMORY
OF THE
OFFICERS
NON COM. OFFICERS
AND MEN
OF THE
NAVY, ARMY & AIR FORCE
FROM THIS AREA WHO
FELL IN THE GREAT WAR

AND IN HONOUR OF
THOSE WHO SERVED

AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

David McNay · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:59 pm Post subject:

The memorial for Wishaw has a rather interesting story. The original intention was for there to be a traditional war memorial.

It seems local architect John Steel had some involvement with this memorial design, as a sketch by him of the proposed memorial appeared in the towns published Roll of Honour booklet:

scan0001 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

However, by 1924 this memorial had still not come about.

The Herald reported that a meeting in the town agreed that the fund for the memorial could be incorporated into the fund for an ex-servicemens institute, and that this would constitute the towns memorial:

wishawidea by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

Two articles from the Motherwell Times add more to this:

David McNay · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:00 pm Post subject:

An article from the Scotsman on the unveiling. Apologies for the size.

unveiling1 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

unveiling2 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

David McNay · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks to delboy, BJL and jamiemcginlay for providing information in another thread which I have added to this one.

David McNay · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:02 pm Post subject:

Canadian VC winner who is listed in the towns Roll of Honour. His address is given as 6 Steel's Land.

Name: MILNE, WILLIAM JOHNSTONE
Initials: W J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 09/04/1917
Service No: 427586
Awards: V C
Additional information: Native of Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: VIMY MEMORIAL
Citation: An extract from the Second Supplement to The London Gazette, dated 8th June, 1917, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On approaching the first objective, Pte. Milne observed an enemy machine gun firing on our advancing troops. Crawling on hands and knees, he succeeded in reaching the gun, killing the crew with bombs, and capturing the gun. On the line re-forming, he again located a machine gun in the support line, and stalking this second gun as he had done the first, he succeeded in putting the crew out of action and capturing the gun. His wonderful bravery and resource on these two occasions undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. Pte. Milne was killed shortly after capturing the second gun."

David McNay · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:18 pm Post subject:

Reading the unveiling report, it seems that John Steel, the architect involved with the design of the traditional memorial, didn't quite lose out on a commission, since he presented Earl Haig with a souvenir key.

He must have been involved with the building of the institute.

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:43 am Post subject: Pte. William Docherty

ROYAL SCOTS
Pte. William Docherty

(Glasgow Herald 27th March 1915)
"Private William Docherty, Royal Scots, was killed by shrapnel while in the act of leaving the trenches early in the morning of 4th inst. He was one of five soldier sons of Mr & Mrs William Docherty, Bartonhall Row, Waterloo, Wishaw. Private Docherty went through the Boer War without receiving a scratch. Though a time-expired man, he rejoined on the outbreak of war."

CWGC
DOCHERTY, W
Rank: Private
Service No: 4139
Date of Death: 05/03/1915
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference: III. C. 3.
Cemetery: LOKER CHURCHYARD

SNWM
Surname: DOCHERTY
Firstname: William
Service Number: 4139
Date Death: 05/03/1915
Place of birth: Glasgow
Other: 2nd Bn.
SNWM roll: THE ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN REGIMENT)
Rank: Pte

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:07 pm Post subject: Pte. Alexander Adam

H.L.I.
Alexander Adam

(Glasgow Herald 13th April 1915)
"Private Alexander Adam, son of Mr William Adam, Manse Road, Netherton, is the first of the Wishaw Territorials (8th H.L.I.) to lose his life from wounds received at the front."

CWGC
ADAM, ALEXANDER
Rank: Private
Service No: 7641
Date of Death: 27/03/1915
Age: 17
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 8th Bn. attd. 8th Bn. Royal Scots
Grave Reference: I. B. 20.
Cemetery: LE TOUQUET-PARIS PLAGE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William and Elizabeth Adam, of Ashfield Cottage, Manse Road, Wishaw, Lanarkshire.

SNWM
Surname: ADAM
Firstname: Alexander
Service Number: 7641
Date Death: 27/03/1915
Place of birth: Cambusnethan Lanarkshire
Other: 8th Bn. (T.).
SNWM roll: THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Rank: Pte
Theatre of death: F.& F.

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:44 pm Post subject: Pte. Peter Weir

WW1
Pte. Peter Weir

(Glasgow Herald 29th May 1915)
"Mrs Weir, 26 Alexander Street, Wishaw, has been unofficially informed that her son, Private Peter Weir, 2nd H.L.I., was killed in action on the 17th. His father, a National Reservist, has been with the colours since the outbreak of the war."

CWGC
WEIR, PETER
Rank: Private
Service No: 12207
Date of Death: 17/05/1915
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 2nd Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 37 and 38.
Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname: WEIR
Firstname: Peter
Service Number: 12207
Date Death: 17/05/1915
Place of birth: Glasgow
Other: 2nd Bn.
SNWM roll: THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Rank: Pte
Theatre of death: F.& F.

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 12:36 am Post subject: Pte. James Smith

WW1
Pte. James Smith

(Glasgow Herald 1st July 1915)
"Mr John Smith, Sunnyside, Wishaw, has been informed by the regimental chaplain that his son, Private James Smith, 6th Scottish Rifles, who was reported wounded and missing, has been killed. The body was discovered and interred near Givenchy by a burying party of the 2nd Gordons."

CWGC
SMITH, JAMES
Rank: Private
Service No: 1741
Date of Death: 25/06/1915
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 6th Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 15 and 16.
Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname: SMITH
Forename: J
Rank: Pte
Service number: 1741
Place of birth: Stockton-on-Tees
Date of death: 23 June 1915
Theatre of death: France
SNWM roll: THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)
Other detail: 1/6th Bn.

anne park · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:25 am Post subject: James King Pte GH from Wishaw

James King Private S/9348 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders b Wishaw,Lanarkshire e London r Wishaw Age 25 Killed in Action Pas de Calais, France 25/09/1915 Son of Hugh and Margaret King, of West Netherton Farm, Wishaw. Loos Memorial M. R. 19 Panel 115 to 119 Hamilton Advertiser 09-09-15 Page 1 Evening Times 22-10-15 Page 3: Photo
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:27 am Post subject: George Baxter GH

George Baxter Pte S/2934 9th Gordon Highlanders b Cambusnethan, Lanark. e Wishaw Age 29 Killed in Action F&F 22/10/1916 Son of the late John Baxter; 1891 Census: Main St; Wishaw. Fa Occ: Coal Miner. Mother: Mary Young. 1901 Census: 1 Quarry St; Occ: Coal Miner. Husband of Alice Maud Crawford (formerly Baxter), of 13, Agnes St., Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. 1916 Cleland Rd; Wishaw. Soldiers Effects: Widow: Alice M. Soldiers Wills 4 Pages. Thiepval Memorial M. R. 21 Pier 15B & 15C Hamilton Advertiser 06-11-16 P6
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 6:27 pm Post subject:

There is mention of a Wishaw Roll of Honour booklet. Does anyone have a list of these names?

Mark

David McNay · Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 7:56 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 6:59 pm Post subject:

Just noticed the last post but unfortunately the link doesn't work for me.

EDIT

The link to SMRG works but not the download.