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GORBALS, Glasgow. (WW2) aka James Stokes Memorial

 
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graeme.ruxton



Joined: 26 Dec 2008
Posts: 52

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:57 pm    Post subject: GORBALS, Glasgow. (WW2) aka James Stokes Memorial Reply with quote

The memorial is the dominant feature of a new park created on the former burial site between Old Rutherglen Road and Errol Gardens in the Gorbals.

This modern memorial takes the form of a bronze casting of a rose on a long slender stem. The rose is not yet fully open and has a downward cast (like a bowed head). It is approximately 4m tall, and sits on a complex dressed stone base.

Around the circular base is the inscription

“This memorial is dedicated to everyone from the Gorbals who served there country in times of conflict.”

On top of the circular base are four triangular prisms, on the sides of which are the names of four local areas: Gorbals, Laurieston, Hutchesontown and Oatlands.

Sitting on one prism is a cast rose petal on which is inscribed

James Stokes V.C. 1915-1945

The website http://www.gorbalslive.org.uk/ has the following information on Stokes:

“One of the most heroic actions of World War II took place on the attack at Kervenheim in Holland in 1945. Private James Stokes of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry dashed ahead of his platoon without waiting for orders and routed two enemy strongpoints and captured 17 Germans single-handedly.

He finally fell, riddled with bullets, only 20 yards from the objective. This 29 year-old ex-labourer, born in Commercial Road, received the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross, the highest award possible, for what was undoubtedly an act of supreme courage.”

The rear of the back prism bears the inscription

“Unveiled on 10th March 2005 by Councillor James Mutter DL
Created by artist Liz Peden”





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Jim



Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 195

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:13 pm    Post subject: No respect for the bravest of the brave. Reply with quote

A much-loved Glasgow memorial dedicated to a local war hero has been desecrated.

The Gorbals Rose War Memorial was erected in honour of one-time local resident James Stokes, who was killed in action in the Second World War and who was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In the night-time incident – just 100 yards from Gorbals police station – the heartless culprits left the 10ft bronze rose bent and stole the head.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/no-respect-for-bravest-of-the-brave-stokes-memorial-heartless-thugs-target.17754906
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Jim



Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 195

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:19 pm    Post subject: Recovered but beyond repair. Reply with quote

Update.

A DESECRATED war memorial honouring a Second World War Gorbals VC winner has been recovered by police after parts were stolen and sold for scrap.

As reported in last week's Evening Times, the Gorbals Rose War Memorial, which cost around £48,000 to build, was left bent and the bronze rose head stolen by metal thieves.

The statue was created in 2005 by the Gorbals Art Project to honour one-time local resident James Stokes, who was killed in action and awarded the Victoria Cross.

After reading of the theft, a scrap metal dealer near Stirling contacted the police, after realising he had been sold the bronze rose by three men.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/vc-memorial-beyond-repair.17846000
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jim

Good news it has been recovered. I only hope it can be repaired and returned to its former glory.

Adam
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David McNay
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 11425
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good to hear it has been recovered, and I hope it can be restored.

It is, however, sad to see all the reports describe this as a memorial to Stokes only. As the base says, it is dedicated to all those from the Gorbals who fell.
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Tue May 06, 2014 2:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

David McNay wrote:
It is, however, sad to see all the reports describe this as a memorial to Stokes only. As the base says, it is dedicated to all those from the Gorbals who fell.


The War Memorials Trust has taken the same line and calls it the James Stokes memorial. This was one of the memorials which was awarded a renovation grant on 20th February through the Scottish Government's Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund:

James Stokes, Old Rutherglen Road, Gorbals, Glasgow (WM7481): Grant offer £4,500

In 2012 an attempt was made to steal the bronze rose from this war memorial. The damage caused has left the rose stem bent and the rose head missing, although this was recovered by police.

The grant will help fund the repair and reinforcement of the bronze rose sculpture ensuring that the memorial, to VC winner James Stokes and the men of Gorbals who served in Second World War, can be reinstated as a fitting tribute.
Details of memorial can be found at
www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/132710

I'm a bit shocked that it has taken two years for this damage to be repaired. It's not like the other grant awards where it seems to be work to fix years of corrosion.

Adam
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