The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

David McNay · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject: Elsrickle

Elsrickle is unusual in having two civic memorials. Unusual in that its another small village which would really only justify one memorial.

When you look more closely at the first one, things become clear. It appears to have been erected by the church. It's outside which is strange for a church memorial, and it's also slightly apart from the church itself. It's also listed as a civic memorial by South Lanarkshire Council.

DSCN9702 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9701 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

David McNay · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:44 pm Post subject:

The second memorial is very small, about the size of an average gravestone.

The day I took this photograph I was shouted at by a villager who claimed I was treading all over the daffodils in front of the memorial. I was doing no such thing, but his tone seemed to indicate that a lot of people visited the memorial and trod all over his flowers. This despite it not being in his property.

DSCN9703 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9704 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9705 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

David McNay · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

It's also interesting to see that the names are different on the two memorials.

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

Elsrickle - Clydesdale District

Oblelisk
WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Brown William Royal Garrison Artillery Private Bray 1916 Obelisk
Neill John Highland Light Infantry Private Arras 1917 Obelisk
Tait Ralph Royal Scots Private Festubert 1915 Obelisk
Walker John S. Seaforth Highlanders Private Longueval 1916 Obelisk

Cross at end of village:
WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Hardie D. Highland Light Infantry Private Cross
Smith William Canadians Private Cross

WWII ROLL OF HONOUR:
Clark Peter Royal Army Service Corps Sergeant Cross at end of village

SEM · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 3 Location: midlothian

Hello Folks,

I saw this post a while back while researching something else and knew I had a possible explanation somewhere in my paperwork and now that I've found it (again looking for something unrelated!) I'll share it with you.

A number of years back a family member gave me a copy of a poem he had asking me to type up a few copies for him. It tells that 'twa puirhoose bairns' were brought up in the village and that they enlisted along with other lads in the village and paid the ultimate price. Their names were omitted from the official memorial and when this was pointed out to the minister he refused to address this. However one man in the village 'couldna' staun to see in any measure man's inhumanity to man'

And so this other villager took the matter into his own hands and arranged for a second memorial to be erected to these two lads.

My relative told me that the content of the poem was the truth and as he was a well known person in the district I'm not surprised that he had a copy. I have no idea who the author was but will try to find out more.

I attended a talk at the Royal Scots Club a few years back about War Memorials and one lady in the audience spoke of the Elsrickle Memorials and had a similar story to tell.

If anyone would like a copy (too long to print here - ten verses) send me email contacts and I'll send.
SEM

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject:

SEM · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 3 Location: midlothian

Here it is:

Elsrickle

The Twa Monuments

There’s a wee auld fashioned village
that lies aff the beaten track
And I want tae tell a story that ma
memory brings me back;
For in that wee auld village is a sicht
that’s quite unique.
For you’ll find a War Memorial at each
end o’the street.

In that wee auld fashioned village were
twa puirhoose bairns brocht up.
Twa laddies wha gied their labour for a
bed and bite and sup.
But when they grew to manhood the
Great War it broke oot
And wae a wheen o’ others they donned
the khaki cloot.

Frae oot that awfu carnage, were some
that ne’er came back
to the auld fashioned village, that
lies aff the beaten track.
No in the quite kirkyard their last
Resting place was found.
But far frae bonny Scotland they lie
in foreign ground.

In memory o’ thae gallant lads a
Monument was raised
On which their noble sacrifice commended
was and praised.
Their names were also written there
but sad it was tae see
nae mention o’ the puirhoose bairns –
Surely it couldnae be.

For they along wi’ ithers, had laid their
young lives doon.
And just the same as others deserved
fair Honour’s croon.
No muckle wealth nor gear had they,
but whit they had they gied.
Their very life’s bluid they poured oot
And for their country died.

The minister’s attention was drawn tae
the fact
but he just dismissed the matter and
quite refused tae act.
But in that wee auld village wis a man that
couldnae staun
to see in ony measure man’s
inhumanity tae man.

An’ sae tae richt the wrang that his
kindly hert felt sair.
A monument for their ain twa sels he
had erected there,
Richt at the ither end o’ the street, the
tapmaist and forebye
It stauns tae tell the story tae every
passerby.

The words engraved upon the stane are
plain and clearly tell
That it’s for “Twa Gallant Heroes” who
in the Great War fell.
And underneath their honoured names,
without display or fuss,
The vital fact it simply states
“They also died for us”.

Oh, may we, like that honest man, gie
honour whaur it’s due.
Esteeming character and truth – be pockets t’m or fu’.
Far aften in the humble cot true riches
they abound
When in the mansions o’ the rich they
scarcely can be found.

And let us think o’Anither Yin who
gied Himself for us
And ask ourselves the question “Whit dis it mean tae us?”
Sure it cannae be that we, wi cauld herts can despise
The Love Divine that bore our sins, in
Cavalry’s sacrifice,
But may we like that honest man with every word and act
Let oor lives be a memorial to that great and glorious fact.

Make me feel angry, sad and very humble!

DerekR · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject:

Awfi gid!

Thanks for posting Laughing

_________________

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

EvelynR · Joined: 02 Jul 2014 Posts: 11 Location: Peeblesshire

The memorial in the village was originally situated in the grounds of the church. However, a few years ago, when the church was sold, it was moved to its present location.

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 54205 and 54204 respectively