The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

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

Greenock war memorial stands in front of the entrance gates of Wellpark in Regent Street, Greenock. It was unveiled on Saturday 4th October 1924. The architect was Messrs. Wright & Wylie and the sculptor Alexander Proudfoot, both of Glasgow. Proudfoot was born in Liverpool of Scottish parents and served in the Artists Rifles in WWI. During the war he also designed and patented a new form of protractor / rangefinder for the Vickers machine gun and later began to model relief landscapes of the trenches for army intelligence. After the war he became head of sculpture at Glasgow School of Art. The Greenock monument is loaded with symbolic meaning which is detailed in the booklet which was issued for the unveiling ceremony.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

Jim,

Any listings/names for Greenock?

regards,
Mark

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject:

Mark

There was a roll of honour for Greenock published after the war. If memory serves me right it lists names rank and unit.

Here are the details. I’ve seen it in several big libraries;

A memorial record of men of Greenock who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918
Greenock. War Memorial Committee, 1924. 51 pages

Adam

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks Adam, I will look out for that.

regards,
Mark

David McNay · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:32 am Post subject:

The Mitchell Library in Glasgow has a copy.

alexmaclennan · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:35 pm Post subject: Greenock, Wellpark Memorial

This is what I recorded for UKNIWM (along with about 30 photos including close-ups of the fantastic carving)

Wellpark Park, Lyndoch Street, Greenock PA15 4AA

This is a massive piece of public statuary in Wellpark Park high above the Clyde. I think the monument is of blonde sandstone.

It comprises a stepped base, massive plinth and an obelisk. On the main face, there is a carved longship and winged bronze female figure above the plinth and a celtic cross on the obelisk.

The stepped base is square and at least 10m square. At each corner is a block surmounted by a small bronze standing lion holding a shield which has a saltire. Two chains run, one from from each side of each corner, onto these blocks (I assume as a symbol of shipbuilding/Clyde). The round bronze fittings that fix the chain to the plinth are carved with wreaths and longships.

The main plinth of the memorial is about 1.5 to 2m tall. On the front face is a dedication

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM
AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF
THE MEN OF GREENOCK
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR
AND IN THE 1939 – 1945 WAR

At the top of this plinth is an intricate frieze of celtic figures, zoomorphs and knot designs. On the front face, there is a small panel of knotwork and a griffon or lion that are carved to either side of the date 1914, to the left of the figure and ship and that are carved to either side of the date 1918 to the right. On the other three sides the frieze lies between the names of campaigns. The frieze shows different carvings between each of the names. The campaigns are France, Mesopotamia, Italy, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Flanders, Zeebruge, Jutland, Falkland. The carvings include fish, griffons, eagle, ram, Viking ship, lion, knotwork and a zoomorph of a human headed griffon.

The main face has a female winged figure cast in bronze riding on a Viking longship. The longship protrudes from the top of the plinth. Only the first 2 to3 m of the longship are seen – the bow and enough for the female figure to stand on. It lies on a base which arises straight from the main dedication. The ship is clinker built with a griffon head. There are two turns of carved rope around the neck of the griffon. There are two short poles (possibly for ramming) that protrude from the bow. There are two round interlocked shields on either side of the longship placed at the level of the coaming. There is carved water at the base of the longship with fish in the foam.

alex
_________________
alex maclennan

apanderson · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject:

Alex - any chance of posting some of the close-ups you took?

Anne

fionabee · Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Ex Gourockian

Hello everyone,

I have a copy of the book in my possession. I would be happy to do lookups or indeed scan and post, though it is a long list. I think I would not be in breach of any copyright, could moderators please advise best approach.

Rgds
fiona
_________________
Live well, and die never,
Die well, and live ever.

apanderson · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Fiona,

Paul has just posted details of copyright rules and regulations (to the best of his knowledge) regarding times etc.

Through being a member of a few genealogy forums, I believe, that as long as you don't copy things word for word, or post actual images, but re-type info in your own words, then this is OK. This would apply to Crown Copyright items such as Birth/Marriage/Death Certificates and Cencus returns.

If you have a look at some of Anne Park's posts (Aberdeenshire etc.,) you'll see that she's retyped thousands of Roll of Honour entries.

I have sent you a PM with further info.

Anne

fionabee · Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Ex Gourockian

Here are the names of men who were in the Australian E. F. and New Zealand E.F. from the above book.

Bowie Archibald. Pte AEF
Bowman James L., AEF
Campbell Hugh. Driver AEF
Caven John. Rifleman NEF
Chalmers William. Pte NEF
Hannah James. Lance Corporal AEF
Hart George H.C. Lieutenant AEF
Kirkpatrick Charles H. NEF
Lochhead John T. Pte AEF
McCallum Neil. Corporal AEF
McCrae James. Pte NEF
McKay Lewis F. Trooper AEF
McKean Dave. Sapper AEF
McLaren Hugh W P. AEF
McLeod Hector. NEF
McMahon Owen P. Pte AEF
McMeikan Joseph. Pte NEF
Moffat George. Pte AEF
Patterson William. Pte NEF
Peddie Tom A. Sapper NEF
Ronald Willian A. Pte AEF
Wade David. Pte NEF
_________________
Live well, and die never,
Die well, and live ever.

milmor_1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Ireland

Hi Fiona,

Can you tell me is the following soldier listed on the roll of honour,

McDADE, James Private 2325 7th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers
Born: Greenock, Renfrewshire Resided: Greenock Enlisted: Greenock (9/9/14).
Age: 27 Date of Death: 09/08/1915 Cause: Killed in action.
Family Notes: Fourth son of James McDade; husband of Margaret Jane McDade (nee Sheekey), of 19, Baker St, Greenock.
Grave/Memorial: Panel 185 to 190. Helles Memorial.

Many Thanks,

Mal

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:50 pm Post subject:

This memorial has had brass stolen from it.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/provost-appalled-by-thieves-who-stole-fittings-from-war-memorial-1.1035053

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/greenock/articles/2010/06/16/401426-war-memorial-vandalised/

Provost appalled by thieves who stole fittings from war memorial

Catriona Stewart

A Provost has told of his anger and revulsion after thieves sawed off and stole brass fixtures worth £1000 from a memorial to his town’s dead soldiers from the First World War.

Inverclyde Provost Michael McCormick said the incident at the Wellpark Monument in Greenock, Renfrewshire, was an appalling act of vandalism that insulted the memory of the community’s lost war heroes.

A bronze St Andrew’s Cross and a bronze lamp are missing. Police also found evidence the figure of winged Victory on the monument had been tampered with on Monday.

The solid brass and bronze fittings are thought to have been taken for their scrap value.

McCormick said: “Quite frankly I am disgusted that anyone could stoop so low.

“The culprits behind this appalling act of vandalism have insulted the memory of the people from Inverclyde who laid down their lives for their country.

“Our armed forces are very much in our thoughts at the moment as we prepare to honour their members past, present and future on Armed Forces Day on June 26, and I am sure everyone in Inverclyde feels as angry and revolted by what has happened as I do.”

The memorial, which marks the 1500 young men of Greenock who were killed during the First World War, has become a focal point of the remembrance services for those who died in the conflict.

A spokesman for Inverclyde Council said he hoped the fixtures would be returned, but added that the authority was giving serious consideration to restoring the damaged landmark.

McCormick, who urged the thieves to return the items, added: “At a time when on an almost daily basis we hear of another family given the sad news of the death of a loved one in Afghanistan and Iraq, we should all be showing our support and gratitude for the men and women who make up our Armed Forces community.

“I hope someone’s conscience will see the safe return of the missing items so that we can restore the Memorial.”

milmor_1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Ireland

I know that there are no names listed on the memorial, but the following soldier has definate connections with Greenock so I am posting this for the benefit of research.

GALLAGHER Joseph Private 11814 6th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Born: Londonderry Enlisted: Greenock, Renfrewshire.
Date of Death: 21/08/1915 Cause: Died of wounds (Sustained Gallipoli).
*Family Notes: Husband of, M. O. H. Gallagher, of 51, Nicolson St, Greenock, Scotland.
Will Notes; Private Gallagher in his will (undated) bequeathed all his personal effects to his wife, named as, “M. O. H. Gallagher, 51 Nicolson St, Greenock, Scotland.”
Grave/Memorial: II. D. 18.Hill 10 Cemetery.
Other Memorials: Private Gallagher is commemorated on, the War Memorial, the Diamond, Derry/Londonderry.
Irish War Memorial Records Page No: Volume III, Page 246.

milmor_1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Ireland

This soldier also has definite affiliations with Greenock as can be seen from the newspaper reports.

McCOLGAN, Hugh Private 7653 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Born: Glendermott, Co Derry Enlisted: Londonderry.
*Age: 29 Date of Death: 21/08/1915 Cause: Killed in action (Initially reported as missing).
*Family Notes: Son of, Matthew and Ellen McColgan, Distillery Lane, Duke Street, Waterside Derry; husband of, Sarah McColgan, of 9, Tabago Street, Greenock, Scotland; brother of, Mrs. Lizzie Dillon, of 63, Fountain Hill, Waterside, Derry. Private McColgan formerly resided at Duke Street, Waterside, Derry.
Religion: Roman Catholic.

Private Hugh McColgan (No. 7653), 1st Inniskillings has been posted as missing. He was last heard of while serving at the Dardanelles on 2nd August last. Any information regarding this soldier will be gratefully received by his wife, Mrs. Sarah, McColgan, 9 Tabago Street, Greenock, or, by his sister, Mrs. Lizzie Dillon, 64 Fountain hill, Waterside, Derry.
The Derry Journal, 8 December 1915.

Other Family Losses: His brother, 5319, Trooper Charles McColgan, 14th King’s Hussars, was killed in action on 28/9/15 and is commemorated on, the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Census Notes: The 1901 Census shows Hugh (aged 15) residing with his parents, Matthew (aged 55) and Ellen (aged 50) at, Distillery Lane, Waterside, Derry, also present were his brother and sister Charles (aged 1 Cool

and Lizzie (aged 14).
Grave/Memorial: Panel 97 to 101.Helles Memorial.
Other Memorials: Private McColgan is commemorated on, the War Memorial, The Diamond, Derry/Londonderry City.
Irish War Memorial Records Page No: Volume V, Page 311.

milmor_1 · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Ireland

Another soldier with definite Greenock connections;

BRENNAN, Joseph Private 11972 6th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Born: Greenock, Renfrewshire Enlisted: Greenock
Age: 23 Date of Death: 05/09/1915 Cause: Killed in action.
Family Notes: Son of Joseph and Annie Brennan, of 3, Manse Lane, Greenock, Renfrewshire.
Grave/Memorial: Panel 190 to 196. Helles Memorial.
Irish War Memorial Records Page No: Volume I, Page 228.