The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:43 pm Post subject: Coylton

A bit off of my usual beat............

I found this one at the side of the A70 at OS Map Ref: NS 423 199

Not listed on UKNIWM.

There are quite a lot of inscriptions on this memorial. I notice one is 'Bryden' possibly with a reversed R at the beginning and with 'Ft' at the end. This could be an abbreviation for Fecit meaning he was the sculptor (?)

name panels to follow

spoons · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject:

2 panels for Coylton district with 3 named Waters but I could not confirm any family connection. One panel for Rankinston district with 4 Sloans but again I could not confirm any family connection.
Finally, a WW2 panel.

DerekR · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject:

A VERY ornate memorial.
The railings are also very interesting, I wonder how many other memorials retain their original fenced enclosure after the 1940's drive for scrap metal?
_________________

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

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:19 am Post subject:

Unusual as well in that it lists the Allies rather than battles. The only other memorial I've seen do something similar is the Commercial Bank of Scotland Great War Memorial which has the flags of the Allies as a crest on both panels.

Adam

spoons · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject:

Pte. Thomas Clifford. 34893. 6th/7th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers. Before the war he played football at Half Back. Had played for Glossop, Celtic, Luton Town, Notts Forest, Motherwell as well as Ayr United. Died Friday 19th January 1917.Aged 42. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Pier & Face 3C Husband of Jane Young Clifford, 218 Rankinston, Ayr.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:35 pm Post subject:

From these notes on the unveiling of the Rankinston memorial (not yet posted)............

"The unveiling ceremony was performed by Mr John Sloan, Senr. who had lost four sons in the War. "

It can be seen that the four Sloans listed on the Rankinston panel of this memorial were all brothers.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject:

At the time this memorial was unveiled, Coylton and Rankinston were both part of the parish of Coylton so that makes this a parish memorial. Between the wars Rankinston was moved to the parish of Drongan so I presume the WW2 panel on this memorial would not include any Rankinston men, these would probably be on the Drongan memorial.

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:42 pm Post subject:

See also the thread on the Rankinston memorial where there is a comparison between the names between it and the Rankinston panel on this memorial. http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=4225

\Paul

spoons · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

Found this on a google search and thought that someone might be interested.

"She (Mrs Thomson - the minister's wife) has
not sufficiently recovered from the effects of the motor accident on 19th Dec 1920
when returning in a motor car from the unveiling of the Coylton War Memorial with
the minister who had been taking part in the service. The driver of the car was trying
to avoid some dogs suddenly swerved the car to the left when it ran into several
people returning from the Memorial Service killing a Mrs Peebles and injuring five
or six others and turning turtle with the minister and his wife inside. While Mr
Thomson escaped with a few scratches suffering only from shock, Mrs Thomson had
her spine staved, a rib broken and her face cut and was not in a state of health even
at present to have tradesmen working in the Manse.
Mrs Thomson (Jane Maitland Campbell Dodds) never recovered from the injuries
she had sustained and died in a Nursing Home in Glasgow on 23rd October 1924."

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:49 am Post subject:

Spoons,

What an interesting wee snippet. Thanks for posting that.

Mark

DelBoy · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject: Sculptor info

From the book "Ayrshire: Discovering A County", by Dane Love and quoted at the website geolocation.ws

"This cross of white granite was designed by one of Hillhead's most famous sons, Robert Bryden, who was an accomplished sculptor."

Cheers,
Derek.

Richard Bain · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 73 Location: Cumnock, Ayrshire

I just noticed yesterday (Tuesday 9th October 2012) that the war memorial isn't there. A phone call to a friend in Coylton revealed that it had been badly damaged during a police car chase. The car being chased slammed into the memorial, demolishing the railings and badly damaging the memorial itself. My friend thinks that workmen from Historic Scotland dismantled the memorial and took it away somewhere for repair. All that is left is the brick and concrete core of the steps.

Richard M Bain
_________________
My Great Uncles
Pte George Gibson 9th Cameronians died 28/12/16 at Arras
Pte James Lawson 6th Cameron Hldrs. died 21/3/18 at Monchy
Kirkcaldy WM

spoons · Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 11:06 pm Post subject:

I contacted the War Memorials Trust about the recent incident to this memorial. They have contacted the council and Historic Scotland.

"The Council have advised that they have taken the memorial into their care and are currently having a specification of works drawn up for its repair. Once they have this they are intending on applying for a grant from the Trust for the works."

I hope that the fairly comprehensive photos I took may play some small part in the eventual restoration of this memorial.

\Paul

Ross996 · Joined: 08 Jul 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Ayrshire

I passed this memorial yesterday and it is now rebuilt. They are still doing some groundwork around it but it looks like it will be ready for Nov 11
Ross

spoons · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:57 pm Post subject:

I had heard that work was underway, a way off my patch so I look forward to seeing photos of the finished memorial.

\Paul