The Scottish War Memorials Project

David McNay · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:00 pm Post subject: Airdrie, North Lanarkshire

The memorial for Airdrie is at the corner of a busy junction near to Monklands Hospital, so it's not easy to just jump out of your car and take a few photos. Hence the reason why there's only one picture at the moment. This one is on my list to go back and do properly.

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject:

If you approach the junction near this memorial from a different direction you see another part of the inscription. The full inscription is something like

'In proud and honoured memory of the men of Airdrie who gave up their lives for their country in the Great War 1914-1919'

Unfortunately depending how far back the queue at the junction you are you only see words something like 'The men of Airdrie who gave up' which gives it rather a different meaning!

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject:

I believe they've actually changed the inscription for this very reason!

I think they've removed the "up".

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:14 am Post subject:

David

I hope so. It's been quite a few years since I was there.

Adam

AB64 · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 31 Location: Wishaw

One of the names on the memorial is Mark Boreland of the 11th Battalion the Parachute Regiment as his Dakota was approaching the Drop Zone to the West of Arnhem on the second day of operations it was hit by Ack-Ack fire and crashed killing most of those on board

Alistair

David McNay · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject:

David McNay · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 10:17 pm Post subject:

Here, finally, are the names on the memorial.

First World War:

David McNay · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject:

Second World War:

I'd be interested to know why there appears to be a name removed after James Dunsmore...

David McNay · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject:

A few more photos of the memorial:

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:30 am Post subject:

These are the first pics I've seen of this.
My great uncle Douglas Black is commemorated on it. He's buried in Germany.

Cheers, Del.

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:34 am Post subject:

DelBoy

Do you have any details of your Great Uncle you could post?

Regards

Adam

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject: Pte. Douglas Black - H.L.I.

Douglas Black was the younger brother of my grandfather John Black and was born in Airdrie to a very large family. There were eight children in the family who were in the uniformed services in WW2, six male and two female.
Sadly Douglas was the only one to die during the war and was the youngest.

CWGC
Name: BLACK, DOUGLAS
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 05/04/1945
Service No: 14741818
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 49. B. 16.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

SNWM
Surname: BLACK
Firstname: Douglas
Service number: 14741818
Date of death: 05/04/1945
Place of birth: Airdrie
SNWM roll: THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY (City of Glasgow Regiment),and THE GLASGOW HIGHLANDERS
Rank: Pte

The family story is that he was shot by a sniper through the head, who was later found up a tree.

Cheers,
Derek.

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 918 Location: Glasgow

The memorial was by monumental sculptors Messrs. Scott Rae of Glasgow, the daybook entry reads:
'Order no. 6870, Airdrie, Creetown memorial'.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject:

I think the John Bain commemorated here is also on the War Memorial in Methven, Perthshire;
Name: BAIN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 1st/6th Bn.
Date of Death: 22/08/1916
Service No: 2426
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 23.
Cemetery: CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES
BORN: AIRDRIE, LANARKSHIRE
ENLISTED: PERTH

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=473&highlight=methven

helen · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks for this David, My husband has 4 great uncles on this memorial Sam Stallard from his fathers side and the three McDowall brothers from his mothers side, for a very long time my husbands greatest wish was to see this but as you say it is in a very awkward place and my husband is in a wheelchair which makes it even more difficult. Thanks again for giving him his wish.