The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

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

Beith - Cunninghame District
Location - Viewpark or Janefield Place , Authority - North Ayrshire , OS Ref No. NS 347 543

The Beith war memorial is an octagonal celtic cross in grey granite standing on a tall pedestal and three steps. The dedication and names of the WWI dead are listed on the faces of the pedestal, the names of the WWII dead have been added to the lower section below. The memorial stands in Janefield Square in the village. According to my information the original intention was to erect the monument at the top of Bigholm Hill were the bonfire for the villages peace celebrations was lit in 1919 and I'm not sure if it was actually ercted there and moved into the village at a later date. The memorial committee struggled with the costs of the memorial but insisted on including funds for the welcome of discharged and demobilised servicemen with a momento or token of appreciation and a meal on their return home.
The monument was designed, carved and erected by the monumental sculptor Robert McLachlan of 'Westview' in Beith and unveiled in 1920. Unfortunately this appears to have been Robert McLachlan's last memorial as he died in March 1921. The name of his grandson, Private Robert McLachlan, Seaforth Highlanders, was added to the memorial after being killed in 1942.

This is a copy of the programme for the ceremony of dedication after the names of the WWII dead had been added in 1947:

WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Adams William Private
Ainslie Alexander Private
Allan Robert Sergeant
Anderson William Private
Arthur Charles Private
Barr Andrew Lance Corporal
Barr Andrew Private
Barr Fulton C. Private
Barr Robert Private
Barr Robert Private
Barr William Private
Barr William Private
Binnie Daniel Private
Blackwood William Private
Brodie James Private
Brodie John C. Private
Burns Robert Able Seaman Royal Navy?
Burns Walter S. Lieutenant
Bustard Samuel Private
Caisley John Private
Campbell John Private
Cavan George Sergeant Major
Chalmers Francis Sergeant
Chalmers James Private
Chalmers T.K. Private
Clark David Private
Clark Peter Private
Clark William Private
Colligan George Private
Connelly Charles Private
Craig Robert Private
Craig Robert Private
Craig William Lance Corporal
Crawford Kenneth Second Lieutenant
Dale James S. Leading Seaman Royal Navy?
Dickie John Private
Dickson John Lance Corporal
Donald J. McF. Private
Drennan Charles Private
Drummond F. Private
Ferguson James Private
Ferguson James Private
Fraser Simon L. Chief Petty Officer Royal Navy?
Fulton Alexander Second Lieutenant
Fulton William W. Private
Fyfe James Private
Galt George Private
Galt James Lance Corporal
Galt James Private
Galt John Private
Gardiner Robert Private
Gibson Allan Private
Gibson Harry Private
Gilmour John Sergeant
Gilmour John Private
Gilmour William Lance Corporal
Gordon James Private
Gordon Robert Private
Grossart W. Private
Hamilton Gavin Private
Hamilton Jack Private
Hamilton James Private
Harper James Private
Harvey Robert Private
Henderson W. Private
Hendry Jack W. Lance Corporal
Higgins Hugh Second Lieutenant
Horne Cecil Private
Houston Peter Private
Houston William Lance Corporal
Irvine Andrew Private
Irvine John Private
Jack James Private
Jack John Private
Jamieson James Private
Jessamine J.W. Private
Johnstone William Private
Kelly John Private
Kennedy William Private
Kerr Alexander Private
Kerr Andrew S. Private
Kerr John Private
Kerr William Lieutenant
Kerr William Private
King George Lance Corporal
Kirkland James Signaller
Kirkwood D. Private
Lambie M. Lance Corporal M.M.
Lindsay James Private
Love James Private
Love John Private
Mack John Corporal
MacKie James S. Private
MacNeill Robert A. Second Lieutenant
Marshall William Private
Matthews H. Private
McCall James Private
McCard George Private
McCard Richard Private
McDonald George Private
McDougall M. Private
McEwan Thomas Private
McFarlane Joseph Private
McGregor James C. Sergeant
McLelland James Private
McMath James Private
McNee John Private
McWhinnie James Private
Meikle Allan Able Seaman Royal Navy?
Melville Joseph T. Second Lieutenant
Mercer James Private
Millan Alexander Private
Millar James S. Sergeant
Mitchell McL. Corporal
Mitchell William Private
Muir Jack Corporal
Muir Robert Private
Murphy Charles Private
Osborne J. Second Lieutenant M.M.
Park Matthew Private
Pate John Private
Pattison James Private
Peat Archibald Private
Pollock Max K. Captain
Ritchie J.K.T. Private
Ritchie James Private
Ritchie Rob Private
Robertson D. Corporal
Robertson J.C. Corporal
Roy Alexander Sergeant
Roy James Lance Corporal
Roy John Private
Scott William Private
Seggie Rob Private
Shedden William Lance Corporal
Short Edward S. Private
Smith Alexander Private
Smith Hugh Private
Smith John Private
Steel Alexander Driver
Stevenson C. Private
Stevenson T.K. Lieutenant
Stewart John Private
Stewart John Sergeant
Stewart William Major
Street Arthur Private
Struthers W. Corporal
Thomson C.B. Able Seaman Royal Navy?
Thomson Jack Lance Corporal
Walker John Private
Wallace John Private
Warden John Private
Wark James Private
White John Private
Wilson Alexander Private
Wilson H.G. Private
Wilson R. McI. Private
Wilson Robert Sergeant Major
Wilson Thomas Private
Wylie Hugh M. Private
Young Andrew Sergeant

Mod Edit Adam: The following names were wrongly attributed to the WW2 list by Jim when he originally posted this memorial, but were actually additions to the WW1 names.

Pte Andrew Bell
Pte John Bell
Pte Malcolm Bell
Pte George Bell
Pte Archibald Galbraith
Pte Hugh Gilmour
Pte Robert S Gilmour
Pte James Hodgart
Pte James McAllister
Sgt Terence McCabe
Pte William McCabe

WWII ROLL OF HONOUR:
Allan John J. Engineer
Anderson John S. Able Seaman
Arnott John Sergeant
Clark William Private
Crosbie John J. Sergeant
Guy Robert Sergeant Navigator
Dale Cochrane M. Warrant Officer
Dickie William Private
Drummond William L.A.C.
Fleming William Sergeant
Gillespie Charles Sergeant
Glasgow William Gunner
Hamilton Robert Sergeant
Hays Robert G. Private
Henderson Alexander Sergeant
Jack William C. Sergeant
Kennedy Adam Driver
MacGregor George Private
McBeth James Sapper
McGhee Francis Lance Corporal
McIntosh Hugh Able Seaman
McLachlan Robert Private
McLennan D.D. L.A.C.
McLeod John Sergeant
McMillan Roland H. Private
McNulty William Lance Corporal
Montgomery James Craftsman
Smith David Sergeant
Smith Robert A. Signaller
Steven A.J.K. Sergeant
Stevenson John Sergeant
Waterston Robert Sergeant
Waterston William Sergeant
Wilson James Lance Corporal
Wilson John Gunner

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting Beith, one I had specifically requested before.
I wonder if W. Henderson is one of my 'Blair' boys;

Name: HENDERSON, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 42
Date of Death: 28/06/1915
Service No: 135
Additional information: Son of Alexander Henderson, of Blairgowrie, Perthshire; husband of Jane Meikle Porter Henderson, of 48, Wilson St., Beith, Ayrshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 92 to 97.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

ALSO COMMEMORATED ON THE BLAIRGOWRIE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL BOARD

BLAIRGOWRIE ADVERTISER: 31.07.15
Official intimation has been received that Pvt. William Henderson, of 1/8th Scottish Rifles (Cameronians), fourth son of the late Mr Alex. Henderson, saddler, Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie, was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 28th June.
Deceased was a saddler to trade, and enlisted about the beginning of the year at Glasgow, where he had been employed for a number of years, and where his widow and son and daughter reside. He had been only two months in the trenches.

regards,
Mark

KevinStoke · . Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 175

The 2 attic dormas top left were built by my uncle who lived in the house for many years, small world isnt it.

DerekR · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:21 am Post subject:

Missing from the memorial:

Name: MACFARLANE
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 26/04/1917
Service No: S/8325
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 18.
Cemetery: GUEMAPPE BRITISH CEMETERY, WANCOURT
SDGW states: born Beith, enlisted Glasgow

_________________

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

DerekR · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

There are only 2 casualties with the surname of Jessamine in the CWGC records so the following looks to be the Jessamine listed though I can't see a Beith connection:
(also commemorated on the Inverkeithing War Memorial)

Name: JESSAMINE
Initials: James Walter
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 26/04/1917
Service No: 266815
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 20.
Cemetery: GUEMAPPE BRITISH CEMETERY, WANCOURT
SDGW states: born Port Errol, Aberdeenshire, enlisted Inverkeithing, Fifeshire

_________________

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

spoons · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject:

UKNIWM Ref No 40938

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

From The Scotsman Monday 8th November 1920

BEITH

In presence of a large gathering the Beith War Memorial was unveiled on Saturday by Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, M.P. for Bute and North Ayrshire. The memorial, which takes the form of a Celtic cross, is erected on a commanding site on the Bigholm Hill, overlooking the town, and on the panels are inscribed the names if 172 Beith men who fell in the war.

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject: Pte. Robert Barr

DelBoy · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:14 pm Post subject: Sgt. Robert Reid Waterston

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: Pte. James Ferguson

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 2:42 am Post subject: Pte. William McCabe

Not mentioned on this or any other surrounding parish memorials strangley. [edit] Yes he is!

WW1
Pte. William McCabe

(Glasgow Herald 16th Dec 1914)
"Intimation has been received from the War Office that Private William McCabe, 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers, was killed at Ypres on November 11. He was the eldest son of Mr Hugh McCabe of Beith."

CWGC
Name: McCABE, WILLIAM
Rank: Private
Service No: 10742
Date of Death: 14/11/1914
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 19 and 33.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Hugh and Ellen McCabe, of 5, Mains Rd., Beith, Ayrshire.

SNWM
Surname: McCABE
Firstname: William
Service Number: 10742
Date Death: 14/11/1914
Place of birth: Beith Ayrshire
Other: 1st Bn.
SNWM roll: THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
Rank: Pte

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Pte. William McCabe

pr1066 · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 7 Location: West Lothian

The posted RoH for WW2 is incorrect. The problem is that there are some WW1 names around the base of the cross. Some panels have '1939' down the LH side and '1945' down the RH side. Only these panels contain names from WW2. The others are additional casualties from WW1.

The posted list should have the following under WW1

Pte Andrew Bell
Pte John Bell
Pte Malcolm Bell
Pte George Bell
Pte Archibald Galbraith
Pte Hugh Gilmour
Pte Robert S Gilmour
Pte James Hodgart
Pte James McAllister
Sgt Terence McCabe
Pte William McCabe

The entry under WW2 for Cochrane Dale gives his rank as Wireless Operator. His rank was Warrant Officer.

If anyone is interested in further details of the men recorded on the Beith memorial (as well as some with Beith associations who are not) I have some on an Excel spreadsheet which I am happy to share.

My own connection is with Andrew Young and William Stewart. Major Stewart is a distant cousin through my late father's mother. Andrew Young was my father's first cousin on his father's side. Both men died, along with sixteen of their comrades from Beith, on the 12th of July 1915. Their commanding officer was Aylmer Hunter-Weston, who unveiled their memorial in 1920....

Walter Grossart was also second cousin to my father.

DelBoy · Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 4:13 pm Post subject:

pr1066,

Thanks very much for sorting out the mistake with the names. It's good to see William McCabe wasn't forgotten after all.

Derek.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:40 pm Post subject:

Pr1066

Many thanks for the update. I have updated the original post and moved the WW1 names from the WW2 section.

I would be delighted to see the spreadsheet. I will send you a PM with my e-mail address.

Kind regards

Adam