The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jrah60

University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ

UKNIWM: Not Listed
OS Grid Ref: NS 569666

The University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It dates from 1451 when King James II of Scotland persuaded Pope Nicholas V to grant a lead seal, or bull, authorising Bishop William Turnbull of Glasgow to set up a university.

The History of Glasgow University Chapel
After the horrors of the First World War the University looked for a lasting memorial to its dead. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Donald MacAlister explains in the preface to the Roll of Honour how the University decided to build the Memorial Chapel for the fallen. www.gla.ac.uk

jrah60

Many thanks to Joan Keenan, Secretary to the Chaplain, for allowing me to photograph the memorial tablets.

John Houston

spoons · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:39 pm Post subject:

I was priveleged to be allowed to see the chapel today, some fine windows by Douglas Strachen but I have not yet identified who the newer windows are by. Not nearly enough time to see it all. The whole chapel is a memorial and has some great carvings and many other elements.

I also notice that a name has recently been added.

spoons · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:51 pm Post subject:

You could fill a whole website with details of the windows and the interior. I will limit myself to a single overall shot of each window and one example of a detail from a Strachan window.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:34 am Post subject:

McKENZIE, GRETA GILLIES.
Rank:Civilian
Date of Death:06/05/1941
Age:34
Regiment/Service:Civilian War Dead

Reporting AuthorityPAISLEY, BURGH OF, SCOTLAND
Additional Information:
M.A.; A.R.P. Ambulance Driver. Daughter of David and Agnes McKenzie, of 45 Dundonald Road, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Died at Woodside F.A.P.
_________________
Ken

jrah60 · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:52 pm Post subject:

Another name has been added to the WW2 memorial.

jrah60 · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 5:09 pm Post subject:

On Thursday 25th September 2014 a service of Commemoration of Captain Harry Sherwood Ranken VC Mb ChB (1883-1914), was held in the University Chapel.
During the service a Commemorative Paving Stone was unveiled, this stone will be housed within the Chapel.

Harry Sherwood Ranken was born on 3rd September 1883, son of Henry a minister in Irvine, Ayrshire. He first enrolled at the University of Glasgow in summer 1900 and over the course of his studies he won eight prizes.
These included three surgery prizes in the classes of Professor Sir William Macewen, who served in the war as Consulting Surgeon to the Admiralty. He received his MB ChB degrees in July 1905. In 1910 he became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London.
Before entering military service, Captain Ranken had been a member of the Sudan Sleeping Sickness Commission and had held posts at Glasgow's Western Infirmary and at the Brook Fever Hospital in London. He was author and co-author of articles including "Representations on Experimental Treatment of Trypanosomiasis" in the Proceedings of the Royal Society 1910-1911.
He entered the Army in 1909 and excelled in his studies at the Army Medical College being promoted to Captain in 1912. For gallant conduct under fire in France between 21st and 30th August he was awarded the Croix de Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour.
On 19th and 20th September 1914 at Haute-Avesnes, France, Captain Ranken was severely wounded in the leg whilst attending to his duties on the battlefield under shrapnel and rifle fire. He stopped the bleeding and bound it up, then continued to dress the wounds of his men, sacrificing his own chance of survival to their needs. When he finally permitted himself to be carried to the rear at Braisne, his wounds were too severe and he died on 25th September. For this act of heroism he was awarded the Victoria Cross which is now held at the Army Medical Services Museum in Aldershot.
His will which had been written on 30th May 1910, was confirmed in court in Ayr on 16th December 1914. Alan Rain Ranken, his brother (a University of Glasgow law student at the time the will was drawn up) and George Haswell Wilson, his University friend, were his executors. He left an estate valued at GBP 1,400 1s 4d.

In 1924, his parents founded a University of Glasgow prize in his memory. It is still awarded annually to the candidate who obtains the highest number of marks in the professional examinations in Pathology.
Extract from the University Biography.

RANKEN, HARRY SHERWOOD

Rank: Captain
Date of Death:25/09/1914
Age:31
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Awards: V C
Grave Reference: A. 43.
Cemetery:BRAINE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France), for gallant conduct during the operations from 21st to 30th August 1914. Son of the Rev. Henry Ranken and Helen Morton Ranken, of The Manse, Irvine, Ayrshire. Native of Glasgow.

Citation

An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 28976, dated 13th Nov., 1914, records the following:-"For tending wounded in the trenches under rifle and shrapnel fire at Hautevesnes on 19th September and on 20th September continuing to attend to wounded after his thigh and leg had been shattered. (He has since died of wounds.)"

jrah60 · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 5:18 pm Post subject:

After the service the first Cross of Remembrance was laid in the University Memorial Garden by relatives of Captain Ranken.
Over the next four years a further 760 Crosses will be laid in the garden.

John

mhomac · Joined: 15 May 2010 Posts: 779 Location: South Lanarkshire

There is more information and pictures regarding Captain Harry Sherwood Ranken posted in Ayrshire - Individual Memorials.

Morag.

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:54 pm Post subject:

Does anyone know why the Ranken VC flagstone in being laid Glasgow and not in Irvine where he is also commemorated?

Thanks

Adam

spoons · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 4:56 pm Post subject:

The stones are being given to the regional council where he is born and it is for them to decide the exact location. In D&G's case that means Mackenzie (born New Abbey) is the same council for his place of commemoration (Maxwelltown) and that is where they have chosen to put it. In the case of Clark-Kennedy (born nr Portpatrick), the same council will hopefully decide to put it in Carsphairn (where he is commemorated). Sorry, not a direct answer to your question, but it might help.

\Paul

jrah60 · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 5:17 pm Post subject:

I would think that is a question for the Dept. for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) who give out the flagstones. I do not know why they chose Glasgow over Irvine.
I assume the Councils had to submit their wish lists and the DCMS decided on the allocation.
Ranken was born in Glasgow and trained in the University at Glasgow. His family moved to Irvine when he was 8 when his father became Minister. (His father was also a Glasgow graduate.)
I believe it was Glasgow City Council’s decision to place the stone in the University.
I also believe Ranken’s family were very happy with the decision for the stone to be located in the University Chapel.

John

spoons · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 5:28 pm Post subject:

I think that answers it. He was born in Glasgow so Glasgow got the stone and they decided where to put it. Irvine would not have been consulted under the 'rules' for the stones as I understand it from a flow of correspondence kindly passed on to me by Alex Fergusson MSP.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 4:46 pm Post subject:

Thanks gents, it looks like the Glasgow birth is the key factor for the decision to locate it there.

Thanks

Adam

A Beattie

The Glasgow Herald, Wednesday, 6th December, 1916.
"Deaths on Service.
CHEW.- Killed in action on 15th November, Capt. G.D. Chew, M.C., N. Staffs. att. L.N. Lanc., aged 21, eldest son of G. F. Chew, Calcutta.- Inserted by his friends at Cumbernauld, and 21 Caird Drive."

The Glasgow Herald, Friday, 8th December, 1916.
"CASUALTIES Notes on Officers
CAPTAIN G. DOUGLAS CHEW
NORTH STAFFS.
Captain G. Douglas Chew, M.C., North Staffordshire Regiment, attached Loyal North Lancashire, who was killed while leading his men into action on November 15, was the eldest son of Mr G. F. Chew, Calcutta. Captain Chew received his commission in November, 1914, and went to France in May, 1915. He was awarded the M.C. for great gallantry at St. Elois, and has also been specially mentioned in despatches. Captain Chew was 21 years of age, and before joining the army was a student at Glasgow University."

SNWM - no trace.
France - 29th May, 1915.
Address on back of Medal Index ticket:- Glenbrook, Spreyton P. Office, near Davenport (overwritten), Tasmania, Australia. (Address dates from 1920.)

CWGC - CHEW, George Douglas
Rank: Captain.
Date of Death: 15/11/1916. Age: 21.
Regiment/Service: North Staffordshire Regiment 3rd Bn. attd. 10th Bn The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Awards: M C
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 14 B and 14 C.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of George Frederic and Florence Cecilia Chew, of Spreyton, Tasmania. A Civil Engineering student, Glasgow University.

Also listed the G. U. Faculty of Engineering:- http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic5594.html
_________________
Andrew.