The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

David McNay · Last edited by David McNay on Tue Jul 04, 2017 10:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

This is a fairly recent memorial. I believe that originally there was to be a feature on this whereby the sun would strike it and it would project an image of the Victoria Cross onto the ground in front of it. Sadly this never materialised.

DSCN9512 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9513 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9519 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9514 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9515 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9516 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9517 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSCN9518 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

IMG_6276 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

David McNay · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:14 pm Post subject:

On the back of the memorial is some information on the erection of the monument.

IMG_6277 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

David McNay · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject:

Is it just me that thinks C.e.f. looks wrong?

Surely it should be C.E.F.?

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Poor Lt Lyall, not only do they forget him first time round but they don't get his regiment right when they do get his name inscribed. There are already two CEF names on the front to help!

Adam

handpict · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3

i
I am the instigator of this whole monument, it's story and the paintings that attracted the press to run the campaign to raise money for it. No one under the sun knew of these men's existence until I researched the whole thing. The organisations whose names are on the back of the monument all claim the credit for it's existence but neither of them knew anything about the men previous to my unearthing their stories. I have raised monies for Erskine Hospiyal through talks and even the Parliament debated the book I wroye about the men. Incidentally, Lanarkshire can claim 14 VC's...not 15, I wish we could, but Lt. Lyall is not only not a Lanarkshire man, but he is not even a Scotsman. if the said organisations above had properly researched the man they would have found this to be self evident. Their obvious lack of care is there for all to see with their print mistakes also, like C.e.f which should be CEF. Lt Lyall was as brave as any of our own, but he is not even a Scotsman. Politicians and journalists...I rest my case.

handpict · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3

An exhibition of the original paintings that inspired the monument is to be put on for the whole month of July in the Rutherglen Town Hall.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:01 pm Post subject:

Finally worked out what the Airdrie connection was:

LYALL, GRAHAM THOMSON.
Rank:Colonel
Service No:48647
Date of Death:28/11/1941
Age:49
Regiment/Service:Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Awards:V C.
Grave Reference19. B. 2.
CemeteryHALFAYA SOLLUM WAR CEMETERY (Egypt)
Additional Information:
Son of the Revd. Robert Henry Lyall and Agnes Lisette Lyall; husband of Elizabeth Lyall (nee Frew), of Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

Citation
The following details are taken from the Second Supplement to the London Gazette of December, 13th, 1918:-On September 27th, 1918, when the leading company was halted near Boulon Wood by an enemy strong point Lt. G. T. Lyall executed a flank movement with his platoon and captured it together with prisoners and its guns. Later that day his much weakened platoon was held up by machine guns at the southern end of the wood. Lt. Lyall led forward his few remaining men, then rushed the position single-handed, killing the officer in charge, and took it with its machine guns, capturing numerous prisoners. Advancing, he secured his final objective and still more prisoners. On October 1st, near Blecourt, by skilful disposition of the weak company he then commanded, he overcame another strongly held position, seizing numerous guns and many prisoners. In these two days Lt. Lyall captured 3 officers, 182 other ranks, 26 machine guns and 1 field gun, and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He showed throughout most conspicuous bravery, high powers of command, and skilful leadership.

Graham was born in Manchester. His father was a Church of England priest in Darwin, Lancashire. He enlisted in St Catherines (near the Niagara Falls)
He married Elizabeth Frew in Airdrie in 1919 and lived there for 20 years.
_________________
Ken

handpict · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3

Well done Ken...I know very well the 'connection' with Airdrie for Lt. Lyalll VC and I wish that those responsible for the maintainance of it were as positive in their research as you have been. If they wanted to go down the road of VC's who were married to Lanarkshire women, or who's great granny's came from Lanarkshire, or who once caught a bus to Lanarkshire I could fill the monument up tomorrow...in fact they would have to build another one to hold the names. I know very well why they inadvertantly insulted Lt. Lyall VC by putting his name on the backside of the monument, inclusive of wrong spellings, but I shall 'leave enough rope' as the saying goes and one day someone will hang themselves. The Scottish Parliament debated my book 'MY HERO, MY SOLDIER LADDIE' on the whole story because of it's accuracy and the paintings there-in. The people claiming credit for this monument with their names on the back of it have all the worth it costs to buy the paint to print the names.

apanderson · Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:31 pm Post subject:

Oh Ken - you're slow on this one!!

Re Lyall, see here: (Page 10)
http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=217&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=135&mforum=scottishwargraves

He's on Airdrie Civic Memorial and Airdrie High Church's WW2 Memorial, see:

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=4079

Anne Laughing