The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

David McNay · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject: St. Nicholas Church, Lanark

Many apologies for the quality of these pictures as they were taken in a hurry on my camera phone.

St. Nicholas is easily recognisable if you visit Lanark, situated at the bottom of the High Street. Well known for the statue of William Wallace above the door.

DSC00230 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

David McNay · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

I must apologise for this next set of pictures. Not only for the quality but for being unable to identify which memorial belongs to which church.

There are two First World War memorials in the church, and the person I asked was unaware of which one belonged to St. Nicholas, and which one had belonged to St. Leonard's Church, which has now closed.

I will post both here and hopefully at a later date can confirm which is which.

This first one, which I believe may be St. Nicholas (due to its location) is right in front of you as you enter the main doors.

The other evidence for this being the St. Nicholas Church memorial is that it mentions Alexander Shiels Elliot, who is commemorated on a stained glass window inside the church itself. The window has been posted in the individual section.

These pictures are terrible and do not do it justice.

DSC00222 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

The names:

DSC00223 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSC00224 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

The second memorial is above and on the wall to the left of this memorial.

DSC00226 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

The names from this memorial:

DSC00227 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSC00228 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSC00229 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

David McNay · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

This Second World War memorial is in the main church itself, situated to the right of the pulpit as you look at it.

It does not name a church but since the other Second World War memorial mentions St. Leonards I presume this is the St. Nicholas Church memorial.

Again, some terrible photos. I will make a return trip to improve on these shots.

DSC00233 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

DSC00234 by Scottish Military Research Group, on Flickr

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 4:35 pm Post subject:

Named on the Hobkirk Parish War Memorial in Bonchester Bridge, Roxburghshire as:

LIEUT. ALEX. SHIELS ELLIOT, H.L.I.
Alexander Shiels Elliot – age 22 – Lieutenant, attached to 8th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Alexander was educated at Glasgow Academy before joining his father's auctioneering business. He was commissioned in the 8th HLI in August 1914 and was amongst a number of men from the battalion who were seconded to the 1/7th Battalion of the Royal Scots for overseas service. He was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1915 and landed at Gallipoli in June but he was killed two weeks later during the battle at Gully Ridge.
Born 1892 in Lanark. Son of the late Ellen Elizabeth (Shiels) Elliot (died 1894) and of William Elliot of Muirglen, Lanark.
The family estate was at Harwood, Bonchester Bridge, Hobkirk.
Missing in Action on 28 June 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Also named on an individual memorial on a family grave in Hobkirk Churchyard, on a stained glass window in St. Nicholas Church in Lanark, on the church memorial and on the Lanark War Memorial.
_________________
Ken

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

The WMR reports are-
WMR 81335 St Leonard's
WMR 81336 St Nicholas' WW2
WMR 81337 St Nicholas' WW1

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:48 pm Post subject:

Name: AITKEN, JW
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 41094
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 10th Bn
Date of Death: 16/8/1917
Age: 22
Additional Information: Son of William Aitken, of 3, Bannatyne St., Lanark.
Grave Reference: I M 14
Cemetery: Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery.

Also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:11 pm Post subject:

Name: ANDERSON, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 719
Regiment/Service: Lanarkshire Yeomanry
Date of Death: 20/6/1920
Age: 50
Additional Information: Son of David and Jane Stewart Anderson. Born at Lanark.
Grave Reference: St. Kentigern's Sec. South of Abbey.
Cemetery: Lanark Cemetery.

Also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:24 pm Post subject:

Name: BANKS, CHARLES JAMES
Initials: CJ
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: S/12657
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders, 7th Bn
Date of Death: 12/10/1916
Age: 18
Additional Information: Son of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Banks, of Mervyn, Lanark.
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 15C
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial.

Also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:50 pm Post subject:

Name: BELL, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Service Number: 183395
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery, Siege Signal Depot (Fareham)
Date of Death: 25/5/1918
Age: 29
Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Jeanie Young Bell; husband of Eva Mary Gray (formerly Bell), of 28, Bannatyne St., Lanark. Born at East Kilbride, Glasgow.
Grave Reference: St. Leonard's Sec. North wall. 9.
Cemetery: Lanark Cemetery.

And his brother:

Name: BELL, T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 667
Regiment/Service: Lanarkshire Yeomanry
Date of Death: 27/12/1915
Age: 25
Additional Information: Son of Thomas Bell. Of Lanark.
Panel Reference: Sp Mem A 98
Cemetery: Redoubt Cemetery, Helles.

Both are also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 1:51 pm Post subject:

Name: BARR, SAMUEL
Initials: S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 6611
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders, 1st Bn
Date of Death: 28/3/1918
Panel Reference: Bay 8 and 9
Memorial: Arras Memorial.

Also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 1:54 pm Post subject:

Name: BROATCH, G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Service Number: 271246
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots, 17th Bn
Date of Death: 9/4/1918
Grave Reference: I E 6
Cemetery: Englebelmer Communal Cemetery.

Also named on Lanark and Ruthwell War Memorials.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 2:08 pm Post subject:

Name: BROWN, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service Number: 8749
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 8th Bn
Date of Death: 28/6/1915
Age: 21
Additional Information: Son of William and Esther Maddill Brown, of 298, Edgefauld Rd., Springburn, Glasgow.
Panel Reference: Panel 93 to 98
Memorial: Helles Memorial.

Also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:19 pm Post subject:

Name: BUCHANAN, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 7187
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry, 8th Bn
Date of Death: 28/6/1915
Panel Reference: Panel 174 to 178
Memorial: Helles Memorial.

Also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:36 pm Post subject:

Name: CARRUTHERS, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Service Number: 183066
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry, 7th Bn
Date of Death: 10/10/1916
Memorial: Vimy Memorial.

And his brother:

Name: CARRUTHERS, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 29980
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers, 6th/7th Bn
Date of Death: 31/7/1917
Age: 28
Additional Information: Son of the late William and Christina Carruthers, of 89, Castlegate, Lanark.
Panel Reference: Panel 19 and 33
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Both are also named on Lanark War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 6:22 pm Post subject:

As a footnote to the information on George Broatch, Ken Morrison has informed me that George married in St Leonard's Manse on 2 November 1917 so I think it is safe to assume that the second memorial that David has posted will be the St Leonard's Church memorial (as he correctly assumed at the time).