The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

apanderson · Last edited by apanderson on Mon Sep 30, 2013 4:29 pm; edited 1 time in total

Located at 5 Lint Riggs, Falkirk Town Centre.

UKNIWN: Not listed.

The Memorial is flanked by 2 Rolls of Honour, see:
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?p=59687#59687

Unveiled by the Right Honourable
The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, C.M.G.
The Most Worshipful
Grand Master Mason of Scotland
On Sunday 4th March 1923

apanderson · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:19 pm Post subject:

Although no names are listed on the memorial, 5 of the men who lost their lives are marked on the Rolls of Honour:

Corpl. Peter Cochrane, 4th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
2nd Lieut. John A. Rennie, 3rd Devonshire Regiment
Sergt. John Dougall, D.C.M., 16th Canadian Scottish
Sapper John D. B. Rae, Canadian Engineers
Pte John McGilchrist, Cameron Highlanders

apanderson · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:28 pm Post subject:

Peter Cochrane

CWGC:
Cochrane, Peter
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 4/9282
Date of Death: 2nd January 1916
Regiment: Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Bn.
Memorial: Loos Memorial, Panel 125 to 127

SNWM:
Cochrane, Peter
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 4/9282
Date of Death: 2nd January 1916
Place of Birth: Grahamston (Falkirk)
Regiment: Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Bn.

SDGW:
Place of Birth: Grahamston, Falkirk
Residence: Falkirk, Stirlingshire
Killed in action

On the stairwell within the building, there is a framed letter written by Peter Cochrane to his friend Richard Thomson.

The letter takes the form of two 'amalgamated' poems.

The first section:

Canto The Second, (Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage) Lord Bryon

Verse 5

….. Is that a temple where a God may dwell?
Why, even the worm at last disdains it’s shattered cell.

Verse 6

Look on its broken arch, its ruined wall,
Its chambers desolate, and portals foul:
Yes, this was once ambition's airy hall,
The dome of thought, the palace of the soul.
Behold through each lack-lustre, eyeless hole,
The gay recess of wisdom and of wit,
And passion's host, that never brooked control:
Can all saint, sage, or sophist ever writ,
People this lonely tower, this tenement refit?

The second section

Reflections on a Skull

Part of a poem found beside a skeleton in the Museum of the London Royal College of Surgeons, author unknown.

Behold this ruin! ’tis a skull
Once of ethereal spirit full.
This narrow cell was life's retreat;
This space was thought's mysterious seat.
What beauteous visions filled this spot!
What dreams of pleasure long forgot!
Nor love, nor joy, nor hope, nor fear
Have left one trace of record here.

Beneath this mouldering canopy
Once shone the bright and lovely eye,
But start not at the empty cell—
If on the Cross it loved to dwell
If with no lawless fire it gleamed,
But with contrition’s tear-drop beam’d,
That eye shall shine forever bright
When suns and stars have lost their light.

Here in this silent cavern hung
The ready, swift and tuneful tongue
If of redeeming love it spoke
Confessing Jehovah’s easy yoke
If with persuasive mildness bold
Condeming sin, of grace it told
That tongue in tuneful realms above
Shall sing Messiah’s reign of love

The letter ends:

To Richard Thomson, M.M., 69, Alloa (The Lodge of Alloa)
From Peter Cochrane, S.W. 588, Falkirk (Lodge Callander)
12th January 1914

The article accompanying the letter reads as follows:

Lodge Callendar’s Peter Cochrane wrote this letter to his friend Richard Thomson shortly before the outbreak of the First Great War. The fact that these brethren were more than likely aware that this war was inevitably about to start adds an extra poignancy to this poem!

Peter Cochrane never advanced from his position of Senior Warden of the Lodge. He became an Officer in His Majesty’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Battalion. He rose to the rank of Corporal before he met his untimely death at Flanders on the 2nd of January 1915. Brother Cochrane is just one on the many brethren of Lodge Callander who gave their lives in this, the First Great War.

They are remembered on the war memorial within the Temple and they, along with the fallen brethren of all conflicts shall never be forgotten.

We shall remember them.

apanderson · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:30 pm Post subject:

John Archibald Rennie

CWGC:
Rennie, John Archibald
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 25th July 1916
Age: 29
Regiment: Devonshire Regiment
Cemetery: Camelon Cemetery, Section E, Lair 496
Additional Information: Son of Archibald Cochran Rennie and Mary Walker Rennie (nee Gillies) of ‘Maryville’, 14 Hodge Street, Falkirk

SNWM: Not listed

SDGW:
Died of wounds

MI on stone in Camelon Cemetery reads:
John Archibald Rennie, Second Lieutenant, Lewis Gun Officer
3rd Devonshire, attached 2nd
Wounded in France July 1st 1916
Died in London July 25th (1916) aged 29

See: (Page 7) http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=267&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90&mforum=scottishwargraves

apanderson · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:31 pm Post subject:

John Dougall

CWGC:
Dougall, John
Rank: Company Sergeant Major
Service No: 28874
Date of Death: 8th October 1916
Age: 35
Regiment: Canadian Infantry, 16th Bn.
Awards: D.C.M.
Memorial: Vimy Memorial
Additional Information: Husband of Margaret Dougall, 1861 William Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

SNWM:
Dougall, John
Rank: WO2 (Company Sergeant Major)
Service No: 28874
Date of Death: 8th October 1916
Decoration: D.C.M.
Regiment: Canadian Expeditionary Force

Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty):
Death on or since 8th/9th October 1916
Previously reported missing, now for official purposes presumed to have died
Location of unit at time of casualty: Attack on Regina Trench, Courcelette

Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force Attestation Paper:
Born: 22nd January 1883 at Laurieston, Falkirk.
Trade: Moulder
Attested: 23rd September 1914 at Valcartier, Canada
Age: 31
Previously served 4 years, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

apanderson · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:33 pm Post subject:

John Duthie Buchan Rae

CWGC:
Rae, John Duthie Buchan
Rank: Sapper
Service No: 505534
Date of Death: 19th February 1918
Age: 29
Regiment: Canadian Engineers, 4th Army Troops Coy.
Cemetery: Quatre-Vents Military Cemetery, Estree-Cauchy, France, III, C. 2
Additional Information: Son of William & Janet Rae, 107 Road, Camelon, Falkirk

SNWM: Not listed

Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force Attestation Paper:
Born: 11th May 1888 at Falkirk.
Trade: Carpenter
Attested: 8th April 1916 at Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Age: 27

Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty):
Death: 19th February 1918
Circumstances of Casualty: Died
At about 12 noon on February 19th 1918, while standing beside his bunk in a dugout, he was seen to draw his right hand which held a razor, across his throat. A N.C.O. of his Company got behind him and after a struggle managed to get the razor away from him. The large blood vessels on the right side of his throat were found to have been severed and death resulted three or four minutes later, as nothing could be done to stop the flow of blood. A Court of Enquiry convened toinvestigate his death, found that he committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor while temporarily insane. Buried in Quatre Vents Military Cemetery, 5 miles west of Souchez, France.

apanderson · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 3:34 pm Post subject:

John McGilchrist

CWGC:
McGilchrist, John
Rank: Private
Service No: 220262
Date of Death: 18th August 1918
Age: 38
Regiment: Cameron Highlanders, ‘A’ Coy., 6th Bn.
Cemetery: Dainville British Cemetery, France, II. B. 5
Additional Information: Son of the late Henry and Mary McGilchrist of Falkirk
Husband of Margaret McGilchrist, 80 Oswald Street, Falkirk

SNWM:
McGilchrist, John
Rank: Private
Service No: 220262
Date of Death: 18th August 1918
Place of Birth: Falkirk
Regiment: Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders (formerly 6794, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders)

SDGW:
Born: Falkirk
Resided: Falkirk
Killed in action