The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:29 pm Post subject: Monkton, Carvick Webster Hall

Previously posted by Jamie McGinlay as a photo with comment on the Monkton memorial, this qualifies as a separate memorial in its own right.

Not listed on UKNIWM

Located at a crossroads in Monkton at OS Map Ref NS 358 278

From the local council website "The property was constructed in 1929 and is of a semi arts and crafts design. The hall was given to the village by Harry and Agnes Carvick Webster after their two sons died serving in World War I."

The two sons concerned are John who was killed in Mesopotamia in 1918 and Ross who was killed on the North West Frontier, India, in 1923. I should be able to find John at least on CWGC - but no luck.

I also found the following via Google and thought it worth posting (almost) in full:

"CATHERINE AGNES BALFOUR FAIRFAX

Known as Agnes to the family, she was the daughter of Edward Ross Fairfax (son of John Fairfax, founder of the Sydney Morning Herald) and was born 19 July 1867. She married 31 July 1888, in London, Harry Carvick Webster. They settled at 10 Huntly Gardens, Glasgow, and it was there that their children were born.

Agnes always had plenty of money and she used it to enjoy life by travelling, collecting, and meeting people. During 1905/06 she and Harry took their two oldest daughters, Zara and Rua, out to Australia and then on to New Zealand, on a part business, part family reunion trip. The 13 year old Rua, kept an account of part of the trip in her diary.

At the end of the 1914-18 war, they resumed travelling and spent a great deal of time in Australia, Agnes visiting friends in Melbourne or her daughter, Zara in Queensland. With a capable staff in Glasgow to look after the children, she was able to spend as much time visiting friends and family as she wished. She collected various things from stamps to china and pewter, some of which is in the Sydney Art Gallery. She also had a fine collection of Australian paintings by local artists.

Life did have its tragedies for Agnes and Harry. Their eldest son, John, was killed in Mesopotamia in 1918 and their second son, Ross, was killed on the North West Frontier, India, in 1923 which meant that they had no son to carry on the Webster name. After the death of Harry in 1932, Agnes spent her time travelling between her daughters in Scotland and her daughters in Australia. Orangefield, the home in Glasgow, was sold and Agnes moved into her own flat in Portman Square, London where her daughter Rua, and her grand-daughter Rua, stayed in 1934. Unfortunately, this flat and its contents which included several Webster papers, was destroyed during the Blitz."

and Jamie's photo.