Memorial details

Memorial type
Allegory (eg: Victory)
District
Bearsden And Milngavie
Town
Bearsden
County
Strathclyde
Country
Scotland
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Second World War - civilians
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 10th May 1924
    Attended by: Sir Iain Colquhoun
  • Dedicated
    Date: 10th May 1924
    Attended by: Rev. Mr Jas. W. Purves, South U.F. Church
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
44691

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Current location

Bearsden Cross
junction of Drymen Road and Roman Road
Bearsden
Bearsden And Milngavie
Strathclyde
G61 2SY
Scotland

OS Grid Ref: NS 54276 72051
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
The Bearsden War Memorial features a bronze group by sculptor Alexander Proudfoot with two 9 foot figures which stand on a 15 foot pedestal of Portland Stone. The group represents 'The Triumph of Sacrifice'. In a note to the Glasgow Herald the sculptor Alexander Proudfoot wrote: 'The Bronze group shows a winged angelic figure supporting the figure of a stricken youth. The figure of the Youth represents the sacrifice of the nation's youth and the winged figure symbolises the National Consciousness of the sacrifice and also the Victory. The head of the winged figure turns towards the Youth expressing by the action the divine regard and preciousness of the sacrifice.' The plinth has a band of laurel wreath running around the top and there are seven plaques on the lower section, the top row contains the names and dedication of the fallen from the First World War and the lower row, which were added later, contain the names and dedication to the fallen from the Second World War. The plinth is raised on a single stepped base.
Inscription
IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF FROM THIS DISTRICT WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 and THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Adams, Herbert P
Aitken, Kenneth
Alexander, Douglas F
Allan, W Lothian
Anderson, Edward
Baxter, J Steven
Billing, James M. M.
Blythe, Thomas A
Boyack, James T.
Brockhill, William
See details for all 148 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 75
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 75
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: forename, surname
    Order of information: surname, forename
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 72
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 72
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: forename, surname
    Order of information: surname, forename
  • Second World War - civilians
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: forename, surname
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Figure
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Plinth
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Plaques / Panels with names
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Base
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Portland
Condition
History
In 2014 War Memorials Trust offered a grant of £9,240 for repair and conservation work. The memorial faced a number of issues. Exposure to weather and pollution had resulted in corrosion of the bronze elements which in-turn have caused run off staining on areas of the stone. The construction joints on the memorial were in poor condition and were cracked or are missing, which means that water was getting into the memorial. In addition, past un-sympathetic repairs and painting of stone and bronze have been undertaken and these were starting to fail, this was distracting from the aesthetics of the memorial. To address these issues work was undertaken to clean and repair both the stone and bronze elements of the memorial. The applied paint finishes was appropriately removed and run off staining on the stone has been lessened. The construction joints were re-pointed with a lime mortar. In addition the water run off pipe, to the rear of the memorial, has been lengthen to prevent water running down the face of the bronze plaque and surrounding stonework
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • Milngavie and Bearsden Herald - Friday 26 August 1921 www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002008/19210826/042/0007 NOTES BY THE WAYSIDE. A cornmencement has been made with the erection of the war memorial at Bearsden. Part of the wall surrounding the playground has been taken down, and another wall in the shape of a crescent is being put up. It may, however, be a considerable time yet before the monument is completed.
  • There is at least one other WW2 casualty not listed- David R.L.P. Matheson (Glasgow Herald 14th November 1945) "Mrs Matheson, of 22 Stirling Drive, Bearsden, has received news that her husband, David R.L.P. Matheson, Asistant Superintendent, Malayan Police, died June, 1945, while an internee at Palembang, Sumatra." CWGC Name: MATHESON, DAVID RODERICK LISTER PICTON Initials: D R L P Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Assistant Superintendent Regiment/Service: Federated Malay States Police Age: 46 Date of Death: 13/06/1945 Additional information: Son of Colin Lister and Annie Picton Matheson; husband of Jean P. Matheson, of Bearsden, Dumbartonshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 6. H. 7. Cemetery: JAKARTA WAR CEMETERY
  • There is at least one other WW2 Civilian not listed- WW2 Alexander Fleming, Civilian (Glasgow Herald 7th November 1945) "Died in civilian internment camp, Singapore, on 26th March, 1942, Alexander Fleming, of Fraoch, Bearsden, and Fleming brothers, Ipoh, F.M.S. beloved husband on Nan Gardner. -Friends who rejoiced with Mrs Fleming on receipt of the good news from the Colonial Office will be shocked at this corrected intimation just received." CWGC Name: FLEMING, ALEXANDER Initials: A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Civilian Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Age: 65 Date of Death: 26/03/1942 Additional information: of Ipoh, F.M.S. Husband of Nan Gardner Fleming, of Fraoch, Bearsden, Dunbartonshire. Died at Singapore. Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority: MALAYA
  • warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=608&mforum=warmemscot
  • Milngavie and Bearsden Herald - Friday 16 May 1924 BEARSDEN WAR MEMORIAL. SIR IAIN COQUHOUN AND AFTERMATH OF WAR. IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. (photograph of memorial) (list of names)
  • The Glasgow Herald of 16th May 1924, Page 5, for substantial details of the unveiling

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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