Memorial details

Memorial type
Composite
District
Ettrick And Lauderdale
Town
Galashiels
County
Borders
Country
Scotland
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: October 1924
    Attended by: Field Marshal Earl Haig
  • Presented
    Date: 1928
    Attended by: The clusters of bells in the tower were donated by the Cochrane family, benevolent local mill owners. They had lost two sons in the Great War.
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
56992

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Current location

Burgh Chambers
Cornmill Square
Galashiels
Ettrick And Lauderdale
Borders
TD1 3AD
Scotland

OS Grid Ref: NT 49294 35956
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Memorial consists of a peal tower and quarter-chiming clock in front of which is a plinth with a statue of a mounted mosstrooper or border reiver (known locally as The Reiver Monument). Behind the sculpture is the bronze panel of WW1 names set into the base of the tower, flanked by the two bronze panels for WW2 (1 on each side). To the right hand side of the memorial is a separate bronze plaque recording the dedication. Above the panel is a relief sculpture of the Angel of Peace holding a wreath in each hand. The clock has two illuminated dials glazed in pot opal glass, with automatic lighting apparatus, gun metal wheels and a bell frame for ten bells (but only four supplied). At 8pm every evening after the eighth strike the bells ring out the first four lines of 'Braw, Braw Lads', written originally by Robert Burns, as a daily tribute to the fallen of WW1 and WW2.
Inscription
WAR MEMORIAL/THE INSCRIBED STONE/LAID IN THE PRESENCE OF/HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES 3RD DECEMBER 1924/UNVEILED BY/FIELD MARSHAL EARL HAIG/OF BENERSYDE/4TH OCTOBER 1925 Plaque: (Names arranged by regiment) Above plaque: 1914 FOR REMEMBRANCE 1918
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Adamson, G
Adamson, Thomas B
Aikman, William
Aitchison, James H
Alexander, John T
Allan, Francis
Amos, John L R
Amos, Thomas R
Anderson, Peter
Anderson, Peter
See details for all 757 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 639
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 639
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames, rank, regiment, decorations
    Order of information: regiment THEN surname
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 118
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 118
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames, rank, service
    Order of information: surname
Components
  • Sculpture
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Tower
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
  • First World War memorial
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Metal
  • Second World War memorial
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Clock
    Measurements: width 1676mm
    Materials: Metal, Glass
  • Bells
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Metal
Condition
History
2008: A decision was made in July to silence the chiming of the bells between midnight and 7.15am as the noise was above permitted levels. However, locals protested at this and are seeking to reverse the decision.
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Responsibility
Galashiels Community Council and the Galashiels branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland
Reference
  • warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic294.html
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Scotsman.com News, 30 November, 2010
  • The Border Telegraph 8 July,2008
  • Keddie, Andrew. "Parker slams staff as Galashiels memorial bell row goes national". Southern Reporter, 31 July 2008.
  • Scottish Legion News No.57 (November 1996) page 2 Published:Royal British Legion Scotland 1996 Best kept War Memorial Competition. Winner of Memorials Without Gardens.

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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This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-56992

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