Memorial details

Memorial type
Cross
District
Renfrew
Town
Barrhead
County
Strathclyde
Country
Scotland
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Terrorist Acts, Northern Ireland Conflict; The Troubles (1969-1998)
Ceremony
  • Rededicated
    Date: 1 November 2008
    Attended by:
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
44698

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Current location

Cowan Park
facing Darnley Road
Barrhead
Renfrew
Strathclyde
G78 1SS
Scotland

OS Grid Ref: NS 51074 59333
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Celtic style wheel cross on square plinth and three stepped base. The WW1 names are on all 4 sides of the plinth. For WW2 there is a low screen wall behind, terminating in 2 pillars on which the names are inscribed. The WW2 dedication is in the centre of this low wall. This was amended in November 2008 to include a post 1945 dedication, and 3 names- 2 died in the August 1974 Guildford pub bombings, and the third in a road accident while on duty in Northern Ireland in August 1979. At the same time the pillars each had '1939-1945' added to them.
Inscription
WW1 memorial: 6 O'clock: IN MEMORIAM/ 1914 - 1918/ (NAMES) 9 O'clock: (NAMES) 12 O'clock: (NAMES) 3 O'clock: (NAMES) Screen Wall- THE CITIZENS OF BARRHEAD/ RECORD WITH PRIDE AND GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/FALLEN IN OTHER CONFLICTS SINCE 1945/[names] [WW2 names are on pillars terminating each end of the screen wall
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Abbott, Harold T
Adair, William S
Agnew, Samuel
Aird, Alexander
Airston, Robert P
Allan, Alexander
Anderson, Henry
Anderson, James
Anderson, James A
Anderson, Matthew
See details for all 381 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 294
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 294
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames
    Order of information: surname
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 84
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 84
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames
    Order of information: surname
  • Terrorist Acts
    Total names on memorial: 2
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 2
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Northern Ireland Conflict; The Troubles (1969-1998)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forename
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Cross
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Plinth
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Steps
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Steps
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Base
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Wall
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Pillar
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=118&mforum=warmemscot
  • The last gravestone on this reference is for Private Duncan McKelvie- the Northern Ireland Casualty- warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=9356&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60&mforum=warmemscot
  • The following text is taken from the Paisley Daily Express of 5th November 2008 **** THE names of three soldiers who died on active service around 30 years ago have been added to a town’s war memorial. The families of Privates John Hunter and William Forsyth, both of the Scots Guards, and Private Douglas McKelvie, of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, saw their loved ones honoured at a moving ceremony at the memorial to the fallen of two World Wars and later conflicts at Cowan Park, Barrhead. Private Hunter, who was 17, and Private Forsyth, who was 18, died in the notorious Guildford pub bombings of August 1974, while Private McKelvie, who was 20, died in a road accident while on duty in South Armagh in August 1979. All three were from Barrhead. A piper played a lament as the ceremony unfolded. It was conducted by the Rev Maureen Leitch, of Bourock Church, who offered words of comfort to the proud but still brokenhearted families of the three dead men. Also present were members of the men’s regiments, along with old servicemen and women who are members of the British Legion. In all, around 90 people attended the event which heard an address from Councillor Alex Mackie, Provost of East Renfrewshire, who paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Privates Hunter, Forsyth and McKelvie. The war memorial at Cowan Park has a long list of the names of those killed in war and other conflicts. And, after consultation with families, it was decided to add the names of those who died in more recent conflicts. A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said: “The ceremony went very well and was very well attended by families and representatives of the regiments, along with the British Legion. “It was obviously a very moving experience for the families even after all this time.” The rededication of the war memorial took place on Saturday, November 1, the first day of the season of remembrance, which culminates on Armistice Day, on November 11. Hundreds will remember the fallen on Remembrance Sunday on November 9.

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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© WMR-44698

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