August 1914 saw the outbreak of the First World War. It was the Great War – the war to end all wars and it was stated that it would be over by Christmas. At its finish, in November 1918, four years later the losses to the Allied Powers in War Dead amounted to some 5,200,000. Britain herself lost just short of 1,000,000 in the conflict. By 1919, Britain was only too painfully aware of the supreme effort and loss it had endured during the previous 4 years. As a nation, it vowed and promised never to forget those who had given their lives to secure peace. To that end, the local populace of virtually every hamlet, village, town and city throughout the land ensured their heroes would be honored and remembered by the erection of a suitable war memorial to them. The villages and towns of Lanarkshire were no exception and, as we know, many such memorials were erected to the memory of its fallen. These memorials were either in the form of a large village memorial or plaques within local churches or organisation that lost members. 1921 saw the inclusion of Stonehouse amongst those erected.
Some 30 years later, those same promises and vows were repeated, as the Nation’s Memorials saw the addition of many further names – names of those who gave their lives in the Second World War.
Today, it is hard to remember those you never knew. All that is left is a list of names inscribed on memorial tablets, whom we respect by the laying of wreaths each year on Armistice Sunday. 2014was the 100th anniversary of the ending of that “war to end all wars”. It is our wish to see that the memories of those 88 men who fell in the 1914-18 war do not.
Research is currently on-going to build a biography of these young men. Our members area provides a list of available data drop down menus which includes a Roll of Honour and list of enlistees which provides some additional detail on these men and we hope to add a more complete profile as we continue our research. Through this research an additional 28 names were added to the memorial in 2008 and a re-dedication service was held to commemorate this. Thanks go to the late Mr Jim Davidson who commenced this research and to William Mackie who checked it and organised the re-dedication ceremony. As research continues we know that more will be added.
If you find your way to our site and have any details no matter how small, photographs or any other information of those who are on our Roll of Honour or list of enlistees we would like to hear from you.
Please Contact email@example.com If you come across any errors please let us know, all information has been researched by local volunteers.
In addition the local churches also commemorated the fallen by erecting plaques inside the churches. St Ninians and Paterson Church were amongst those and the following pictures show the memorials.