bothkennar and the first world war

This piece of work originated as part of the Falkirk Community Council “Great Place”  project, a volunteer project, which celebrated the history and culture of Falkirk.

On this page, the bars are green and white, craftily hidden behind the guy on the left’s shoulder in the header above.

The specific focus was Falkirk Monuments: I took on the memorial in Bothkennar Kirk which lists the dead of the parish who died in World War 1.

There is a local connection in that, in that my other half’s family are Bothkennar and Carronshore folk. After discovering the existence of the parish Roll of Honour memorial (despite being somewhat hidden because of the lock down), it made sense to focus on this memorial.

Another factor in the decision was the unveiling of the Carronshore War Memorial in June 2020 which commemorates the  men of Carronshore but not of Skinflats. Many of the men remembered on the memorials are also remembered on other war memorials in the area, particularly the Grangemouth and Larbert memorials.

Larbert is of particular interest because of the work done by Russell MacGillivary (and Ian Scott) on the names on the Larbert Memorial. An essential source.

Russell MacGillivary and Ian Scott were responsible for working through the substantial list of men of Larbert listed on the Larbert Memorial outside the Dobbie Hall in Larbert and published on pdf - see button below.

The Bothkennar Memorial Project came about as part of the Falkirk Community Council “Great Place” project, which celebrates the history and culture of Falkirk. The specific focus of the Great Place initiative was “Falkirk Monuments”.

I took on the memorial in Bothkennar Kirk which lists the dead of the parish who died in World War 1, my aim being to better articulate the impact of war on a small community in central Scotland. I have a local connection in that my other half’s family are Bothkennar and Carronshore folk. I was encouraged by discovering the existence of the parish Roll of Honour memorial, much as Columbus discovered America, it made sense to focus on this memorial. The added incentive was the prevalence of folk with the same surnames in the records 100 years ago as now.

The Bothkennar memorial covers both Carronshore and Skinflats i.e. “the Parish of Bothkennar and Carronshore”.

An additional factor in the decision was the recent (June 2020) unveiling of the Carronshore War Memorial which commemorates the men of Carronshore (but not Skinflats).

Much of the work on the men of Bothkennar Memorial in Bothkennar Church had been covered previously by Russell MacGillivary assisted by Ian Scott whose endeavours were published by Falkirk Family History Society in “Larbert and the Great War” – The Men of Larbert War Memorial.  Their contribution is recognised and attributed on the website and their contribution is acknowledged throughout the website. Russell had intended to cover Bothkennar but somewhat ran out of steam. Given my experience of working on the Bothkennar Memorial, so much smaller than the Larbert Memorial, I have come to understand why……

I would also note the assistance of my brother, Martin, who over many years has transcribed and developed information of the dead of both world wars (and “lesser”) wars throughout the UK on his website  which covers the whole of the UK.

 The motivation for me as a baby boomer has been being the son of an English WW2 Gunner in a Scottish Lowland (The Glasgow Gunners) artillery regiment with two grandfathers who fought in the First World War. They survived but many didn’t and over many years the importance of recognising the sacrifice made by service men and women has continued to resonate.

Shame that that sacrifice has perhaps contained but not resulted in the end of conflict.

At the going down of the sun and in the  morning

We will remember them