New booklet shines light on Hamilton church’s war memorial

Nov 10 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

A BOOKLET published this week brings to life the names on a Hamilton church’s war memorial.

Called The Fallen, the 45-page A4-size book of remembrance lists the names and deeds of the 31 members of St Andrew’s Church who gave their lives for their country.

A page is devoted to each of the 21 killed in World War One and 10 who perished in World war Two.

Some of the St Andrew’s heroes are pictured in grainy black. For others, there are only pictures of their final resting place in a military cemetery.

The booklet has been a “labour of love” for St Andrew’s parishioner Jim Wood, a 77-year-old former RAF man, who wanted people to know the often forgotten stories of valour behind the names on the memorial.

He enlisted the help of Joe O’Raw (80), who is originally from New Stevenston but now lives in Craigneuk.

Mr O’ Raw has produced 30 war memorial booklets for towns and churches in Lanarkshire and he delved into the archives of the Advertiser and other newspapers to tell the stories of those St Andrew’s Church members who paid the ultimate price.

Mr Wood said: “Phrases such a ‘we will remember them’ or ‘their names will live forever’ are said regularly and with sincere feelings, However, as time goes on, each successive generation finds it more and more difficult to relate to individual names.

“I, like a lot of parishioners, look at the memorial with all these names and wonder what lies behind them.”

“When I read the book I was surprised by valour particularly of one man, Captain Robert Downie.

“He signed up as a private, went through the war, was wounded, decorated, went back to the Front Line and died five days before the end of the war trying to capture a railway station.

“Another parishioner, who came back from Canada to sign up, died when HMS Hood was blown up by the Bismark.

“There are so many stories like that and this booklet has brought them all ltogether.”

Ian Forsyth, president of the Royal British Legion Scotland Hamilton branch, said: “They have done a wonderful job and I would like to see more churches and other institutions do likewise.

“I think it will bring the realities of war a bit closer to home especially if we can add the stories of those killed since the last war.”

The booklet (printed by Voice Design and Print, Hamilton) is available from the church for a donation of at least £4 with all proceeds going to Erskine Hospital.