History
ST BOSWELLS WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILING
BY THE LADY MARGARET SCOTT
Southern Reporter, 16 December 1920
Of the St Boswells men who served in the war, thirty-one sacrificed their lives. The parishioners having resolved that their memory should be honoured, appointed a committee to formulate a scheme. As the result of their deliberations it was decided to erect a wayside memorial cross on the historic St Boswells green, where a few weeks ago Field Marshal Earl Haig addressed a memorable gathering.
Dr P. Macgregor Chalmers, 95 Bath Street, Glasgow, was the architect commissioned to provide the design. It takes the form of a cairn constructed of local whinstone from which rises a cross of polished Dalbeattie granite. In the east face of the cairn is inserted a granite slab bearing a bronze plaque which has in relief the words: "To the men of St Boswells who fell in the Great War 1914 - 1918". In the same lettering are the names of the men commemorated, namely: George Balloch, R.F.A; Alexander Bell, Lancers; John Blain, K.O.S.B; John Brown, K.O.S.B; Andrew Charters (M.M.),K.O.S.B; William Gow, R.S.F and H.L.I; Joseph Douglas Graham, A.V.C; James Gray, Gordon Highlanders; James Gurney, Scots Guards; John Lindsay Kelsall, Lieut. R.F.A; Andrew Lindores, K.O.S.B; John McVittie, K.O.S.B; David Marshall, K.O.S.B; Walter Melrose, K.O.S.B; John Munro, Royal Scots; Walter Storie Paton, Lieut. Border Regiment; William Preston, Manchester Regiment; John McDougall Rae, L.Cpl. R.S.F and R.S; George Robertson, K.O.S.B; Robert Scott, K.O.S.B; David W. Scott, R.G.A, Henry Scott (M.M) Sergt. K.O.S.B; John Somervaille, London Rifle Brigade; George Swinton, Piper, K.O.S.B; Robert Tait, K.O.S.B; Alastair Fisher Watson, 2nd Lieut. Royal Highlanders; William Walker, R.F.A; Adam Weatherstone, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders; George Brown Wilson, Post Office Rifles; John Wilson, K.O.S.B; John Youngson, Seaforth Highlanders.
The memorial is built upon a slightly elevated site by the roadside and is approached by seven steps. The space on which it stands is flanked by low parapets. There is no fencing as it is felt that the sacred character of the memorial will be sufficient to protect it from violation. The committee have wisely placed upon the children of the parish the obligation of tending the memorial and doubtless this will have the effect of securing it against thoughtless mischief. The contractor for the erection was Mr J. Cumming, junr., Glasgow, and the total cost of the work was £573.
Sunday last was appointed for the unveiling of the memorial, and a more unfortunate day could not have been chosen as far as the weather was concerned. The sudden oncoming of wintry conditions rendered the occasion most unpleasant. The slopes of the distant Eildon Hills were snow clad, and a bitterly cold wind, accompanied by sleet, blew across the exposed country. Notwithstanding the adverse circumstances, a great number of people attended the inaugural ceremony. The school children marched in procession from the village and the church choir was in attendance to lead the musical portion of the dedicatory service. The Lady Margaret Scott, eldest daughter of the Duke of Buccleuch, who had consented to unveil the memorial, motored over from Bowhill with her brother, the Earl of Dalkeith, and was received at the site by Dr Cullen, convener of the memorial committee, Mr Ballantyne, the Rev. A Cameron Watson, parish minister, the Rev. W.R. McKinnon, Free Church minister, Mrs Pringle, Benrig and several members of the committee. The proceedings opened with the singing of " Oh God, our help in ages past" and with the Lord's Prayer led by Mr McKinnon. Lady Margaret Scott unveiled the memorial tablet by withdrawing the Union Jack with which it was covered, and her brother, in a manly speech, referred in terms of commendation to the manner in which the St Boswells people had honoured the fallen men.
The Earl of Dalkeith said: "Ladies and gentlemen - My sister and myself felt it a very great honour to be invited to unveil this memorial this afternoon. I feel the occasion is one of great solemnity, and would only be marred by a long speech. The men of St Boswells whose names are inscribed on this tablet, and whose memory we are met together to honour, were my comrades in arms in the Great War. They fell on the field of battle fighting for their King and country and for our liberty. It was owing to their bravery and endurance that we won the victory, and it is for us to remember their example.
Just as those who have fallen have done their duty, so we must perform the tasks that lie before us. The spirit that enabled us to win the war will enable us to win the peace. For this their great sacrifice we shall for ever feel grateful, and to mark in a very small degree our indebtedness to them we, the people of St Boswells, have erected this memorial to them, our fallen brave. It is, as you see, symbolic of the race to which they belong, and of the fight which they fought. The steps show the hard and upward struggle which they endured leading to victory. The base, rugged and strong, is built of local whinstone and stands four square to the winds. The memorial plate is on the east side facing the rising sun, and above is the white cross in polished Scottish granite, indicative of their suffering and heroism and the welcome awaiting them when they passed over to the great beyond. It is owing to their sacrifice that we are able to stand around this memorial in peace and security. It was they who saved us from the worst form of despotism and from being crushed under the heel of an unscrupulous foe. This memorial, simple in design and massive in construction, will last when all here have passed away.
I understand that the care of the memorial is to be handed over to the school children of St Boswells, who will tend it with affection and gratitude. In days to come the school children will point to it with pride and show the passers by what their forefathers did for liberty and honour in the Great War. Our gratitude must also be extended to the comrades who have returned home, some maimed for life and other fit, and we must see to it that they get their chance.
One more word. To the relatives who mourn the loss which is irreparable I would say , be of good cheer, for your loved ones fell as gallant soldiers fighting for King and country. Theirs was a most glorious death and their memory will never fade. I will now read the names of the fallen as inscribed in alphabetical order on the memorial plate."
After the reading of the names, a bugler of the K.O.S.B sounded the Last Post, which was followed by a two minutes' profound silence. The Rev. A. Cameron Watson offered the prayer of dedication and then came the singing of Paraphrase(sic - actually Psalm) 124. The concluding ceremony was the placing of the wreaths. The Lady Margaret Scott received from Mr Ballantyne the wreath provided by the committee , and from one of the ex-soldiers the wreath presented by the men who had returned from the war. These she laid at the base of the cairn. Then the relatives of the fallen men passed up the steps and deposited their tributes until there appeared a wealth of floral beauty against the background of rugged stone. The singing of the National Anthem was the last observance on the part of the large concourse, who slowly dispersed in the gloaming of the wintry afternoon.