Ardrossan war memorial: Rededication ceremony for 100th anniversary

The Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston branch of Legion Scotland is inviting the Ardrossan community, local groups, schools, churches, relatives, members of the public and other interested groups to join them at 12 noon on Friday, May 5 to participate in the service.

Floral tributes, wreaths and dedications will be welcome.

On  May 5, 1923, several thousand people gathered at the South Beach Memorial for the Dedication and unveiling service.

With the end of the devastating World War, less than five years earlier, the community of Ardrossan came together to fund, design and construct a memorial to those local service men who had died during the 1914-1918 conflict.

The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald of May 11, 1923 reported: "Several thousand people gathered on South Beach, Ardrossan for the dedication of the memorial to soldiers who died in the first world war (1914-1918).

"The local War Memorial Committee had commissioned the architect, Dr Macgregor Chalmers to design the memorial but he died before the task was complete. His work was taken over by Mr J. Jeffrey Waddell who was assisted by Mr T. P. W. Young. The sculptor was Mr James A. Young of Glasgow, and the building work was done by ex-Bailie Inglis of Ardrossan. 

"The Shipyard Cadets’ Pipe Band led a procession from Hill Street to the memorial.  Groups represented included the local Company of the Territorials, Fourth and Fifth Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, Saint Andrew’s Wolf Cub Pack, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Brethren of Lodge Saint John’s number 320, Ardrossan Town Council, Ardrossan Parish Council, School Management Committee, Saltcoats Town Council and the Memorial Committee.

"A second procession of officiating ministers and the Combined Churches’ Choir were led to the memorial by Ardrossan Pipe Band.  Provost George McKellar addressed the crowd then invited the Marquess of Ailsa to unveil the memorial.

"The Reverend R.P. Fairlie read out the names of the one hundred and fifty Ardrossan men who had died in the war.  The memorial was then handed over formally to the custody of the Town Council."

That inscription reads: "They gave their lives for their country and received, each for his own memory, praise that will never die and with it the noblest sepulchre, not that in which their mortal bones are laid, but a home in the minds of men."

The unveiling of the plaque must have been very emotional, with names that were very real to the Ardrossan community - men who just a relatively short time ago had been waved off by their loved ones as they went off to fight for their country.

There have been commemorations at the memorial annually ever since as part of the national acts of remembrance every November.