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St. George Square, Glasgow |
Over 200,000 Glaswegians served in the Great War—18,000 of them did not survive and 35,000 more were wounded or injured. After the war, a memorial committee was established, chaired by the Lord Provost Sir James Watson Stuart. It recommended the building of a public memorial in George Square, site of Glasgow's City Chambers, and financial support for disabled servicemen.
The Cenotaph was designed by Sir J.J. Burnet in 1922 and is flanked by sculptures of lions by Ernest Gillick. It is described as a 9.7-meter-tall polished grey granite tall squat obelisk in a U-planned enclosure with low walls and a pair of sculptured lions couchant [lying down, heads raised] guarding the site.
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| West Face |
There is a gilded metal cross in the form of a sword on the face and below it a representation of St Mungo in front of Glasgow's coat of arms.The rear (east) face bears a carving of the Scottish version of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. In the foreground is a panel with an embossed wreath.
The obelisk bears several inscriptions. On the west face, carved into the stone either side of the figure of St Mungo: "PRO PATRIA / 1914 1919 / 1939 1945" and then below, in raised lead letters: "TO THE IMMORTAL HONOUR OF THE / OFFICERS NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS / AND MEN OF GLASGOW WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED / IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL RECOGNITION BY / THE CITY OF GLASGOW" and then, carved into the stone at the base of the cenotaph: "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE"
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| Lion Couchant |
On the east face, carded to either side of the royal coat of arms is "PRO PATRIA / 1914 1919" and then below raised lead letters read: "TOTAL OF / HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES / ENGAGED / AT HOME AND ABROAD / 8654465 / OF THIS NUMBER / THE CITY OF GLASGOW / RAISED OVER 200000" and then in smaller letters "UNVEILED / ON / SATURDAY 31ST MAY 1924 / BY / FIELD MARSHAL EARL HAIG OF BEMERSYDE / GM KT GCB / COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE EXPEDITIONARY / FORCES IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS / 1915-1919"
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| East Face |
Further raised lead letters on the south and north faces read, respectively: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN / THAN THIS / THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE / FOR HIS FRIENDS", quoting from John 15:13; and "THESE DIED IN WAR / THAT WE AT PEACE MIGHT LIVE / THESE GAVE THEIR BEST / SO WE OUR BEST SHOULD GIVE".
Sources: The Glasgow Story; Wikipedia, Wiki Commons, Historic Environment Scotland
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