Society’s research looks into old soldiers’ histories

As Monk l a n d s prepares to fall silent this Sunday to pay tribute to the fallen, the Lanarkshire Fa m i l y H i s t o r y Society’s military section are looking to create the ultimate research facility detailing the selfless service given by local soldiers.

The dedicated team has embarked on the “massive task” of indexing every Lanarkshire man known to have died in the First World War.

This database will include each soldier’s service number, rank, battalion, brigade, regiment, unit, squadron or ship, and tell how and where they fell and where they are interred or commemorated.

Lindsay Freeland, part of the society and its military researchers, told the Advertiser : “Often servicemen are commemorated on more than just the local civic war memorial.

“He may also be remembered at schools, universities, churches, sports clubs, masonic lodges, places of work, Rolls of Honour and on family headstones; this information will also be included in the index.

“The ultimate objective of this project is to provide families and interested parties with as much information as possible in order for them to advance their research about their ancestors.”

Lindsay added: “Over the last five or six years, members of the society’s military section have been researching the histories of the men from the towns and villages of the county who fought and fell in the First World War.

“The research covers the battlefields of France and Flanders, the Somme and Ypres, together with battles and engagements fought in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, Salonika and Sinai and Palestine.

“In addition, the men of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry, whose story is told in the book Dust, Sand and Mud, are included, along with the men who lost their lives at sea and in the air.

“A total of over 40 books have now been written and published and it is estimated that some 3000 men have been researched.

“In the books, abbreviated military, family and social histories of each of the servicemen are recorded.

“It should also be noted that no women fought in the front line in World War I.”

The Lanarkshire Family History Society welcomes enquiries from members of the public regarding those who lost their lives in WWI; for further i n f o rmation, emaiL military-lanarkshirefhs@ hotmail.co.uk