WW2 soldiers give names to streets
Lasting legacy in new development
Six streets in a new housing development being built in Raploch will be named after men from the area who died in World War Two.
Brewster Crescent, Fairley Crescent, Hulston Road, Turner Street, Spencer Place and McDonald Court, will become lasting legacies of six of those who lost their lives in the conflict, and their fellow fallen comrades from the community.
Private Robert Brewster of 21 Hawthorn Crescent, Pte John Fairley of 43D Raploch Road, Pte William Hulston of 8 Hawthorn Crescent, Pte James Turner of 23 Hawthorn Crescent, Pte Ian Spencer of 4 Haig Avenue, and Pte James McDonald of 64 Drip Road are amongst a list of 48 names compiled by Raploch man Mick Lowe. More names are expected to be added.
The roll was read out by schoolchildren at a remembrance ceremony in Raploch on Monday.
Rev Barry Hughes of St Mark’s Parish Church said: “Mick Lowe did painstaking research, apparently much of which involved looking through old copies of the Stirling Observer.
“He went through a lot of the back copies from the war and put together as definitive a list as he could of those men from Raploch who lost their lives in World War II, including their addresses.
“I went into the local schools a few weeks ago to share it and found that not only did quite a lot of children live in the same streets, but in one particular case a boy lived in the same house as one of these men.
“He said he couldn’t wait to tell his mum and dad about this man who had lived in what was now their home.
“We’ve also shared the list on a Facebook page and it generated a lot of discussion, with people saying that they recognised their relatives including fathers, uncles and great grandads.
“At least one person came forward to say they believed their relative might be missing from the list so any that we find out about will be added.”
Among those who came forward was Melanie McShane, who said her grandfather, Cpl Archibald Cowan from Weir Street, died from his injuries on July 7, 1944, in Stirling Royal Infirmary after being re-patriated from POW camp the previous November. He was an Argyll and Sutherland Highlander.
“A lot of people have also been saying we should have a proper memorial or a plaque to commemorate those who died,” said Barry. “That’s something that is now being considered.”
The street-naming came about, said Barry, almost by chance, but as if it was “meant to be”.
“After Mick compiled the list, I took it along to a meeting of Raploch Community Council as I am a member and thought it was of great interest to the community,” added the minister.
“Ward councillor Jim Thomson was there talking about how Stirling Council was looking for suggestions of names of local people for the new housing development. I just happened to have Mick’s list of names and it was taken forward from there.”