THE TOLL BOYS' WAR MEMORIAL, PORT GLASGOW
My father, JOHN LEWIS was born and brought up in Glasgow.
He served in the Royal Engineers from 1915,
was severely wounded at Arras and finally discharged in 1918 a week after the
Armistice was signed. In 1921 he was invited to return to Port Glasgow to unveil a
memorial to twenty-nine friends who fell in that Great War. He was very proud of
the gold medallion presented to him during the ceremony. This is
the main write-up of the event. There are links at the foot of this page to
other newspaper articles.
The memorial was attached to No.5 Glasgow Road, a new red sandstone tenement at the corner of Glasgow Road and Caledonia Street. Due to major changes in Port Glasgow over the years, including the realignment of Glasgow Road, this building is now known as No.5 Robert Street.
THE PORT GLASGOW EXPRESS : WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1921
Toll Boys’ War Memorial
THE UNVEILING CEREMONY - IMPRESSIVE SERVICE
The Toll Boys' Memorial was unveiled on Saturday afternoon, and the ceremony is
one not likely soon to be forgotten by the large numbers who attended. It is
interesting to know how much was done for the boys from this district who served
in the great war, and now when all is over the handsome memorial which was
unveiled on Saturday has been erected for twenty-nine of their number who will
return to the scenes of their boyhood no more
The memorial takes the form of a bronze tablet surrounded by grey granite, and
is the work of Mr Archd. Hamilton, Glasgow. It had been placed on the wall of
the building at 5 Glasgow Road immediately adjoining Caledonia Street, and where
the Old Toll House formerly stood. The memorial has been erected at a cost of
close on £70, this amount having been collected through the instrumentality of
Mr and Mrs S. McKay, who initiated the proposal to erect the memorial. They have
been untiring in their efforts, as have all the members of the committee, and
the result of their labour of love may be seen by all who pass by.
The memorial bears the names of the twenty-nine lads who fell in the war, and
has the following inscription: "Erected in grateful memory of the Toll Boys who
fell in the great war; their memory liveth for evermore." The present Toll Boys
placed a wreath of purple and white heather at the foot of the memorial, and a
wreath of variegated flowers was also placed beside the memorial by one of the
relatives of the boys who had fallen.
It was fitting that all those who took part in the ceremony on Saturday should
have been on active service, and during the service Mr John Lewis, who had lost
both legs at Ypres, and who performed the unveiling ceremony, completely broke
down. It was. too much for him when the pipers of the Port and District Pipe
Band played The Flowers o' the Forest. The day before this ex-soldier lost his
legs was the last time he had heard the pipers play that tune, and it was over
the burying place of his chum near Ypres. Little wonder the event of Saturday
recalled such painful memories.
The names of the lads inscribed on the memorial are:
Messrs W. Burnside, R.G.A.; N. Collins, P. Cooper, S. Gilmour, R. Graham, S.
Kane, J. Love, J. McGhie, J. McKay, D. Mooney, A. Orr, S. Ptolomey, Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders; J. Kincaid, A. Logan, A. McKay, G. Potter, Cameron
Highlanders; J. Rorison, Seaforth Highlanders; F. McCorkindale, Royal Scots; A.
Cooper, Royal. Scots Greys; J. Logan, H.L.I.; R. McLean, Inniskilling Fusiliers;
J. Duffy, S. Mitchell, S. Gourlay, Naval Division; C. Simpson, D. Wilson, Royal
Navy; J. Shields, Royal Field Artillery; T. Walker, Durham Light Infantry; W.
Tanner, Howitzer Brigade.
A small platform was erected in front of the tenement, and on it were the
company to take part in the ceremony, including Rev. Herbert Reid, M.C.; Messrs
William Ramsay (who presided), Samuel Mackay, Robert Barr, and John Lewis.
Mr Ramsay, in the course of a few opening remarks, said that on such a solemn
occasion it was natural that their sympathies should go out to the relatives and
friends of the dead heroes. Through their sorrow there was the feeling of pride
in the comrades, and gratitude for what they did. That pride was all the greater
when it was remembered that these twenty-nine heroes were Old Toll Boys. These
gallant men had not been found wanting; they obeyed the call in 1914, and
acquitted themselves like men. It was only natural that the Old Toll boys at
home should desire to place on record for the inspection of all time the names
of the heroes. Many of the old boys went into the great adventure willingly, not
knowing that great suffering, even death, was before them. If the deeds of these
brave men helped to make it impossible for great nations to war against each
other, then their sacrifice would not be in vain; Already was there established
a League of Nations, which was a step in the right direction. If they made
"Trust" the watchword of all nations people might then look for the dawning of
the day about which the national bard wrote - that man to man the world o'er
would brothers be for all that.
The Old Toll Boys at home had during the war collected £66 10s. Of that 28s went
to thirty-eight men serving, the same to a nurse and a W.A.A.C., and a similar
amount lodged in the bank for three prisoners of war.
Rev. Herbert. Reid, who had been on active service for a number of years in
France and Belgium, performed the service of dedication. His prayer was highly
impressive, and he paid a glowing tribute to the young men who had gone out from
that district.
Trumpeter Harkness, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, sounded the "Last Post,"
and Port-Glasgow and District Pipe Band played "The Flowers o' the Forest."
Bailie Cochran on behalf of the committee, presented Mr Lewis with a gold medal
as a memento of the occasion. He referred briefly to the patriotism and
gallantry displayed by the men from the Toll district and from the entire
country during the dark days of the war, and hoped they would be spared a
recurrence of such horrors. He had not the least doubt, however, if the occasion
ever did arise, the boys from the Toll District would buckle on their armour as
those whose memory they were perpetuating that day.
Mr Lewis in a few words thanked Bailie Cochran and the committee for the
presentation of the medal, and after singing the national anthem the large
numbers present dispersed. There were many people visiting the memorial on
Saturday evening and Sunday.
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Separate items on the same page
The Committee wishes to thank the members of the Band, Buglers and Mr Lithgow
for permission in granting position for Memorial, and all who helped in any way
to make Saturday’s Service so successful.
S. McKay & R Barr, Conveners.
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The picture of the unveiling of the Toll Boys’ Memorial on Saturday will be
shown in the Eclipse tonight and during the remainder of the week.
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Port Glasgow Express, Wed. 31/08/21
Port Glasgow Express, Fri. 02/09/21
Greenock Telegraph, Mon. 05/09/21
Port Glasgow Express Wed. 07/09/21