Glasgow Cenotaph

Over 200,000 men from Glasgow, about a fifth of the whole city population, served in the armed forces during the First World War.

A war memorial committee was established, chaired by the Lord Provost Sir James Watson Stuart, which in 1920 agreed three proposals: to erect of a cenotaph as a public memorial in George Square; to provide financial support for the existing Prince Albert Memorial Workshops which had been opened in 1919 at Killearn Street in Possilpark to train disabled servicemen; and lastly any remaining funds would to be distributed to charity.

Lower on the west face is a stone statue of the city's patron saint, St Mungo, under a canopy, surrounded by a mandorla with the city's motto "Let Glasgow Flourish", and supported by the coat of arms of Glasgow.

The rear (east) face bears a carving of the Scottish version of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom.

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" 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 MARSHALL EARL HAIG OF BEMERSYDE / GM KT GCB / COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE EXPEDITIONARY / FORCES IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS / 1915-1919" 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".