A REMEMBRANCE IN HONOUR OF THE FALLEN, WHO ARE LISTED ON THE GREAT WAR MEMORIAL, AT ST ANTHONY'S CHURCH, SCOTLAND ROAD, LIVERPOOL.
Click on the above links for details on the men, photographs and Church history.
This site is a sister site of the War memorial of Our Lady of Reconciliation church, Eldon Street, Liverpool. The church is within easy walking distance of St Anthony's and many of the men listed on the two memorials would have had connections between both churches. The Our Lady of Reconciliation site can be viewed by using the following link http://www.freewebs.com/eldonmemww1/index.htm The site also contains newspaper items from WW1.
St Anthony's church stands on the famous Scotland Road in Liverpool, it is one of the few buildings to survive the mass demolition that the area has witnessed over the past one hundred years. St Anthony's is a familiar sight to travellers along Scotland road, standing proud as a memorial of days long gone by. The church is well used with regular services and is popular with people who once lived in the area, many returning to hold weddings and funerals. The church doors are open during the day and if you stand opposite you will see the many people popping in and out as they light candles and pray, some will stop off on their way through the area just to spend a little time in nostalgia.
At the beginning of world war one the parish of St Anthony's was a densely populated area, shops of every kind lined Scotland road, traders and Mary Ellen's would be found selling their goods. The nearby docks with their many factories and warehouses where constantly in use and of course the many public houses thrived. They say Scottie road had a pub on every corner, filled with workers, seamen and the locals and the community was famed for its good humour, friendliness and its ability to stick together. Perhaps this is the reason so many ex Scottie Roaders return to the area whenever the opportunity arises.
The Great War memorial at St Anthony's church, Scotland Road, Liverpool
August 4th 1914, Britain declares war on Germany, and for the next four years the Great War will continue. A horrific episode in the worlds history. It will claim the lives of millions of people, maim and injure thousands more, and deprive families of their loved ones. Prime minister David Lloyd George had promised the enlisting men that they would return too " A land fit for heroes " what most of the returning men came home to was a small cash payment, a civilian suit, and a pair of medals. They then had to join the masses looking for work, often their search was in vain. Injured men received a small pension, yet had no chance of employment. These men had fought bravely for King and country, now they returned home to unimaginable hardships. Their biggest fight had started, the fight for them and their families to survive.
At the outbreak of war, the men from the streets and courts surrounding St Anthony's church took the call to enlist. Many joined The King`s Liverpool Regiment, or chose to opt for other local regiments such as The East Lancashire, The Cheshire or The Loyal North Lancashire regiments. Others chose regiments with connections to their history, Irish, Welsh, Scottish. As you will see on this web site, many of the men found regiments right across the country. One man listed fought with the Canadian Army. A lot decided to serve at sea as Mercantile Marines, or with the Royal Navy. They would all face dangerous times in foreign lands and waters, witness terrible events, and fight in some of the bloodiest battles ever known. inevitably some would never return home, they would pay the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. It was in honour to these men of the parish, that the church of St Anthony's would later erect this fitting memorial.
" As an ex Scottie Roader, I am proud and honoured to be asked by you to say a few words. It is remarkable that in times of abject poverty in one of the most poorest areas of the country, never mind the city, that men, many voluntarily, laid down their lives for a freedom and democracy that they themselves would have had every right to feel was bypassing them anyway. There has always been the haves and the have nots and none more so than in those dark depressing years leading up to the great wars. It is with heartfelt passion that I feel that those sacrifices made cannot be overstated enough. "
Local Author Ged Fagan
My interest with St Anthony's came about when I researched my family tree and found out that the church has played a big part in my ancestors history. My lineage goes back to Ireland from where my ancestors made the journey to Liverpool after the potato famine. Many of my relatives married and worshipped at St Anthony's and lived within the parish. My grandparents married here in 1937 and my father attended the church as well as St Anthony's school.
During world war two many more people from the parish would lose their lives including my grandfather Bernard Hogan. It was decided to erect a memorial outside the church in dedication to the lives lost during world war two and it has become a familiar site within the area.
I will continue my search, and I hope that relatives of the men will find this site. I welcome any input from people, Photographs, stories, all are welcome. I am no expert so if you spot a mistake please tell me. If I have listed the wrong man I will gladly make amends. you can contact me at anthoneyhogan13@aol.com This site is for the men on the memorial, a remembrance of who they where, a way a making sure they are not forgotten.
This site started construction in November 2008
Anthony Hogan
I would like to thank The Commonwealth War Graves Commission for allowing me to use their database to research the men on this memorial, and for their kindness in allowing certificates from their web site collection to be reproduced here. By clicking on the link next to a servicemans name, you will be directed to the CWGC web site, where a certificate for the individual can be viewed.
You can view the CWGC site with its vast database listig the 1.7 million men and women who died during the two world wars a http://www.cwgc.org/
Local Author Ged Fagan has been very kind and helpful, offering help and advice on the area, as well as allowing photographs from his Inacityliving web site to be reproduced here. His site contains a huge amount of Liverpool photographs, many of places long gone. A must for anyone with an interest in the area, a chance to rekindle old memories. http://www.inacityliving.piczo.com/?cr=7
A thank you also to Liverpool Records Office, Liverpool Libraries, for their kind permission to allow photographs from their collection to be viewed on this web site. You can visit the Liverpool Records Office, Liverpool libraries vast collection at http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Local_history_and_heritage/index.asp
You can also search for photographs from their collection at the port cities Liverpool web site http://www.mersey-gateway.org/
Ancestry is a great research site that I highly recommend http://www.ancestry.com/
Also a big thank you to Father Graeme Dunne at St Anthony's Church, for allowing me to photograph the memorial, and present it on this web site.
Many other people have kindly given their help to this web site, with research and historical events, to people across the world allowing photographs to be used. Many others have taking the time to give valuable input. I thank each and every one of you, together we have made a fitting remembrance to these brave men.