Bearsden War Memorial

Joseph Stevenson Thomson Baxter was born at Ravel Row, a few hundred yards from Parkhead Cross, on 7th May 1919.  His contemporary birth record on the Scotland's People website says the address was 6 Ravel Row, but the 1920 Valuation Roll and 1921 Census show it must have been number 7 (there is/was no number 6, it is the site of Parkhead Congregational Church): Number 7 Ravel Row ringed in red at the bottom-centre of the map extract; note Parkhead Cross bottom-left, Duke Street on the left and Parkhead Forge at the top. Here is Number 7 today, viewed from Westmuir Street: Lest we think too quickly that Number 7 has seen better days, we should consider the 1921 Census when it was occupied by eight families, each living in two rooms.  The Baxters, two adults with two children, were typical but the Chalmers on the top floor had two parents, four children aged 14, 13 10 and a baby not yet one, plus the husband's two adult brothers in their two rooms. Joseph was known as Steven, in

Edward Mark Anderson was born on 9th June 1916 at Duncarss, a large house just off of Drymen Road.  The map below (from 1914) shows the location: It's interesting to compare to today's satellite view from Google Maps: Edward's parents were Peter and Sarah Ann (nee Watkins, married in Dunfermline in 1900), and on the birth record Peter's father gave his occupation as "gardener (domestic servant)".  It would be interesting to know what his duties included - while the garden at Duncarss was big, could the upkeep be a full-time job? Duncarss has a role in Bearsden's history as Bearsden South Paris Church has its origins in a meeting held there ( source ) The 1920 Valuation Roll shows Edward's father as resident at Duncarss, presumably in one of the buildings in the grounds, with the main house occupied by Hugh Ernest Fulton, who was a director of the Albion Motor Company in Scotstoun: The 1921 Census provides a fascinating social snapshot: On the left hand

  The photos of William and Margaret were originally posted by Mr Gareth Richards - many thanks, as they add so much to this profile. William Lothian Allan was b orn at 6.50am on 23 rd January 1899 at 34 Batson Street, Hutchesonstown. Batson Street runs south from Aikenhead Road, with Polmadie railway depot just to the east and Cathcart Road a few blocks to the west.  Number 34 is ringed in red: Today's street view from the junction with Jamieson Street looking north to Aikenhead Road, looks very different: Number 34 (presumably a tenement) would have been approximately in the front garden of the first house on the left. William was the son of William John Allan (a drapery warehouseman, born in Campbelltown) and Jane (some sources say Jean) Smith (nee Russell, born in Ireland).  They had married in Port Glasgow on 28th April 1898 and William was their only child. Within a year or so, the family had moved to 6 Crow Road and they stayed there for at least the next ten years: Numbe