Armadale & District Roll of Honour 1914 - 1919
WW1 Dale Boys
Gallantry Awards
ARMADALE'S DISTINGUISHED HEROES AND THE FUND COMMITTEE
26th September 1919
Back Row:
Sgt J. Bennett (MM); Cpl W. Coventry (DCM); Sgt J. Keddie (DCM, MM); Sgt M. Ross (DCM, MM); D.C. McFarlane.
Pte R. Dryburgh (MM); H. Friel; A Torrance; Cpl D. McLaughlin (MM); Capt A. Gardner (MC); SSgt J. Sykes (Italian BM); Pte P. Ramsay (MM); Sgt J. Conner (MM); K. McLennan.
H. Chalmers; Bmdr J. Ronald Wallace (MM, Belgian Croix De Guerre); W. Forrester; N. Hailstones; Provost Greig; E. Calder; G.S. Scott; Cpl H. Friel (DCM, MM); Gnr R. Watson (MM).
LCpl T. Davidson (MM); Cpl R. Smith (DCM, Belgian Croix De Guerre); LCpl G. Hart (MM).
In total men from Armadale & District received: Two Victoria Crosses, Five Military Crosses (One with Bar), Ten Distinguished Conduct Medals (One with Bar),Twenty Nine Military Medals, Five Mentions in Dispatches, One French Medal Militaire, One French Medal of Honour with bronze clasp, Four Belgian Croix de Guerre, One Italian Bronze Medal and One Serbian Samaritan Cross.
Click on the Medal Name links below or in the Site Contents above for photos and more details about the Armadale and Blackridge District Gallantry Award Winners.
There was more than 800 men and woman* from Armadale & Blackridge District served during the Great War, they served in all three services, see the Roll of Honour page for there details.
*Armadale was the first town in the county to raise a detachment of Red Cross Nurses, some of whom volunteered for overseas service
Awards
Lance Corporal William Angus
Sergeant James Crichton
Captain Archibald Gardener
Captain Hugh McKee (MC and Bar)
Lieutenant David McKelvie*
Reverend William Russell Paterson*
Lieutenant William Martin Smith
Corporal William Coventry
Company Sergeant Major William Yuill Dow*
Corporal Hugh Friel*
Sergeant James Keddie*
Private John Lambie*
Sergeant Peter McCallum
Sergeant John McMillan (DCM and Bar)
Sergeant Frank B O’Reilly
Sergeant Malcolm Ross*
Corporal Robert Smith*
Sergeant William Allan
Sapper John Anderson
Sergeant John Bennett
Pte William Bonar
Lance Corporal Thomas Davidson
Private George Dennaird*
Private Robert Donaldson
Company Sergeant Major William Yuill Dow*
Private Robert Dryburgh
Private Edward Friel*
Corporal Hugh Friel*
Lance Corporal George Hart
Gunner Alexander Hutchison
Lance Corporal Alex Kirk (
Private John Lambie*
Sergeant Adam MacDonald
Corporal Daniel McLaughlin
Lance Corporal John Muirhead
Corporal James Neally
Corporal William Prentice
Private Peter Ramsay
Company Sergeant Major Robert McKay Ramsay
Sergeant Malcolm Ross*
Private James C Smith
Sergeant Arthur James Steer
Lance Corporal Alexander Ure
Gunner John Ronald (Wallace)*
Signaller/Gunner Robert Watson
Private George Dennaird*
Private Edward Friel*
Lieutenant David McKelvie*
Reverend William Russell Paterson*
Private James Johnstone
Gunner John Ronald (Wallace)*
Corporal Robert Smith*
Staff Sergeant John Gordon Sykes
Private James Maxwell
Sergeant James Keddie*
Médaille d’Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze
Lance Corporal Alex Kirk (
Armadale Burgh Medal
Armadale Burgh Medal
In January 1916 it was decided by the Armadale National and Local Relief Funds Committees in Armadale Town Hall, that there would be a separate fund set up in order for suitable mementos to be bought and presented to Armadale men who may gain medals for gallantry.
The memento decided on by the committee was, a Gold Medal in the form of a shield, with, on one side the Burgh Coat of Arms, and on the other side the soldiers name and the date of his brave deed or deeds, and in addition, a case (Wallet) with £25 of War Stock.
The first presentations of the Burgh Medals took place during the 1916 Armadale Children’s Gala Day.
The first men to receive the Burgh Medals and a case with £25 War Stock were:
Sergeant William Coventry DCM
Lieutenant David McKelvie MC
Lieutenant Frank O’Reilly DCM.
At the ceremony Provost Wilson said:
“The medals were most artistic, and on them for the first time officially, are displayed the Burgh’s Coat of Arms, the same design as suggested by the Marquis of Bute in his book dealing with Scottish Burghs Coat of Arms. I congratulate Mr Ballantyne, jeweller, on his success in the design of the medal. The badges are indeed very handsome, and I do not doubt will, in the future, be handed down as heirlooms.
In giving these gifts I think we agree Armadale has acted in no unstinted or ungenerous fashion.
While we honour these brave men, whom we are proud to have with us today, we do not forget those men who have, too, acted a brave part, but who will return to us in life no more.”
As the War progressed many more ceremonies took place in Armadale, so that all of the Armadale sons, who had received special decorations for their gallant actions, also received their Burgh Medals.