A special service will be held to mark the centenary of the Cenotaph in George Square.

The city’s primary war memorial was unveiled 100 years ago by Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, who commanded the British Expeditionary Force, in the First World War.

Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, who reflected on her own family’s First World War history, will lead the service, on Friday, in her capacity as Lord Lieutenant.

Glasgow Times:

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She said: “This is an important and poignant service, reflecting on war, its cost and all those lost in conflicts.

“Including heroes, like my maternal great grandfather, Private Allan Hannah McIlvennie, who served with the Cameron Highlanders during the First World War.

“He lost his life at the notorious ‘bloody’ Battle of the Somme on July 23, 1916.

“His record states ‘killed in action’. Like so many others, his body was never found.

“His name is included in the City of Glasgow’s Roll of Honour, for posterity. So, it’s with a mixture of pride and sadness I will stand and pay my respects to all affected – even now – by war.”

Glasgow’s Cenotaph was commissioned by Lord Provost Sir James Watson Stewart, who chaired a newly established War Memorial Committee back in 1920 after it was agreed a public memorial should be placed in George Square.

The Cenotaph, outside the City Chambers, was initially installed to honour the city’s First World War dead.

It is now dedicated to those who died in all conflicts and is the focal point of Glasgow’s Armistice Day and Remembrance events each November.

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The sword and other parts of the cenotaph have been regilded with gold leaf ahead of the service.

Glasgow Times:

The centenary service will feature a reading of a war poem written by Glaswegian, William Hamilton.

Private Hamilton was an art teacher who served with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment).

He is buried in St Manvieu War Cemetery, A British Second World War cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers, not far from Caen in France.

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Hamilton was killed in action, on Monday, June 26, 1944, at the age of 34, less than three weeks after the D-Day Landings.

Lewis McDougall, a Royal Conservatoire drama student, will read the work titled: ‘Armistice Day’.

The centenary service will also feature singing by the West of Scotland Military Wives Choir, a blessing and sermon by Rev Johnstone and representation by the Royal British Legion (Scotland).

The service takes place at 11am on Friday, May 31, at the Cenotaph, George Square.