Carluke Historical Society appeal for WWI information

The society has started a four year project to commemorate The Great War and already it has thrown up a few surprises.

Indeed, thanks to modern methods of searching, society members have discovered almost 30 more men who are not listed on Carluke’s War Memorial in the town’s old cemetery.

The War Memorial is also a source of interest for one name in particular.

A total of 181 names are on the Memorial but only 180 are in the Carluke Relatives Memorial Book.

This is because of the tragic story of the man who is listed on the Memorial twice – as both Private Peter Welsh and Private Peter K Welsh.

Peter Kennedy Welsh, of Kirkton Street, was a German Prisoner of War and died at a camp at Kassel in the Hesse area of Germany on February 10, 1918.

However, Private Welsh, who served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, enlisted under the name James Kennedy and, according to the Commonwealth Graves Commission, is buried at Niederzwehrn Cemetery under his enlisted name.

If you have any family stories, pictures or memorabilia about how World War One affected your family contact cphs @live.co.uk or pop into the Historical Society’s Hamilton Street base between 10am and noon on the third Saturday of each month.