Grandsable Cemetery from the north
Polish and British war graves, Grandsable Cemetery

Grandsable Cemetery (sometimes called Grangemouth Cemetery) lies east of Falkirk, between the A9 and A803 south of Grangemouth near Polmont. It lies on a small hill with views over the Firth of Forth. It is well-maintained with a mature and well-laid landscape. Unlike other cemeteries in the wider area it has almost no vandalism, probably due to its distance from any main town. The cemetery is operated by Falkirk Council.[1]

Background

The cemetery was founded in the early 20th century. The land was purchased in 1901 but the first burial appears to be in 1910. Unlike most Scottish cemeteries of the period it reverted to a curvilinear layout, more typical of cemeteries at their outset in the 1840s.[2]

Its proximity to RAF Grangemouth accounts for a high number of pilots. Over and above this there are an abnormal number of accidental deaths relating to local mining, shipping and flying incidents. There are also a high number of "secondary memorials" to fallen sons - buried in France and Flanders during the First World War.

It has a number of war graves of those dying of wounds having safely reached home including several Polish pilots flying with the RAF.

In total it has 91 war graves.[3] 22 graves are from the First World War.[4]

Notable interments

  • Pt. Thomas Campbell (1919–1940) accidentally shot whilst on transfer to RAF Castletown near Thurso
  • Samuel Popham Jackson JP (1857–1943) Provost of Grangemouth 1917 to 1926
  • Norman D. Robertson (1878–1938) sculptor
  • Robert Robb (1902–1924) killed in the 1924 Mutiny of Khartoum

New Grandsable

New Grandsable was opened in the early 21st century to complement the original cemetery providing woodland burials, on a site west of the original.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Cemeteries and crematorium | Falkirk Council". www.falkirk.gov.uk.
  2. ↑ "Grandsable Cemetery".
  3. ↑ "Cemetery Details | CWGC".
  4. ↑ "Commonwealth War Graves Grangemouth Grandsable Cemetery – Redding". www.TracesOfWar.com.
  5. ↑ "New Grandsable Cemetery - Cemeteries in Falkirk – Funeral Guide". www.funeralguide.co.uk.

55°59′37″N 3°43′39″W / 55.99361°N 3.72750°W / 55.99361; -3.72750

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.