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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: sss65 on Tuesday 12 November 19 15:33 GMT (UK)
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The photos are of medals in my grandparents possessions. I am trying to get information about who John Cairns was and how he's connected to my grandparents.
The Long service volunteer force medal has this inscription:-
6787 Sgt J.Cairns 1st Lanark VRC
My grandparents lived in Possilpark in Glasgow. My grandfather was alive between 1901 and 1946.
My dad also has a Boys Brigade bible with an inscription referring to him. I am trying to find out his birth/death date and also where he lived or if he was married etc to see what the connection was to my grandfather.
Not sure if this is one you can help with?
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This is the BB bible inscription,
Thanks
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I think this may be what you are seeking. Taken from websites.
The 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers was a Scottish Volunteer unit of the British Army. Originally raised in Glasgow from 1859, it later became a battalion of the Cameronians. During World War I it served on the Western Front and in Ireland. Converted into an anti-aircraft regiment just before World War II, it served during The Blitz and in the campaign in North West Europe, and continued in air defence role in the postwar years until 1955.
Another.
Originally raised in Glasgow from 1859, it later became a battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Under the 'Localisation of Forces' scheme introduced in 1872 by the Cardwell reforms, the 1st Lanarkshire RVC was grouped with the 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot, the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot, the 1st Royal Lanark Militia and a number of other Lanarkshire RVCs in Brigade …
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Thanks for the reply. It may help me to work out when he was born so I can trace how he was connected to the family.
Still puzzled by the Garroway vase reference on the other medal?
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From a mention in the Glasgow Herald of 27th June 1900, the Garroway Vase was for field firing, contested by teams of 5 men. A Sergeant Cairns was a member of the winning team on that occasion too.
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Hello Scotmum- thanks for your reply- that sounds like it must be him. How do I get hold of the article from the Glasgow Herald?
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As you said- that's from 1900 and so he must have been involved with the competition for some time.
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This is the 1900, 27 June issue for the Glasgow Herald from Google archives https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19000627&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
From the British Newspaper Archives, the story looks to be on page 12.
Monica
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Thanks very much MonicaL!
i assume there may have been another article nearer the date that the medal was awarded?
Haven't managed to find that yet!
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I have found there is a link on Forces war records but I don't have access to this? does anyone else? it's the top record.
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Could this possibly be the same John Cairns?
https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/special-collections/lot.php?specialcollection_id=57&lot_uid=171367 (https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/special-collections/lot.php?specialcollection_id=57&lot_uid=171367)
I don't see any mention of 1st Lanark VRC but perhaps some of the other information might help determine whether there is any connection with your grandfather or not?
Regards,
Andrea
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Thanks for posting this Andrea. It is intriguing but I am not sure if it is the same man. The medal I have ( pictured above) is a Long service medal but the John Cairns on it was a Sergeant not a lieutenant. I keep reading it to see if I can find a link but nothing is jumping out at me just yet. My grandfather was in Glasgow and there's no mention of Glasgow in there.
Thanks again for taking the trouble to post it.
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That's OK, I wasn't sure if the details would match the John Cairns you are looking for but thought I'd give it a go! I am interested in what you find as my grandfather was also in the Boys Brigade in Glasgow and his brother in the 4th Scottish Rifles volunteers. All the best with your continued research!
Regards,
Andrea