Greenock Cemetery: Special public tour

For the first time, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission took part in the Doors Open Days weekend in a bid to tell the story of the graves they tend.

Funded by six countries, the commission looks after the final resting places of all those who fell in the 20th century conflicts.

During the tours members of the public found out about about the foreign nationals laid to rest in Greenock as well as the four women who were killed in action.

The commission's public engagement officer Sehar Sardar said: "It was so special to be here in Greenock, we want to raise awareness of the work we do here in Scotland.

"Many people associate us with the cemeteries in Belgium and France but we look after all war graves.

"The history of the people buried in Greenock is fascinating and we had a great response from people, they were so interested.

"It is so important that we remember them.

"We are now planning to do more public events here."

The cemetery is the last resting place of 99 soldiers who died during the First World War and 171 from the Second.

These include Lance Sergeant Donald Robertson Barr, who came from Finnart Street, and was honoured with the Distinction Conduct Medal.

He died in a military hospital aged only 22 in March 1918 after he was injured on the Western Frontier.

The young soldier had already fought his way through Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine before heading for the battlefields of France and Belgium where he was fatally wounded.

During the tours for Doors Open Day, Sehar told local people about the work the commission does at home and abroad.

She highlighted the many nationalities laid to rest in the cemetery including two Chinese seamen, Belgians, Canadians, Dutch and Norwegians.

The people taking part in the tour also heard the story of two Indian Merchant Navy men buried there.

They were onboard the SS City of Benares, which was carrying 407 passengers, including evacuee children, to Canada.

It was sunk by a U-boat, with more than 200 onboard losing their lives including 70 children.

The survivors were taken to Greenock.

As well as recognising the men buried in the cemetery, Sehar also made special mention of the women laid to rest after losing their lives in the conflicts.

The women who fell included Sister Isabel Meldrum, of the Territorial Force Nursing Service, in the First World War.

From the Second World War, Wren Jean Young Sime, Women’s Royal Naval Service, Private Helen Mclaughlin, Auxiliary Territorial Service, the daughter of Peter and Margaret McLaughlin, of Greenock, and Private Elizabeth McMaster Forbes, Auxiliary Territorial Service, the daughter of John and Margaret McMaster, of Greenock, are all listed.

Sehar said: "I like to highlight the women, because their sacrifices in the battles are not always recognised in the same way."