Cameronians

Next of Kin: Scottish Families and the Great War – Now open at Low Parks Museum

Next of Kin: Scottish Families and the Great War – Now open at Low Parks Museum

Exhibition Image

We are very proud to host Next of Kin: Scottish Families and the Great War, now open at Low Parks Museum in Hamilton. Next of Kin was developed by National Museums Scotland in partnership with nine other museums and heritage organisations across Scotland, including South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government.

The exhibition reveals the personal stories of separation and loss experienced by Scottish families and by communities with loved ones who were fighting abroad in the First World War.

In addition to the material on loan from National Museums Scotland, we have used a selection of objects from the museum collection to tell the story of James and David Lusk, members of a local family affected by the War.

Image of James Lusk

Captain James Lusk, France c.1915

At the outbreak of the First World War, James Lusk was an officer in the 6th Scottish Rifles, one of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) four Territorial Force battalions. In civilian life James was a director in the family business, David Colville & Sons iron and steel company. James’s battalion went to France on 21st March 1915.

From the beginning of the War, James wrote extensively to his brother David who was Presbyterian Minister at Oxford University. The letters describe life in the battalion while at their War Station in Falkirk, and active service conditions in France.

Sadly, as with so many family stories from the First World War, tragedy would soon strike. James was fatally wounded on Christmas Day 1915, and died three days later. Possibly inspired by the death of his brother, David Lusk would become a Chaplain to the Forces and serve with the British Army on the Western Front. The exhibition showcases some of the items kept by the Lusk family in memory of James, including his cap badge and identity disc.

Image of Captain James Lusk's Cameronian cap badge

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) cap badge, worn by Captain James Lusk

The exhibition also features a selection of wartime newsreel clips of Scottish soldiers, and an audio presentation with spoken extracts from some of the written material that features in the exhibition. There are also two iPad interactives that contain material from partner venues where the exhibition has already been displayed.

The exhibition is open until March 29th and entry is free. Low Parks Museum is open 7 days a week – please do come and visit!

Remember, you can explore more of the museum collection, including more of the James Lusk collection, by using our Online Collections browser.

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Posted: 11/01/2016 by BarrieDuncan in Collections, Days out, Events, First World War



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