The First World War Centenary Lighting Project in Glasgow

On Remembrance Day, Tuesday 11^th November 2014, the story of Glasgow’s part in the First World War was explored through a stunning projection onto the City Chambers at George Square. Artists specialising in the use of light and sound were commissioned by Glasgow City Council to tell the story of Glasgow in the First World War, looking at the contribution of Glaswegians to the war effort, both at home and abroad, and the impact the War had on the city and its citizens.

The finished light show being projected onto the City Chambers, November 11th 2014

Using photographs, film, and archival material from a variety of sources, Glasgow’s wartime story was projected onto the iconic City Chambers at George Square on November 11^th 2014, accompanied by music, sound and readings of contemporary accounts of Glaswegians at war.

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) had strong ties to the City of Glasgow; in 1914, the 1^st Battalion were stationed in Glasgow’s Maryhill Barracks, departing there for France in August, 1914. Three territorial battalions of The Cameronians, the 5^th, 7^th and 8^th, were based in Glasgow and recruited almost exclusively from the city.

The cap badge of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) surrounded by Douglas tartan

Extensive material from the South Lanarkshire Council Museum collection was used by the artists to create the sound and light show. Included among these were personal accounts from officers and men who served with the territorial battalions of the Regiment based in Glasgow.

The diary of Private Charles Bow, who served with the 7th Battalion Scottish Rifles at Gallipoli.

Much of the material used from South Lanarkshire’s museum collection had been made available through a variety of in-house digitisation and transcription projects that have brought to light some of the treasures we hold.

The 5th Scottish Rifles in their trenches, France, 1914.

You can watch the recorded show on the STV Glasgow website: http://glasgow.stv.tv/181281/

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