Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Alexander and Mary Guthrie Craig of Scotland. Next of kin given as his brother Frank Craig of 'Mervyn', Stanley Street, Kogarah, NSW

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Served a 7 year apprenticeship with J.Paton of Balfron, Scotland

He had given his Next of Kin as his brother Frank Craig of 'Mervyn', Stanley Street, Kogarah, NSW, but Frank was later to die too in the Great War.

(Glasgow Herald 26th June 1915)
"Mrs Craig, Viewfield, Balfron, has received official intimation that her second son, Private Guthrie Craig, has been killed in the Dardanelles. Private Craig, who was about 26 years of age, emigrated to Australia about three years ago, and had joined the 4th Australian Imperial Force on the outbreak of the war. He was born at Cambuslang."
Her elder son Frank also fell.

The brothers are honoured on  the Balfron war memorial, in Stirlingshire, Scotland.

4th Battalion, A Company, Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

He was 26; he and his brother, Frank was a plumber by trade.

The Glasgow Herald of 26th June 1915 states he was born at
at Cambuslang which is a town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland.

Address c/o J Craig, Hill Street, West Kogarah, New South Wales

Next of kin J Craig, Mervin, Stanley Street, Kogarah, New South Wales.

Enlistment date 27 August 1914
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/21/1

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 20 October 1914.

Age at embarkation 26

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli.

Balfron war memorial takes the form of a tall cairn with a very attractive bronze memorial tablet set into the face. The memorial stands on a small island in the main street in front of the kirk.

W A Robertson of Glasgow (Architect)
MR Archibald Dawson of Glasgow School of Art (Designer)
Messrs Simpson (Mason)

Unveiled and dedicated on 29 January 1922

George Turner, M.A.; the two, local ministers. Pipe-Major Sutherland, H. L. I., played the "Flowers 0' the Forest," and Bugler Trotter, of the same regiment, sounded the "Last Post." The ex-service men were commanded by Lieutenant Dunkeld. Thirty-two names were inscribed on the memorial. Numerous wreaths were placed on the memorial after the ceremony.

Bottom of the drive up to Balfron Parish Church.
Balfron Parish Church
Kepculloch Road
Balfron
Glasgow
Strathclyde
G63 0NY
Scotland

Built Cairn with metal plaques- 1 for each war, below each other; steps leading up to plaques. The WW1 plaque is divided by a sculpted tree of life and a symbol of a self-sacrificing pelican and her young.

IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THE  PARISH OF BALFRON WHO IN  THE WAR GAVE UP THEIR LIVES  FOR THE HONOUR AND FREEDOM 1914-1919 THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

The Scotsman - The Balfron war memorial was unveiled by the Duke of Montrose, K. T., of Buchanan Castle, Drymen, the Lord-Lieutenant of Stirlingshire. Prior to the unveiling ceremony a joint service was held in the Balfron Parish Church, conducted by, the Rev. Archibald Mackenzie, M.A., and the Rev.

Balfron (Scottish Gaelic: Both Fron) is a village in the Stirling council area of Scotland. It is situated near Endrick Water on the A875 road, 18 miles (29 km) west of Stirling and 16 miles (26 km) north of Glasgow. Although a rural settlement, it lies within commuting distance of Glasgow, and serves as a dormitory village. The name means 'cottage of mourning' in Gaelic. This originates from a legend that the village was attacked by wolves, which stole children out of their homes. The first documented evidence of a settlement at the site dates from 1303, when it was referred to as "Buthbren".

Balfron has an ancient oak – The Clachan Oak – where William Wallace is said to have rested and later Rob Roy is supposed to have hidden.

Member of the Illawarra St George 219 Lodge

MEMORIAL SERVICE.
To perpetuate the memory of Private Guthrie Craig, who fell at the Dardanelles, the Rev. C. W. Willis, of Kogarah Presbyterian Church, arranged a memorial service for Sunday  last. Special arrangements had been made to accommodate members of the Citizen Forces of whom there were over two hundred present, with their band, and consequently the  church was filled to over crowding. Mr. Willis took as his text the latter portion of Luke 17.10— ' We have done that which our duty to do.'
In a pathetic address the preacher extolled the virtues of the departed soldier, and referred to his association with the Kogarah Church. The. 'Last Post' was finely blown by a  member of the band. Music appropriate to the occasion was played by the Church organist, Mr. W. Melleuish.