Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Alexander and Marion Guthire Craig; husband of Maggie Ethel Craig of 8 Stanley Street, Kogarah, NSW. Father of Donald Craig

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

His brother also fell; he was Private Guthrie Craig, Service Number 637, died 01/05/1915 aged 26 at Gallipoli.

(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 remembered on the Balfron war memorial  at Balfron Parish Church, Balfron, G63 0NY, Scotland.

13th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement, .Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

Occupation-Plumber-as was his brother, Guthrie.

Enlistment date 25 September 1916
Rank on enlistment Private
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/30/4
Age at embarkation 31
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 25 November 1916

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

The Scotsman - BALFRON. - 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. 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

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.