WITH her hair tucked under a cap and long overalls covering her dress, a woman stands at work in front of a hulking piece of machinery in a munitions factory.

The warm colours of the delicate image immortalised on stained glass belie the heaviness of her toil, forging shells and ammunition headed for the front line during the First World War.

A photograph of the window designed by William Meikle & Sons, in the former headquarters of the North British Locomotive Works in Flemington Street, Springburn, is one of the more unusual images in a photographic exhibition of hidden war memorials dotted around the city at St Mungo's Museum.

In Honour's Cause shines a light on 42 First World War memorials dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Great War.

"The most famous war memorial in Glasgow is of course the Cenotaph," explains curator Harry Dunlop as we walk around the exhibition with Alison McAdam, assistant manager at St Mungo's Museum, whose role was to bring the show together.

"After doing some research I realised there are hundreds across the city in weird and wonderful locations, erected by all sorts of different groups from well-known organisations and military regiments to individuals.

"We wanted to show the diversity and range of these memorials and put the photographs of them in a space that was reflective and sombre, so that visitors can empathise with sorrow and sympathy at the sacrifice and pride people had.

"That's what a memorial is, a ritual object that expresses the intangible."

Another memorial in the form of stained glass sits in Stamperland Parish Church in Clarkston but originally came from a church in the West End. Designed by well-known Glasgow stained glass artist Gordon Webster, it was made in memory of his father, Alf Webster, who was killed in 1915. Alf was also a stained glass artist and one of the most famous Arts and Crafts designers in Scotland.

Other photographs, taken by Glasgow Museums photographers Jim Dunn and Enzo di Cosmo, include a brass plaque at Harper Memorial Baptist Church in Govan and the Beardmore memorial at Dalmuir, erected after the First World War but damaged in the Second World War when Clydebank was bombed. Now it sits embedded in the ground of the former shipyard.

Former postman John Mackay, 82, who served with the 1st Battalion Cameronians after the Second World War, is pictured in front of a memorial that came from the old Post Office building in George Square.

"There are people in some of the photographs and I think that's important because they remind us that this war and this commemoration is about people. People like us," says Harry. "A young man is photographed with the memorial at Poloc Cricket Club, he's about 18, the same age as many of those who were conscripted."

Particularly striking are local memorials, in areas such as Nitshill, Govan, Partick and Whiteinch. Many of them would have been unveiled in the 1920s and most of the names of those who had fallen - brothers, sons, fathers and uncles - would be familiar to people in the area.

We all experience the raw emotions of loss at some time and Harry links visitors today with those who died in the Great War by means of a simple wall of messages. People can write a note and attach it to the wall of the gallery with a poppy.

"We wanted an area where people could connect with a loved one who died in the war and their own family history," says Harry. "It's interesting looking at a couple of the comments people have put up.

"There is one from a child here who has made some connection with what the exhibition is about because she has just simply said: 'I miss you Gran and I love you.' That is somebody just expressing something they have experienced, something they can empathise with in the show."

ANOTHER visitor, from North Yorkshire, writes: "Grateful to those who sacrificed their lives in many wars over the last century and beyond. There are many who don't seem to have learned from this."

A third says: "Remembering all service personnel who continue to be haunted by their experiences and still suffer every day. Their contribution to our freedom is often forgotten."

And there is a fitting personal tribute: "In loving memory of my grandfather William Lamont who served in France 1914 to 1918 with the regiment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Gone but not forgotten."

More than one-fifth of all Glaswegians killed in the First World War served in one of the 23 battalions of the Highland Light Infantry, known as Glasgow's own regiment.

"When the war officially ended, more than 18,000 soldiers from Glasgow had lost their life," said Councillor Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life.

"In this, the centenary year, these heartfelt memorials are a powerful reminder of the sacrifice Glaswegian soldiers made during the Great War and the effect of their passing felt in communities across the city."

In Honour's Cause runs at St Mungo's Museum until April 5. Visit www.glasgowmusuems.com

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