Mysterious World Wars etchings discovered in Glasgow City Chambers

Initials, names and dates from these periods have been engraved into the wall at the second-floor landing and are hidden behind tall green planters. When staff conduct tours of the building, they sometimes share tales of where these markings came from.

Over the years various stories have emerged explaining why these names were carved into the marble wall but the truth remains a mystery.

Questions regarding these names have been asked. Who were these people? Where did they come from? Why were they in Glasgow City Chambers? Why did they carve their names into the wall and were they really allowed to do so?

Over the last two decades at least three stories have surfaced but just how factual they are is unknown. Perhaps there is an element of truth in all of them.

One of the tour guides, Mario Poli, explained: “I know there are many tales regarding the names on the wall.

“When I take a tour around the buildings, I tell our guests that these scratchings are from the Armed Forces. They are the markings of the men who fought in the two World Wars between 1914-1918 and from 1939 to 1945.

“During both wars the Lord Provost at the time would hold a reception for the troops, in the council chambers, the day before they set off for France.

“He would allow some of the soldiers to scratch of their names or initials as well as the dates of the war they served in, into the wall and leave their mark.

“There are other variations of this story that are going about as well but this is the one I know best.”

Other stories which have surfaced over the years are similar – while others differ entirely.

Some council staff have been told that in 1914 men arrived in Queen Street Station and stayed overnight in the council chambers before sailing from the Clyde. During the night they carved their names into the wall before the next stage of their journey.

Questions have been asked about how accurate this version of events is. One member of staff pointed out that it would have been more direct and quicker to get the train from Glasgow Central to London and sail from there.

Another possibility is that the building was used as a muster station during both wars with the Home Guard Stationed there during the Second World War.

A muster station is a location where people assemble in the event of an emergency. Two floors below the chambers lie tunnels and vaults. Staff believe these could have been used as an air raid shelter.

Names carved into the wall include James Boyle, A McDonald and R McLeod. The word ‘NEWS’ is featured more than once as are the letters W.P.C. But staff don’t know what they mean or why they are there.

The numbers 1 1 9 3 5 also appear on the wall which staff believe could have been a service number.

While there are more than 20 records with a version of this service number on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) there are two names which stick out as they are men from Scotland which could confirm the theories that these soldiers stayed overnight in Glasgow before being shipped to France.

Deck Hand WJ Murray served on the Royal Naval Reserve and died on January 1, 1919, while Sergeant John Griffin of the RAF, husband of Margaret Griffin, of Ayr, lost his life on April 18, 1941.

Both men are “Remembered with Honour”.

Another name which appears on the wall, almost hidden as the name above would seem to dominate that section, is R McCheyne and the date 1914.

The CWCG tells us that Private Robert McCheyne, service number 186638, died on November 6, 1917 aged 26 while serving for the 27th Battalion Canadian Infantry.

Private McCheyne was the son of Alexander and Jane McCheyne of Kirkcudbrightshire and is “Remembered with Honour” at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

While it is not confirmed on these records why the Private served the Canadian Infantry, presumably he and his family emigrated previously. It is also unclear why he would have been in Glasgow City Council.

Council staff, visitors and history fanatics have been fascinated with the mystery of the names on the wall for decades and hope someone will be able to come forward and shed some light on this part of history.

A council spokeswoman said: “The mystery of the initials and names etched on the City Chambers walls remains.

“There are a number of fascinating, anecdotal stories accounting for their appearance but no-one knows for sure. It just adds to the magic and enigma of this legendary tale that is now part of this stunning building’s history.”

If anyone has any information they can get in touch via email on Catherine.hunter@newsquest.co.uk but for now the carvings remain an unsolved mystery.