An artefact honouring a Lanarkshire soldier who was killed in the First World War has been returned to the town.
Robert Horsburgh Robertson was just 31 when he died on May 6 1915, in France.
Now a dead man's penny, bought at the Barras in Glasgow in the 1970s, has been given to Rutherglen Heritage Society to pay a fitting tribute to the local man.
The pennies were officially called ‘Next of Kin Memorial Plaques’ and were bronze medallions of condolence given to families of members of the British Empire’s armed forces killed in World War I.
Over 1.3 million memorial plaques were issued and were accompanied by a memorial scroll from the King.
The heritage society were contacted earlier this year by Patricia Davies, who's father had purchased the penny at the market years ago and had wanted to honour the fallen soldier in some way.
Years later Patricia looked into Robert's background and discovered that he was from the Royal Burgh, and that his family owned a factory in the area as well.
Carrick McDonald, of the Heritage Society, and Rutherglen librarian, Zen Boyd, were then able to help out.
Zen told Lanarkshire Live : "“After some genealogy research, I realised I had seen the name somewhere before.
"Thanks to the hard work of local historian Jim Holmes in researching Rutherglen Hockey Club members, I was able to show Patricia and Carrick actual photos of Robert H. Robertson.
"He had been featured as one of the ‘prominent British hockey players’ in a 1913 edition of Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News .
"I also looked into the family home of Stonelaw House, which is still standing today."
A press cutting shortly after Robert's death revealed he was the second son of Robert Holmes Robertson and Jessie Robertson of Stonelaw House, Rutherglen, and was born on October 11, 1884.
Educated at Stonelaw School and Glasgow Academy, Robert worked in his uncle’s paper manufacturing business in Devon before enlisting in the London Scottish Regiment at the outbreak of war.
He rose to the rank of Corporal and was about to be given a commission when he was killed.
His Captain said of him that: "He was a splendid fellow and had done so well that he was offered and had accepted a commission in the Regiment. He was greatly loved by his comrades."
He was buried in an orchard in Richebourg, Northern France, by the remainder of a group of his comrades known as the “five inseparables”, with a cross marking the spot.
Speaking for Rutherglen Heritage Society, Carrick told us : "We were very pleased to help Patricia find a home for Cpl. Robertson’s Memorial Plaque.
"We felt that Rutherglen Heritage Centre was the ideal place for this treasured item to end its journey."
Patricia added: "I want to thank Zen and Carrick for helping me pay tribute to Robert by making sure the plaque is now in a place where he was once loved.
"My Dad would have been so pleased to know the end of the plaque’s story and that this young man’s sacrifice will be acknowledged and remembered by the good folk of Rutherglen."
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