A Gartcosh Laddie -Introduction.
In 2011 our Group established links with the family of one of the fallen inscribed on our memorial. The research and the historical documents the family shared with the Group helped build a poignant picture of a young Gartcosh boy leaving the village never t0 return.
Charles was the son of John and Elizabeth Mulholland (nee Findlay) of 5 Bishop Place, Gartcosh, Glasgow. John was a general labourer. John originally came from Ireland and Elizabeth from Renfrew.
They had at least seven children:
Jane Ford Mulholland (b. 1882)
Annie Mulholland (b. 1888)
John Mulholland (b. 1889)
Charles Mulholland (b. 1896)
Isobel Mulholland (b. 1900)
Joseph Oliver Mulholland (b. 1902)
Thomas Mulholland (b. 1904)
Born in Hutchestown, Charles worked at a scrapyard in Gartcosh at the age of fourteen. His father died in 1907.
Why did the family settle in Gartcosh? The address provides the clue! The family, like many others were drawn to the village by employment and housing in the area- they lived in the "Works Houses/Buidings" and the scrapyard where Charles worked was part of Smith & McLeans.
We can from maps,archives & etc visualise a very different Gartcosh with the present school not opening for another three years, the Tin Church, the Fireclay Works and the "Buildings" to name but a few differences..... it's simpler to note remaining features! A search through the information and photographs in this site will help you form some idea of the Gartcosh Charles grew up in!