Isn’t it heartbreaking to imagine a brother visiting his baby sibling’s grave only to find it hidden in long grass? That’s the reality for some families at St. Peter’s Cemetery. This Roman Catholic Cemetery is found off London Road in Glasgow’s east end. It opened in 1863.
St. Peter’s Cemetery holds a significant place in Glasgow’s history. It serves as the final resting place for many. It also contains 118 scattered burials of the First World War. Furthermore, it has 155 of the Second World War. A screen wall commemorates those whose graves are not marked individually by headstones.
During the two World Wars, the United Kingdom became an island fortress. It was used for training troops. It also launched land, sea, and air operations around the globe. Glasgow was one of the ports of embarkation for the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. Several military hospitals opened in the city during the First World War.
One particularly poignant area within St. Peter’s Cemetery is known as Common Ground. It is here that Alexander Anderson is buried. He tragically died at just four weeks old in 1960. Common Ground is for those who died without owning a burial plot. Often without a headstone, it is still marked by the deceased’s family. Alexander was buried alongside hundreds of babies and toddlers. Many had been cared for by the Hospital for Sick Children.
Gordon, Alexander’s elder brother, was heartbroken. He witnessed his baby sibling’s grave left unmaintained and hidden. He found the site of his brother’s grave almost completely obscured from view. The grass in the Common Ground was overgrown. Gordon contacted the Archdiocese of Glasgow. He never received a response.
The rest of St. Peter’s Cemetery is well-maintained. The grass is regularly cut and the pathways are clearly marked. Gordon feels graves belonging to priests and nuns have been dutifully cared for. However, the graves of the children are neglected.
A gardener at St. Peter’s Cemetery shared a story. He said that babies were buried in small boxes wrapped in paper with string. These children often didn’t have families present at the burial. Just a priest. There is a plaque in the Common Ground for twin girls. They were stillborn. The plaque reads now that they had found them, they would never be forgotten.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow has stated that the section in question is on their schedule for maintenance and will be attended to shortly. St. Peter’s Cemetery serves as a reminder. It highlights the importance of remembering those who have passed. Especially the most vulnerable among us.