In 1914, at the age of 73, my great Grandad, Robert Douglas Lindsay, died in Bangour Village Hospital (just outside Bathgate, in Scotland).   Like many other patients, he ended his days there because his family were unable to cope with his senile dementia any more.   In fact, a Doctor in 1913, complained that the Hospital had been turned into a dumping ground for elderly “idiot relatives”.   He obviously did not believe in mincing his words.

Robert and his wife Mary, lived in Edinburgh, and had 11 children.   When Mary died of breast cancer in 1895, he did not remarry, but working as a Cooper, supported his large family.

I know my Grandmother  Elizabeth, visited him in Bangour Hospital when she could, but he did not recognise her anymore.  I have a copy of a letter from her brother Alexander, from the Army training camp in October 1914.   He writes that he would have liked to visit his Father before he went, as he “might not see him again”.

Robert died 2 months after this letter was written.   Sadly, Alexander was killed in March 1916 at Ypres, France, aged 32 years.

My Great Grandfather is probably one of the 831 patients of Bangour Village Hospital who were buried in unmarked paupers graves.   I do not know this for sure yet, but my family had little money, so it seems likely.   It did not mean they, or other relatives of patients did not care.   They just could not afford the alternative.

At least now, memorial plaques have been placed in Ecclesmachan, Loaninghill, and Uphall cemeteries to remember these poor people.   A memorial was held at Ecclesmachan Church recently, and a local MP is pushing for recognition of these forgotten Asylum patients.   Those who have been buried in graveyards throughout Scotland, and should now at least have some memorial to their existence.