Archives » Undiscovered Scotland

Ukrainian War Chapel, Hallmuir, Dumfries and Galloway

This chapel was built by Prisoners of War at Hallmuir near Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway.

These prisoners had been in the Wehrmacht units recruited from locals after the Germans invaded Ukraine (perhaps thinking that Ukraine would be better treated by the Nazis than the Soviets) and who subsequently surrendered to the Western Allies in 1945 in Austria.

Like the Italian Chapel on Orkney the interior is sumptuous – see Undiscovered Scotland’s website page on the chapel here.

The Ukrainian Chapel didn’t seem to be open when we dropped in on our way back home from Annan but it was worth seeing.

Ukrainian War Chapel, Hallmuir, From Side

Ukrainian War Chapel, Hallmuir, Dumfries and Galloway

Near it there is a memorial cross. The stone to the bottom has, “Precious memories of a dearly loved husband always in my heart,” inscribed on it:-

Cross, Ukrainian War Chapel, Hallmuir

Beside it there is a dedication stone, inscribed, “This cross is dedicated to those who gave their lives for freedom,” then some Cyrillic script, “Поляглим За україну,” which means, “Fallen for Ukraine,” then 27th May 1947-2007.”

Cross Memorial Dedication, Ukrainian War Chapel, Hallmuir

For some odd reason, in the same grounds as the chapel there is a relic of Halcrow Greyhound Stadium:-

Greyhound Track Booth, Hallmuir, Dumfries and Galloway

free hit counter script