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Plans for a substantial memorial were a way in which the village, and many other communities like it in Scotland, tried to come to terms with the losses and show that the sacrifice had not been in vain.
'Memorial to our Fallen Heroes - under the auspices of the parish council, a public meeting was held in the Masonic hall on Monday evening to consider a proposal to erect a memorial to the local soldiers who have fallen in the present war. Unfortunately the night was very stormy and the attendance was not so large as had been expected. A general conversation took place however when it was found that all present were in favour of the proposal to erect a memorial to the lads who have in such a self-sacrificing spirit given their lives for our safety.'
'The opinion was expressed that we should aim at raising a sum of at least £500 in order that a memorial worthy of the occasion should be erected. The question of a probable site was also talked over, and some favoured the placing of the memorial in the cemetery, while others suggested its erection in front of the Public Library. Mr Drummond as chairman of the Parish Council explained that the site which the Council proposed was in the centre of the old portion of the cemetery and they thought this would make a very suitable site. As already stated, however, no decision was come to and the settlement of the points will be left to the public meeting to be held later.'
A committee was later elected of representatives from three of the parish churches, the school board, the parish council, one of the Addiewell churches, the West Calder and Westwood shale miners, the limestone miners and the managers of the oil and mine works. The
C.O.O.P and Merchants Association members were ill at home with the influenza.
At the start of the meeting an appeal was made that the committee carry on its deliberations in a dignified and unified manner, as befitted the memory of the fallen. Three proposals were put for the form that the memorial should take - a plinth in the grounds of the library, topped by the figure of a Royal Scot; an institute building; or a recreation park - before the meeting got out of order and the discussion abandoned.
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