The people of Saltcoats wanted to honour the young men and boys who were killed in the Great War.​ A fund was set up and paid for by public subscription for a war memorial.​

The Saltcoats War Memorial was unveiled on the 27th May 1922 by the Marchioness of Ailsa.​ At the unveiling, Rev. W. McNeil Biggam read all their names aloud.​ Members of the Saltcoats Town Council also attended, as well as Provost A S Millar, Boy Scouts, Boys Brigade, Girl Guides, Freemasons and Friendly Societies.

The memorial is 7 feet tall and 24 feet square at the base.​ It is surmounted by a figure of a Royal Scots Fusilier in the “On Guard” position

It contains the names of the 201 young men from Saltcoats who died in the First World War. and a further 110 names of young men from Saltcoats who died in the Second World War.