The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

[jamiemcginlay]

Lochawe - Argyll & Bute, Lorn District
UKNIM Ref no. 5979

The Lochawe war memorial in Lorn stands by the roadside at the entrance gates to Saint Conan's Kirk. This was the first memorial by Edinburgh sculptor Alexander Carrick after he returned in 1919 from serving in the Royal Garrison Artillery in Flanders. It features a powerfully carved figure of a Highland Infantryman which stands on a cairn constructed from boulders gathered from the slopes of Ben Cruachan by the Oban builder Mr. A. MacTavish. Before the war Carrick had carried out much of the stone carving in the kirk itself which is well worth a visit. The memorial was unveiled in July 1920 and the unveiling ceremony was covered in the Oban Times of Saturday July 17th 1920, Page 5, columns 3,4&5.
More information on Carrick can be found at:
www.alexandercarrick.webeden.co.uk
The monument is located on A85 beside St Conan's Church , Lorn.


Above is a photograph taken in the early 90's. Notice the joint on the soldier's sleeve at his right elbow which is perfectly aligned. Below is a photograph taken in 2006 showing the displacement which is occuring as the upper section of the sculpture moves. The rifle muzzle has already become damaged.



This is a photo of one of my old postcards (below) which shows the way in which Carrick perfectly maintained the sloping line of the cairn as it continued up through the soldier's rifle and his tilted cap to the top of the sculpture.

Below - another photo of one of my old postcards showing the memorial in the 1920's, quieter times, pre-juggernaut and tourist coach.



WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Allan Archibald Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Private
Alston J.W.H. J. Alston Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Major
Black A.H. A. Black Lochawe Argyle Gordon Highlanders Private
Fraser J. J. Fraser Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Sergeant Distinguished Cross Medal Croix De Guerre
Henderson A. Lochawe Argyle Cameron Highlanders Private
Laing P.J.S. P. Laing Lochawe Argyle Canadians Lieutenant
McKinnon Archibald Lochawe Argyle Royal Highlanders Private
McLean K. Lochawe Argyle Scots Guards Private
McNab Alexander Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Private
Wilson James Lochawe Argyle Royal Highlanders Sergeant

[jamiemcginlay]

The memorial tablet lists ten men, a terrible toll for such a small Highland community, including Sergeant Fraser who was awarded the D.C.M. and Croix De Guerre

The Oban Times recorded the speech by Mr. Robert McDiarmid at the unveiling:
'While we grieve and sorrow for their loss, suddenly cut off in the prime and glory of their youth, we reverence their memory and are justly proud of them. Proud of their dauntless bearing, their patriotism and their devotion to their country, and to their supreme gallantry and valour in which they, along with others, upheld the glorious fighting prestige and traditions of our Highland Regiements till their hour came, and they passed over into the Great Unknown. To preserve their memory green in our hearts, we have raised up this memorial, a memorial which will point out to future generations how our gallant lads from Lochawe, whose names indelibly engraved on this stone, bravely fought on till the end came, leaving behind them a name and fame that will never die.'

[jamiemcginlay]

A final photograph which shows the displacement which is occuring in this monument as the stone which forms the head and torso of the soldier is moving out of alignment with the lower section (the gap can be clearly seen just under the waist belt and on the sleeve below the elbow).
Saint Conan's Kirk has become an important tourist attraction but there are no proper car parking facilities. Consequently many tourist coaches park on the grass verge hard beside the war memorial and the tour guides often give a commentary on the kirk while the tourists remain seated in the coach and the driver leaves the engine running. The tremendous vibration of the engine is what is causing the upper section of the soldier to vibrate and slide out of place. This is bound to result in structural damage to the monument in the future. I have contacted the roads department and alerted them to this problem and they sent an insepctor who reported back that she could not see any displacement! The last I heard they are still looking into the matter but I'm not holding my breath
You can also see in this picture the tool marks which Carrick has left when carving the soldier's kilt. Carrick understood stone and carved in a simple and powerful style which allowed the quality of the stone itself to remain in the work.

[dhubthaigh]

Here are details of Pat laing commemorated at Loch Awe;


He is also on the Coupar Angus Public School Memorial, Perthshire.
regards,
Mark

[jamiemcginlay]

Thanks for the info Mark, fantastic! You can see the potential of this site when you get posts like that!

[dhubthaigh]

It's a pleasure.

Mark

[DerekR]

That's another cracking memorial added to my "must do" in 2007.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

[corinne mills]

[David McNay]

A photograph from "Miss MacDougalls Photo Album".

[DerekR]

O/S map ref: NN 115 267
N56 23.751 W5 03.218




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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

[DerekR]

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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

[dhubthaigh]

The memorial has had a clean and the area around it tidied up;

[anne park]

Andrew Hunter Black Pte S/41458 7th Gordon Highlanders b Dallachalish, By Ledaig e Stirling Age 19 Killed in Action F&F 30/07/1918 Short Service: 7 Pages. Soldiers Effects: Father Thomas. Address: Lochawe. Age 18. Occ: Shepherd. Brother: Thomas. James. Alexander. John. Sister: Jeanie. Marfaux British Cemetery Fr 0622 Plot IV Row J Grave 09 The Scotsman 03-09-18 P6: Lochawe. Inveraray & Lochawe
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.