The Scottish War Memorials Project

Cyril Bonnett · Joined: 07 May 2012 Posts: 2

On the 24th may 2012 there is a meeting in the Ballachulish village hall, called by the CC as some 'people' have asked if it could be moved into the village of Ballachulish.

Cyril Bonnett · Joined: 07 May 2012 Posts: 2

Further to this meeting, held by the CC about twenty people attended it; the general consensus was that the memorial needs to be moved.
Access to it is restricted, there is car parking at St Johns Church about 300 metres to the west. Situated next to the modern aligned A82 it is subjected to the constant pollution and vibration from HGV and traffic in general.
The monument is in need of some TLC although the inscriptions are easy to read, the steps up to it are steep, usually wet and being granite slippery, the railings are rusting and damaged.
The moving to the village would create interest in it and add interest to the village.
The general view is that moving it would not cost too much!
There needs to be more consultation from relatives of those whose names are on the memorial.
So there you have it, should the memorial be moved from its historic site? Just to make it more accessible and add interest to the village of Ballachulish?

DerekR · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Ballachulish memorial

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 2:06 pm Post subject:

Many rural memorials have been moved over the years. Some to accommodate changes to road layouts; others because the location which was appropriate in the 1920s is not appropriate today. (e.g on top of a hill which is inaccessible to the disabled or next to busy roads.)

The Loth war memorial was relocated from beside a busy trunk road to a far more practical location in a nearby burial ground, however in moving it the memorial was moved from a commanding position overlooking the parish to one in the corner of a small cemetery.

Dornoch War Memorial was moved only slightly during a road junction realignment but in doing that the statue was repositioned and some of the original symbolism of the Highlander looking towards the battlefields was lost as he now looks west instead of south.

My personal opinion is that memorials like Ballachulish next to a busy main road should be moved to a more practical location BUT the spirit of the original location should be retained.

In this case it stands next to Loch Leven in a particularly scenic position and that should be retained in its new location. Hopefully a local solution can be found where historic and practical considerations can meet to find the perfect spot

Using Google Maps Street View here are some links to show the current location of the memorial and the view from that memorial:

Ballachulish War Memorial

Loch Leven

There is no indication here of suggested sites but on a quick tour of the village from the comfort of my chair using Google I can see that the corner of Park Road and Albert Road next to Jubilee Park may seem an obvious location in practical terms. Another would possibly be over the old bridge. I would personally say that because there is no view of the loch then both of these should be discounted.

Could somewhere near the Isles of Glencoe Hotel be chosen? There is ample parking and a loch view.

Or how about this position at the Junction of Park Road and A82 which could still be next to the A82, have a view of loch and hills and be reached from off-road parking at Old Railway Goods Yard. There is a path there already for something I can't identify but looks like a fancy sign.

These are only my suggestions though and ultimately the decision has to be made by the residents and the descendents of those listed on the memorial

Adam

anne park · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject: James McIntosh

James McIntosh Pte S/22478 5th Cameron Highlanders born Cabrach, Banffshire 02/08/1889 enlisted Oban residence N. Ballachulish Age 28 Killed in Action F & F 25-Apr-18 Son of Mrs Mary Cameron, 3 Station Rd; Dufftown, Banffshire. Step-father James Cameron. Husband of Mary L MacIntosh, 57 Loan Fern, Ballachulish. Occ: Woodcutter. Killed in attach on Dammstrasse. McIntosh in some records. Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 136 to 138 Mortlach & Ballachulish

DelBoy · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject: Dmr. Archibald Ferguson CLark

Not on the memorial, or likely any other one in Scotland, but with a family connection to the village.

WW1
Drummer Archibald Ferguson Clark

(Glasgow Herald 15th April 1915)
"News has been received at Ballachulish by Messrs John and James Clark that their nephew, Drummer Archibald Clark, 2nd Scots Guards, son of Sergeant-Instructor Donald Clark, Tunbridge, England, was killed in the battle of Neuve CHapelle. He had 10 years ervice and was aged 24 years. He was with the 7th Division covering the retreat from Antwerp, and was slightly wounded in the battle of Ypres. He has another brother in the Scottish Rifles. His father is a retired instructor of musketry, and holds the Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in the field in South Africa."

CWGC
CLARK, A F
Rank: Drummer
Service No: 5409
Date of Death: 12/03/1915
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference: XVI. AA. 30.
Cemetery: CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
Additional Information: Son of Donald and Isabella Clark, of Hillcrest, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.

SNWM
Surname: CLARK
Firstname: Archie Ferguson
Service Number: 5409
Date Death: 12/03/1915
Place of birth: Hertford
SNWM roll: SCOTS GUARDS
Rank: Dmr
Theatre of death: F.& F.