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Must-see memorials
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:04 pm    Post subject: Must-see memorials Reply with quote

In another thread Derek mentioned that he must add Dornoch to his list of memorials to visit. If I had to name a few Scottish war memorials that are definitely worth visiting they would be (in no particular order):

Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge
Cameronians Memorial, Glasgow
Maxwelltown Community Memorial, Dumfries
Tarbert Community Memorial, Argyll. It’s a simple obelisk but its position overlooking the harbour and East Loch Tarbert sticks in my mind as being second to none.

And it goes without saying that the Scottish National War Memorial is a must.

Regards

Adam
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David McNay
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 11425
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was thinking abou creating a poll to see what the top-rated memorial was among the forum members. I might do it in the New Year when we might have a few more members.

As for my list of "Must-sees":

Scottish National War Memorial
Maxwelltown
Cameronians Memorial, Glasgow
Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge
Black Watch South African War Memorial, The Mound, Edinburgh
Cenotaph, Glasgow
Alloa - First & Second World War. Once I post my photos you'll understand why I rate it so highly.
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 3013
Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've just visited the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge but I have to say that it was the small "Area of Remembrance" that tugged at my heart strings.
I can't ever remember seeing this area before but it is one that I will never forget.
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 3013
Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 5:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now that most of Scotland's community memorials have been posted on the forum, I'd be interested to know which memorials stand out to our members as "must-sees".
We have 18 "Districts" listed - so how about a Scottish top 20 list with 1 memorial nominated from each district with 2 wildcards thrown in?

I have posted a Poll for the Scottish Borders. I have shortlisted a list of 10 memorials which I consider to be the best.
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David McNay
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Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

PostPosted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's an excellent idea Derek.

Could volunteers from other areas submit polls for their section? If you don't know how, let me know your submissions for your area and I'll set one up for you.

I've already voted in your poll, Derek. The Hawick Boer War one nearly got my vote, but I love the Minto memorial. The photos on this site are excellent.
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 1:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

From the memorials that have been mentioned in the thread already I've been to Spean Bridge and Glasgow Cenotaph. The Spean Bridge memorial has an amazing backdrop to add to its poignancy.

I'll throw together an Angus ad Dundee poll shortly.
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

um... no I wont be.
Do only moderators have this option on their account?
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Derek

I think it is only mods who can do it but if you supply some suggestions for memorials from different areas including Dundee and Angus then we can put polls together.

The dramtic location and unusual design for Stonehaven's memorial and the sculpture on Carnoustie's memorial are worth having them on the list in my opinion. I'm sure you'll easily find other to suggest.

Thanks

Adam
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Derek,

When I start a new thread there's a section below headed OPTIONS and below that is a START POLL section.
This only shows when I start a new thread and have no idea if every member will have it - but I have seen similar on either forums I'm a member of so I'm hoping that it will be open to all members to set up here.
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Adam Brown
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Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's worth adding that anyone can suggest memorials for polls on this thread from any of the sections we have on this forum, including the Outside Scotland area. Once we have a suitable number for each area one of the mods will post a poll in the format Borders Derek has used.

Here are some other suggestions to start with...

City of Aberdeen (external - Lion)
Tarbert, Loch Fyne
Campbeltown
Lochawe
Troon
Balmaclellan Crimean War Memorial
Kirkcudbright
Maxwelltown
Waterbeck Parish Church WW1
Scottish National War Memorial
St Cuthbert's War Memorial Chapel
Scots-American War Memorial, Princes Street Gardens
Cameronians War Memorial
HLI Boer War, Kelvingrove
Clyne War Memorial, Brora
Dornoch War Memorial
Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge
Aberlady War Memorial
Easthouses War Memorial
Shetland Bus memorial, Scalloway
Kinloch Rannoch
Free French Navy, Greenock
Alloa War Memorial
Falkirk Boer War Memorial
Lewis War Memorial, Stornoway
51st Highland Div Memorial, Beaumont Hamel

Cheers

Adam
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jamiemcginlay



Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 930
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This post has got me thinking, it’s a very interesting idea. A few thoughts, I suppose to be fair nominations would have to be based on categories, after all memorials can be interesting or attractive for different reasons.

On artistic grounds my nominations would have to include Alex Carrick’s Killin (Perth & Kinross), Lochawe and Oban (Argyle & Bute) as superb examples of his skills as a stone carver and his genius for conception and composition. Unlike many memorials they are part of the landscape, cultural and historic. As a bonus the three can be linked together in one of the best days driving there is to be had in Scotland.

When you think about it there aren’t many memorials that capture the character of the Scottish soldier. For portraiture I don’t think there is anything to beat Willy McMillan’s sojer at Echt (Aberdeenshire). Mind you as Kinnethmont points out the Ellon memorial encapsulates the ‘Wha Daur Meddle Wi’ Me’ spirit.

The symbolic and allegorical sculpture of the time has gone out of fashion and their often dismissed these days but memorials like Alyth (Perthshire) and Greenock (Renfrewshire) are still great examples of the sculptor’s art.

Personally my favourite examples are folk art and I’m always moved by the memorials like the highland cairn in Glen Lyon, built by a local father who’s son is one of the men listed on the plaque. I think I like the simplicity and understatement, I remember someone in a television interview saying that the most moving memorial he ever saw was a small triangle of stone near Verdun which just had the inscription ‘Mon Fils’ carved on it. I think its impossible to understand the impact of the millions killed in the Great War until its brought down to a personal level, to the loss of one son. In a different way I think the Sandbank memorial (Argyle & Bute) has to be included as an example of how a local builder could create a well crafted memorial that draws on tradition and easily matches anything that the great artists of the day could produce.

When it comes to atmosphere Lethanhill (Ayrshire) is worth a visit. It’s a fine couple of hours walking and maybe it’s the loneliness of the location that adds to the sense of a lost generation. The fact that its an obelisk also draws on the covenanter traditions of the region. For me the Peebles (Borders) memorial is one of the most beautiful in Scotland and its location in a quiet square off the main street creates a great sense of peace.

My own vote would have to go to Willie Lamb’s memorial at Hillside (Dundee & Angus). To me it’s the ultimate soldier’s memorial. As a stone mason he understood his local stone, as a native of Montrose he understood local tradition and as a veteran who was wounded three times Lamb created a memorial which commemorated the reality of the war that he and thousands of other veterans knew.

I’m sure there are plenty of other memorials that could be put forward. Maybe once its finished a special introductory section could be created at the top of the forum with the ‘winners’ just as a kind of introduction to the subject of Scottish war memorials with the best photographs we have. Each photograph could be accompanied by a paragraph written by a forum member saying something about the memorial and why they like it or what it means to them, it might be a good way of introducing the forum and the subject to first time visitors?
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I certainly agree with Lethanhill. Standing alone on a hill in commemoration of the soldiers long after the village had gone and all the buildings demolished.

\Paul
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 3013
Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jamiemcginlay wrote:
In a different way I think the Sandbank memorial (Argyle & Bute) has to be included as an example of how a local builder could create a well crafted memorial that draws on tradition and easily matches anything that the great artists of the day could produce.


Jamie,
My apologies as I overlooked Sandbank whist compiling a top 10 for Argyll & Bute. Rolling Eyes
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FortyTwa



Joined: 12 May 2009
Posts: 128
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In no particular order...

51st HD memorial at St Valery (for what it is)

Stonehaven (for location and the quotation round the inside)

Wm Lamb's masterpiece at Hillside (for the mortar)
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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 10:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jamiemcginlay wrote:
... special introductory section could be created at the top of the forum with the ‘winners’ just as a kind of introduction to the subject of Scottish war memorials with the best photographs we have. Each photograph could be accompanied by a paragraph written by a forum member saying something about the memorial and why they like it or what it means to them, it might be a good way of introducing the forum and the subject to first time visitors?


Jim

I have created a new section of the forum for the polls:

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewforum.php?f=153

perhaps this could evolve into a section like you suggest after the polls have closed.

Thanks

Adam
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