The Scottish War Memorials Project

David McNay · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:34 pm Post subject:

A photograph from "Miss MacDougalls Photo Album".

apanderson · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:00 am Post subject:

There are 3 MacIntyre Brothers on this memorial who have a family gravestone in the Glasgow Western Necropolis.

The spelling of their surname on the memorial is McIntyre whereas CWGC and their family gravestone has MacIntyre

Pte. Alexander Cameron MacIntyre, S/3380, Seaforth Highlanders, 7th Bn., died 25.09.1915 age 32
Pte. Duncan MacIntyre, 12972, Royal Scots Fusiliers, 7th Bn., died 12.05.1916 age 34
Pte. John MacIntyre, 6463, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 5th Bn., died 16.12.1916 age 20
Sons of Duncan and Mary MacIntyre (nee Cameron), 11 Carnarvon St., Glasgow.

A photograph of the stone is/will be available on the Scottish War Graves Project on the Glasgow and Dunbartonshire Section, Glasgow Western Necropolis thread. (Page 41)

http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=129&mforum=scottishwargraves

Anne

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject:

I was lucky enough to visit the memorial on a sunny Spring morning and took some more photographs of Carrick's statue.

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Scottish Monuments & Memorials

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

The three heads. You can see the effects of the weather on the first face.

Note the broken nose on this chap!

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Scottish Monuments & Memorials

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

Another shot of the broken nose. Note that the Tam O' Shanters do not have any regimental badge and look how the sling for the rifle goes over the bayonet but in front of the entrenching tool handle.

Note the clenched fists of the men carrying their comrade. Their other hands are hidden and the man being carried has both his hands open.

Note also the winter jerkins and kilt covers of the soldiers. This is the same uniform as worn by Carrick's 5th Seaforth Highlander at Dornoch which represented the unit at their finest moment, the storming of Beaumont Hamel in November 1916.

The local TF unit for Oban was the 8th Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and the 8th Argylls fought near the 5th Seaforths at Beaumont Hamel. Both were in 152nd Brigade, 51st Division and although they have no badges to identify their unit perhaps these three men represent 8th Argylls at Beaumont Hamel in 1916?

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Scottish Monuments & Memorials

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject:

I've also taken a couple of shots of the stone next to the memorial from another angle with the heads in the background.

This stone had been moved just before the war to widen the road at this point. It is right at the end of the Esplanade in Oban.

This shot was taken some way back along the Esplanade.

Anyone going to visit the war memorial in Oban approaches it from the Esplanade. This is the only way to approach it from the town. Carrick would have taken that into consideration when designing this memorial.

It's not that clear in this photograph but the hills of Lismore and Ardnamurchan are a dramatic backdrop to the figures as you approach the memorial from the Esplanade and it gives them a 'no man's land' to have struggled across with their wounded comrade.

Earlier photos show the gold lettering for the names is a more recent addition. It is very pleasing to see them shining in the sun on a day such as I took the photographs but without them the effect I described above of the figures blending with the landscape would be very dramatic. As it is the eye is drawn to the gold lettering as you approach and not the statue. By the time you reach the memorial and see the figures the effect is lost.
It is another example of Carrick's original vision being lost over the years. (e.g. the removal of plants on the memorial and the growth of trees at Killen; the moving of the statue at Dornoch to face West instead of East)

Adam
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Scottish Monuments & Memorials

CSMMo · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject:

[The local TF unit for Oban was the 8th Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and the 8th Argylls fought near the 5th Seaforths at Beaumont Hamel. Both were in 152nd Brigade, 51st Division and although they have no badges to identify their unit perhaps these three men represent 8th Argylls at Beaumont Hamel in 1916?]

A local TF unit was 8th A&SH. Looking at the name plaques on the memorial shows the other, Argyll Mountain Battery, 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade, first guns ashore at W Beach, Gallipoli April 25, 1915 and in action without relief until they were withdrawn for the second amphibious landing at Suvla Bay in August - again first guns ashore and in action.
Please don't take this response as criticism of this very fine posting, but as my effort to insure that these men are not forgotten. When you are in Oban, visit the War & Peace Museum and ask to see the collection regarding the Argyll Mountain Battery.

Mike Morrison
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Researching the 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade, RGA (TF), Argyll, Bute and Ross & Cromarty Mountain Batteries - Gallipoli, Egypt & Salonika

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject:

Mike

You are quite right to pick me up here and highlight the war-record of other TF units and not just the infantry. Many memorials in Argyll list gunners from this RGA unit.

Kind regards

Adam
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Scottish Monuments & Memorials

CSMMo · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject:

It was meant with the utmost respect.
I have made it my task to keep their memory alive while not demeaning anyone else's service in any way. They are often missed in many different areas. Their impact at Gallipoli was major. Their Battery Commander, Major Thomas McKelvie was wounded twice at Gallipoli. The second wound required shipment home and retirement from the Army. Their Highland Ponies were the first transport animals on the peninsula and, after emplacing their guns, were sent back to the beach with their drivers to provide the only, very hazardous, transport of food, water and ammunition to the beleaguered infantry pushing the Turks back from their heavily entrenched and well defended positions. All while the gunners were helping push them back from prepared and fortified positions east of W Beach.
It's appropriate to reflect on this now as next Saturday is the 94th anniversary of that landing. Thanks for the opportunity!

This is a stunning, well placed memorial.

Mike Morrison
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Researching the 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade, RGA (TF), Argyll, Bute and Ross & Cromarty Mountain Batteries - Gallipoli, Egypt & Salonika