The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:05 pm Post subject:

I would guess that sandstone is sturdier than most (except granite of course). There are quite a few WW1 memorials made of sandstone that I have seen and the only ones that have a problem are a result of vandals, sea air or road salt. So I reckon if we keep the vandals off, Dundee is not too close to the sea if memory serves and we don't resite the memorial where the gritting lorries get it, then any new panels should be good for 100 years plus.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:24 pm Post subject:

In my opinion granite would be the best option. Sandtone would wear down again and metal will erode. The worst possible option would be stainless steel panels. We see it time and again on the forum for modern memorials and they just don't stand up well to the elements.

Leslie is a good example of getting it right. I'm pretty sure there is another one in Moray where sanstone was replaced by granite.

David has made a very good point that no-one in the council has put their hands up yet to admit they knew about this problem four years ago and have done nothing. To me this suggests they were happy to let it get to a point of no return and then demolish it. Bob Duncan's words seem to suggest to me he has written it off already and is looking for a cheap replacement option. I hope local pressure can be applied to stop that idea asap.

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:11 am Post subject:

The memorial was reported on in the STV North news. The following link should take you to a page where you can watch:

http://www.stv.tv/video-north/#tabbed-content-video

The report is at 19 minutes.

It's unfortunate that it seems to have been labelled a Black Watch memorial - not strictly true.

The report shows that some cleanup has already begun, although it looks like a council worker using a paintbrush that's been dipped into a bucket of water.

Also it's yet another report that mentions replacement. That's a suggestion that needs to be nipped in the bud right now.

David McNay · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:03 pm Post subject:

There's been a bit of an update posted on the Western Front Association forum:

http://frontforum.westernfrontassociation.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=463&start=150

Apparently the memorial has received a bit of a clean, but the name panel has had a chunk lost from it, either during the cleanup or subsequent to this.

Murray · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 64

Going by the names and the handwriting it seems that there are only a couple of people involved in the defacing of this memorial.

I am going to ask the Webmaster of the Dundee Forum to have the names placed onto Dundee's Wall of Shame.

You would think they would be easy to find.

Here they are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Murray · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 64

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:33 am Post subject:

Murray · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 64

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:14 am Post subject:

Murray,

The People's Journal (Dundee Edtn.) Saturday May 27th 1922.

I got this from the Central Library, Wellgate, Dundee.

cheers,
Mark

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:48 am Post subject:

We (David and I) were at this memorial this morning. They have tried to clean it but they have probably done more harm than good.

There is quite a lot of damage to the stonework which must go back further than five years.

Saying that the memorial itself is basicaly sound and should not be written off.

Adam

Murray · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 64

Murray · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 64

David McNay · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:43 am Post subject:

The term "radical" really concerns me. I'm worried that there solution is demolition followed by replacement by a nondescript plaque.

There are very few memorial fountains in this country to the dead of WW1 and this is a fairly unique example - it must therefore not be allowed to be destroyed.

I have photos that Adam and I took to upload. Once I have done that I will be locking this thread- this issue has now been taken up by concerned parties in the Dundee area and I think it best not to duplicate any discussion. I will post a link to the WFA Forum which is (I believe) where the bulk of any future discussion will now take place.