The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Keptie

SCOTS MAGAZINE : JULY 2006 : ( page 104 : )

By Patrick W ANDERSON . FORFAR , ANGUS

JACOBITE GRAVE :

Recently a friend of ours , Capt Ronnie Leask MBE told us about an interesting Jacobite Uprising grave that many people will have not noticed when passing as the MEMORIAL CAIRN at the side of the A 887 road from INVERMORISTON near CEANNACROCK is poorly marked. Its history is of great interest . Across from this cairn the grave of RODERICK MACKENZIE , an officer of the Jacobite Army is located a tthe side of the River Moriston. This Officer had served in the 1745 Uprising in the Cavalry - The Lifeguards ( Elcho's & Balmerino's ) under its Colonel, Lord Elcho.

My wife , Diane and I travelled on the A887 road in Glen Moriston and found the MEMORIAL CAIRN . It marks the spot where during the latter part of JULY 1746 RODERICK MACKENZIE allowed himself to be seen by the Redcoats as he drew his sword in self defence . The soldiers fired a volley , mortally wounding him , and as he fell he cried out , " You have murdered your Prince !".

It is said that his head was removed and conveyed to London for Identification and as this process took some time it gave the Prince an opportunity to make good his escape. The body of RODERICK MACKENZIE was buried secretly down by the River Moriston and the burn close by has been known ever since as Caochan a' Cheannaich , the Stream of the Merchant .

My wife and I visited the location of the grave and on a plaque it states:

Roderick MacKenzie . Here , in consecrated ground , rest the moral remains of Roderick MacKenzie , merchant of Fisherrow , and son of an Edinburgh jeweller, slain by Cumberland's Redcoat troops late in July 1746 , three months after the Battle of Culloden, because he selflesly encouraged them to mistake him for Prince Charles Edward Stuart who had closely resembled in age, stature and colouring , and who he served faithfully to the end .

The Plaque at the site had been donated by Mrs Nellie Leitch , a descendant of Roderick MacKenzie .

It would appear that during each July there is a small gathering at the graveside attended by members of the 1745 Association and the Clan MacKenzie Society to honour the brave Roderick MacKenzie who gave his life in the hope that it would help his Prince escape. My photograph shows the MEMORIAL CAIRN .

Patrick W Anderson.

Keptie

The Memorial Cairn at the side of the old Military road has a grid Ref of NH 236 112 GB Grid.

The grave site is across from the Memorial Cairn

patrick W Anderson

Keptie

The Cairn at the side of the Old Military Road and Grave of Roderick MacKenzie beside the "Stream of the Merchant " is recorded on the UK National Inventory of War Memorials index :
Ref No 58334

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Patrick w anderson

john burnett · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 790 Location: Fife

Thanks to Keptie for the photos.

Keptie

Thank you John Burnett for adding my photos to this section of the website. There other photographs on Pats corner of the Black Watch website re this Jacobite soldier .

I have been informed of a book called " On the Trail of Bonnie Prince Charlie " By David R. Ross : Published 2000 by Luath Press Ltd Edinburgh and this publication includes this Memorial cairn and grave . Don't know how much info will be included in the book .

- Patrick w . anderson

Keptie

Courier & Advertiser Thursday 22 July 2010 : Craigie Column : all editions of daily newspaper :

Brave Roderick's Sacrifice to Save Prince Charlie:

A Craigie Regular Patrick W Anderson of Letham , Angus , has emailed to say ," I thought as we are into July readers might like another topic of historical interest.

"There is a memorial cairn at the side of the road on the A 887 road to Glen Moriston , Inverness shire (near Ceannacroc ) and travellers nowadays in motor vehicles will miss the memorial Cairn and the Jacobite Soldier grave nearby without realising it's there.

"The memorial cairn at the side of the road marks the spot where , during the latter part of JULY 1746 , Roderick MacKenzie allowed himself to be seen by the Redcoat soldiers as he drew his sword in self defence . The soldiers fired a volley, mortally wounding him and as he fell he cried out , " YOU HAVE MURDERED YOUR PRINCE ."

"They cut off his head so that it could be transported to see if this soldier from the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion was BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE . Roderick knew the Redcoats would have to have identification confirmed and that would help Bonnie Prince Charlie to make his escape from his wanderings in Scotland.

"The body of Roderick was buried secretly down by the River Moriston and the burn close by has been known ever since as CLAOCHAN A' CHEANNAICH , the stream of the Merchant ."

"The plaque on the memorial cairn displays these words , "At this spot in 1746 died Roderick MacKenzie , an officer of the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart of the same size and similar resemblance to his Royal Prince . When surrounded and overpowered by the troops of the Duke of Cumberland he gallantry died in attempting to save his fugitive leader from further pursuit ."

"Across to road from this memorial cairn is MacKenzie's grave and the plaque records that Roderick MacKenzie was a merchant of Fisherrow and son of an Edinburgh jeweller. It would appear that Roderick MacKenzie served in the cavalry - Lifeguards (Elcho's and Balmerino's ) during the battles of the 1745-1746 rebellion. His Colonel was Wemyss, Colonel David , Lord Elcho.

"Each July there is a gathering at the graveside attended by members of the 1745 Association and the Clan MacKenzie Society to honour their brave Roderick MacKenzie who gave his life in the hope it would help his Prince escape ."

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patrick w anderson.

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stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 58334 has been deleted, as this memorial marks the site of a war grave, so is not a war memorial under the national definition.

(The number has been re-used for a memorial elsewhere)