The Scottish War Memorials Project

craobhan · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Kirkcudbrightshire

Crossmichael War Memorial is a few hundred yards out of the village on the Castle Douglas side on the A713 Ayr to Castle Douglas road and looks over towards the old manse.

The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 11th December, 1921 by Mrs. McLelland of Danevale Crossing, who lost four sons in the war.
It takes the form of a Celtic cross in Dalbeattie granite on land gifted by Mrs. Stewart of Culgruff. The base is approximately 4 foot square and the cross rises over thirteen feet. The design was selected on the recommendation of Mr. E.A. Hornel, artist, Kirkcudbright and the work was executed by Messrs. D.H. and J. Newall, Dalbeattie.
The newspaper report wrongly gives Mr Hornel’s details as Mr. A. E. Hornell.

There is no car parking at the memorial and the road is not safe to park on as there are hidden dips either side and it's busy. Best to park within the 30mph limit and walk up the road.

The link to the photos is
http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4753099

The links to the larger photos as posted below have broken but they are all still there in the above link to the album.

DerekR · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:17 pm Post subject:

Are they your pics?
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There must be a place under the sun where hearts of olden glory grow young .....

craobhan · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Kirkcudbrightshire

Yes there are - taken this very afternoon - almost broke a leg skidding on the slope. Why do you ask?

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:03 am Post subject:

So we can do this...

Do you have any location details as well?

Regards

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject:

I've taken the following from Derek Boorman's book At the Going Down of the Sun p.51

Unveiled 11th December 1921 by a Mr McLelland who lost four sons. They are

David, John, Robert and Johnstone.
The cross was from a design recommended by A.E. Hornel of the Glasgow School of art who had local connections.

Regards

Adam

N.B. Three of the four brothers mentioned above were in the Gordons

spoons · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:29 pm Post subject:

UKNIWM Ref: 5885

This has got to be the worst location for a memorial, well out of the village, on a busy road, with no public footpath, nowhere safe to park the car and with a very boggy grass verge to walk along to get there.
As if that was not bad enough, it is almost impossible to view the name panels on either side of the memorial. The only way I could even see them was to climb on the bench, on the back of the bench(!) and then up onto the wall. Definately not safe and I am reasonably fit and agile. No chance for anyone who is a bit dodgy on their pins.

I suppose that we should not complain when we think what they guys who are named must have gone through, but a more public display of the names should surely have been arranged.

OS Map Ref: NX 732 665

spoons · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

Capt Johnstone is also listed on the memorial in St Ninian's church in Castle Douglas and has an individual memorial there in the form of an original grave cross

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject:

Harold Doig on the Second World War panel has a unit of ABRA. Could he have been this man? Airborne Royal Artillery

DOIG, HAROLD EDGAR
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 1 Airlanding Anti-Tank Regt.
Age: 29
Date of Death: between 20/09/1944 and 21/09/1944
Service No: 6141509
Additional information: Son of Harold Edgar and Georgena Doig; husband of Emma Doig, of Wimbledon, Surrey.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 19. A. 14.
Cemetery: ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY
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Scottish Monuments & Memorials