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Gordon Highlanders Memorial Holburn Central Church
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donny anderson



Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 32
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:21 pm    Post subject: Gordon Highlanders Memorial Holburn Central Church Reply with quote

The Boer War Memorial to men of the Gordon Highlanders takes the form of three sets of stained glass windows, each set contains two main windows, in lower window of each set are two panes etched with the names members of the regiment who died in South Africa.

As Holburn Central Church is in the process of being sold, I do not know if access will be possible in the future. I will start with window 1 and post the others later. (If the moderators think I have posted this in the wrong place please move it. Thanks)

Regards,
Donny








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In memory of 12159 Private William Anderson, 6th Gordon Highlanders and 820 L/Cpl Peter Nicol, 6th Gordon Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915.
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spoons



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

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Donny

Great pictures. As many of us know to our cost and embarrassment, pictures of windows can be some of the most difficult but you obviously have the technique.

OS Map Ref: NJ 932 057

UKNIWM Ref: 5823

UKNIWM also refers to "INSCRIPTION TABLET MOUNTED TO EXTERNAL WALL APPROXIMATELY 5M ABOVE THE GROUND" - did you get a photo of that too?

\Spoons
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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Donny

I think photographs of stained glass windows that are being posted on the forum are actually my favourites now, even more so that the statues. With this lot we've got another cracking set, thanks for posting them.

This thread would be better in the Regimental & Unit Memorials section so I will move it when I get a chance.

Regards

Adam
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Jim Murray



Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 27
Location: Vermont, USA

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Donny, the pictures look great. Thanks for posting them
Jim
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donny anderson



Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 32
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:57 am    Post subject: Gordon Highlanders Memorial Holburn Central Church Reply with quote

Window 2, I'm afraid the light was not quite so good.









Regards,
Donny
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In memory of 12159 Private William Anderson, 6th Gordon Highlanders and 820 L/Cpl Peter Nicol, 6th Gordon Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915.
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donny anderson



Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 32
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:18 am    Post subject: Gordon Highlanders Memorial Holburn Central Church Reply with quote

Window 3, a slight problem with this one, a false floor was built and splits the top window in to two parts and it is very difficult to photograph. Sorry.











Picture 3a and 3b are the 2 halves of the top window

Regards,
Donny
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In memory of 12159 Private William Anderson, 6th Gordon Highlanders and 820 L/Cpl Peter Nicol, 6th Gordon Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915.
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Donny,
In your opinion are the names on the glass fading away or are they still legible?
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donny anderson



Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 32
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Derek,

The names etched on the glass are still legible but the dark colour of some of the stained glass makes it very difficult as seen in the pictures of the third window. There is a scroll that also lists the individuals, I will post a photo of that as well.

Regards,
Donny
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In memory of 12159 Private William Anderson, 6th Gordon Highlanders and 820 L/Cpl Peter Nicol, 6th Gordon Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915.
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donny anderson



Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 32
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some other photos, two of the dedication stone and one of the scroll. It may be difficult to read but if any one is looking for an individual soldier just let me know as I have a ledgible copy.

As can be seen the windows are not perticularily visible from the outside due to the protective mesh and if you did not know they were there you would not give them a second look. I have passed this church many times and if Jim Murray had not asked I still would not have known they were there, also with the church building in the process of being sold I do not know if access will be possible in the future.







If anyone requires more info you only have to ask and I will try to assist. I also took some photos of a pair of Gordon Highlanders regimental colours from the Boer war which were laid up in the church if anyone wants a picture.

Regards,
Donny
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In memory of 12159 Private William Anderson, 6th Gordon Highlanders and 820 L/Cpl Peter Nicol, 6th Gordon Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915.
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spoons



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

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"If anyone requires more info you only have to ask and I will try to assist. I also took some photos of a pair of Gordon Highlanders regimental colours from the Boer war which were laid up in the church if anyone wants a picture. "

Yes please Donny - laid up colours count as a war memorial in their own right so could you make a separate post for them please?

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dhubthaigh
Our first ever 1000-poster


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Blairgowrie, Perthshire

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Superb windows/memorial tablet & scroll. My only worry is
Quote:
As Holburn Central Church is in the process of being sold, I do not know if access will be possible in the future

What is going to happen to them? Confused
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donny anderson



Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 32
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Spoons/Dhubthaigh,

When I last spoke to John Watson, property convenor for the congregation, they had accepted an offer of over £1 million for the building. The deal had not been finalised but his feeling was that it would be by June/July. The accepted offer is from a Nigerian church group so at least it is not for a theme pub!

I thought that the Volunteer Service Companies were some sort of early form of Territorial Army? Shows how much I know.

regards,
Donny
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In memory of 12159 Private William Anderson, 6th Gordon Highlanders and 820 L/Cpl Peter Nicol, 6th Gordon Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915.
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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

donny anderson wrote:
I thought that the Volunteer Service Companies were some sort of early form of Territorial Army? Shows how much I know.


Donny, you are right. The Volunteer Service Companies were formed from members of the local Rifle Volunteers affiliated to the Gordon Highlanders. Raised in 1859 / 1860 the Rifle Volunteers became the Territorial Force battalions of the Regiment in 1908.

They were not regulars or Militia and were formed for home service but could volunteer for overseas service. They fulfilled the same role the TA is doing now by bolstering overstretched regulars on active service. (I'm not trying to introduce politics here by the way, just trying to make a comparison, so no hustings here please!)

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

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

donny anderson wrote:
When I last spoke to John Watson, property convenor for the congregation, they had accepted an offer of over £1 million for the building. The deal had not been finalised but his feeling was that it would be by June/July. The accepted offer is from a Nigerian church group so at least it is not for a theme pub!


Does the Gordon Highlanders Regimental Association know of the sale of the church? Are they concerned about the fate of the windows, roll and colours? They are all connected and ideally they should stay together.

Adam
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donny anderson



Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 32
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Adam,

The regimental museum are aware of the sale of the building, The Friends of the Gordon Highlanders had a professional photographer in taking photographs prior to my visit. I discussed this with forum member Jim Murray and he gave me the name of someone who has a contact at St. Lukes and this person did raise the issue on a visit to the museum. His reply to me did not hold out much hope, it mentioned the size of the reserve collection, lack of storage space (little room for items unlikely to be displayed) and the specialist storage requirement.

As John Watson, property convenor for Holburn Parish Church, said to me "the colours were laid up in the care of the congregation" and as the congregation is moving to a new location the colours are still their responsibility. As John did say to me "he will not leave them" so if they do not go to St Lukes they will go with the congregation to Rutherston Parish Church. John's only concern is that the colours may be damaged. The roll will of course go to Rutherstone, the windows present a totally different set of problems due to their sheer size!

I will post any further developments.

regards,
Donny
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In memory of 12159 Private William Anderson, 6th Gordon Highlanders and 820 L/Cpl Peter Nicol, 6th Gordon Highlanders KIA 25/09/1915.
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