The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dhubthaigh

26 Sep 2012

LEST WE FORGET

With the centenary of the Great War fast approaching East Ayrshire Council has initiated a project to restore all 27 war memorials through East Ayrshire by 2014.

Dedicated to local men who sacrificed their lives far from home, war memorials, monuments and cenotaphs remain the focus of remembrance by the whole community each November and to family members all year round.

Each memorial is quite distinct and each requires different attention and treatment. A range of quality craftsmen are involved in the project which involves the restoration of bronze plaques, marble and granite plaques, stonework restoration and the replacement of railings.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council said: “The restoration of our war memorials is now well underway and three memorials have been completed – Patna, Mauchline and Benquhat.

“This is a very complex project which involves a number of factors. Benquat is very remote, a good 3 hour walk from Dalmellington, and the restoration required a railhead to be sent from Bo’ness foundry, the only company left in Scotland who can carry out this work, to allow for their restoration, while at Patna, seven and a half tons of material had to be manually transported to this remote location to replace the damaged granite and railings. At Mauchline the director of the Scottish Lime Centre was involved specifying how the lime mortar should be repointed and new stone scrolls had to be ordered from a manufacturer in Italy.

“The war memorials are a poignant tribute to men who lost their lives. When they were officially opened in the 1920’s thousands of people gathered in towns throughout East Ayrshire in an emotional tribute to their dead. Today they also display the names of servicemen who have died in all warfare since 1918 and we have a responsibility to these men who aren’t just names carved in stone but are real people who sacrificed everything to protect their homeland.”

The war memorials, monuments and cenotaphs are:

Auchinleck Darvel Muirkirk
Bankglen Dunlop New Cumnock
Benquhat Fenwick New Cumnock (cemetery)
Catrine Galston Newmilns
Crookedholm Kilmarnock Ochiltree
Crosshouse Kilmaurs Patna
Cumnock Lethanhill Rankinson
Dalmellington Lugar Stewarton
Dalrymple Mauchline Waterside

spoons · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:09 pm Post subject:

a great job. I visited and photographed Patna whilst the work was in progress (photos posted) and Benquhat is one memorial that I would like to arrange to visit sometime.

\Paul