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RATTRAY, U.F. (Former) WW1

 
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dhubthaigh
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 5071
Location: Blairgowrie, Perthshire

PostPosted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:41 am    Post subject: RATTRAY, U.F. (Former) WW1 Reply with quote

This is now the Rattray Parish Church Halls



Last edited by dhubthaigh on Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:44 pm; edited 1 time in total
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dhubthaigh
Our first ever 1000-poster


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 5071
Location: Blairgowrie, Perthshire

PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

After much searching the unveiling date of Rattray U.F. Church Great War Memorial has been found - 13th May, 1928.

The memorial was dedicated by the Rev. Thomas Tully, a former minister of the Church from 1894 until 1909 when he left to minister at Whiteinch, Glasgow.
He gave a moving speech, looking back and remembering the 'boys' during his time in Rattray, an extract of which reads:


"The names inscribed on the memorial awaken many memories and conjure up many visions in my mind - memories and visions for the most part, not of men in the strength of their manhood, but of boys in the glow of their boyhood. As a matter of fact, I can visualise as adults only two of your list of twelve. The rest I can only visualise as growing lads. The hideous trawl of war got at the generation of children that grew up under my Rattray ministry. That is a point where, naturally, I feel keenly the pathos and poignancy.
Sitting in my study the other night with the list of names before me I found myself wafted back to my Rattray days. It is a summer afternoon, and I have to go along to post a letter then pay a visit at the Kirkton, where the Benjamin of the family, a gentle and lovable boy with a genius for mishaps, has met with another accident - a broken arm this time.
As I go out of the manse gate Alex Campbell, of course, is in evidence, laying down the law as becomes a sergeant to be, while Charlie Forbes comes down the steps across the lane. On the Smithy Brae I meet Andrew Low returning to work, and note at Adam Duncan’s door a well-knit young fellow whom I recognise as his son, Daniel, home from one of his voyages. At the Post Office little Jamie Campbell is coming out of the shop, messages in hand; and a few yards along George Anderson is standing at his grandmother’s door.
Proceeding along Parkhill Road, I catch the glint of the sun on auburn locks, the owner of which is Willie M’Farlane. I pay my visit and find that mother’s boy, Tom Johnstone, enjoying his mother’s nursing, and have the pleasure of seeing the sunshine of good humour breaking through the cloud of her maternal anxiety. Already I have seen eight of your twelve within a radius of a few hundred yards from the Manse.
I then take a walk over to Blairgowrie. At the top of the Boat Brae is that sweet, modest, gentle lad with his sunny smile, Gordon Bain. Coming up the brae is one of Mr Dick’s carts, with Alex Paterson proudly perched in front beside his father. On the bridge I exchange greetings with kindly Mrs Petrie, who is accompanied by her sturdy boy, David. There remains only one of your twelve - Sergt. Peter Stewart. I seem to find him more easily in reminiscences of his aunt’s conversation than in any distinct facial memory".
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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have not seen that before in an unveiling notice. A very moving way of remembering them all.

Adam
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spoons



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

PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Beutiful words and I think a very modern way to reflect on war dead. Could it be that the relatively late unveiling meant that the usual phrases of 'glorious dead' and 'laid down his life' were losing their appeal?

\Paul
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stuartn



Joined: 13 Dec 2016
Posts: 2551

PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 11:19 am    Post subject: WMR (ex UKNIWM) report Reply with quote

WMR 82121
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