The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project Forum Index The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project
(Registered Scottish Charity No. SC043826). Please visit our homepage at www.scottishmilitaryresearch.co.uk
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Lochawe

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project Forum Index -> Argyll & Bute - Civic Memorials
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
jamiemcginlay



Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 930
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:38 pm    Post subject: Lochawe Reply with quote

Lochawe - Argyll & Bute, Lorn District
UKNIM Ref no. 5979

The Lochawe war memorial in Lorn stands by the roadside at the entrance gates to Saint Conan's Kirk. This was the first memorial by Edinburgh sculptor Alexander Carrick after he returned in 1919 from serving in the Royal Garrison Artillery in Flanders. It features a powerfully carved figure of a Highland Infantryman which stands on a cairn constructed from boulders gathered from the slopes of Ben Cruachan by the Oban builder Mr. A. MacTavish. Before the war Carrick had carried out much of the stone carving in the kirk itself which is well worth a visit. The memorial was unveiled in July 1920 and the unveiling ceremony was covered in the Oban Times of Saturday July 17th 1920, Page 5, columns 3,4&5.
More information on Carrick can be found at:
www.alexandercarrick.webeden.co.uk
The monument is located on A85 beside St Conan's Church , Lorn.


Above is a photograph taken in the early 90's. Notice the joint on the soldier's sleeve at his right elbow which is perfectly aligned. Below is a photograph taken in 2006 showing the displacement which is occuring as the upper section of the sculpture moves. The rifle muzzle has already become damaged.



This is a photo of one of my old postcards (below) which shows the way in which Carrick perfectly maintained the sloping line of the cairn as it continued up through the soldier's rifle and his tilted cap to the top of the sculpture.

Below - another photo of one of my old postcards showing the memorial in the 1920's, quieter times, pre-juggernaut and tourist coach.



WWI ROLL OF HONOUR:
Allan Archibald Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Private
Alston J.W.H. J. Alston Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Major
Black A.H. A. Black Lochawe Argyle Gordon Highlanders Private
Fraser J. J. Fraser Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Sergeant Distinguished Cross Medal Croix De Guerre
Henderson A. Lochawe Argyle Cameron Highlanders Private
Laing P.J.S. P. Laing Lochawe Argyle Canadians Lieutenant
McKinnon Archibald Lochawe Argyle Royal Highlanders Private
McLean K. Lochawe Argyle Scots Guards Private
McNab Alexander Lochawe Argyle Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders Private
Wilson James Lochawe Argyle Royal Highlanders Sergeant


Last edited by jamiemcginlay on Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:02 pm; edited 6 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
jamiemcginlay



Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 930
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote


The memorial tablet lists ten men, a terrible toll for such a small Highland community, including Sergeant Fraser who was awarded the D.C.M. and Croix De Guerre

The Oban Times recorded the speech by Mr. Robert McDiarmid at the unveiling:
'While we grieve and sorrow for their loss, suddenly cut off in the prime and glory of their youth, we reverence their memory and are justly proud of them. Proud of their dauntless bearing, their patriotism and their devotion to their country, and to their supreme gallantry and valour in which they, along with others, upheld the glorious fighting prestige and traditions of our Highland Regiements till their hour came, and they passed over into the Great Unknown. To preserve their memory green in our hearts, we have raised up this memorial, a memorial which will point out to future generations how our gallant lads from Lochawe, whose names indelibly engraved on this stone, bravely fought on till the end came, leaving behind them a name and fame that will never die.'


Last edited by jamiemcginlay on Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
jamiemcginlay



Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 930
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote


A final photograph which shows the displacement which is occuring in this monument as the stone which forms the head and torso of the soldier is moving out of alignment with the lower section (the gap can be clearly seen just under the waist belt and on the sleeve below the elbow).
Saint Conan's Kirk has become an important tourist attraction but there are no proper car parking facilities. Consequently many tourist coaches park on the grass verge hard beside the war memorial and the tour guides often give a commentary on the kirk while the tourists remain seated in the coach and the driver leaves the engine running. The tremendous vibration of the engine is what is causing the upper section of the soldier to vibrate and slide out of place. This is bound to result in structural damage to the monument in the future. I have contacted the roads department and alerted them to this problem and they sent an insepctor who reported back that she could not see any displacement! The last I heard they are still looking into the matter but I'm not holding my breath Mad
You can also see in this picture the tool marks which Carrick has left when carving the soldier's kilt. Carrick understood stone and carved in a simple and powerful style which allowed the quality of the stone itself to remain in the work.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
dhubthaigh
Our first ever 1000-poster


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

PostPosted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:48 pm    Post subject: Pat Laing Reply with quote

Here are details of Pat laing commemorated at Loch Awe;


He is also on the Coupar Angus Public School Memorial, Perthshire.
regards,
Mark
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jamiemcginlay



Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 930
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the info Mark, fantastic! You can see the potential of this site when you get posts like that!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
dhubthaigh
Our first ever 1000-poster


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

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's a pleasure.

Mark
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
DerekR
Moderator


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 3013
Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's another cracking memorial added to my "must do" in 2007.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
corinne mills



Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Posts: 19

PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
David McNay
Administrator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 11425
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A photograph from "Miss MacDougalls Photo Album".

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
DerekR
Moderator


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 3013
Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

O/S map ref: NN 115 267
N56 23.751 W5 03.218




_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
DerekR
Moderator


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 3013
Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote


_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
dhubthaigh
Our first ever 1000-poster


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

PostPosted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The memorial has had a clean and the area around it tidied up;


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
anne park
Our first ever 2000 poster


Joined: 25 Sep 2007
Posts: 21200
Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 6:57 am    Post subject: Andrew Hunter Black GH Reply with quote

Andrew Hunter Black Pte S/41458 7th Gordon Highlanders b Dallachalish, By Ledaig e Stirling Age 19 Killed in Action F&F 30/07/1918 Short Service: 7 Pages. Soldiers Effects: Father Thomas. Address: Lochawe. Age 18. Occ: Shepherd. Brother: Thomas. James. Alexander. John. Sister: Jeanie. Marfaux British Cemetery Fr 0622 Plot IV Row J Grave 09 The Scotsman 03-09-18 P6: Lochawe. Inveraray & Lochawe
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project Forum Index -> Argyll & Bute - Civic Memorials All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com