The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Cyril Bonnett · Joined: 07 May 2012 Posts: 3

On the 24th may 2012 there is a meeting in the Ballachulish village hall, called by the CC as some 'people' have asked if it could be moved into the village of Ballachulish.

Cyril Bonnett · Joined: 07 May 2012 Posts: 3

Further to this meeting, held by the CC about twenty people attended it; the general consensus was that the memorial needs to be moved.
Access to it is restricted, there is car parking at St Johns Church about 300 metres to the west. Situated next to the modern aligned A82 it is subjected to the constant pollution and vibration from HGV and traffic in general.
The monument is in need of some TLC although the inscriptions are easy to read, the steps up to it are steep, usually wet and being granite slippery, the railings are rusting and damaged.
The moving to the village would create interest in it and add interest to the village.
The general view is that moving it would not cost too much!
There needs to be more consultation from relatives of those whose names are on the memorial.
So there you have it, should the memorial be moved from its historic site? Just to make it more accessible and add interest to the village of Ballachulish?

DerekR · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Ballachulish memorial

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 2:06 pm Post subject:

Many rural memorials have been moved over the years. Some to accommodate changes to road layouts; others because the location which was appropriate in the 1920s is not appropriate today. (e.g on top of a hill which is inaccessible to the disabled or next to busy roads.)

The Loth war memorial was relocated from beside a busy trunk road to a far more practical location in a nearby burial ground, however in moving it the memorial was moved from a commanding position overlooking the parish to one in the corner of a small cemetery.

Dornoch War Memorial was moved only slightly during a road junction realignment but in doing that the statue was repositioned and some of the original symbolism of the Highlander looking towards the battlefields was lost as he now looks west instead of south.

My personal opinion is that memorials like Ballachulish next to a busy main road should be moved to a more practical location BUT the spirit of the original location should be retained.

In this case it stands next to Loch Leven in a particularly scenic position and that should be retained in its new location. Hopefully a local solution can be found where historic and practical considerations can meet to find the perfect spot

Using Google Maps Street View here are some links to show the current location of the memorial and the view from that memorial:

Ballachulish War Memorial

Loch Leven

There is no indication here of suggested sites but on a quick tour of the village from the comfort of my chair using Google I can see that the corner of Park Road and Albert Road next to Jubilee Park may seem an obvious location in practical terms. Another would possibly be over the old bridge. I would personally say that because there is no view of the loch then both of these should be discounted.

Could somewhere near the Isles of Glencoe Hotel be chosen? There is ample parking and a loch view.

Or how about this position at the Junction of Park Road and A82 which could still be next to the A82, have a view of loch and hills and be reached from off-road parking at Old Railway Goods Yard. There is a path there already for something I can't identify but looks like a fancy sign.

These are only my suggestions though and ultimately the decision has to be made by the residents and the descendents of those listed on the memorial

Adam

anne park · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject: James McIntosh

James McIntosh Pte S/22478 5th Cameron Highlanders born Cabrach, Banffshire 02/08/1889 enlisted Oban residence N. Ballachulish Age 28 Killed in Action F & F 25-Apr-18 Son of Mrs Mary Cameron, 3 Station Rd; Dufftown, Banffshire. Step-father James Cameron. Husband of Mary L MacIntosh, 57 Loan Fern, Ballachulish. Occ: Woodcutter. Killed in attach on Dammstrasse. McIntosh in some records. Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 136 to 138 Mortlach & Ballachulish

DelBoy · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject: Dmr. Archibald Ferguson CLark

Not on the memorial, or likely any other one in Scotland, but with a family connection to the village.

WW1
Drummer Archibald Ferguson Clark

(Glasgow Herald 15th April 1915)
"News has been received at Ballachulish by Messrs John and James Clark that their nephew, Drummer Archibald Clark, 2nd Scots Guards, son of Sergeant-Instructor Donald Clark, Tunbridge, England, was killed in the battle of Neuve CHapelle. He had 10 years ervice and was aged 24 years. He was with the 7th Division covering the retreat from Antwerp, and was slightly wounded in the battle of Ypres. He has another brother in the Scottish Rifles. His father is a retired instructor of musketry, and holds the Distinguished Service Medal for bravery in the field in South Africa."

CWGC
CLARK, A F
Rank: Drummer
Service No: 5409
Date of Death: 12/03/1915
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference: XVI. AA. 30.
Cemetery: CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
Additional Information: Son of Donald and Isabella Clark, of Hillcrest, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.

SNWM
Surname: CLARK
Firstname: Archie Ferguson
Service Number: 5409
Date Death: 12/03/1915
Place of birth: Hertford
SNWM roll: SCOTS GUARDS
Rank: Dmr
Theatre of death: F.& F.

DelBoy · Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:12 am Post subject: 3 Ballachulish men

WW1
BALLACHULISH
Private Donald F. McDonald, A. & S.H.

(Glasgow Herald 27th May 1915)
"Private Donald McIntyre, Ardgour; Private Allan Vance, West Laroch, Ballachulish; and Private Donald McDonald, 29 East Laroch, Ballachulish, were killed by the bursting of shells in France. McIntyre was in the South African war. Vance was 32 years of age, and had been a postman at Ballachulish for 17 years. McDonald was 19 years of age, and enlisted whortly after the war began. They were members of the 8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Territorials)."

CWGC
McDONALD, D F
Rank: Private
Service No: 2044
Date of Death: 23/05/1915
Age: 19
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st/8th Bn.
Grave Reference: I. A. 22.
Cemetery: RUE-DES-BERCEAUX MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
Additional Information: Son of Alexander and Margaret McDonald, of 29, East Laroch, Ballachulish East, Argyll Born at Ballachulish, Argyll.

SNWM
Surname: MacDONALD (McDonald)
Firstname: Donald F
Service Number: 2044
Date Death: 23/05/1915
Other: 1/8th Bn.
SNWM roll: THE ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS
Rank: Pte
Theatre of death: F.& F.

Corporal Donald McIntyre, A. & S.H.

CWGC
MacINTYRE, D (McIntyre)
Rank: Private
Service No: 1114
Date of Death: 23/05/1915
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st/8th Bn.
Grave Reference: I. A. 22.
Cemetery: RUE-DES-BERCEAUX MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
Additional Information: Son of George and Marjory MacIntyre, of Batley Cottage, Ardgour, Argyll.

SNWM
Surname: McINTYRE
Firstname: Donald
Service Number: 1114
Date Death: 23/05/1915
Place of birth: Ardgour Argyllshire
Other: 1/8th Bn.
SNWM roll: THE ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS
Rank: Pte
Theatre of death: F.& F.

Private Allan Vance, A. & S.H.

CWGC
VANCE, A
Rank: Private
Service No: 313
Date of Death: 23/05/1915
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st/8th Bn.
Grave Reference: I. A. 22.
Cemetery: RUE-DES-BERCEAUX MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
Additional Information: Son of Donald and Christina Vance, of Ballachulish, Argyll.

SNWM
Surname: VANCE
Firstname: Allan
Service Number: 313
Date Death: 23/05/1915
Place of birth: St Munda Argyllshire
Other: 1/8th Bn.
SNWM roll: THE ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS
Rank: Pte
Theatre of death: F.& F.

Joseph yeardly · Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 24

http://www.lochaber-news.co.uk/News/Well-keep-you-safe-Unstable-war-memorial-on-the-move-05042016.htm

ONE of the most iconic war memorials in Lochaber will soon be on the move.
The life-size statue of a soldier on top of a granite plinth is a familiar site to everyone who uses the A82 near Ballachulish.

But the amount of water running down behind the landmark monument from the hillside and the increase in traffic on the A82 have affected its stability. And the majority of locals agree that the memorial should be moved to a safer position in the heart of the village itself.

Ex-serviceman, Mel MacAskill, has been involved with the project for several years.

“It has taken a long time, but we have to make sure we tick all the boxes,” said Mel.

“We have held two public meetings, the last one a few weeks ago, and the vast majority of locals want to see it moved.

“It will be positioned opposite the drill hall as the ground is owned by the army and they are quite happy to have the war memorial there.

“As it will be in the centre of the village, it will be much easier for people to have access to it and to hold parades on Remembrance Sunday.

“The army has also offered to help us move the memorial by supplying manpower and machinery, but engineers will oversee everything to make sure it is all done properly.”

Mel (64), who was chairman of Ballachulish Community Council until he stepped down two years ago, said the monument – which was erected at the end of World War I – is just two yards from the busy road.

“The traffic on the A82 is only going to get worse. The war memorial is a landmark and some people actually stop their cars right in front of it which is asking for trouble,” he said.

“We believe it is getting damaged bit by bit and we have to protect it. There’s a big puddle at the roadside from the water coming down at the back of the monument and, as a result, the granite retaining walls are pushing forward. So we have to do something about it.

“We will be applying for grants as the estimated cost of moving the memorial will be around £120,000.

“There are a lot of family names on it covering both World Wars which mean a great deal to people in the village.

“But while a few say the memorial was put at the original site for a purpose, sooner rather than later it is going to have to be moved,” Mel added.
_________________
Joseph yeardly

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 2:48 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the update. It looks like it is proposed to move it to the garden area on Loanfern in front of the former Ballachulish Drill Hall, now used as the MoD Joint Mountain Training Centre.

See it at Google Maps here: https://goo.gl/maps/9BXx6BAWpv82

Despite the views of the hills and the location next to the former drilll hall, I feel moving it into the heart of the village and away from the loch side is disappointing and will lessen the impact of the memorial.

If that is what the locals want, and the involvement of the MoD looks like it will substantially reduce any costs associated with the move, then so be it but the locals ninety-five years ago wanted two things from it.

1. A dramatic view over the loch and parish
2. A prominent spot to show passers-by the sacrifice the community made.

Both the points will be lost with a move next to Jubilee Park. Somewhere around the Junction of Park Road and A82 would be more suitable in my very humble opinion as it would still meet the two points above.

What do I know though!

Adam

Cyril Bonnett · Joined: 07 May 2012 Posts: 3

While the move is popular is it popular with those that have scattered ashes there and the relatives of those named on the memorial?
Moving it to the village takes away the reason it was placed in the original setting, it overlooks Loch Leven, the isles and the Pap with a splendid view down towards Kinlochleven.
In the middle of the village it will lose it's view of the loch and the hills that these men left behind and died for.
It may make it more accessible but for who? Moving it to provide 'interest' for tourists is a pretty poor excuse.

apanderson · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 7:37 am Post subject:

It's very easy to agree and understand both points of view.

I've visited this memorial a few times and personally speaking, I was a bit apprehensive, especially during the summer months, having to dodge quite heavy traffic to get to it.

I imagine when it was erected all those years ago, it would never have been imagined that this road would ever be as busy as it is now.

The location is important as is the conservation of the memorial, but the names are more important.

Just my personal opinion of course.

Anne

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

These are the details of the WW2 and Palestine Men

Lieutenant Alan Charles Boughton
1st Bn.
Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

28/07/44 Age 27
Son of Charles Stephen and Henrietta Caroline Boughton; husband of Sarah Boughton (nee Macinnes), of Chipstead, Surrey.
Born London SW
Resided Surrey
Enlisted in Royal Engineers

Private R. Howieson
5th Bn.
Gordon Highlanders.

17th June 1940. Age 36.
Son of George and Elizabeth Howison; husband of Susan Howison of Barrhead Renfrewshire.
Born Glasgow
Resided Wiltshire
Private Robert Millar Howison
Private William Lawrie
7/10th Bn.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

6th April 1942. Age 20
Son of Alexander Lawrie and Mary Lawrie (nee Livingstone) of Ballachulish, Argyllshire.

Pilot Officer Colin Campbell MacColl
46 Sqdn
Royal Air Force

18/12/42 Aged 24
Son of Mr. and Mrs. D. MacColl, of Ballachulish, Argyllshire; husband of Ruby Phillips Parker MacColl, of Stranraer,

Guardsman Hugh MacDonald
2nd Bn.
Scots Guards.

17th October 1943.
Son of Neil and Margaret MacDonald.
Born Argyll
Resided Argyll

Private Alexander MacInnes
2986501
2nd Bn.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

31/03/42
Age 24
Son of Dugald MacInnes, and of Annie MacInnes, of Glencoe, Argyllshire.

PALESTINE
Lance Corporal Charles Rankin
1st Bn.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
5th January 1948. Age 21