The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown · Last edited by Adam Brown on Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:56 am; edited 1 time in total

Location: St Clare's Hall, Auckengill. Beside A99 (Wick to John O'Groats road)
OS Ref: ND 368 638
Google Maps Street View

The quality of the images taken from Google Maps Street View isn't that great but it's worth posting the here because.

1. This is the only civic memorial in Caithness we haven't got recorded on the forum.
2. I don't recall seeing anything like this before. Busts of servicemen used as gate posts.

For some reason the software which blurs faces has worked on the sailor but not the soldier

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:06 pm Post subject:

Slightly more detailed images can be seen on a Caithness website.

The soldier:

http://www.caithness.org/atoz/statuesandmonuments/statueauckengill1.jpg

The sailor:

http://www.caithness.org/atoz/statuesandmonuments/statueauckengill2.jpg

Both these busts and their pedestals / gateposts are made of sandstone and are beginning to show some weathering. It would be good to get some close-ups of the carvings before they get too worn.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:34 pm Post subject:

Are there names associated with this memorial ?

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:57 pm Post subject:

Mark

I think there are names on the pedestal but I can't find any decent photographs of them.

Regards

Adam

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

UKNIWM Ref: 53951
Sculptor: John Nicolson

I took a number of photos of the gateposts at St Clare Hall, Auckengill when I was in Caithness last summer. There are inscriptions naming various battles of WWI, but no names on the gateposts.

The UKNIWM site refers to a memorial with names and photos. I presume it is in the hall. The hall was locked when I was there.

(Added later) I see the on the Caithness.org website there is a YouTube movie clip of a Burns Supper in the hall. At about 5min30sec to 6mins you see what looks like the memorial described on the UKNIWM site.

http://www.caithness.org/community/villagehalls/auckengill/index.htm

The sculptor, John Nicolson, and his work are described on the following webpage:
http://www.firstfoot.com/tour/john-nicolson-painting-and-sculpture-1978.htm

South gatepost: Tribute to World War veterans of Auckengill & Nybster.

North gatepost: They have given life and blood faced shot and shell.

ADP

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:57 am Post subject:

Great work ADP. I love the dedication in watching a Burns Supper to track down a memorial.

Many thanks for such a detailed update and some great photographs of this superb memorial.

Kind regards

Adam

MacDonald · Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 2

Hi, the soldier is Donald Budge (South Keiss) & the sailor William Bremner (Keiss)..Both carved by John Nicolson. The statues were moved when the A9 was realigned & a bottle containing coins from Russia, China, Germany & the USA was found in a recess under the soldier & a letter dated 14th July 1921.. I have several early photos but don't know how to post them... Sad

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 9:28 am Post subject:

Is the soldier this man?

BUDGE, DONALD.
Rank:Private
Service No:25390
Date of Death:10/06/1917
Age:22
Regiment/Service:Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st Bn.
Grave Reference:IV. J. 7.
Cemetery:DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN
Additional Information:Son of Isaac and Isabella Budge, of Ratter, Thurso.

SNWM b. Dunnett, Caithness.

Amended: More likely this man

BUDGE, D.
Rank:Lance Corporal
Service No:13081
Date of Death:27/03/1918
Regiment/Service:Scots Guards 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference:VI. E. 19.
Cemetery:BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, FICHEUX

SNWM b. Keiss.

Is the sailor one of these?

BREMNER, WILLIAM SCOTT.
Rank:Deck Hand
Service No:9915DA
Date of Death:07/07/1917
Age:24
Regiment/Service:Royal Naval Reserve H.M. Drifter "Southesk."
Panel Reference:27.
Memorial:PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:Son of Roderick and Annie Bremner, of South Keiss, Wick, Caithness.

or (less likely)

BREMNER, W McK.
Rank:Seaman
Service No:2015/C
Date of Death:26/12/1919
Age:40
Regiment/Service:Royal Naval Reserve H.M.S. "Victory."
Grave Reference:N. 994.
Cemetery:WICK CEMETERY

The headstone schedule has Mrs. G Bremner, 14 McArthur St Wick.
_________________
Ken

MacDonald · Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 2

The picture I have belongs to an Annie Bremner, Keiss. So yes, I would say the first one.. Razz