11/11/10

[Lachlan09]

As Armistice Day approaches, I'd like to pay silent personal homage to Scots who died in the World Wars. Please feel free to add your own remembrances on this thread.

Photo 1 - The 9th Scottish Division Memorial, nr Arras, France - commemorating the dead of the division during the Arras Offensive 9/4/17 - 16/5/17

Photo 2 - The Arras Memorial - commemorating the dead of the Arras Offensive with no known grave, including my Gt Uncle - S9365 L/Cpl David Elder Robertson, 8th Batt Black Watch, 9th Scottish Division, who died on 3rd May 1917, during the assault on Greenland Hill, Roeux - one of over 35,000 names.

Photo 3 - The 51st Highland Division Memorial, Newfoundland Park, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme - commemorating the dead of the division during the assault and capture of Y-Ravine and the fortified village, 13 - 16th November 1916.

Photo 4 - The McRae's Memorial - Contalmaison, Somme - a recent memorial funded by the owner and fans of Heart of Midlothian FC commemorating all the dead of the 16th Royal Scots (aka The 2nd Edinburgh City Battalion, McRae's Battalion, The Scottish Sportsmen's Battalion), 34th Division, primarily on 1st July 1916 (3 Hearts players died) and during the rest of the war (a further 4 players died).

Photo 5 - HMS Hood in her heyday, home to our next-door neighbour's brother, PO/X3429 Marine Joseph Gillan, No 6 member, left gun crew, No 4 gun (twin 4 inch dual-purpose gun, on shelter deck above and forward of main X turret) who died on 25th May 1941 in the action against Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. (The photo was taken in 1932, long before Joseph Gillan joined her complement)

[Lachlan09]

A post can only have a maximum of 5 images, so I'll post the last 4 here.

1) A dual-purpose twin 4 inch gun of the type Joseph Gillan served (named No 4 gun - the other 6 twin guns were named P1, P2, P3, S1, S2 and S3).

2) The last known photo of HMS Hood just before the action with Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. This photo was taken on 23rd May 1941 from HMS Prince of Wales.

3) Photo of HMS Hood exploding, taken from Bismarck 25th May 1941.


4) Remembrance for all lost due to war.

[wullie m]

How about this, my favourite war memorial, if you can have such a thing, Lorrimers bronze of a Cameron Highlander at Glenelg in a superb setting. Sculpture that wouldn't look out of place in a city square. The war devastated small villages like this. These names all knew one another well.

Glenelg War Memorial and Roll of Honour 1914-19 and 1839-45

wullie.

[Lachlan09]

That's a magnificent memorial - you can imagine it in George Square.

[wullie m]

This one I remember as a kid, on trips to Kelvingrove,

Roll of Honour - Renfrewshire - Glasgow, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

wullie

[Lianachan]

I think my favourite is probably the Commando Memorial, near Spean Bridge. The combination of beautiful memorial and stunning views in all directions is amazing.

[Lachlan09]

The 8th Argylls memorial at Beaumont Hamel is also rather fine.

Getting a bit fancier is the Memorial À Ses Morts of La Légion Étrangère at Aubagne, nr Marseille. This is the Foreign Legion's ongoing tribute to its own dead since 1831 to date. The memorial used to be located in the parade ground at Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, but in 1967 it was moved to the Legion's new headquarters at Quartier Viennot, Aubagne, where it occupies pride of place in the constantly used large parade ground. It features in Legion and national ceremonies such as Camerone Day, Bastille Day and Armistice Day.