Haggis Highway:Lest We Forget Fraserbugh
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1914 ~ 2014 100 years since the start of the Great War ~ the haggi are taking you on a trail of war memorials
Sited in the middle of a road junction so not suitable for children ~ there is though a handy bench where they could sit ( or be tied to ) whilst an adult collects the information which is needed to work out the final co ~ordinates
The statue is poised on the top of a granite plinth which itself is a work of art. The granite is the silver-grey granite, which came from Kemnay quarry, the very same granite which was chosen to decorate the outside of our new Parliamentary Building in Edinburgh. Messers Charles McDonald Ltd. of Aberdeen carried out the granite work to the design of Edinburgh architects Messers Leadbetter, Fairley and Reid. A Scottish thistle is engraved into the top of each of the outer columns.
Mr J. G. Corbett, a Fraserburgh mason who can be rightly proud of his work, carried out the erection of the monument. Bronze plaques with the names of the 411 men who laid down their lives in the Great War are inserted into the granite pedestal and further plaques with the inscribed names of the 139 fallen in Word War II are located on the outer columns.
Alexander Carrick, a native of Musselburgh who was born on 20th February 1882, sculpted the statue itself. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1918 and made a Royal Scottish Academician in 1929. The son of an edge tool maker, he trained as a stone carver in Edinburgh and later attended the Edinburgh College of Art and the Royal Cambrian Academy in London. Later he taught at Edinburgh College of Art, becoming the head of the sculpture department.
The eight foot statue represents the concepts of Justice and Valour and is named “Justice Guiding Valour”. Justice is depicted as a cloaked woman seated on a rock and her steadying hand supports, restrains and guides Valour, the partly clad youth who has in one hand a mighty sword and in the other a defensive shield.
It was decided that the memorial should be sited on the spot occupied by the Fountain, outside what is now called James Ramsay Park.
(The Saltoun Place Fountain was erected in 1904 and originally stood on the current site of the War Memorial at the junction of Strichen Road and Saltoun Place where it was intended to create an impressive entrance to the town from the main Aberdeen road. When it was first erected the fountain was the centre piece of the newly created playing fields on land gifted by Lord Saltoun . The fountain was one of the prefabricated iron fountains produced by Walter MacFarlane and Co., Saracen Foundry, Glasgow. The prefabricated design was customised for Fraserburgh by surmounting the canopy with an ostrich holding a key. This bizarre addition was in acknowledgement of the ostrich in the burgh coat of arms. The ostrich is thought to be derived from the ostrich holding a horse shoe which appears in the arms of the Comyn Earls of Buchan through whom the Fraser's of Philorth obtained their lands. The ostrich was incorporated in firstly the Fraser coat of arms and later, holding the key to the burgh, rather than a horse shoe, in the burgh arms.
In 1923 the fountain was replaced by the War Memorial and moved to its current site by the 'Grandad Swings' in Saltoun Place. The fountain was painted silver in commemoration of the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Can be found 100yds up the road at N57.41.314 W002.00.372 )
A dedication ceremony was held on Sunday 9th September 1923 . The memorial was unveiled by General Sir Ian Hamilton G.C.B. G.C.M.G D.S.O. A.D.C., the former Colonel of the Gordon Highlanders and was attended by relatives of the fallen and ex-servicemen from the army and navy. The local dignitaries representing the Town Council, Harbour Commissioners, Feuars Managers, Customs and Excise, Parish Council and Coastguards. There were also office bearers of the Solomon Lodge of Freemasons, the Eastern Star, The Free Gardiners, the Oddfellows, the Shepherds, the I.O.G.T and the massed choirs of the churches.
At the base stood the guard of honour consisting of Mr. Joe Watt VC. and Mr John Carle representing the sea forces and Mr. James Milne and Mr. Leslie Youngson representing the military forces. The Master of Saltoun was in charge of the guard.
Provost Brown presided at the ceremony and others on the platform, as well as Sir Ian Hamilton, were Lord Saltoun, Fred Martin MP for the area, Lt. Col. Kelly secretary of Aberdeenshire TA Association, Col. Forbes GCM commander of the 56th Brigade, Col. Samuel McDonald GCM DSO, Ex-Provost Finlayson and the ministers of the local churches.
“Oh God our help in ages past” was the opening hymn. Then followed prayers and reading from the scriptures. Sir Ian Hamilton, gave a brief speech then unveiled the memorial stating “To the glory of God and in memory of the heroes of Fraserburgh”. Buglers then sounded the “Last Post”. Sir Ian then spoke of justice and valour and Colonel McDonald spoke of fallen comrades.
It is somewhat humbling to be made aware that 3,425 men from Fraserburgh Parish joined up during the Great War. 2,075 went to the Army and 1,350 went to the Navy. A further 288 men volunteered along with 50 nurses and 30 of the Ambulance Class. 411 men were killed, 745 were injured, 36 suffered from shell shock or were gassed, and there were 49 Prisoners of War. Also 221 men were decorated with a total of 350 decorations and a further 35 heroes were Mentioned in Dispatches.
On the 12th November 1950, following a service of remembrance held in the Parish Church, the memorial was re-dedicated. Major-General Sir James Lauderdale Gilbert Burnett, 13th Bart., of Leys, a soldier of great distinction, fought in the Great War as a Colonel of the Gordon Highlanders. He ... unveiled the four bronze plaques, which were attached to the corners of the plinth. Three plaques have the names of the 108 names of the fallen. The fourth has the names of the 39 civilians killed between 1939 and 1945.
In June 1950 the matter of re-locating the War Memorial was first proposed. The Parks and Beach Committee argued that they could not carry out any further developments until the decision regarding the move was made and, if so, a suitable location agreed. At their October meeting The Town Council decided on the grounds of safety for motorists and of those attending the wreath laying ceremony, to give their consent, but to leave the final decision to other “interested parties”. The proposal was to re-erect the monument either “within the present bowling green garden, or at the corner” of what is now the James Ramsay Park. When the public were consulted it soon became evident that they did not want it to move anywhere, and so it is today.
There is both roadside parking and a carpark at the sports centre & bowling club, there are benches at the entrance to James Ramsey Park and just inside the park. The final co ~ords are a short walk away and are N57.AB.CDE W002.00.EFG
ABC = Number of names from WWI
D = Number of plaques - number of plaques to civilian casualties
E = How many plaques commemerating WWI ?
F = On the green road sign opposite the memorial at the junction of Saltoun Place and Maconochie Road, what is the last number ?
G = Looking straight down Links Road to the sea, you will see a large red and blue sign on a building, the number of letters in this sign.
Please be carefull on the busy road, best leave mutts and brats in the car whilst collecting information but the final location is suitable for both to run free !
~~~~~~ L E S T W E FO R G E T ~~~~~~
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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