War Memorials within the Parish of Glenorchy and Innishail, Argyll
St. Conan’s Kirk is located in Lochawe village on the A85, Oban road.
Within the church are two brass plates, which hang on the walls, which are memorials of local men who fought in the Boer War (1899 –1902). The fact that five of the names are given with the place or mode of death may suggest that this was a Roll of Honour as well as a memorial. The inscriptions are as follows:
On the first plate:
M
AJ. GENERAL B. B. DOUGLAS CAMPBELL C.B. C.V.O. COMDing 16th BRIGADE
LT. COLONEL M. DOUGLAS CAMPBELL D.S.O. 4TH BATTN. A&S HIGHLANDERS
CAPTAIN THE HONBLE IVAN CAMPBELL 3RD BATTN ROYAL SCOTS
CAPTAIN R. CAMPBELL PRESTON 3RD BATTN R H BLACK WATCH
CAPTAIN J. W. ALSTON COWAN DSO 1ST BATTN H.L I
FELL AT MAGERSFONTEIN
CAPTAIN ALEXANDER STIRLING 1ST BATTN SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS
LIEUT R.C. WALLACE ALSTON 1ST BATTN H.L.I.
LIEUT CHARLES STIRLING LOVAT’S SCOUTS
LIEUT IAN ALASTAIR CAMPBELL 2ND GORDON HIGHLANDERS
MORTALLY WOUNDED AT ELANDSLAAGTE
LIEUT F. G. GLENCAIRN CUNINGHAM A&S HIGHLANDERS
LIEUT ROBT. B. MATHESON IMP YEOMANRY
On the second plate:
PRIVATE DONALD DOW, SCOTS GREYS
DIED OF ENTERIC
PRIVATE ALEXR DOW SCOTS GREYS
PRIVATE JAMES DOW , RESERVE
PRIVATE JOSEPH MACPHERSON IMP. YEOMANRY
SERGEANT JAMES MCLEAN RYL ARTILLERY
PRIVATE W.C. MOSCROP 2ND BATT. COLDSTREAM GUARDS
PRIVATE JOHN MCINNES 3RD V.B.R.H. BLACK WATCH
PRIVATE DONALD SCRIMGEOUR 3RD V.B.R.H. BLACK
WATCH
PRIVATE JOHN MCINTYRE 2ND V.B.H.L.I.
SERGEANT MURDOCH MACKENZIE 1ST GORDON HIGHLANDERS
PRIVATE CHARLES LANG 1ST GORDON HIGHLANDERS
PRIVATE JOHN MACLEAN 1ST GORDON HIGHLANDERS
DIED AT BLOEMFONTEIN
PRIVATE DONALD MCINTYRE A&S HIGHLANDERS
PRIVATE NICOL MCINTYRE A&S HIGHLANDERS
PRIVATE MALCOLM ROSS 1ST A7S HIGHLANDERS
FELL AT MODDER RIVER
PRIVATE D. BEATON 1ST CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
PRIVATE KENNETH MOSCROP THORNYCROFTS MOUNTED INFANTRY
The Lochawe War Memorial is placed adjacent to St. Conan’s Kirk, Lochawe and by the side of the A85. It was unveiled on Saturday, 10th July, 1920 by Lady Breadalbane. The Oban Times of 17th July described the memorial thus:
"The Memorial is in the form of the figure of an Argyll and Sutherland Highlander sculptured in freestone surmounting a handsome cairn of Cruachan granite. The whole is finely executed, and is the work of Mr. Alexander Carrick, A.R.S.A., Edinburgh. Mr. A MacTavish, builder, Oban, placed the cairn and statue in position."
The memorial is in reasonable condition, although with a slight growth of moss.
The inscription reads:
"Erected in memory of our glorious dead who made the supreme sacrifice in the great war 1914-1918"
Major J.W.H. Alston, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Lieutenant P.J.S. Laing, Canadians
Sergeant J. Fraser, D.C.M., Croix de Guerre Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Sergeant James Wilson, Royal Highlanders
Private Alex. McNab, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
" Arch. McKinnon, Royal Highlanders
" A.H. Black, Gordon Highlanders
" A. Henderson, Camerons
" Arch. Allan, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
" K. McLean, Scots Guards
"death is swallowed up in victory."
The names of the regiments are abbreviated on the memorial.
(We understand that Carrick’s sculpture is
identical to the memorial on South Ronaldsay)
The memorial is located near Dalmally, on the B8077, Stronmilchan road, in an elevated position above the Dalmally Bridge over the River Orchy, a few hundred metres from Glenorchy Parish Church.
The precise date on which the memorial was built and unveiled is uncertain. However, a set of accounts for the War Memorial Committee dated August 1927 records the cost of the memorial as £237 12/-, with the cost of preparing the site £27 11/6d.
It consists of a carved Celtic cross, decorated with an interlacing pattern, set on a plinth. This has a ledge about 2 feet from ground level. The whole monument is about 5m high. The names and dedication consist of lead lettering.
The tablet for the 1939-45 war was unveiled on Remembrance Sunday, 6th November 1949 by Mrs. Scott and Mr. Cowan, on behalf of Mrs. Cowan. After a service in Glenorchy Parish Church, the congregation proceeded to the War Memorial for the ceremony.
The cairn has recently been re-pointed, and the lettering repainted.
On the east side of the plinth is a stone tablet with the lettering:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN FROM GLENORCHY AND DISTRICT WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918
"BITHIDH IAD AIR CHUIMHNE ANNS CACH LINN E THIO"
"THEY SHALL BE REMEMBERED IN ALL GENERATIONS"
War Memorial Glenorchy Plaque
SERGT JOHN ANDERSON A&S HRS.
PTE DUNCAN CARMICHAEL BLACK WATCH
L CPL GILBERT CARMICHAEL ROYAL SCOTS
PTE JAMES GEORGE CANADIANS
PTE JAMES GRANT ROYAL FUSILIERS
SERGT CALUM GRIEVE SEAFORTH HRS.
LIEUT H. VINCENT GREGORY, KING’S LIVERPOOL
PTE JOHN JAMES JOHNSON BLACK WATCH
PTE RODK. D. MACDOUGALL P.O.RIFLES
PTE JAMES MACFARLANE ROYAL AIR FORCE
PTE DUNCAN MACGREGOR ROYAL SCOTS FUS.
SEGT HUGH MACGREGOR A&S HRS.
PTE ALEXANDER MACINNES GORDON HRS
PTE DUNCAN MACINTYRE A&S HRS.
SERGT. ARCHIBALD MACISAAC BLACK WATCH
COPL JOHN M. MACKENZIE A&S HRS.
PTE ROBERT MACNAB BLACK WATCH
PTE WILLIAM MCNAB BLACK WATCH
L CPL DONALD MACNICOL ROYAL SCOTS
TRPR. DUNCAN MARQUIS ROYAL DRAGOONS
PTE LEWIS MONTGOMERY ROYAL HRS.
PTE PAUL NICOLSON SCOTS GUARDS
PTE THOMAS RUSSELL ROYAL HRS
PTE ALEXANDER SINCLAIR A&S HRS.
PTE JOHN SMITH A&S HRS.
