Remembrance

2014 will mark the centenary of the start of World War 1, the Great War. To help mark the occasion the Scottish Parliament has allocated £1 million for the cleaning and renovation of war memorials in villages, towns and cities throughout Scotland.

This is the memorial in the town of Ellon, upstream from Newburgh on Ythan. It was unveiled on August 5th 1923 and commemorates the local dead of both World War I & II and people killed in more recent conflicts. Made of grey Kemnay granite is takes the form of rectangular block surmounted by a kilted soldier, in Glengarry, in a challenging position with gun at ready across his front.

There is nothing remotely sentimental about this powerful and beautifully maintained memorial; rather it shows the reality of battle for the common man, grim faced, sinews and veins bulging, determined and ready for action.