Dulce et decorum est...

This is the war memorial in Bannockburn, where I grew up. It was erected after the first World War to commemorate the 94 local men who died in the carnage of 1914-18. Both of my grandfathers fought in this war and both survived the horrors of the Somme to return home to become fathers and grandfathers, and part of my memories. So their names are not part of the sad litany etched on two sides of the memorial.

The other side has the names of those who perished in World War two, only fifty one names this time. One of these names is my mum's only surviving brother Edward McAllister who was killed aged 22 when the RAF plane he was in crashed on landing, leaving my granny bereaved by war for a second time, her first husband having been killed in WWI. Sadly I have no memory of him, since this all happened before I was born.

It is good to see that the memorial so well looked after in its prominent position at the top of the brae, with its lovely view over the Ochils and the Carse of Stirling.

"Lest we forget"