People have questioned why the World War Two Memorial was installed in
Kirkmahoe
Parish Church and
not in association with the outdoor World War One Memorial. (At the time the
Kirk Session Minutes say that the decision was unanimous.) This means that
families and interested people do not have easy access to view the World War Two
Memorial.
Before I proceed to describe the plans of
the Kirkmahoe Heritage Group I must stress that the handsome Memorial Tablet in
the Church will remain THE World
War Two Memorial for Kirkmahoe for the foreseeable future. However, we have
taken advice from Paul Goodwin, an expert on Scottish War Memorials, who said
that some parishes have for various reasons installed more than one memorial for
the same war. He also said that, if we decide to do something new, we must
circulate our intentions to interested parties and to the community.
Families have been consulted, a preliminary notice was
inserted in the Grapevine it has been announced at the last two Heritage
Group meetings and the Kirk Session has been informed. In addition Gordon Bisset
consulted D&G Council's Planning Department. The scheme has met with general
approval.
Local monumental sculptor,
Edward Layden, was taken to visit the World War One site in Kirkmahoe by Gordon
Bisset. Mr Layden came up with a neat solution, which is depicted on the
attachments accompanying this email and explained in the notes below.
We ask you to let us know if you have any
objections or any improvements to the scheme.
We must add that the recent programme of
renovation and enhancement of the World War One site, masterminded by Gordon
Bisset, and the planting of swathes of daffodils has created a most attractive
site. Gordon is currently busy planting poppy
seed.
Ours is probably the last generation which has
sufficient interest in conducting a scheme of this nature. In looking to the
future we have to take into account that churches are closing and, if this
should happen in Kirkmahoe, there is no saying what would happen to the Memorial
in the Church. Many such Memorials have been placed at risk throughout the
country.
The Heritage Group has been trying to build up some
funds towards the cost of the scheme to apply the new wording (but excluding
pointing which is also required). It has been estimated by Edward Layden at
costing about £1,200, including VAT. A second quotation from Aubrey E. Jones
came in at £1,575. We ask you to give consideration to contributing at least
half of the sum required from Windfarm Grant money for what we consider to be an
important community project. We appreciate that we shall have to continue
raising funds to cover any shortfall.
Morag Williams, secretary,
Merkland, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries, DG1
1SY; tel. 01387 710274.
Notes on Pictures of Plans for the
Outdoor War
Memorial
1)
The Memorial is of Dalbeattie granite.
- The pictures shows how the
east side of the Memorial will look when the two lower sections are
added;
- and the two War Memorials as they
are at present, side by side.
2) The writing on the
uppermost part of the Memorial is inscribed on smooth granite but the sections
below that, where we plan to put the new inscriptions, is of unpolished granite.
Therefore Mr Layden will have to make new granite plates and fix them neatly on
to the unpolished faces.
`
3) The World War One inscription gives the dates
as 1914-1919. Similarly we shall record the Second World War dates as
1939-1946.
4) The thirteen names will
be inscribed symmetrically below. You will note that George Archibald Rafferty
extends further than the other names. The proposal is that his name will be
shortened to George A. Rafferty as space is
limited. His daughter has no objections.
5) We hope to have the work done by Remembrance Sunday
2014.
6) There is also pointing to be
done.
7) If
you would like to speak to someone about this communication my contact details
appear above. You may prefer instead to contact Connie Davidson,
22 Wellington Crescent,
Kirkton, Dumfries DG1 1SP; Tel. 01387 710 587 or
Gordon Bisset, Meadowpark, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries DG1 1SX; Tel. 01387
710318.
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