Alness is a town in Easter Ross and Cromarty about three miles from Invergordon.

Its War Memorial lies at the end of the High Street at its junction with Obsdale Road.

It’s unusual for a War Memorial to be constructed from red sandstone as this one is. The shape of the curved base is also uncommon.

The inscription on the column reads, “The Great War 1914-1918. This stone commemorates the men of Alness and West Rosskeen who at their country’s call went forth to defend their homes and empire, endured untold sufferings and passed from the sight of men by the path of duty and sacrifice.”

And on the base, above the names, “Their dust is in the deserts and the deep sea and yet triumphant o’er the grave their spirits never sleep but guard the freedom which they died to save.”

View from east, Great War names on curved base, Second World War names on plinth below:-

From west. Again Great War names on curved base, Second World War names on plinth below:-

Invergordon is a town on the Cromarty Firth in Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland region of Scotland. In 1931 it was the scene of a naval mutiny, one of the few in British history.

Its War Memorial stands at the north end of the main street and is a tapering square column inscribed at the base, “1914-1918. To the glory of God and in memory of our gallant dead. Their name liveth for evermore.”

View from east showing full column:-

Great War names are on the column. The base here, on the east side, is inscribed “1939-1945” with names below:-

West side. Great War names on column, Second World War names on base:-

Two more ships and an old favourite.

This is the cruise ship M S Rotterdam heading out of the River Forth last week en route to Invergordon! Apparently 100,000 cruise passengers dock at Invergordon every year, which is somewhat baffling. One of my work colleagues comes from Invergordon (as often as possible.)

This is the Rotterdam in the Netherlands six years ago (photo from Wikipedia.)

Just off Dysart is the rather rakish from of the cargo ship M S Troms Capella. She’s been hanging around for well over a week.

Here’s our old friend Solitaire from the same vantage point above Dysart harbour that I photographed the Troms Capella.

Behind her stern that’s North Berwick Law on the opposite shore.