In March last year we were over in Dumbarton again – no doubt for a football match.

However we also took the chance to have a look at the old Municipal Buildings which date from long before local government reorganisation in the 1960s – at a time when the town had a Town Council.

Arch and Municipal Buildings, Dumbarton:-

The plaque attached to the arch describes it as one of the tower arches of St Mary’s Collegiate Church, founded 1450. The arch was moved in 1850 to make way for the railway station and again in 1907 to its present location:-

Boer War Memorial, Dumbarton, Municipal Buildings behind. The memorial is inscribed, “Erected by the citizens of Dumbarton in memory of those who left the burgh to fight for their country in South Africa and who laid down their lives during the progress of the war 1899-1902.”:-

The names of some World War 2 fields of miltary operations are inscribed on the base of the pillars supprtoing the lintels of Stonehaven War Memorial.

“North Atlantic, Narvik”

“Dunkirk, Battle of Britain”

“El Alamein, Cassino”

“Normandy Beaches, Burma”

The World War 2 dead are commemorated in a series of four granite panels sitting by the Memorial’s pillars. The first is also inscribed with the dedication, “To the memory of those from the District of Stonehaven whose names are inscribed on these panels who lost their lives in the World War 1939 -1945,” as well as the names.

J Fraser Anderson – John Christie:-

William J Christie – James Mc I Findlay:-

Robert T Foster – George Masson:-

William Masson – Alexander R Williamson:-

The names of the Great War dead at Stonehaven War Memorial are inscribed on stone panels at the memorial’s centre.

James Adams – Frank Dallas:-

David Duncan – John Lennox:-

John Main – James Simpson:-

James Sinclair – Alex W Youngson:-

Stonehaven War Memorial interior:-

Wreaths and panel with Great War names, some World War 2 names on smaller panels behind:-

The interior of the lintel above the entrance is inscribed, “Erected by the people of Stonehaven and District. A tribute to their dead, 1914 – 1919”:-

The other interior lintels of the temple-like memorial are inscribed with the quote, from Donald Hankey‘s A Student in Arms, “One by one death challenged them, one by one they smiled in his grim visage and refused to be dismayed”:-

Stonehaven War Memorial sits prominently on Black Hill to the south of the town and is also visible from Dunnottar Castle. The winding path from the castle takes you towards Stonehaven and partly up Black Hill from where you can access the Memorial grounds.

View of Memorial from path leading from Dunnittar Castle:-

Stonehaven from Stonehaven War Memorial:-

Memorial from west as seen from the road back to Dunnottar Castle:-

An information board says the memorial was deliberately designed to look like a ruin to symbolise the lives cut short by the Great War:-

Stonehaven War Memorial from north:-

The external lintels are inscribed with the names of Great War battles, here Jutland, Mons, Ypres:-

From south, Zeebrugge, Gallipoli, Jutland:-

From southwest, Marne, Zeebrugge:-

From west, Vimy, Somme, Marne:-

From northwest, Mons, Ypres:-

Castle buildings:-

Small window in above:-

From sea end of site:-

Courtyard area from outside its wall:-

Remains of chapel:-

Interior of chapel:-

Remains (with arch; garden area in foreground):-

Garden area with buildings beyond. (Stonehaven War Memorial on hill in background):-

Buildings (chapel to right):-

Late afternoon shadows (sea beyond):-

Sapper W E Milne, Royal Engineers, 16/11/1945, aged 28 ; Private W Shone, The Seaforth Highlanders, 29/3/1946, aged 17; Gunner J Stubbings, Royal Artillery, 1/5/1947:-

Private W J Jackson, Durham Light Infantry, 25/12/1942; Private I Richardson, The Border Regiment, 9/11/1943, aged 24; Corporal J J Taylor, RAF, 24/11/1944, aged 44:-

Sergeant W Watson, Wireless Operator/Rear Gunner, RAF, 14/11/1941, aged 21; WO B 11 (BSM) T W Picken, Royal Artillery, 1/8/1942, aged 34; J Weatherstone, Observer, RAF, 9/8/1947, aged 23:-

Private W Hall, The Buffs, 5/5/1941, aged 18; W T H Oliver, Military Provost Staff Corps, 11/5/1941, aged 48; Guardsman C Hope, Grenadier Guards, 10-11/5/1941:-

As I mentioned before Hebburn Cemetery contains 41 War Graves, from both World Wars.

Serjeant W W Norrie, Corps of Military Police, 27/2/1945, aged 42:-

Lance Corporal W G Nicholson, Royal Engineers, 4/3/1941, aged 30:-

Private J Adair, Durham Light Infantry, 29/9/1942, aged 32:-

Able Seaman A Cottrell, Royal Navy, HMS “President III”, 14/5/1942:-

Private O Ward, The Border Rgiment, 2/12/1940, aged 25:-

J Wilson, Stoker, Petty Officer, Royal Navy, HMS Zephyr, 31/12/1944, aged 27:-