I posted some photographs of the nearest War Memorial (Markinch) to Son of the Rock Acres here. I did not at the time post details of the dedications.

Great War dedication, “To the glory of God and in memory of the men from Markinch who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914 – 1919” below carved figure of St George.

World War 2 dedication, “Remember also those who laid down their lives in the Second World War 1939 – 1945,” plus names of the fallen below carved figure of St Drostan:-

Surround stones. These display the names of the Great War dead on their internal faces:-

I had two days out really.

On Friday on the way up to Aberdeen the good lady and I stopped at Dunnottar Castle and also took the chance to visit Stonehaven War Memorial which is walkable from there. (Photos of both will be coming eventually.)

Later in the afternoon she made a good trawl of the Old Aberdeen Book Shop in Spital.

Even better pickings were obtained at the Mercat Bookshop in Castle Street the next morning (I even bought two books) and then we had a look at two antique shops before we retired to a modern style hostelry for lunch with my younger son and his wife.

Imagine our surprise when the establishment was invaded by Sons fans who certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves, which the bar staff took in good part. The flag intimated they were from Helensburgh.

On to the match, with ticket at the ready:-

The Sons contingent had several good flags on the wave:-

The pre-match entertainmenmt was way over the top. There’s absolutely no need for this sub-USian rubbish:-

Even if the Aberdeen fans in the Merkland Stand also had a good array of flags:-

The teams emerge. Two more good Sons flags at the bottom here:-

Sons to the fore. This season’s ‘home’ strip – yellow and black wide stripes, with black shorts, on show (and a rather silly-looking Aberdeen mascot at top right. They had at least two mascots, which is probably two too many):-

Sons line up for the game:-

I have posted about Newburgh before, but I hadn’t visited its cemetery until in August 2018 I found four graves each with a possible war link.

Regulating Petty Officer A S Anderson, RN, HMS St George, 14/5/1944, aged 43:-

Corporal J MacNaughton RAF, 8/9/1946, aged 28:-

Private J Blyth, The Black Watch, 3/1/1915:-

An unusual one this. It has a Commonwealth War Graves style headstone but is inscribed, “Alexander Ilytch Shenkman, born Moscow 29/11/1923, died Newburgh 21/2/2004.”:-

The Parish is Kilrenny but since most of the war dead in the Great War were from Cellardyke the memorial was placed in Cellardyke, in a commanding position overlooking the sea. Steps lead up to it.

It has an unusual three-sided appearance:-

Dedication. “Erected in proud and reverent memory of those connected with the Parish of Kilrenny who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914 1918.”

The three panels, above two of which are listed the Great War dead, are decorated with a wreath over crossed swords (under the dedication,) a soldier:-

and a sailor:-

The three “edges” are surmounted by stone lions with shields below respectively showing Kilrenny’s coat of arms:-

a steam drifter:-

and a plough:-

This was not originally a Memorial Hall. It lies just off Kinross’s High Street. It was under refurbishment when I photographed it.

Cartouche, inscribed, “Erected AD 1841 and presented to Kinross Burgh AD 1947 by Kinross Market Company in memory of the men and women of Kinross who fell and in grateful recognition of all who served in the Second World War 1939 – 1945.”

Monikie is on the B961 road between Dundee and Brechin.

On the way back from the game at Brechin on 25/8/18 I stopped to photograph its Memorial Hall.

There is an inscribed Memorial in the grounds of the Hall but it is of relatively recent construction, perhaps for the 100^th anniversary of the Great War:-

Names and dedication, “The Great War 1914 -1918.”

Western aspect. Inscribed, “In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow.”

Eastern aspect. Inscribed, “Between the Crosses Row on Row.”

On the Hall’s external wall is a Great War 100^th anniversary memorial plaque:-

I photographed two of the names of the fallen attached to trees in the small park area within which Monikie’s War Memorial stands.

L/Cpl James Spalding, Black Watch, killed in action, France, 16/6/1915, aged 22:-

Pte John Irons, Royal Scots Fusiliers, killed in action France, 12/8/1916, aged 24:-

From the path to the park which contains Brechin’s War Memorial there is a good view of the reverse of the beech hedge which forms the western boundary of Glebe Park. You can also see the David Will Stand in this photo:-

The following two photos were taken of Sons new strip for 2018-19 (now superseded again) at the game on 25/8/18, a game we should have won.

After all those visits to Brechin to see the mighty Sons of the Rock play away against Brechin City last year in August in preparation for yet another visit I finally looked up where Brechin’s War Memorial is located. It turned out it’s very near the football ground in a pleasant park area.

It’s an impressive sandstone column:-

Side view:-

World War 2 Dedication. “To the glory of God and in grateful remembrance of those who gave their lives in the Second World War 1939 – 1945.” Below the names, “Greater love hath no man than this.”

Great War Dedication, “To the undying memory of the men of the City and Parish of Brechin who gave their lives in the Great War 1914 – 1919. Their name liveth for evermore,” and names Ada – Cla:-

Great War names Cob – Hod:-

Great War names Hoo-Pai:-

Great War names Pet – You:-

Other Conflicts; Kenya, Northern Ireland, Korea, Malaya. Plus additional names for France 1916, Burma 1945, and Mediterranean 1942:-

For years on my way up to Brechin to see the mighty Sons of the Rock play at Glebe Park against Brechin City I have been passing this War Memorial – a granite pillar by the side of the B961 seemingly in the middle of nowhere at a junction with an unnumbered minor road (to the left in the first photo below.) There’s not really a place to park but on making that same trip in August 2018 I made sure to stop.

As you can see it’s beautifully kept.

The inscription reads, “In proud and loving memory of men from Carmyllie District who fell in the Great Wars 1914 – 1918. 1939 – 1945.” Great War names are below, plus one for World War 2.

A memorial bench is set behind the pillar:-

Great War names, plus one for World War 2:-

Again Great War names, plus one for World War 2:-

The lack of Second World War names on these rural memorials may be due a combination of the loss of men in the Great War and the decline in numbers of men involved in farming which occurred between the two wars as a result of mechanisation.

Field Marshal Earl Haig‘s family were the proprietors of Haig whisky. Their Ramornie House was near the town of Ladybank (see the two previous posts) and even had their own waiting room at the local Railway Station, though it was built by a previous onwer of the Ramornie Estate.

Their whisky distillery was a few miles away in Markinch.

There are two memorials to the Field Marshal in Ladybank.

Haig Memorial Gates, Ladybank. The inscription reads, “These pillars and chains were erected by the ex-service men of Ladybank and district to the glorious memory of Field-Marshal Earl Haig.” Ladybank War Memorial is in the background:-

The Haig Memorial Garden lies behind Ladybank’s War Memorial. This is how the garden looked in 2018:-

Information Board, Haig Memorial Garden:-

A plaque on the wall gives the information that the gardens were refurbished in 1993 and re-opened by Menzies Campbell, then the local MP:-