Dingwall Remembrance Events 2018
Attribution: unknown (Greenhill street in Dingwall looking North)
Dingwall Remembrance Events 2018
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs inserted are courtesy of Mrs Pat Macleod of Dingwall Museum.
In order to mark the centenary of the ending of World War 1, Dingwall Royal British Legion members, in association with Lord Lieutenant Mrs Janet Bowen, CVO, Seaforth Highlanders Association, local councillors and clergy, and numerous dedicated individuals from within the community, met to consider how this significant anniversary might be met within the town.
Their attention concentrated on the main War Memorial in the town. This led to a commemorative stone being sculpted by Stewart Bain of John Hood & Sons, who generously gave of his time and materials free of charge. The stone was laid at the base of the existing memorial ready to be dedicated as part of the Remembrance service.
Within the gated approach to the memorial a large inlaid poppy motif, constructed by the Global Energy Group Group (North Fabrication) under the guidance of Murdo Maciver, was set in the flagstones. Again, due to the generosity of Andy Munro, Managing Director, this was a gift to the town and, once more, Stewart Bain gave of his services in placing the motif in situ.
Stewart Bain, sculptor
Attribution: Mrs Pat Macleod of Dingwall Museum.
Remembrance Day in Dingwall and nationally began at 6.00 am (the time when the Armistice was signed in 1918) when solo pipers came to their local memorial and played The Battle’s O’er. Dingwall’s parade began at the Town Hall and proceeded to the War Memorial where a service commenced. The Last Post sounded at 11.am, followed by two minutes’ silence then Reveille and the laying of wreaths and, following the Benediction, the public was able to attend an interdenominational service in the Free Church or in their own churches.
Prior to the parade various organisations assembled at Dingwall Town Hall.
Remembrance Day Service
The Service begins, conducted by the Rev Julia Boothby of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Dingwall, St James the Great.
The Royal British Legion Scotland (Dingwall Branch) Centennial Remembrance Service Sunday 11th November 2018
WELCOME
We gather at this memorial today to remember and honour all those from this community who have suffered and died as a result of war. In particular we recall the armistice that marked the beginning of the end of the First World War one hundred years ago. We look back in sorrow for all those who suffered injury and loss; we recall those who are suffering in conflicts in our world today, and we look forward to that day when the kingdoms of this world will be ordered by God’s peaceable reign.
PRAYER
O Lord, our maker and our strength, from whose love in Christ we can never be parted either by death or defeat: May our remembrance this day deepen our sorrow for the loss and wastes of war, make us more grateful to those who courageously gave their lives to defend this land and commonwealth; and may all who bear the scars and memories of conflicts, past and present, know your healing love for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen
DEDICATION OF COMMEMORATIVE STONE
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields!
Remembrance Service Sunday 11th November 2018
The Royal British Legion Scotland (Dingwall Branch)
It seems appropriate to insert the RCHS photo of the memorial near Ypres, situated at what was a dressing station in WW1 where Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a military surgeon, wrote In Flanders Fields. The poem is displayed in English, French and German.
Attribution: RCHS
The Tryst
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them
[Read by Christopher Stewart, Depute Head Boy, Dingwall Academy]
THE LAST POST
Silence
Reveille
Laying of Wreaths
The spirit that’s within us lifts our heads in silent pride
recalling days behind us and those we marched beside.
READING
In days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 2.1–4
Psalm 23
1. The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
2. My soul He doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness
E’en for His own Name’s sake.
3. Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill,
For thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
4. My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint
And my cup overflows.
5. Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me,
And in God’shouse for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.
Cuinmhnuich gaisge agus treuntas ar sinnsear
(Remember the valour and brave deeds of our forefathers)
Prayer
Culminating with
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed by thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
forever.
Amen
THE Parade Comes to Attention
THE National Anthem
Benediction
THE Kohima Epitaph
[Read by Anna Maria Stewart, Head Girl, Dingwall Academy.]
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
for your tomorrow, we gave our today.
March Off
Conclusion of Day's Events
Note: While Cub Scouts, Brownies and Beavers attended the Parade, in terms of the Safeguarding Policy it has not been possible to include photographs featuring these children.
The day’s events concluded at 6.55 pm when the Last Post was sounded at War Memorials throughout the UK. This was followed at 7.00 pm when a bonfire at Knockbain, the home of David Lockett, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, was lit, in common with others countrywide. At 7.05 pm church bells throughout the land rang.
Leading to Remembrance Day many shops in the town had windows dressed appropriately to mark this significant anniversary, and Dingwall Museum had its own poppy fall and display.
Light Up Red for PoppyScotland
During the weekend of the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War Ross-shire landmarks were illuminated in red to mark the centenary.
Described as Light Up Red for PoppyScotland, a collective display of thanks to the generation which gave so much, other sites included Muir of Ord war memorial and Eilean Donan Castle.
Dingwall Town Hall is shown as the bell in the Town Hall clock tower sounded 100 peals in commemoration of the 100th anniversary.
As a postscript to Dingwall’s Remembrance events, it was announced in September 2019 that the Memorial had won a prize in the new entry category of Legion Scotland’s annual Best Kept Memorial event which is designed to foster public awareness of war memorials and to encourage a high standard of continuing maintenance by local authorities.