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Adam Brown · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:50 am Post subject: Oban War Memorial

There aren't that many items of interest to this forum in Oban, try as I might to find some recently. There is one of the finest war memorials in the country though.

By Alexander Carrick it is well worth a trip along the Esplanade to visit.

This image was taken about three years ago. It shows the statue and plinth.

I was lucky enough to visit the memorial again on a sunny Spring morning this year and took some more detailed photographs of Carrick's statue.

Adam
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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:52 am Post subject:

The three heads. You can see the effects of the weather on the first face.

Note the broken nose on this chap!

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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

Another shot of the broken nose. Note that the Tam O' Shanters do not have any regimental badge and look how the sling for the rifle goes over the bayonet but in front of the entrenching tool handle.

Note the clenched fists of the men carrying their comrade. Their other hands are hidden and the man being carried has both his hands open.

Note also the winter jerkins and kilt covers of the soldiers. This is the same uniform as worn by Carrick's 5th Seaforth Highlander at Dornoch

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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

I've also taken a couple of shots of the stone next to the memorial from another angle with the heads in the background.

This stone had been moved just before the war to widen the road at this point. It is right at the end of the Esplanade in Oban.

This shot was taken some way back along the Esplanade.

Anyone going to visit the war memorial in Oban approaches it from the Esplanade. This is the only way to approach it from the town. Carrick would have taken that into consideration when designing this memorial.

It's not that clear in this photograph but the hills of Lismore and Ardnamurchan are a dramatic backdrop to the figures as you approach the memorial from the Esplanade and it gives them a 'no man's land' to have struggled across with their wounded comrade.

Earlier photos show the gold lettering for the names is a more recent addition. It is very pleasing to see them shining in the sun on a day such as I took the photographs but without them the effect I described above of the figures blending with the landscape would be very dramatic. As it is the eye is drawn to the gold lettering as you approach and not the statue. By the time you reach the memorial and see the figures the effect is lost.
It is another example of Carrick's original vision being lost over the years. (e.g. the removal of plants on the memorial and the growth of trees at Killen; the moving of the statue at Dornoch to face West instead of East)

Adam
_________________
Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project