Black Jock Posted 15 April , 2013 Share Posted 15 April , 2013 Next year The Black Watch are to place a memorial at Black Watch Corner, at the SW corner of Polygon Wood to commemorate all The Black Watch Battalions that fought in the Great War. The Regiment commissioned Alan Herriot a renowned Scottish sculptor to carry out the work. The figure will eventually be cast in bronze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 15 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2013 Press Release A statue of a Black Watch soldier is to be erected in Belgium to commemorate the more than 8,000 officers and soldiers who died and over 20,000 who were wounded in the costliest chapter of the world famous Regiment’s history. The unveiling of the larger-than-life bronze statue at Black Watch Corner near Ypres in the Spring of 2014 will mark the start of four years of commemorative events recalling the sacrifices of all who fought in the First World War. The erection of this statue, and the pilgrimage by Black Watch veterans and serving soldiers to the Flanders site that proved to be a pivotal battleground in 1914, will be the first Scottish event in the worldwide Great War centenary commemorations. The statue of a kilted Highlander will be the first and only memorial dedicated specifically to the Black Watch fallen of the Great War and it is the only statue being erected by any of the Scottish regiments during the four years of commemorative events. Colonel Alex Murdoch, Chairman of The Black Watch Association, explained why this particular site was chosen for the statue; “The site chosen for the statue has been known as Black Watch Corner since the remnants of our 1st Battalion took part in a successful ground-holding action. Along with other withdrawing British forces they fought against a numerically stronger force from the Kaiser’s Prussian Guard in November 1914,” he said. “ This action brought to an end the First Battle of Ypres and their heroic stand was to prove decisive because it stopped the German advance to the coast. If they had broken through to the coast the war would have been over and lost. It seemed the most appropriate place to erect our monument to the fallen.” “There are a number of memorials across the world to commemorate the sacrifice and endeavours of Scottish fighting formations,” explained Black Watch Association Vice-Chairman Lieutenant Colonel Roddy Riddell. “This statue will be a unique and powerful symbol of the fighting spirit of The Black Watch which lives on to this day. “Although the battle at Black Watch Corner in Belgium in 1914 was a bloody and terrible time for the Regiment, it is heartening to know that the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice will live on in Flanders. It is fitting that 100 years later we still acknowledge that sacrifice.” The imposing statue will stand four and a half metres high, atop a base of Scottish granite and depicts a Black Watch soldier in First World War fighting uniform of kilt, jacket and bonnet with his Lee Enfield rifle and 18-inch bayonet. It is being created by renowned Scottish sculptor Alan Herriot of Endeavour Arts Studios at Powderhall Foundry in Edinburgh. He also sculpted the bronze soldier and girl statue to the 51st Highland Division in Perth and the piper at Bruar in Perthshire. Alan said, “It is difficult nowadays, for us to appreciate the sacrifice made by those young men for King and Country. I feel that it is so important not to allow the passage of time to diminish that memory. The Black Watch is one of the finest regiments in the British Army and I consider this commission to be a signal honour.” The statue will be unveiled and dedicated at Black Watch Corner in Belgium on Saturday, May 3, next year, prior to being handed over for safe-keeping to the townspeople of nearby Zonnebeke. Mr Erwin Ureel, a former Belgian soldier who has been active in liaising between the local Belgian Authority and The Black Watch Association said, “The statue will be unique within the area surrounding Ypres and Zonnebeke and the local people will be immensely proud to receive and care for it into the future”. “We hope to take over 200 serving soldiers and veterans to Belgium to attend the dedication ceremony,” explained Black Watch Association Secretary Major Ronnie Proctor. “ It will be a poignant, historic, unique and reflective act of remembrance. “The Black Watch is the only Scottish regiment erecting a statue in Flanders to commemorate the centenary of the Great War and we believe it will become a focus of commemoration in years to come for both visitors from Britain and the people of Belgium." The Black Watch Association plan four years of commemorative events based on landmarks pertinent to individual District Branches. “For example, in 2015 the Dundee Branch of the Association is organising an event to mark the centenary of the Battle of Loos because so many Angus and Dundee people perished in that battle,” explained Major Proctor. “In 2016, the Fife Branch will commemorate the battles on Vimy Ridge and the Angus Branch will lead in 2017, marking the centenary of the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Black Watch soldier Charles Melvin at the Battle of Istabulat in Mesopotamia. In 2018 the Perth Branch will commemorate the awarding of the Croix de Guerre by the French Army to the 6th Battalion Black Watch following the Battle of Tardenois.” “These will be comradeship events such as dinners and allow the Black Watch family to come together to mark events which are carved into the heart of the Regiment’s history.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 15 April , 2013 Share Posted 15 April , 2013 Thanks for posting, and a fine Memorial it looks too. I will certainly be going over to see it at some point. Well done to all concerned. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMAGH Posted 15 April , 2013 Share Posted 15 April , 2013 Well done Tam Thanks to you that we have this memorial, I hope to be there at Black Watch Corner 3 May 2014. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 15 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2013 Joe, Its been a while. All I wanted was a standing stone from the Regimental Area. Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 15 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2013 Thanks for posting, and a fine Memorial it looks too. I will certainly be going over to see it at some point. Well done to all concerned. Mike Mike, We got a lot of cover from the press up here, STV gave excellent cover of the event. Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 15 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2013 The position of the memorial X is not at the exact location of Black Watch Corner. It should be 300 yards to the west. The ground has been donated to us by the town of Zonnebeke, of which we are most grateful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMAGH Posted 20 April , 2013 Share Posted 20 April , 2013 Joe, Its been a while. All I wanted was a standing stone from the Regimental Area. Tam Tam Long over due, when you look at the memorials all over France & Flanders. I was in Dundee for a funeral on Thursday I flew into Edinburgh as the Belfast Dundee flight has stopped used MegaBus.com from Edinburgh airport to Dundee, very good, there was some business conference on ,tried to book into the Queens hotel, full, ended up in the Travel Lodge on the Kingsway,to far out walking & taxi,s Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitchener's Bugle Posted 21 April , 2013 Share Posted 21 April , 2013 Wonderful statue/monument to the best of the best. Long overdue. Many thanks for posting . KB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 21 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2013 Wonderful statue/monument to the best of the best. Long overdue. Many thanks for posting . KB. +Thank you for your kind words. We are very proud that this will happen. The maquette of the full figure was shown at The Black Watch Association AGM yesterday and was well received. It was also on display at the Warrant Officers and Sergeants Dinner Club in Perth, again it raised much admiration and interest. Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitchener's Bugle Posted 21 April , 2013 Share Posted 21 April , 2013 Black Jock, I am an English man with a little piece of my heart in Scotland. No military enthusiast could spend a better touring holiday than going up to Scotland and visiting the regimental museums. I have done this a couple of times, seeing many including the Gordons, the Argyles, and the Black Watch of course. Incredible museums set in amazing locations, lots to see and do in those wonderful and historic towns/city's. And you always receive a warm welcome and can have a good chat with like minded people. Just look at the Black Watch Museum setting:- (Best Wishes for the monument. KB) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 27 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2013 Black Jock, I am an English man with a little piece of my heart in Scotland. No military enthusiast could spend a better touring holiday than going up to Scotland and visiting the regimental museums. I have done this a couple of times, seeing many including the Gordons, the Argyles, and the Black Watch of course. Incredible museums set in amazing locations, lots to see and do in those wonderful and historic towns/city's. And you always receive a warm welcome and can have a good chat with like minded people. Just look at the Black Watch Museum setting:- (Best Wishes for the monument. KB) I know Balhousie well I spent my last eighteen happy months (81-83) serving there as the Regimental Recruiting Sergeant Major, under Colonel David Arbuthnott the Regimental Secretary. Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 29 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2013 The memorial is coming along splendidly and may be complete by the end of the week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 29 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 29 May , 2013 Share Posted 29 May , 2013 Thanks for posting the photos. It's looking good. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMAGH Posted 31 May , 2013 Share Posted 31 May , 2013 Thanks Tam Looks braw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 31 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2013 Joe, I'm glad you have turned up, have you been over to Ypres lately? Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 31 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2013 Joe, we are going to need a lot of Brasso to keep it braw. Like the gong and bell outside the guardroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 1 June , 2013 Share Posted 1 June , 2013 It’s great to see the project has come a long way since the idea was roughly scratched out in a notepad over a Belgian beer and a Flemish stew in the Cyper restaurant. From what I remember at the time, the plan was to have a stone cairn with a bronze face. Some stone would be used from the Regimental area to provide the base stone of the memorial. However, the project has moved on and Alan Herriot really has done the Regiment proud with his figure of a Black Watch soldier. Though there are various Black Watch Battalion memorials (the shared 1 Black Watch and 1 Camerons at High Wood and 4/5 Black Watch at Buzancy spring to mind), I don’t think I would be wrong in saying that this is the first memorial dedicated to all Battalions of the Regiment to be appointed in France and Flanders. And, I have to say, I’m looking forward to visiting the finished sculpture standing atop its stone base near the corner of Polygon Wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 1 June , 2013 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2013 The idea was yours fermented as I recalled on the 11 Nov in foul weather at the site. The stew that night was a real comfort. Looks like you had an early reveille this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 1 June , 2013 Share Posted 1 June , 2013 Aye, you've noticed I've copped the dawn shift with the boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMAGH Posted 6 June , 2013 Share Posted 6 June , 2013 Joe, I'm glad you have turned up, have you been over to Ypres lately? Tam Hello Tam I have not been over to Ypres this year, we may go across later on, just back from Lake Garda, but am looking forward to Next year I have the hotel booked just waiting to book flights. Will I see you at the reunion? Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 6 June , 2013 Author Share Posted 6 June , 2013 Hello Tam I have not been over to Ypres this year, we may go across later on, just back from Lake Garda, but am looking forward to Next year I have the hotel booked just waiting to book flights. Will I see you at the reunion? Joe Joe, I can't make the reunion. I have something else on. The castle is meant to be ready by then. That's good you have booked. There will be a right demand for digs as it is also a public holiday. Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary thomson Posted 6 June , 2013 Share Posted 6 June , 2013 Hi Tam, great to see the statue is taking shape. Noticed your map of where the statue is to be positioned is on the site of the Princess Patricias trench prior to their withdrawal to Bellewaerde on the evening of 3rd may 1915. all the best, Gary T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 7 June , 2013 Author Share Posted 7 June , 2013 Garry, Thanks for that, that small place of ground has a tremendous story. Tam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now