Project marks lives of those named on Dores memorial

POIGNANT wartime stories of the men who never returned home to their loved ones and communities have been uncovered as part of an ambitious project to restore an unusual war memorial near the south shore of Loch Ness.

Dores War Memorial, which takes the shape of an archway at the entrance of the village churchyard, has been returned to its original splendour to mark the centenary of World War I. A rededication service will be held on Sunday, September 30.

Research has also been carried out into individual stories behind the names of those who died in the conflict between 1914-18 as well as in World War II.

It includes a letter, for example, to the widow of Captain Allan Cameron, of the Cameron Highlanders, who died in northern France when the regimental headquarters were struck by a shell in September 1914.

It also includes articles from the Inverness Courier such as the reported death of Lance Corporal Donald Fraser (21), a Glen Urquhart blacksmith killed in action near Arras in April 1917.

But the search is still on to gather more information and photographs of the fallen.

Dores resident Roderick Ross, who is among those leading the community project, believes it is important to recall the stories of sacrifice.

"It is easy to look at names on the plaque," he said. "There are few people with memories from the war and of the actual human cost not only of soldiers but civilians too.

"If children are going to be educated and help avoid war, they have to know what these people gave.

"It is a real person not just a name on a plaque. It is a real person who has given their life."

Much of the research has been carried out by Stuart Farrell of the Highland Family History Society while Ian Burnett, of the Inverness branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland has also given help.

Mr Ross hoped the stories would be compiled in a laminated booklet to be stored under cover so visitors could read the stories.

He said the restoration project had been initiated following a conversation with an old soldier who described the lack of a war memorial in Dores as a disgrace.

Mr Ross pointed out there was a memorial – originally unveiled in 1921 – although many people had been unaware of it or the need for restoration.

He felt the project had raised the profile of its designer Mary Seton Watts who is increasingly being recognised in her own right, having previously been more famous as the wife of British painter and sculptor GF Watts. Her family home was at Aldourie.

The memorial’s original panels were made partly by locals in the Dores Pottery which she founded.

They were duplicates, possibly from the same moulds, of the door surround which she designed for the Mortuary Chapel at Compton in Surrey, next to her marriage home. Unfortunately, they came off many years ago due to weather damage.

The restoration costs of £50,000 have been met by grants from various organisations including the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund which awarded £28,130 while donations have also been made by local residents.

The reproduction tiles have been created by Hathern Terra Cotta, a division of Michelmersh Brick UK.

The rededication ceremony at Dores war memorial on September 30 takes place at 3pm and will be led by Rev Scott McRoberts.