Memorial details

Memorial type
Tower
District
Angus
Town
Forfar
County
Tayside
Country
Scotland
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 11 September 1921
    Attended by: The Earl of Strathmore (who was accompanied by his daughters, Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon and Lady Rose le Beson Gowe) unveiled the memorial.
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
5696

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Current location

Hill Top at Balmashanner
1
Craignathro Farm Cottages
Forfar
Angus
Tayside
DD8 2LE
Scotland

OS Grid Ref: NO 45889 49176
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
A castellated tower of local stone and sandstone quoins, which has an inscription on the lintel above the door. Inside the tower is a wall-mounted Roll of Honour within a glazed wooden frame. The first five columns of the Roll list the 436 names of those from Forfar; the sixth column lists those from Inverarity (24 names), Kinnettles (10 names), Oathlaw (15 names), Rescobie (15 names), and Tannadice (10 names). (N.B. The tower is occasionally open to the public, but not often).
Inscription
Lintel: 'THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE' / ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF FORFAR AND/ DISTRICT WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 18 Framed Roll (within the tower): 1914 - 1918 Roll of Honour/ (436 Forfar names) / Inverarity/ (24 names)/ Kinnettles/ (10 names)/ Oathlaw/ (15 names)/ Rescobie/ (15 names)/ Tannadice/ (10 names)/ Lest we forget
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Adam, David Norrie
Adam A, Norman
Adamson, Arthur
Adamson, David Lowson
Adamson, John
Adamson, William Lowson
Alexander, David
Alexander, William
Allan, Alexander
Anderson, Charles
See details for all 503 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 510
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 510
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Forename, surname, rank, military unit, former place of residence
    Order of information: Grouped by former place of residence, then alphabetical by surname
Components
  • Tablet
    Measurements: height 4572mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Tower
    Measurements: height 16764mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Roll of honour
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Wood
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
Angus Council
Reference
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • 'Forfar district in the war 1914-1918' (copy of which is held at Forfar Library, which also holds relevant Newspapers of the war period etc).
  • warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1432&mforum=warmemscot
  • Dundee Courier Monday 12/9/1921 printed a lengthy report of the unveiling of the tower memorial: 'WAR'S HEAVY TOLL ON FORFAR. MEMORIAL UNVEILED ON BALMASHANNER. Over 4000 People Witness Ceremony. Yesterday was a day of sad memories for hundreds of the people of Forfar and district who a result of the war lost their nearest and dearest. The memorial, erected on Balmashanner Hill, in memory of the 514 men from the town and country district who fell in the war, was unveiled by the Earl of Strathmore, and the ceremony, which was brief but impressive, was attended by between 4000 and 5000 people. All round the memorial which overlooks the town the big crowd stood. Seated in front were the ex-service men who had marched from their headquarters headed by a pipe band. Also in front seats were the parents, widows, and dependants of the fallen and the aged people of the town, who had climbed laboriously to Bonnie Balmashanner to witness the ceremony. Standing in front of those seated were ex-officers in uniform, and the local company of Territorials, while at other points were placed V.A.D. nurses, Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides. Standing at each corner of the base of the memorial was a soldier resting on arms reversed, and seated round about were the members of the War Memorial Committee, the Town and Parish Councils and their officials, the office-bearers of the local branch of the British Legion, and prominent townspeople. From one of the windows of the memorial was hung the Scottish Lion banner. The platform party included the Earl of Strathmore, who was accompanied by his two daughters, Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon and Lady Rose le Beson Gower; Dowager Countess of Airlie; Provost Moffat, Mrs Moffat, and Miss Moffat; Admiral and Mrs Drummond of Eskhill; Brigadier-General Douglas Brigton; Major and Mrs Carnegy of Lour; Mr and Mrs Baxter of Kilcaldrum and Mr Wm. Baxter; Miss Munro of Lindertis; Colonel Mac Hardy of Newbarns, Deputy-Lieutenant of the County; Mr Shaw Adamson of Careston, Deputy-Lieutenant; Mr and Mrs Freer Myles of Overdale and Misses Myles; Mrs J. Freer Myles; Captain Claude Ralston and Mrs Gavin Ralston of Glamis. The clergymen taking part in the service were Rev. Wm. R. Rusk, East U.F. Church; Rev. A. Copland, St John's Episcopal Church; Rev. James Aitken, St James' Parish; Rev. T. M. A. M'Nab, West U.F. Church; Rev. W. T. Smellie, Lowson Memorial; and Rev. W. G. Donaldson. Forfar Parish. Forfar's Big Share. Provost Moffat, who presided, in introducing Lord Strathmore said that the town of Forfar sent 1930 people to the forces, or about one-fifth of its population. Lord Strathmore. who was in his Lord Lieutenant's uniform, said he thought it was perfectly splendid that about 2000 people from Forfar had served. The Queen during her recent tour had seen the memorial from a distance, and he had Her Majesty's command to convey to the people of Forfar her appreciation of the gallantry of Forfar's sons who fell in the war and her sympathy with those who had been bereaved the loss of those gallant men. To the ex-service men who were there he would say that he hoped they would never forget their comrades who had fallen in serving their country. It was a bitter and heavy blow those left at home had sustained. He himself had suffered, but he got consolation in realising that the dear one who was lost was one of a gallant band of heroes whose names would be handed down to posterity—men who saved their country from being trodden under the heel of a cruel and merciless foe. (Applause.) His Lordship then unveiled the memorial by releasing the Union Jack which was suspended over the doorway. Provost Moffat presented his Lordship with handsome memorial volume—the story of Forfar's part in the war. Butler Crofts sounded the " Last Post," and the pipers played a lament. Forfar Instrumental Band accompanied the singing of the psalm and paraphrase, and also played the National Anthem. A Lookout Tower. The memorial takes the form of lookout tower, and is typical example of the Scottish baronial style. The tower is 55 feet in height and 65 feet to the top the turret, and has commanding view of the Strathmore Valley. It is 17 feet square at the base. The designer was Mr T. R. Soutar, architect. Forfar, and was built Mr Alex. Adamson, jun., now of Laurencekirk, the joiner work being carried out by Mr David Stewart.. The way to the memorial not at present easy, hut through the kindness of James Anderson, Highgate, London, native Forfar, a road will be made from the Rem ark to Balmashanner. Mr Anderson has intimated that he will bear the cost the road—several hundred pounds—and has requested that it take the form of a memorial to his only son who fell in the great war. Anderson subscribed £200- the largest donation—to the memorial, which cost some £2500 Forfar and district, paid a heavy toll. Those who were killed or died in the war amounted to 514, and of that number 437 were from the burgh alone. The figures are follows-.—Forfar—Officers, 28; noncom. officers, 94; men. 316; women. 1 - 439 Inverarity—Officers. 1; non-com. officers 3- men, 20 - 24. Kinnettles—Officers, 1 ; non com. officers, men, 10. Oathlaw— Non.-com. officers, 3; men, 12 15. Rescobi —Officers. 1; non-com. officers, 3; men, 12 - 16. Tannadice—Officers, 1; non-com. officers. 2; men. 7 - 10'. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19210912/057/0004
  • www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/152796

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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