PERTHSHIRE ADVERTISER: 27 November 1920-BALQUHIDDER WAR MEMORIAL -UNVEILING CEREMONY BY DUCHESS OF ATHOLL - The memorial cross to those who had fallen in the war was unveiled by the Duchess of Atholl. The pedestal is erected on a base of solid masonry inside the wall enclosing the old churchyard of balquhidder, only a few yards from Rob Roy's grave and near the ruins of the belfry of the old parish church. On the slab bearing the cross the inscription is:- "To the Glory of God and in Grateful and Loving Remembrance of those from Balquhidder Parish who gave their lives for our defence in the Great War 1914-1918". There follows the 25 names of those who had fallen. The memorial service was conducted by the rev. David Cameron, of the parish church, and Rev. J. Bruce Wilson, of the U.F. Church. The united choirs also took part in the singing, the service throughout being very impressive. Capt. Sir malcolm MacGregor, Bart., K.C.M.G., C.B., presided over the large assemblage. Among others present were Mr and Mrs Carnegie of Stronvar; Mrs Baillie Hamilton of Cambusmore; Hon. Mrs Somerset; Major and Mrs Stewart, Ardoch Lodge, etc. Piper Hamilton played 'Lochaber No More' at the beginning, and towards the end Piper Hugh M'Clachlan played the 'Flowers of the Forest'. At the unveiling ceremony the Duchess said she was among friends here, where she had many happy early recollections of her visits to the glen. It was, she thought, a time of thankfulness, in spite of all the sorrow that had taken place - thankfulness that we had a share in the great moment when our homes were at stake for honour, humanity, and freedom, and when young men swarmed from the distant glens at the call of duty and took a new pride in our race as never before, as Scots and Britons. So, in the words of one who gave his life in the same great cause, may come to pass that - God grant our dear country A strength that shall not cease; Mercy, Truth and Honour - Is this the Thing ye died for? O, brothers, rest in peace. Also included at the end of the newspaper report were some lines of poetry entitled - Hail, Balquhidder!, which included the verses; Tonight Romances fairy wand will clear those walls away And noisy city street will be no more, As we wander with our clansmen, in the gloamin' silvery grey; To revel in the piobroch days of yore! The Buchanans, and M'Larens, and MacGregors live again, Who wrote, not with the pen, but broad claymore The history that brooding lies o'er every hill and glen, That radiates from fair Loch Earn's shore! We will range the mountain fastness with the eagle and the roe, And tread again through bracken and sweet heather, While the zephyr seems to whisper "We have never feared a foe", 'Tis the spirit-warrior's slogan at Balquhidder!

The sculptor Charles Pilkington D'or Jackson's business papers are lodged in the National Library, Edinburgh, Accesssion Number 7445. There is a letter dated 22/9/1920 in Box 2, File 53 which confirm that Jackson was approached by Messrs. McDonald & Creswick of Edinburgh to supply plaster models for the Balquhidder memorial to Washington Browne's design at least for the bronze tablet asking for the alphabet to be the same as at the Haddington war memorial which they described as a Lombardian style.

Carter Postcard Collection