Aberdeen Weekly Journal - Friday 22 August 1919 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000573/19190822/096/0005 In Memory of the Fallen FOOTDEE’S WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED. The Footdee war memorial was unveiled on Saturday afternoon by ex-Baillie James Tulloch. himself a native of the old "Fittie" district of Aberdeen, and a marvel of freshness and vigour notwithstanding his 89 years. The ceremony was witnessed large crowd. The monument, which stands on Pocra Quay, directly in line with New Pier Road and overlooking the harbour entrance channel, is of obelisk design, and stands 22 feet high by 5 feet 6 inches square at the base. It is of white Kemnay granite, and there are two brass panels, one of a Gordon Highlander facing the land, and the other of a seaman, representative of the Naval Forces, looking out to sea. The building of the memorial was executed by Messrs Caie and Rettie, Pittodrie Place, and the inscription is— Erected by the inhabitants of Footdee and friends as a lasting token of thanks to the sailors and soldiers of the district who gave their ungrudging service, and in grateful memory of those who gave their all. 1914 1919. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down lay down his life for his friends’’ —- John xv., 13. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the memorial, which was designed by Mr James Garden Milne, Sunnybank Place, and carried out under his supervision. Tributes to the Fallen. Councillor Henry J. Gray, one of the representatives of St Clement's Ward, presided at the unveiling ceremony, and was accompanied on the platform erected alongside the obelisk on the platform erected alongside the obelisk by ex-Baillie James Tulloch and his son, Mr Dr. C. C. Macdonald; Mr Andrew Baxter, Dr. C. C. Macdonald; Mr Andrew Baxter, work in connection with the memorial; Mr William Guyan, the secretary; Mr William Baxter, treasurer; and Mr Thomas Caie and Mr Alexander Walker, the managing committee. In honour ol the occasion, banners In honour ol the occasion, banners emblems were displayed around the monument, at the base which wore placed several beautiful at the base which wore placed several beautiful of sailors and soldiers were drawn up two deep, under Mr George Baxter and Captain Trail respectively. Unveiling the Obelisk. The unveiling ceremony opened with the singing past,” Miss Elsie Guyan playing the organ past,” Miss Elsie Guyan playing the organ accompaniment. Then the Rev. Dr C. C. offered prayer, in which he gave thanks tor the offered prayer, in which he gave thanks tor the brave sailors and soldiers who had taken up their cross and laid down their lives for truth and righteousness. were unveiling that day was a lasting testimony to the skill of the firm who had erected it. One of the members was intimately connected with the district, and be felt sure that with the district, and be felt sure that the work of making it had been a labour of for commercial gain, but for the lasting interest such memorial would have the such memorial would have to the natives of Footdee. The Harbour Commissioners site of such exoell enoo. to the site of such excellence. As to the noble dead, he would like to quote the lines written 2000 years ago by Simonedes in a dirge on the rout of the Athenians who perished at Thermopale - Glorious their fate, splendid their doom ; Their tomb an altar. Honour them and weep not; Give them praise, not pity. To those sorrowing ones to whom the dawn of peace brought no happy morning, he would like to quote the stanza of a poem written by a doubt had wish fulfilled doubt had his wish fulfilled - Around the moments of our deepest anguish In after years the sweetest memories cling. We fret ourselves, but cannot read the mystery. Life without sorrow were a joyless thing. God grant that when fall amid the strife Heaven may be sweeter for the pain of life. Mr Tulloch’s Tribute. Ex-Baillie Tulloch then unveiled the monument by raising the Union Jack which had covered the obelisk, and a bugler sounded the “Last Post” — a ceremony profoundly affecting being in tears. being in tears. proposed vote of thanks to the proposed a vote of thanks to the committee who had carried out the work in that, of the 160 Footdoe men who had enlisted, that, of the 160 Footdee men who had enlisted, 27 made the supreme sacrifice - a noble record proud. proud. Sir George Buchanan for Rome. The following important diplomatic changes are announced: Sir George Buchanan is appointed' to succeed Sir Renneil Rodd British Ambassador at Rome. Sir William Tyrrell is to go Washington, whore he will act as second command to Viscount Grey, presumably with the official title of Counsellor. Mr WilHam Max-Mull or is be Minister- Plenipotentiary at Constantinople. Sir George Clerk is to be our first Minister Plenipotentiary to the new Czech ©-Slovak Republic at Prague, The Hon. Theophihw RuesHl {says the Morning Post, ”) is to Minister Plenipotentiary at Berne. (picture of the memorial)