- Type of Memorial
- Cross
- WMR Reference Number
- 5886
- Description
- Red sandstone Celtic cross on a two-stepped battered plinth, set on a square base, from which yellow sandstone wings extend to either side, angled inwards, and terminating with red sandstone pillars. The Memorial faces West across the River Ness. The cross is decorated with carved Celtic knotwork, with the Burgh's coat of arms carved on the front face of the main plinth. Inscriptions incised within lozenges occupy the other three faces, while the main dedication is inscribed on the front face of the base. Inscriptions on the rear face of the base record the original dedication of the Memorial, and the subsequent post-WW2 dedication of new panels. The terminal pillars to the wings carry inscriptions, entitled "Battle Honours", detailing the engagements and battles of the various theatres of war during WW1. The WW1 names are cast in fourteen bronze plaques spread across the front faces of the wings. The WW2 names are cast in six bronze plaques set into the reverse side of the North wing, with a seventh cast panel set at the angled corner portraying a claymore, the years of the conflict, and the arms of the Burgh. A dedication is inscribed beneath the five outside panels. The upper section of this is carved, the lower section is incised, and blacked. The South side of the reverse of the wings originally carried seven polished plain marble tablets in alternate colours. In November 2012 the angled corner tablet was replaced with a black marble tablet dedicated to post-1945 deaths. This carries the incised and gilded dedication, with a claymore and the arms of the Highland Council etched in white. The next space inwards carries another black marble tablet bearing the incised and gilded Roll of Honour of names. To the original name inscribed in 2012, four were added later, two were added in August 2015, another in August 2019, and another in October 2023 - thus nine by July 2024.
- Inscription
- Front of Plinth: TO THE/ GLORIOUS MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THE BURGH/ AND PARISH OF INVERNESS/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918
"This monument is more that bronze and stone,/ A peoples' gratitude is here revealed./ By this for evermore our debt we own/ To those whose blood our victory hath sealed./ This is from now a truly sacred place,/ And while the Ness reflects our native skies./ This shrine shall point for each succeeding race/ The path of duty, love and sacrifice."/ WE HONOUR THEM/ FOR/ WHAT WE OWE THEM
THEY FOUGHT FOR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ FAITH AND FREEDOM/ NOR DID THEY FIGHT IN VAIN/ Fear not that ye died for naught/ The Torch ye threw to us is caught/ ten million hands will hold it high/ And freedom's light shall never die/ We've learned the lessons you taught/ In Flanders fields
Back of Plinth: IN THREE CONTINENTS/ AND IN THE DEEP THEY LIE/ BUT IN OUR HEARTS THEIR DEEDS/ FOR EVER ARE ENSHRINED
DURING THE WAR/ UPWARDS OF 5000 MEN OF THE BURGH/ AND PARISH OF INVERNESS/ WENT OUT ON ACTIVE SERVICE/ AND NOBLY UPHELD THE HONOUR/ OF THEIR COUNTRY./ OF THESE GALLANT MEN 717 RETURNED NO MORE,/ TO THEIR MEMORY THIS MONUMENT/ WAS ERECTED BY A GRATEFUL COMMUNITY/ AND UNVEILED ON THE 16TH DECR 1922./ BY COLONEL THE MACKINTOSH OF MACKINTOSH/ LORD LIEUTENANT OF INVERNESS-SHIRE.
THESE PANELS COMMEMORATING THOSE/ WHO FELL IN 1939-1945 WERE/ UNVEILED ON NOVEMBER 11TH., 1956, BY/ PROVOST ROBERT WOTHERSPOON.
Pillars: (Battle Honours)
Pillar: AN COGADH MOR/ 1914-1918
Bronze Plaque: 1939-/ 1945
Bronze Plaques: ROLL OF HONOUR/ (Names)
Base of wall: TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BURGH AND PARISH/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENCE OF THEIR COUNTRY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Black Plaque: POST/ 1945
Second Black Plaque: ROLL OF HONOUR/ (Names)/ We Will Remember Them/ Today - Tomorrow - Forever