The Scotsman - Saturday, 28th May 1921, page 8
BANFF WAR MEMORIAL
FOUNDATION STONE LAID BY PRINCESS-ROYAL.
The Princess-Royal, who was accompanied by Princess Maud, yesterday laid the foundation stone of Banff burgh war memorial. The memorial is to take the form of a shrine, to be erected in the Castle Park, on an eminence overlooking a magnificent view of Banff Bay, and of Macduff on the other side of the water. The ceremony attracted an attendance of several thousand people from the town and district. Almost two hundred ex-Service men were on parade, under Major Hutchison, D.S.O., M.C., and there were large representations also of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and hundreds of school children, marshalled in rows by their teachers. There was a band also of pipers and drummers. Mr and Mrs Macintosh, Fife Lodge, were in attendance on Their Royal Highnesses, who were received by Mr-Gordon Duff, of Drummuir, Vice-Lieutenant of Banffshire, in the unavoidable absence of the Lord-Lieutenant, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. Miss Jean Murray, the little daughter of the Provost of Banff, presented a lovely bouquet to the Princess-Royal. The Provost presented to the Princess-Royal the officers of the guard of honour and others, including Colonel Fleming Keith; Clerk of Lieutenancy; Dr Kelly, Aberdeen, the architect of the memorial; and Mr Barton who has gifted the ground in the Castle Park for its erection. The Rev. Dr Bruce, Banff, led in a prayer of dedication, and the company joined in singing "O God our help in ages past."
ADDRESS PRESENTED.
In an address from the municipality, read by the Town-Clerk, sincere thanks were offered to Her Royal Highness for the honour she had conferred on the community by her presence and in laying the foundation stone. It was recognised that in the manifold good works of the late Duke of Fife the Princess was intimately associated with his Grace, and that Her Royal Highness had taken a warm interest in the achievement of the brave men from the districts in whose honour they were assembled there that day.
The Princess Royal, in reply, said — It is a great pleasure to me to be with you again, and I thank you most warmly for the very genuine welcome which you have given to me and my daughter. Your affectionate reference to the Duke, who always had the wellbeing of your ancient burgh at heart, has touched me deeply. I consider it a high and solemn privilege to perform the ceremony which you have invited me to do. I pray that this cenotaph, when reared, will, for all ages to come, be a testimony of the spirit of loyalty and self sacrifice which dominated your citizens who fought and laid down their lives in defence of this country, and be an incentive to future generations to follow their glorious example, should the hour of danger ever again arise. I offer my heartfelt sympathies to all who mourn the loss of these brave men, whose names this monument is to commemorate. They have the consolation of knowing that their dear ones have made the highest possible sacrifice.
LAYING FOUNDATION STONE.
The Princess was afterwards handed a trowel, with which she spread the cement. The foundation stone was lowered, and Her Royal Highness applied the level — the same level that was used in laying the foundation stone of Balmoral Castle many years ago — and tapped the stone with the mallet, and declared it to be well and truly laid. The Union Jack was lowered half-mast, and after a wreath from ex-service men had been laid on the memorial, the pipers played "The Flowers o' the Forest." Dr Kelly presented to Her Royal Highness a silver trowel as a souvenir of the occasion, and the National Anthem was sung. The Princess Royal expressed a desire that there should be presented to her the relatives of deceased service men, and with these, over 100 in number, who had been allotted special seats in the enclosure, both Princesses shook hands.
Later, the Princess Royal held a reception in Fife Arms Hotel, when Her Royal Highness had as her guests over 100 people from Banff, Macduff, and district. The Princesses afterwards paid a private visit to Fife Lodge and Montcoffer House.
They leave to-day on their return to London.