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Helmsdale

The war memorial in the village of Helmsdale in the Highlands of Scotland is a square grey stone clock tower with some small interior rooms. The tower is buttressed at the corners and the clock faces are white with Roman numerals.

In July 1999 War Memorials Trust contributed £200 towards a major conservation project which had been undertaken by the local community after they learned that the clock tower, unveiled in 1924, was at risk of crumbling. The memorial required repair work, re-pointing of stone work and cleaning.

In 2017 War Memorials Trust offered a grant of £730 for a professional survey and conservation report of the condition of the war memorial to be undertaken.  This is to be used to inform a specification of works that are required to repair and conserve the memorial. 

In 2018 a further grantof £29,270 was offered through the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund. This grant was to address the recommendation sof the previously funded report. The works comprised repointing the memorial in lime mortar, stone indent repairs to 3 areas of damage, concrete repairs to the step and platform and works to the windows and doors. A number of internal works to the belfry and access ladders were also required.

Specialist stone and metal works were required to clean the stone, repair the First World War panel and treat corroded fixings. The repairs to the clock in the tower required the clock to first be removed. The clock face was cleaned and repainted, some repairs to the mechanism were also undertaken.

The inscriptions on the memorial read:

"To the glory of God and in memory of the men
of this parish, who gave their lives in the Great War 
Skpr. William Innes. R.N.R.    L.Cpl. Hugh Cameron. Sea.Hrs.
A.B. John Sutherland. R.N.R.    L.Cpl. James McKay. Sea.Hrs.
Liet. William McPherson. R.F.A.    L.Cpl. William A. Sutherland. Sea.Hrs. 
Sgt. Gordon H. Gordon. R.E.    Pte. Peter Gordon. Sea.Hrs.
Spr. William Gordon. R.E.    Pte. John H. McIntosh. Sea.Hrs. 
Spr. Adam H. Sutherland. R.E.    Pte. Charles McKenzie. Sea.Hrs. 
Pte. Angus Bruce. R.Scots.    Pte. John McLeod. Sea.Hrs. 
Pte. John T. McPherson. R.Fus.    Pte. Charles McPherson. Sea.Hrs. 
Pte. Angus McRitchie. R.Fus.    Pte. Robert Sutherland. Sea.Hrs. 
L.Cpl. John McPherson. Norf.Reg.    Piper George Ross. Sea.Hrs. 
Pte. Alexr. Fraser. D.ofW-tns. W.Rid.Reg.   Pte. Donald Grant. Gord.Hrs. 
Pte. Don. C. Cuthbert. D.C.M. R.Hrs.    Sgt. Joseph Torrie. Rfl.Brig. 
Lieut. John R. Hill. Dur.L.I.    Cpl. John S. Fraser. Lond.Scott. 
Pte. John Palmer. H.L.I.    Sgt. Neil McKay. M.M. Canads. 
C.Q.M.S. George Rutherford. Sea.Hrs.    Pte. Angus Bannerman. Canads. 
Sgt. John Cameron. Sea.Hrs.    Pte. Thomas S. Gordon. Canads. 
Sgt. John H. McGregor. Sea.Hrs.    Pte. George Murray. Canads. 
L.Sgt. Richard McNicol. Sea.Hrs.    Pte. Alexr. Polson. Canads. 
Cpl. William A. McGregor. Sea.Hrs.    Pte. Dan. Fortune. R.A.M.C.
They died that we might live"

"1939-1945 
Also to the glory of God and 
in memory of those of this parish 
who gave their lives in the Second 
World War 
A.B. Ian Gowie R.N. A.B. 
Peter J. H. B. Etheridge R.N.
A.B. Hugh MacLeod R.N.
L/Seaman Donald Sutherland R.N.
A.B. William Sutherland R.N. 
A.B. John Cowie M.N. 
A.B. Donald Sutherland M.N."

"1939-1945
Also to the glory of God and
in memory of those of this parish
who gave their lives in the Second
World War 
Spr. John Alex. Sutherland R.E. 
Pte. Alex. Duncan 5th Sea.Hrs. 
Pte. David Jappy 5th Sea.Hrs. 
Cpl. Robert MacDonald 5th Sea.Hrs. 
Cpl. Donald N. MacLeod 5th Sea.Hrs.
Sgt. Vina Little A.T.S.
A/C. Charles R. Finlay R.A.F. 
F/O Officer David MacKenzie R.A.F. 
Sgt. David Bannerman Polson R.A.F."

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM139
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 44804

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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