View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Sunday 11 November 2012

War memorials

For an island of about 20,000 inhabitants, Lewis has a surprising number of war memorials, sixteen. The largest is situated just outside Stornoway and consists of a tower, with a circle of 23 plaques below. They used to be in the tower, but that is severely affected by ingress of water, so they were placed outside.

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Other locations are

Garrabost (Point)
PC114031

Braighe na h-Aoidhe & Melbost
P8127260

Back
PC114078

North Tolsta
P3124007

Cross (Ness)
P1172811

Borve
P2053150

Bragar
P2123367

Carloway
 P1184938

Tolsta Chaolais
P2063227

Breasclete
P1112746

Great Bernera
P6116302

Timsgarry (Uig)
P4180628

Crossbost
P8197530

Laxay (Kinloch)
P2073291

Kershader (South Lochs)
P1082667

Sunday 11 November

Remembrance Sunday today. I watched the parade in Whitehall in London at 11 am, then walked the 40 minutes to the local war memorail for a ceremony at 1pm. The shortest route on foot leads through the local golf course. There were about 150 people present at the war memorial. The minister of one of the local churches conducted proceedings, which included the laying of wreaths by military and civilian dignitaries. After the singing of hymns and psalms, the national anthem closed the ceremony at half past one. I returned through a practically deserted town centre. It was a chilly day, but the threat of showers receded and the sun even came out. As I type this, at 7pm, we are not far above freezing.

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The below pic shows the crowds gathering at the memorial.
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