QOHLDRS Statue – Inverness

Description

Bronze resin maquette of the Bank Street memorial in Inverness known as ‘Hamish’. Approx. 24cm high.

The Statue erected on Bank Street, Inverness is modelled on a photograph taken of a QOHldr ‘Jock’ in No1 Dress Ceremonial uniform with 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle at the ‘at ease’ position.

Lt Col James Murray (Chairman of the QOHldrs Regimental Association) and his Trustees agreed in 2015 to commission a suitable Memorial to recognise all ranks of the QOHldrs who had died in conflict to be erected in Inverness (the heart of the Regimental recruiting area). They agreed that the Memorial would be of a Soldier and it would be life-size and set about finding a suitable ‘model’. They selected the ‘Jock’ in No1 Dress Ceremonial. They approached Alan Herriot (Edinburgh, who had created David for the NMA) and he agreed to take on the project. He worked up the model over several months and once the Committee had signed it off it was taken North to Nairn and Black Isle Bronze Ltd (Foundry) where it was lovingly cast in Bronze by Farguhar Laing and his team.

Planning Permission was sought to erect the Memorial on Bank Street (overlooking the River Ness) in the heart of Inverness and once passed an unveiling date was set for 28 September 2019. Just under 200 former QOHldrs formed up on the High Street under the marshalling skills of former Warrant Officers Robbie McIntosh (Wick) and Albert Duffus (Forres) and behind the Association President – Major General Peter Grant Peterkin CB OBE. The Parade stepped of and marched to the beat of drums and swirl of the pipes provided by the QOHldrs Regimental Association P&D’s (Drum Major Joe MacDoanld and Pipe Major Jim Stout) through the Highland Capital to Bank Street where they halted to take up their positions with their families around the Memorial. Padre Ivan Warwick (Battalion Padre 1985-89) led the Service, which started

with Lt Col James Murray (Association Chairman) asking Deputy Provost Councillor Graham Ross to unveil the Memorial. There were readings from Lt Col Brian Ross MBE and the names of the 14 men listed on the Roll of Honour (and on the Memorial) were read out by Lt Col Bob Towns MBE. Danny Mullen and Thomas Graham played the Last Post and Reveille after which Eddie Maley read the Kohima Epitaph. Pipe Major Jim Stout played ‘Lochaber No More’ and that was followed by Pipe Major Donald MacIntyre playing ‘Flowers of the Forest’.

The Memorial on Bank Street is affectionally known as ‘Hamish’.