QOHLDRS Statue – Arboretum

Description

Bronze resin maquette of the memorial statue in the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) known as ‘David’. Approx. 24cm high.

The Statue erected in the NMA is modelled on a picture taken of Lt Col David Blair who was the Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion The Queen’s Own Highlanders (Seaforth & Camerons) at Warrenpoint, South Armagh, Northern Ireland on the 27 August 1979 when multiple improvised explosive devices (IED’s) were detonated killing 18 British Soldiers – Lt Col David Blair and LCpl Victor MacLeod of the QOHldrs and 16 members of 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.

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 at the NMA, Alrewas, Lichfield in Staffordshire. They agreed that the Memorial would be of a Soldier and it would be ‘3/4 life-size’ and set about finding a suitable ‘model’. The Committee opted for a photo of Lt Col David Blair in Northern Ireland Patrol Equipment (TOS, Flat Jacket, Web belt and 7.62mm SLR).

They put the requirement out to tender and selected Alan Herriot (Edinburgh) as the Sculptor. He worked up a model over several months and once the Committee had signed it off it was cast in Bronze at the Powderhall Foundry in Edinburgh.

The Memorial at the NMA was unveiled on the 16th June 2018. Over 250 former QOHldrs and their families attended the unveiling from all over the country. Former Warrant Officer Robbie McIntosh (Wick) marched a large contingent of ‘Blue Hackles’ behind 3 Association pipers (Colin Hughes, Jim Elliot and Richard Simpson) to the site where they formed up around the Memorial. Padre Ivan Warwick (former Battalion Padre) led the Service, with readings from Major George Givens, Lt Col Ritchie Turner and Lt Col Bob Towns MBE who read out the names of the 14 men listed on the Roll of Honour. (The names are not listed on the Memorial as that is not permitted under current NMA rules). Lt Col James Murray gave a short address before inviting Mrs Anne Blair to unveil the Memorial.

The Memorial at the NMA is affectionally known as ‘David’.