New war memorial to be dedicated
One hundred years ago the First World War was nearing its conclusion after four long bloody years.
It is estimated that about 35 million soldiers and civilians died in the war, around 800,000 of who were British. It is difficult to comprehend losses on such a scale, but each one of those people had a home, family, friends and a life story.
Nearly every town and village in the country lost someone and these losses are recorded on the countless World War 1 memorials standing in tribute to a lost generation. Arran suffered the loss of around 100 men. Most of their names are recorded on the memorials dotted round the island most notably at the Ar- ran War Memorial Hospital built in honour of these men and which is still at the heart of the community.
Not all the villages managed to erect their own memorials though, Pirnmill being one.
Today Pirnmill has a WWII memorial, but no memorial to the men from the area who died in the First World War. The addition of a WWI memorial was first proposed about eight years ago, and efforts have been on-going since then to raise the money to have one erected.
As a result of these efforts a WWI memorial has been locally commissioned and installed in the memorial garden. The memorial bears the names of eight men from the parish that made the ultimate sacrifice. John Craig, James McCorma(i)ck, James Thomson, John Stevenson, Robert Skillen, Archibald McMillan and brothers Duncan and Ronald Robertson. The stories of these men will be told in a public talk at Pirnmill Village Hall on Thursday September 27 at 7.30pm.
At noon on Saturday September 29 the new memorial will be dedicated in a service led by Rev Angus Adamson. The service is open to everyone and a bus will run from Brodick Ferry Terminal leaving at 11am returning by 3pm. Please contact Fiona Laing on 850216 to reserve a place. Please note parking within the vicinity of the memorial is limited. The service will be followed by tea and sandwiches.
The men may have died more than 100 years ago but the talk and dedication service will be a chance to commemorate them in their home village where their names will now rightly live forevermore.
A WWI memorial has been locally commissioned and installed in the memorial garden in Pirnmill