Object:Unveiling of Rothesay Academy WW2 Memorial

Date: 20th century

Description : This photograph shows the unveiling of the WW2 memorial at Rothesay Academy on the 27 April 1949.  This was a simple plaque bearing the text “IN HONOUR OF THOSE FORMER PUPILS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR,  WITH GRATITUDE WE REMEMBER THEM”.  It was added beneath the WW1 Memorial, unveiled twenty seven years earlier, bearing the names of Rothesay Academy pupils killed during this previous war and becoming an integral part of this earlier memorial.  Both boards were carved from wood with decorative flowers around the border but the latter memorial does not bear any names as it was felt that as there had been many civilian casualties and the large evacuee population passing through the school made it was impossible to be sure that the casualty list was complete.  It was decided to produce a book of remembrance bearing all the names which could be amended more easily if names had to be added.  Sadly the wooden memorial board was destroyed when the school burnt down in 1954 but the memorial book survives and is part of the Bute Museum collection.    The people in the photo are:-  Mr Neil Dobbie (Rothesay Academical Club President), Major Donald Weir, Miss Bunty Paterson (Mrs Russell), Flight Lieutenant Colin Stirling, and Mr James MacKenzie (Rothesay Academy Rector). (Wartime) (P03-4334, B01.0042)