Dirleton

Postcard Dirleton memorial - Taken by Unknown - part of Sarah Marr Postcard Collection (Date estimated) 01 Jan 1925

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Dirleton - Taken by Leslie Scarborough 01 Jan 1990

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 21 Nov 2016

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Dirleton - Taken by Chaz 25 Mar 2017

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Setting South View Dirleton War Memorial - Taken by Derek Carter 28 Oct 2020

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South Elevation Dirleton War Memorial - Taken by Derek Carter 28 Oct 2020

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West Elevation Dirleton War Memorial - Taken by Derek Carter 28 Oct 2020

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North Elevation Dirleton War Memorial - Taken by Derek Carter 28 Oct 2020

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East Elevation Dirleton War Memorial - Taken by Derek Carter 28 Oct 2020

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Reference WMO/168501

Address:

Manse Road

Dirleton

EH39 5EW

Scotland

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War Memorials Trust case: War Memorials Trust needs to avoid Contributors changing location/description details as we help to protect and conserve this war memorial through our casework. You can still add photographs, update condition and use the tabs below. If you believe any of the information you cannot edit is wrong or information is missing, please make a note of the reference number and include it in your email when you contact us.

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace

Description: Wheel cross

Materials:

Unknown Unknown

Lettering: Incised

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)
Second World War (1939-1945)

About the memorial: Dirleton War Memorial is situated on the triangular green in front of the church. It is also located in front of the former church school where many of those commemorated would have played during school breaks. It was designed by the famous architect Sir Robert Lorimer, who located it in the centre of the open green and on the centre of the axial view down Manse Road. The builder was Mr Neil McLeod. It was commissioned in response to the many parish deaths in the First World War and it was formally unveiled by the local Member of Parliament, Patrick Ford of Westerdunes, on Sunday afternoon 10th October 1920. Prior to this ceremony, an afternoon service and sermon was held in the Kirk with the largest congregation that anyone there remembered. 50 comrades of the Great War filled the transept, commanded by Captain Scott of Craigville (Dirleton). The service was taken by Reverend Norman Keith assisted by Reverend James Burt of North Berwick. After the service the congregation marched in procession to the memorial and formed around it. The Reverend Keith read out the names of the 31 departed and dedicated the memorial to the memory of the fallen. School children led the praise. Mr Ford then unveiled the memorial. The ’Last Post’ was sounded by 2 buglers and wreaths were laid around its base. This tradition of a church service followed by a gathering outside around the memorial with the reading of the names of the dead and the laying of wreaths has continued to this day. A further four names of Dirleton fallen were inscribed on the memorial after the Second World War. They were unveiled during the service of remembrance on 12th November. The service was conducted by the Reverend H. O. Wallace, and, after the two minute silence, Mr David Tweedie performed the unveiling. On the Village Green on Manse Road. To the north of the town, which is off the A198. Designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. Celtic Cross, with a shaft and shields attached, made of Northumberland sandstone, with a square plinth. Tablets set in sides of the plinth with names and inscription. The whole is set on an octagonal base and two octagonal steps.

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Condition Level:

Comments:

Condition and Works Report 30 Oct 2020
A ground level survey of the monument was carried out by a competent stonemason. A considerable number of gaps and voids were visible in the base joints. Some re-pointing had been done in the past, possibly in the 50’s or 60’s, but inappropriate hard cement mortar had been used. This repair work was carried out mainly to the horizontal joints, and in some cases this has caused minor damage to the stone above it. Much of this cement mortar has also failed. A large amount of organic material has also built up behind this mortar.
 An analysis of what was left of the original lime mortar indicated that the original mortar was made up of a very fine aggregate which had been mixed with a high proportion of oil. While this was appropriate for the fine ashlar work of the trunk of the memorial, it was less so for the joints of the base, which have not weathered so well. 
All the loose and inappropriate material was carefully removed and replaced with well packed, gauged lime mortar. Masons Mortar ready mixed fine ashlar material was used for the tight joints on the trunk, mixed with a small proportion of boiled linseed oil. For the base stones, Kings HH60 fine sand was used, mixed with 5 parts to 2 of Hansen hydraulic lime NHL 3.5.  A ¼ part of mature lime putty was added to the mix as a plasticiser.
Future Work
During the mortar joint repair works the stonemason also checked the stone cross on the top of the monument. He reports that some remedial work will be required to the cross fixing at some point in the future. It was tested by pushing from all sides. It is completely stable at present and is in a safe condition. However, there are cracks in the octagonal stone which forms the top of the column into which the cross is fixed, and gaps in the joint between the cross and the top stone were also present. The top stone is in poor condition. The likely cause of this is expansion from the corrosion of a steel or iron dowel holding the cross.
The voids and cracks to the top of the top stone were repaired with mortar in order to stop water penetration and to slow down further deterioration. At some point in the future however, the cross will need to be lifted off and the ferrous dowel removed; a new stone collar will need to be made and fitted, and the cross will need to be re-fixed using a stainless steel dowel.
The stonemason recommends that, until such time as this work to the cross is carried out, the top of the monument should be inspected at least every 3 years.

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Inscription:

TO THE/ DEATHLESS/ MEMORY/ OF THE SONS/ OF DIRLETON/ PARISH/ WHO/ LAID DOWN/ THEIR LIVES/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ AND IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945 (NAMES) (NAMES) (NAMES) Base: THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE

Names:

The 1st World War Burns Andrew Private Royal Scots 8th Battalion Burnside James Private Royal Scots 9th Battalion Calder John Driver Army Service Corps 32nd Division Train 4 Campbell Peter Robertson Bain Private Royal Scots 2nd Battalion Christie Martin Private Royal Scots 13th Battalion Glen Archibald Private Scots Guard 2nd Battalion Gracie William J. Second Lieutenant North Staffordshire Regiment 9th Battalion Hynds Hugh Private Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st/ 5th Battalion Logan William Mackay George Marr Andrew Private Gordon Highlanders 1st/7th Battalion Mattison James Lance Corporal Australian Forces Mattison John Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Royal Navy HMS “M15” McDonald Robert Undetermined McNeil Edward Private Scots Guard 2nd Battalion McNeil George William Private Royal Scots Fusiliers McNeil Joseph Private Royal Scots Fusiliers 6th/7th Battalion McNicoll William Corporal Tank Corps 17th Battalion Moran John Private Royal Scots 12th Battalion Morin John Lance Corporal Seaforth Highlanders 7th Battalion Peattie William Sergeant Tank Corps 5th Battalion Selby John Edwin Private Somerset Light Infantry 6th Battalion Simpson James Duncan Lieutenant Canadian Regiment 1st Tunneling Company Smith Charles Private Royal Scots 8th Battalion Smith Robert Private Gordon Highlanders 5 Souter George Private Cameron Highlanders 7th Battalion Taylor Alexander Sergeant West Yorkshire Regiment 10th Battalion Taylor William Private Royal Scots 2nd Battalion Wardrop Alexander Driver Army Service Corps 37th Reserve Park Watt David P. Lance Corporal Cameron Highlanders Depot Waugh David Private Scots Guard 1st Battalion The 2nd World War Ronald Falconer James Rennie Hugo Douglas Tweedie Thomas Wood Five of the First World War dead had worked together at Castlemains farm, three of them brothers. David Watt lived in Rosemary Cottage and was a golf professional. He had won the Scottish Open Championship just weeks before the outbreak of war.

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Listing grade:

C(S) (Scotland)

Listing URL:

http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1345

Unique listing reference number:

LB1345

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