Built on Black Hill, just ½ mile southeast of Stonehaven, on land donated by Lady Cowdray, it overlooks Strathlethan Bay. The incomplete structure was built initially to commemorate the  First World War dead, but Commemoration to Second world war dead were also added later. Built circular, as a classical temple, it was completed and unveiled on Sunday, 20th May 1923. Designed by John Ellis of Stonehaven, who was registered under the Aberdeen Chapter of the RIAS, which at that time would have covered a sizable area of the N.E.

John Ellis was born in Stonehaven on 10 June 1874 and was articled to Matthews and Mackenzie in Aberdeen from 1890 to 1895, remaining as assistant for a further year. He commenced independent practice in Stonehaven in 1897 but almost immediately thereafter he emigrated to South Africa. Within the next two years he built up a considerable practice in Pretoria, which was ended by the outbreak of the South African War in October 1899. He returned home late that year or early the next to recommence practice in Stonehaven, with an address at 29 Ann Street. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, his proposers being Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, George Sutherland and George Watt. It is interesting that he is held in high regard in S.A. today with some fine buildings, one only recently restored to its former glory 106 years on. Courtesy of http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk

John Ellis died on 17 August 1929.

The Memorial looks in disrepair, with rubble strewn around the base near the steps, but this is intentional as it was designed to be symbolic  of incomplete lives. 

 

 

Inside is a plaque with the names of the war dead.

 

On the inside of the lintels is cut the quotation from Donald Hankey’s book ‘Student in Arms’.

“One by one death challenged them, they smiled in his grim visage and refused to be dismayed”.

Also on the outside of the lintels are the names of some of the outstanding battles of the First World War; Mons, Jutland, Gallipoli, Zeebrugge, Marne, Somme, Vimy and Ypres.