Inverness War Memorial — Attraction in Crown and City Centre

Inverness War Memorial is sited on the east bank of the River Ness as it heads towards the southern outskirts of Inverness on its way to Loch Ness, a few miles away to the south west. . This memorial commemorates the residents of Inverness who died in the First and Second World War. The names of those who died in other wars like peace operations are also written on the memorial. . Many of these memorials were erected after the First World War. After the Second World War, the names of those who died in that war were also added to the memorial. . remembers Lieutenant Hugh McKenzie, recipient of a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions on 30th October 1917 on the Bellevue Spur.  McKenzie was actually born in Liverpool, his parents moving to Inverness, and later Dundee, before Hugh emigrated to Canada in 1911.  Returning to Europe with the Canadian Expeditionary Force early in the war, he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1916, and was awarded the Victoria Cross during Third Ypres, his citation, published in the London Gazette (under the incorrect name of MacKenzie) on 13th February 1918, reading; “For most conspicuous bravery and leading when in charge of a section of four machine guns accompanying the infantry in an attack. Seeing that all the officers and most of the non-commissioned officers of an infantry company had become casualties, and that the men were hesitating before a nest of enemy machine guns, which were on commanding ground and causing them severe casualties, he handed over command of his guns to an N.C.O., rallied the infantry, organised an attack, and captured the strong point. Finding that the position was swept by machine-gun fire from a “pill-box” which dominated all the ground over which the troops were advancing, Lt. MacKenzie made a reconnaissance and detailed flanking and frontal attacking parties which captured the “pill-box”, he himself being killed while leading the frontal attack. By his valour and leadership this gallant officer ensured the capture of these strong points and so saved the lives of many men and enabled the objectives to be attained. . Hugh McKenzie was 31 years old at the time of his death and has no known grave, his name to be found among the 54,000 casualties listed on the Menin Gate.  As a postscript to his story, in 1955 fire swept through the family house at Amherstburg, in Ontario, not only causing loss of life, but also the loss of Hugh McKenzie’s V.C.; very unusually, after due process, his medal was replaced, and can now be seen in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.  More about him, and the other Victoria Cross holders whose names can be found on the Menin Gate. . Ewen McKenzie, Seaforth Highlanders, was killed nine days later on 9th April 1918, the opening day of the German Spring Offensive that has featured in a number of posts already this year he has no known grave, and his name is to be found on the...

¨High Celtic cross surmounting a square stepped plinth, with inscriptions on the shaft. Two walls extend as wings from the base of the cross containing plaques and engravings dedicated to the fallen from the First World War, Second World War and Post-1945 conflicts. There is Celtic knotwork on the face of the cross and on the shaft. The town arms are featured at the base of the shaft. Pillars form the terminals...

A beautifully kept War memorial, and gardens. We passed through on our way to Eden Court via the Infirmary Bridge. The blossom framed the War Memorial perfectly...