6th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

Location:
Old High St Stephen’s Church
Church Street, Inverness
Inverness shire
IV1 1EY

NOTE: The cross is a collective memorial to the officers and men of 6th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders who fell at the Battle of Martinpuich on the 15th September 1916, one of the battles during the Battle of the Somme.

Details on cross:
On the cross beam:
SHAFT:
IN MEMORY OF OFFICERS NCOs & MEN

CROSS BEAM:
6TH Batt. QUEEN’S OWN (badge of the Bttn) CAMERON HLDRS.
SQUARE PLATE ARMS UPPER LEFT:
SEPT. 15TH

SQUARE PLATE ARMS UPPER RIGHT:
1916

SQUARE PLATE ARMS LOWER LEFT:
WHO FELL IN THE CAPTURE

SQUARE PLATE ARMS LOWER RIGHT:
OF MARTINPUICH

The names of the fallen on metal tags:-

Major J E M Farquhar
2nd Lieut. J McCallum
2nd Lieut. McIntyre
2nd Lieut. C Newton

7918. Lce-Sgt. J Crichton
21828 Cpl R Bell
12366 Cpl D McIntosh
16204 Cpl R Montgomery
11281 Lce-Cpl W Adam
14306 Lce-Cpl W Brodie
12801 Lce-Cpl A Graham
13180 Lce-Cpl A Hardie
21878 Lce-Cpl H Hunter
2274 Lce-Cpl T McKain
5866 Lce-Cpl J McKenzie
12614 Lce-Cpl R Shankland
8315 Lce-Cpl J C Yett

1701 Pte A Cameron
23789 Pte J D Campbell
23794 Pte S Downing
21203 Pte J Flynn
22583 Pte R Gallagher
2674 Pte J Grant
40099 Pte J Kerr
17473 Pte W Lambie
2604 Pte M Lightbody
2623 Pte A McDonald
2476 Pte A McKenzie
40031 Pte D McLachlan
22600 Pte J McQueen
21088 Pte J Pringle
400411 Pte M Ryan

4098 Pte H Skinner
16318 Pte J Spicer
16434 Pte H Sutherland
11745 Pte A Wyllie
40068 Pte J Yore

Text type: Black painted letters, stencilled?
A list on metal tags of the names of 4 officers, 13 NCOs, 20 privates is nailed on the shaft below the description.
The name of one private has been removed, apparently he turned up alive after the cross was constructed.

Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 2600 to plinth
Cross beam width: 1220
Width of wood: 150
Thickness or depth: 70

Square plate (if supported)
Width of Square arms: 135
Angle of arms: 45o
Thickness: 70

Other information
Mounting to wall: The cross stands embedded in a marble plinth. There’s a support on the back attached to the wall.
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field: Some soil around the metal tags.
Surface insertion depth (if apparent):
Finish: Untreated
Condition: The wood is very well preserved and in good condition. The metal tags are slightly damaged and corroded.
Other information, notes and observations: An information sheet is next to the cross giving details including its construction after the battle by the regimental pioneers, and including the story about one man removing his own name. (photo)

Survey and photographs courtesy of Scott Galloway
Date of survey: 26th August 2016