20 November 2014
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Aberlour Orphanage World War One memorial rededicated
A memorial to boys of Aberlour Orphanage who gave their lives in World War One has been re-dedicated in a special ceremony to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War. ...
Aberlour Orphanage World War One memorial rededicated Images
A memorial to boys of Aberlour Orphanage who gave their lives in World War One has been re-dedicated in a special ceremony to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War.
Aberlour Orphanage saw a total of 289 boys leave to fight in the Great War - of whom 59 were killed, 58 wounded and five became prisoners of war. This was a very emotional time for the staff and orphans left behind, who were kept in touch with the ex-Aberlour soldiers via letters which were published in the orphanage magazine.
A memorial to the Aberlour orphans who died in World War One was dedicated in 1924 by the warden, staff and orphans. It stands in the grounds of St Margaret's Church in Aberlour and was altered during World War Two to incorporate the names of further Aberlour boys who gave their lives for their country.
WATCH THE FILM 'LETTER FROM AN OLD BOY'
Aberlour, Scotland's Children's Charity, has produced a film 'Letters from an Old Boy' which poignantly highlights the experiences of the Aberlour Orphans on the frontlines of the Great War:
Following funding from the War Memorials Trust, the monument was restored in time for the World War One centenary Remembrance Day, when it was re-dedicated at a special service for families and Aberlour Children's Charity personnel. Speaking to the Press & Journal newspaper at the ceremony, Aberlour old boy George Knight, who lived at the orphanage from 1957 to 1966, said: 'I think that the rededication is very important for the young men that went to war for their country, and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s a sad thing indeed that so many of the orphans fell in battle, so it’s good to remember them.
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'There were so many kids at the orphanage that joined the forces primarily for a sense of security, as of course none of them had any homes to go back to. Usually there’s only about ten or twenty of us in there on a Sunday, but the church was absolutely packed, it must have been the busiest I’ve seen it since the Sixties.'
Aberlour, Scotland Children's Charity provides help to over 6,000 of Scotland's most vulnerable children and families each year. Visit their website to find out more about their work. You can also read a selection of World War One letters from Aberlour Old Boys.
(Image copyright Aberlour: Scotland's Children's Charity)
Aberlour Orphanage saw a total of 289 boys leave to fight in the Great War - of whom 59 were killed, 58 wounded and five became prisoners of war. This was a very emotional time for the staff and orphans left behind, who were kept in touch with the ex-Aberlour soldiers via letters which were published in the orphanage magazine.
A memorial to the Aberlour orphans who died in World War One was dedicated in 1924 by the warden, staff and orphans. It stands in the grounds of St Margaret's Church in Aberlour and was altered during World War Two to incorporate the names of further Aberlour boys who gave their lives for their country.
WATCH THE FILM 'LETTER FROM AN OLD BOY'
Aberlour, Scotland's Children's Charity, has produced a film 'Letters from an Old Boy' which poignantly highlights the experiences of the Aberlour Orphans on the frontlines of the Great War:
Following funding from the War Memorials Trust, the monument was restored in time for the World War One centenary Remembrance Day, when it was re-dedicated at a special service for families and Aberlour Children's Charity personnel. Speaking to the Press & Journal newspaper at the ceremony, Aberlour old boy George Knight, who lived at the orphanage from 1957 to 1966, said: 'I think that the rededication is very important for the young men that went to war for their country, and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s a sad thing indeed that so many of the orphans fell in battle, so it’s good to remember them.
Aberlour, Scotland Children's Charity provides help to over 6,000 of Scotland's most vulnerable children and families each year. Visit their website to find out more about their work. You can also read a selection of World War One letters from Aberlour Old Boys.
(Image copyright Aberlour: Scotland's Children's Charity)
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