The war memorial in Fort William has been named as one of the best in Scotland by the British Legion.
The memorial, which features the figure of a lone kilted soldier with his head bowed looking out over Alexandria Parade, is maintained by a team of volunteers from Fort William’s Town Team.
The memorial has inscriptions of 116 names for the First World War, 35 names for the Second World War and one name for the Gulf War. It is thought that the memorial was unveiled in 1920.
Karen Dean, the coordinator of Fort William Town Team, said: “It is an absolute privilege to be able to work with the British Legion on the war memorial and it is a real mark of the respect in the town that we have managed to win this award.
“We are delighted. The Town Team feel privileged to be the guardians of the war memorial and care for it along with other groups in the town.
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“It is a a mark of how much the memorial means to people – and to the people who have fought in the wars and conflicts that it stands there today.
“We are doing so little, when they gave so much for us.
“It is great that the memorial has been recognised, and we have won in 2019 and the award goes to everyone who has helped us over the last few years.”
The memorial is one of a number of projects undertaken in the town by the Town Team.
Mrs Deans added: “We are only a small committee of four people, and we have very committed volunteers who support the work.”
Legion Scotland chief executive, Dr Claire Armstrong, said: “Legion Scotland’s Best Kept War Memorial competition aims to foster public awareness of war memorials, and to encourage a high standard of continuing maintenance by local authorities.
“We congratulate everyone who has played a part in the upkeep of the Fort William and District War Memorial.
“More than 100 entries have been received for this year’s competition and the standard has, once again, been especially high from across the Highlands.
“The commemorations around the centenary of the end of the First World War last year captured the nation’s imagination, but it is vital that we never forget.”
