War Memorial, Rossland Place, Kinghorn

War Memorial, Rossland Place, Kinghorn stands at the crossroads where Rossland Place meets the High Street in the Fife burgh of Kinghorn, Scotland. It is a First World War memorial with a Second World War roll of honour added later, and it is a protected listed structure recorded by Historic Environment Scotland.

What does the memorial look like?

The monument is a plinth topped by a sculpted group of two figures. One is a soldier of the Black Watch, the famous Highland regiment. Beside him kneels a naval rating, a sailor, so the group recalls both the army and the navy men of the community who were lost. The pairing is an unusual and moving choice for a small town memorial, and it makes the sculpture worth walking all the way around.

On the north-east face of the plinth is the phrase "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH", set above the roll of honour for the First World War. Names from the Second World War were added afterwards, which is a common pattern across Scottish towns that had to extend their memorials a generation later.

Who designed it?

The listing credits the architectural design to William Williamson, with the sculpture by Alexander Carrick of Edinburgh. Carrick was one of Scotland's best known war memorial sculptors, and his work appears in many towns across the country. The design is dated to 1922 in the official record.

What else should visitors look for?

On the south-west face is a plaque to John Braid, who was killed in the Korean War in 1952. It is a reminder that the memorial has continued to serve the town long after the two world wars, and that later conflicts have also touched local families.

The memorial occupies the site of the former Toll House, so the spot was once a place where travellers on the road through Kinghorn stopped and paid. Today it is a place of quiet remembrance in the middle of the town.

Why visit?

Kinghorn is a small coastal town on the Firth of Forth, and the memorial is easy to reach on foot from the centre. It suits a short stop while exploring the town, and is of particular interest to anyone who follows war memorial sculpture, Scottish regimental history or local heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the memorial? At the junction of Rossland Place and the High Street in Kinghorn, Fife.

Who made the sculpture? Alexander Carrick of Edinburgh, to a design by William Williamson.

Which wars does it commemorate? The First World War mainly, with the Second World War added, plus an individual plaque for a soldier killed in Korea in 1952.

What do the figures represent? A Black Watch soldier and a kneeling sailor, standing for the army and navy.

Is there an entry fee? No. It stands in the open street and can be visited at any time.