Royal Four Towns War Memorial

History of the Memorial

The memorial was unveiled on 26 June 1919. Local people paid for it themselves, and it was designed and carved by the well-known Scottish sculptor Alexander Carrick RSA RBS, with architecture by William Davidson. It cost around £260 at the time.

Like so many others across Britain, it was put up in the years straight after the First World War to remember the men who would not come home. A second panel was added after 1945 for those lost in the Second World War.

It stands roadside in the heart of Hightae, close to the Royal Four Towns Hall. You can’t miss it when you drive through the village.

What the memorial records

The tall granite column lists only the men who died – the fallen. It does not record everyone who served. That fuller list is kept inside the Royal Four Towns Hall on two separate illuminated Rolls of Honour (one for each war).

First World War 1914–1919 – the fallen

Fourteen local men are named here. The inscriptions include their regiments where known. Some lettering has weathered over the years, so the list below matches the stone itself and official Imperial War Museums records.

Second World War 1939–1945 – the fallen

Five local men are named on the lower panel. The lettering is more worn here, but the names below match what is still readable and Imperial War Museums records.

The main panel reads: “TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THE ROYAL FOUR TOWNS WHO SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR THE FALLEN HEROES”. The lower panel is headed “AND OF … WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939–1945”.

Rolls of Honour inside the Hall

Inside the Royal Four Towns Hall you’ll find two separate, beautifully illustrated Rolls of Honour. These record everyone from the district who served – not just those who died.

• 1914–1919 Roll of Honour – 85 names. 71 men returned home, 14 did not. (The same 14 names appear on the stone memorial.)
• 1939–1945 Roll of Honour – 81 names of men and women who served. Five of them are also named on the stone memorial.

The Rolls are well worth seeing when the Hall is open. They give the wider picture of service from Hightae, Heck, Greenhill and Smallholm.

Visiting the memorial

The memorial is in the centre of Hightae on School Road (postcode DG11 1JN). It is open at all times and there is space to park nearby. Pop into the Hall when it’s open to see the Rolls of Honour – noticeboards and the Hall Facebook page will tell you when events are on.

Find us

The memorial stands in the centre of Hightae, right by the Royal Four Towns Hall, DG11 1JN. Grid reference NY 09363 78854.

Frequently asked questions