War Memorial, Galashiels Road, Walkerburn

War Memorial, Galashiels Road, Walkerburn

A classical roadside war memorial designed by James B Dunn, A.R.S.A, F.R.I.B.A. in 1920 and erected in 1923. It commemorates those who fell in the First World War and later conflicts. The memorial takes the form of a U-plan enclosure built in concrete and grey Creetown granite, with painted wrought-iron railings and bronze inscription panels.

The principal south elevation consists of an oblong monument with advanced square pillars at either end capped with cushion caps. The left pillar is inscribed with 1914, the right with 1918. The main body is divided into three sections. To the left stands an inscribed wall reading HONOUR TO THE BRAVE, beneath which are paired bronze plaques embossed with the names of the fallen. Further World War II inscriptions are carved below with 1939 marked to the left. The centre features a raised rectangular wall slightly advanced, inscribed THEY DIED FOR US and terminating in a cornice and cap. Directly in front stands a raised plinth supporting the statue of Tommy—a soldier with bowed head, wearing a great coat and helmet, with hands resting on a reversed rifle. To the right is an inscribed wall reading PEACE AFTER VICTORY, similarly adorned with paired bronze plaques listing the fallen. World War II inscriptions are carved below with 1945 marked to the right.

The original statue was created by Alexander Carrick. In 2000 it was stolen and subsequently recovered. It was then temporarily replaced by a fibreglass copy before a bronze replacement was commissioned from Beltane Studio, Peebles.

The memorial is sited on the north side of the A72 between the listed lodge to Tweedvale House and Stoneyhill House. The land was gifted by John A. Ballantyne of Sunnybrae. The memorial was unveiled on 22 August 1921 by Mrs Ballantyne of Stoneyhill and dedicated by the Very Reverend Dr Martin of Peebles. James Bow Dunn (1861–1930) was an Edinburgh architect in partnership with J.L. Findlay; he also designed the War Memorial in Hawick. Walkerburn lost sixty soldiers in the First World War, making it second only to Peebles in local significance. A new war memorial is currently being created to the west of this one, incorporating the smaller original statue of Tommy and a bell from the Tweedvale Mill.