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IV51 9EH - The Portree War Memorial was built in the early 1920s and dedicated in 1922. It’s designed in the Scottish Mercat Cross design from a plan by Elgin architect John Whittet.

One of the men who helped construct the memorial was Skye builder Thomas MacFarlane. This would have been a particularly poignant experience for him as his son John MacFarlane was one of those whose names was inscribed.

John MacFarlane served with the 4th Cameron Highlanders, and letters that he wrote home to his family in Portree have survived – preserved at the Skye Museum of Highland Life. John writes with gratitude for the many things which his family thought to send him: cakes, sweets and on occasion even eggs.

Tragically, John along with many of his fellow Cameron Highlanders, was killed at the Battle of Festubert in Northern France in May 1915.

Image courtesy of Sandra Macaskill.