Many towns and villages around the Highlands
have memorials to those who lost their lives.

View the full video here: Modem | Broadband

Investigating the memorial next to the River Ness.

Spean Bridge Memorial

The Commandos were a special unit of highly trained soldiers able to carry out raids on enemy targets. The Highlands of Scotland were ideal for their training. The training eventually centred on the Achnacarry estate, home of the Camerons of Locheil. Although based at Achnacarry nearly all the big houses in Lochaber were overtaken by them. Because of all this military training the Government banned people from visiting much of Lochaber. In fact nobody could cross the Caledonian Canal unless they lived beyond it, or had a special pass.

To begin with Commando raids were small, but as more men were trained and planning improved they were able to launch large raids such as that against Dieppein August 1942. They were also to play a vital role in the invasion of France on June 6 1942 ( D-Day).

This memorial commemorates Aircrew of many nationalities who were Lost in Action or on Active Service while operating or training from the 29 airfields and 3 anchorages  in the North of Scotland.

These are named on the handrails.

From these bases the War was prosecuted in the surveillance of the North Atlantic Ocean, of the convoys crossing it and in mine laying, bombing and special missions against German submarines, ports and other military targets in Northern Europe. They were  used by a total of 275 Squadrons all of whose efforts were crucial to the outcome of the conflict.

Aircrew Memorial Bandstand, Bellfield Park, Inverness Click here to view the airfields throughout the north of Scotland.