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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Carnoustie

    VC dedication plaque

    1/12

    Current Location

    Memorial Park, High Street, Carnoustie, Angus, Tayside, DD7 7EB, Scotland

    OS Grid Reference

    NO 56161 34554

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    © WMR-2035

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    Type of Memorial
    Serviceman / Servicewoman
    WMR Reference Number
    2035
    Description
    Semi circular wall with plinth in the middle surmounted by a bareheaded highland solider with his head bowed standing over a cross and wreath. Flanking walls have the WW1 names inscribed on 4 granite tablets, with a central dedication tablet. In front of the original memorial, on the front wall of the flower bed, is a stone tablet for the second world war. In 2012 additional bronze plaques and a dedication metal dedication plaque were added for 2 VC holders from the town The men commemorated are Charles Alfred Jarvis VC and George McKenzie Samson VC. They were added between the WW1 names tablets- one on the left and one on the right.
    Inscription
    IN HONOUR / OF THOSE / WHO SERVED / IN SYMPATHY / WITH THOSE / WHO SUFFERED /AND / IN GRATEFUL / REMEMBRANCE / OF THOSE WHO / GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 Tablet 1- [names A to Dorward] Tablet 2- [names Duncan to Marquis] Tablet 3- [names Marr to DB Ramsay] Tablet 4- [names T R Ramsay to Yeaman] (Stone in front of original memorial) 1939 REMEMBRANCE 1945 / (Names in 4 columns) VC Dedication Plaque- V.C. PLAQUES WERE DEDICATED IN/THIS PLACE OF HONOUR BY/HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL/ON 16TH OCTOBER 2012 VC Plaque 1-TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF/LANCE CORPORAL CHARLES ALFRED JARVIS R.E./AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS/FOR GREAT GALLANTRY AT JENAPPES/ON 23RD AUGUST 1914/JARVIS PLACE IS NAMED IN HIS HONOUR VC Plaque 2-TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF/SEAMAN GEORGE MACKENZIE SAMSON R.N.V.R./AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS/FOR CONSPICOUS GALLANTRY/DURING THE LANDINGS AT GALLIPOLI/ON 26TH APRIL 1915/SAMSON PLACE IS NAMED IN HIS HONOUR
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    142
    Died
    142
    Information shown
    Rank, surname, forenames, regiment
    Order of names
    surname
    War
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Number Commemorated
    49
    Died
    49
    Information shown
    Surname, initials of forenames
    Order of names
    surname
    Number Commemorated
    2
    Served
    2
    Information shown
    surname, forenames, rank, service, details of VC action, decorations, additional
    Maker(s)
    • MR THOMAS BEATTIE, Sculptor

    Sponsor Type
    public
    Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information
    The land was gifted by former Provost Winter

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    31 October 1921

    Right Honourable the Earl of Strathmore

    Unveiled

    6 November 1949

    Mrs Helen S. Nicoll, Allanbank, Carnoustie whose husband, the later Captain D. Duncan Nicoll, resigned his seat on the Town Council to join the armed forces, cut the ribbon

    Unveiled

    6 November 1949

    Mrs Annie Reid, Woodbine Cottage, Carnoustie who lost two sons during the war, unveiled the tablet

    Rededicated

    6 November 1949

    Rev. George de Voil, Rev. G. Auchterlonie Hardie and Rev. Andrew Cumming

    Unveiled

    16 October 2012

    (The VC Plaques)- Princess Anne- The Princess Royal

    Components

    Wall

    Made from: Stone


    Condition: Good


    Figure

    Made from: Stone


    Condition: Good


    Garden

    Made from: Plant Material


    Condition: Good


    Tablet

    Made from: Granite


    Condition: Good


    Plaques / Panels with names

    Made from: Granite


    Condition: Good


    Plaque

    Made from: Metal


    Condition: Good


    Plaques

    Made from: Bronze


    Condition: Good


    • http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1433&mforum=warmemscot
    • The Scotsman 2 November 1925
    • Courier & Advertiser (Angus & Mearns edition) Monday 16th January 2012: ( photo of Petty Officer Samson in RN uniform) : TOWN SET TO HONOUR ITS VC HEROES := ============================== Two Historic ANGUS recipients of the Victoria Cross will receive an additional honour now that space for commemorative plaques has been found . Following various delays and discussions about the placing of the plaques in CARNOUSTIE its Royal British Legion Scotland branch has identified suitable spaces on the town's war memorial. Alterations to the Plaques are required as the originals were specific to the streets named after CHARLES ALFRED JARVIS ( Jarvis Place ) and GEORGE MCKENZIE SAMSON (Samson Place ) and it is anticipated they will be ready for rededication in the sumer . Lance Corporal JARVIS , of the 57th Field Company Royal Engineers was the first man to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War . Born in Fraserburgh he spent his formative years in Carnoustie , attending the school before joining the army in 1899 and the town has always claimed him as its own. Jarvis was awarded the Victoria Cross for his Gallantry in blowing up the bridge at Jemappes in order to cover the retreat of the army from Mons three weeks after the outbreak of the war . He died in Dundee in 1948 . Petty Officer SAMSON served in the Royal Naval Reserve on HMS River Clyde during 1915 landing at Gallipoli . As the landing force struggled to establish a bridgehead , he spent the day tending to the large number of wounded and helping with the lines . His service was cut short after he was wounded by machine gun fire. Surgeons wer only able to remove four of the suspected 19 bullets but he made a full recovery . Carnoustie SNP councillor Helen Oswald welcomed the news and said ," I am delighted that a final decision has been made about the location of these plaques . "Additionally , I have had it confirmed that additional street signage will be erected jn JARVIS PLACE and SAMSON PLACE , identifying that these streets were named in honour of these two very brave Carnoustie men."
    • Lance Corporal Jarvis (33), 57th Field Company, Royal Engineers, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Mons in August, 1914, when he demolished a bridge while under heavy German fire for an hour and half. A native of Fraserburgh, he and his family moved to Rattray and then to Carnoustie. Charles completed his education at Carnoustie School and was confirmed at Holyrood Church. He died in Dundee in 1948 at the age of 67 and is buried at Cupar Cemetery, Fife. Petty Officer George Mackenzie Samson (26), Royal Naval Reserve, won his Victoria Cross after rescuing and treating dozens of his comrades aboard HMS Clyde during the disastrous amphibious assault at V Beach in Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. He was a native of Carnoustie and returned to the Merchant Marine following his war service. He died aboard SS Strombbus in February, 1923, and is buried at the Methodist Cemetery, St George’s, Bermuda.
    • Carnoustie, Broughty Ferry and Dundee central libraries hold the Dundee and District Roll of Honour books published
    • Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser - Saturday 29 October 1949 -Carnoustie War Memorial-Unveiling Ceremony Arrangements
    • Dundee Courier - Monday 07 November 1949 -(photograph of ribbon cutting)
    • Dundee Courier - Monday 07 November 1949 -UNVEILING CEREMONY AT CARNOUSTIE
    • News..News..News... Best Kept War Memorial
    • Carter Postcard Collection
    • Images of the VC Plaques-https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/151242/