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On the nearest Saturday to
the 709th anniversary of The Battle of Falkirk 22nd June1298, the dedication
ceremony was held to unveil the newly built cairn to the Scots who fought
that day against the Saxon invaders under the leadership of Sir William
Wallace. The day dawned dry, warm and overcast with the gathering place of
the ancient Fa'kirk chosen for the starting point of the procession through
the town to the Cairn in Callender Park. The Kirk grounds are where lie the
bodies of Sir John de Graeme, Wallace's loyal comrade in arms and Sir John
Stewart of Bonkle who led the Men of Bute on that day and whom were wiped
out almost to a man.
The gathering in the Kirk grounds was attended by many Groups and Patriots
from all over Scotland including Ronnie Browne of The Corries, The Society
of William Wallace, The Scottish Knights Templar, Crann Tara, Siol nan
Gaidheal, Na fir Dileas, The Scottish Fellowship, Various Scottish National
Party Constituent Groups and many members of the public. The Denny and
Dunipace pipe band were asked to lead the procession through the streets of
Falkirk to Callender Park, with Dunipace the location of the chapel where
the young Wallace was tutored by his uncle the Priest, this was an
inspirational choice. Prior to the muster and leading off from the Kirk, Ken
Shira of The Scottish Knights Templar who would act as an excellent MC for
the Dedication Ceremony led a small service and wreath laying in memory of
Sir John de Graeme, Sir John Stewart and The Men of Bute, where a wreath was
laid at the granite Celtic Cross in the churchyard erected in 1877 by the
then Marquis of Bute.
Mustering at 1230pm the large following set off led by the Colour Party
consisting of Gordon, Grant and Stewart, carrying a replica of Wallace's
Claymore, the Saltire and The Royal Standard of Scotland. With the Denny and Dunipace pipe band striking up this made a stirring sight as the march wound
it's way down the High Street of Falkirk packed with Saturday Shoppers who
stopped and paid tribute to the marchers with some even applauding as they
went past. The march continued its way down hill to the entrance to
Callender Park and the Memorial Cairn draped in the Saltire used to cover
Wallace's coffin on its return to Scotland in 2005 in the Walk for Wallace
Year led by David Ross.
At the Cairn a large gathering in the region of 300 people had assembled
boosted by passers by keen to take part in the ceremony. Ken Shira opened
proceedings by welcoming those in attendance and distributing the excellent
programmes produced by himself. Then from the hill behind the cairn the
stirring notes of a lone piper was heard and the colour party re-appeared,
marching to the cairn banners flying, where Gordon Aitken placed the
Claymore in the ground to act as a cross with an inspirational speech as
though Wallace himself had arrived to address his army of Patriots that
fateful day. Duncan Fenton of The Society of William Wallace then raised the
Saltire on the flag pole adjacent to the Cairn as Ken Shira led opening
prayers before handing over to Ronnie Browne of The Corries for the
unveiling.
This was a moment not to be forgotten and will be remembered by all who
attended for many years to come as Ronnie taking the microphone addressed
the crowd with the words “I haven't prepared a speech but thought this would
be a fitting tribute from a previous battle” and he went straight into their
song “Stirling Brig” unaccompanied by music. (Truly memorable as it echoed
through the park). Ronnie continued with the unveiling of the cairn itself,
removing the Saltire to reveal the words on the plaque, some penned by
Robert Burns another of our famous Patriots which have inspired the concept
of Freedom and in memory to those who fought and fell fighting for that very
Freedom. The anthem “Flower of Scotland” was then sung, led by Ronnie
Browne. The laying of wreaths followed with tributes laid by The Scottish
Knights Templar, The Falkirk Historical Society, The Men of Bute, John
Patterson and The SNP Rutherglen. A minutes silence was observed in memory
and all colours were dipped and a lament composed specially for the day by
the Pipe Major from the Denny and Dunipace band was played to complete the
minutes silence and the notes of the pipes echoed gracefully through the
park a fitting tribute to those who died that day. Some superb guest
speeches followed with John Patterson leading the way with a reading of his
poem which graces the base of the Cairn itself. Duncan Fenton of The Society
of William Wallace followed with an excellent speech and rounding things off
a fine speech from Local SNP Councillor and Group Leader David Alexander.
Closing proceedings were commenced with Ken Shira leading a closing prayer
then the colour party advanced to the front for the removal of the sword
cross with the added assistance of Karen Owens and Julie McCabe who were
there throughout the building of the cairn in all weathers and were very
able assistants during the construction works. Gordon Aitken removed the
sword and a benediction was said with Ken Shira then dismissing all and
thanking every one for their attendance, announcing a re-gathering in 12
months time.
For those who have not yet made it to Falkirk to see this fitting memorial
it really is something to behold and well worth the visit to this part of
Scotland steeped in the many Historical events from our proud and ancient
past. The building of this memorial will be remembered for a very long time
and all those who took part in it no matter what or how small that part was,
did so with the spirit of Freedom shinning from their hearts that very same
spirit given to our proud Nation by Sir William Wallace and those who stood
that day at his side against all odds willing to give up their lives for
that very same Freedom....Alba Gu Brath
Our Thanks To Our Friends @
Crann Tara
For This Great Report & Video
For A Great Video
Report Click Here
Special
Mention To Stewart Connor For Writing
This Wonderful Report
Local Heroes For More
High Resolution Photo's
Click Here
BATTLE OF FALKIRK 1298
 In the early
summer of 1298, King Edward I of England, the redoubtable 'Hammer of the
Scots', assembled a huge army and crossed into Scotland. His express aim
was to avenge the defeat at Stirling Bridge the previous September and to
restore English control north of the border. By the early days of July
they had reached Linlithgow and though seriously short of supplies, and
racked by internal dissent they advanced towards Falkirk on hearing that
Wallace's army was nearby. Records show that in Edward's pay that day
there were over 14,000 soldiers and, along with one hundred and eleven
noble families with all their retinues of foot and horse, made up a huge
force, perhaps 15 to 20 thousand strong which faced a smaller number of
Scots, possibly 12,000 in what must have been one of the biggest land
battles ever fought on British soil.
On 22nd July 1298 the two armies
came face to face near Falkirk but where the clash took place remains
something of a mystery. Over the years antiquaries and local historians
using the few clues available have suggested a number of places but
without agreement. Tradition, for what it is worth, places the centre of
the battle in the area of the present Victoria Park and street names like
Wallace and Campfield remind us of the connection. We know from the few
eyewitness accounts that the Scots were drawn up on rising ground with the
town of Falkirk behind them and that they were separated from the English
by a stream or an area of muddy ground, or both. This would fit two of the
current favourite sites, the Mumrills farm area opposite the Beancross
Restaurant and the land on either side of the Hallglen to Redding Road
near Woodend Farm. In both cases the rising ground is present and the
Westquarter Burn provides the water course and muddy ground.
We know quite a bit about the conduct of the engagement itself which was
to prove such a disaster to Wallace and the Scottish cause. The English
knights formed columns led by the King himself in the centre, the warlike
Bishop of Durham, Anthony de Beck on the right and the Earls of Lincoln,
Norfolk and Hereford on the left. The Scots were drawn up into three or
four great schiltroms - massive defensive circles or 'phalanx rings' as
they are sometimes called - bristling with twelve foot spears, for all the
world like giant porcupines. Behind them on the high ground were the
Scottish horse though their numbers were few. The English attacked
repeatedly using knights on horseback to weaken the schiltroms but the
Scots held. Though they failed to dislodge the Scots main defence it would
appear that both the Scottish horse and archers encountered the charging
knights and were destroyed in the early part of the encounter. At this
critical stage Edward called up his archers, whose longbows would later
win the honours at Agincourt and Crecy, but who were now put to the battle
test for the first time. Wallace looked to his horsemen to scatter them
but found that they were no longer there. We do not know if this was
because of the action of the knights already described or for a more
sinister reason. Certainly some some have suggested that many of the
Scottish nobility were unhappy to be under the command of Wallace whom
they though a man of lower rank and withdrew deliberately at an early
stage. Whatever, the Scots were doomed. Great swathes were cut in the
rings as wave after wave of arrows pierced the defence. And now the
knights could do their worst on the open and dispirited Scottish ranks.
The rout followed quickly and Wallace with many of his men fled north and
east towards the Carron and the relative safety of the Torwood. Many
hundreds, perhaps thousands, did not escape and they were finally buried
in common pits near the field of battle as was the custom. They have never
been found despite seven centuries of agricultural and industrial
development.
The Sons Of Scotland would
like to thank
Ian Scott
& Falkirk Local History Society for
helping in the research of
this project. |