PICTURES: Newly installed memorial to Australian airmen unveiled at Dornoch bridge dedication service
A newly installed memorial to Australian airmen who lost their lives in a World War II plane crash in the Dornoch Firth, has been unveiled.
A dedication service was held last Saturday at the site of the 1.8m high memorial on the north-east side of the Dornoch Bridge.
The service was conducted by Wing CommanderAdrian Dyer RAF, senior chaplain at RAF Lossiemouth.
Family members of the W6009 crew travelled from Australia to attend the dedication service including Frank Pepper, who was the driving force behind the memorial project, and Philippa Denton.
Members of the Golspie and Tain RBLS branches, who helped organise the event, were joined by officers from RAF Lossiemouth CXX Squadron.
Also present were members of the East Sutherland Rescue Association, Alex Lowe of EMAC Engineering, Invergordon, who donated the plaque stand, pipers Andrew Douglas and Dr Sandy Gordon and local historians who made such a significant contribution.
Distinguished guests included Joanie Whiteford, Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Lord-Lieutenant of Sutherland, Major General Patrick Marriott and his wife, Henrietta; Group Captain Sam Wallington and Jamie Stone MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
Mrs Whiteford, laid a wreath on behalf of the King. Other wreaths were laid by Kenny McAulay, RBLS Golspie branch chairman on behalf of Tain and Golspie branches and officers for RAF Lossiemouth and CXX Squadron.
It was on January 14, 1945 that a Short 2.25 Sunderland, known as W6009 crashed and burned in the Dornoch Firth just off the north side of Meikle Ferry. On board was a Royal Australian Air Force crew of 11.
Two of the Sunderland crew were killed, six were injured and three were registered as missing.
