Relief on the Black Watch War Memorial, Edinburgh. William Birnie Rhind, RSA, 1873-1933. Bronze. Unveiled 1910. Photograph and text by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2009/10. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL.]
The relief on this monument is more dynamic than the statue above it, though both strongly emphasize the Highlanders' resolve. Whereas the figure on the pedestal looks staunch, confident and unshakable, these kilted soldiers are rushing into position at the ridge, in the heat of battle. They are being urged on by (perhaps) Major General Andrew Gilbert Wauchope, whose name stands at the head of the list of fallen soldiers. Wauchope was tall, thin and sharp-featured (see Carlyle and Stearn), like the officer shown here; he was killed at Magersfontein in command of his brigade in 1899. One of the men in the foreground (fourth from the right) already seems to have been shot, but despite the backward glace of the man ahead of him, the rest move on undeterred towards the ridge.
Other views and related material
Reference
Carlyle, E. I. , rev. Roger T. Stearn. "Wauchope, Andrew Gilbert (1846-1899)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Viewed 2 January 2010.
Last modified 5 January 2010