Free French War Memorial - Gourock

High, on Lyle Hill, above Gourock overlooking the "tail o' the bank" on the River Clyde is a Cross of Lorainne superimposed on an anchor - a memorial to the sailors of the Free French Navy who sailed from Greenock and gave their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic.

The dedications read -

"This monument is dedicated to the memory of the sailors of the Free French Naval Forces who sailed from Greenock in the years 1940-1945 and gave their lives in the Battle of The Atlantic for the liberation of France and the success of the allied cause"

"A la memoire du Capitaine de frigate Birot, des officiers et des equipages des corvettes Alysse et Mimosa disparus dans la Bataille de l'Atlantique 1942"
"A la memoire du Capitaine de frigate Blaison, des officiers et de l'equipage du sous-marin Surcouf perdu dans l'Atlantique Fevrier 1942"

"A la memoire des marins des forces navales Francaises Libres qui n'ont jamais cesse le combat et sont tombes glorieusement pour la liberation de La France dans l'honneur et par la victoire"

A dash north to celebrate my Dad's 86th Birthday and a trip, by road, "doon ra water" took us to Lyle Hill and this memorial. Of all the war memorials in the west of Scotland, this one is held in particular affection - perhaps it is a latter day manifestation of the "Auld Alliance" between Scotland and France, perhaps it is the view over the River Clyde from where many migrants left their homeland for the New World, perhaps it is simply empathy with those who gave their lives in one of the most arduous battles of WWII, on the North Atlantic.