The Kylesku Memorial – update

From Tim Honnor, Project Manager

I have pleasure in giving you a short update on progress for the establishment of
two new information boards, and new memorial bronze at Kylesku.

Finance
Thanks to the generosity of The Submarine Family and associated
organisations, added to by private donors, we have achieved the funding
necessary to complete this project. (Circa £13k) – Thank You….

Cairn and Bronze
The cairn has been repointed and tidied up by the Duke of Westminster Estates,
who are landscaping an area for the two information boards. They are also
edging and widening the paths around the cairn.

The new bronze, being cast by Black Isle Bronze, will be far more substantial
and longer lasting than the current one on the cairn. It is primarily a ‘Roll of
Honour’. We have done extensive investigations to ensure that details of those
listed are correct, and that no one has been forgotten. (some forty names in all)

Information Boards
Two information boards, to be mounted on galvanised steel frames, are nearing
completion. They are sized A1 and will be placed on flattened ground to the
right of the cairn. One board is devoted to ‘Operation SOURCE’, whilst the
other has more general content about the operations of the XII Submarine
Flotilla.

Ceremony at Kylesku on Sunday 22nd September 2024
A short ceremony is being organised by the Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland
(Major General Patrick Marriott, CB, CBE), this being the 81st anniversary of
the detonation of the charges under TIRPITZ. It will also be the dedication of
the new bronze and site improvements. A short service will be conducted by
The Venerable John Green, former Chaplain of the Fleet.

If you are intending to come up to Kylesku for this special event, please
email tim.honnor@mac.com with names and numbers, as soon as possible.
Further details of the ceremony and arrangements, will be available in due
course. Should there be enough people to merit an evening ‘meeting’ in
Inverness, on Saturday 21st, a venue will be organised.

Publicity
Once the information boards and new bronze are in place, every effort will be
made to publicise the site and bring it to the attention of those using North
Coast 500. It is thus expected that this initiative will create a place of
pilgrimage for the families and friends of past and present submarines, and the
wider public at large.

Details of the new bronze and two information boards