A War Memorial: Discovering a Full Family Tree
- David Brougham
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
The Genealogist's Dream Engraved in Stone
How often have genealogists wandered through the quiet aisles of cemeteries, scanning the weathered inscriptions of gravestones, hoping to glean even a fragment of ancestral insight? The task, though noble, often feels like piecing together a puzzle whose pieces are scattered across time. Imagine, however, stumbling upon a monument that doesn’t just bear a name and a date but unfurls an entire family tree —a treasure trove etched in stone. On a recent trip to Scotland, I came across the greatest gift to a geanenalogist.
The MacDougall pedigree proudly displayed
We called into a small marina, at Lochgilphead in search of something to eat. The Craobh Haven Marina was lovely and peaceful but unfortunately the pub was no longer trading – closed down. However, we saw a war monument with the Celtic cross, on the top of a hill. We ventured up to read it’s inscription and understand more. It records the death of a father and son who died 10 months apart during the first world war.
The son died first, Iain MacDougall, Captain and Adjutant, of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. He died at Villars Cotteret, on the 1st September 1914, aged 27. He was sent to warn the French of the German's position, which was closing in; he galloped his white horse through some woods but the Germans were on the other side.
It sadly further records the death of his father, aged 61, on the 21st July 1915 at Vermelles. He was Lieutenant Colonel Stewart MacDougall, of the 10th Gordon Highlanders. He was shot while inspecting troops.
Below the plaque marking their death is their full family tree tracing their MacDougall clan back to Somerald Thane of Argyll 1100-1160. Generations all detailed, each name and relationship carefully recorded, creating a visual map of lineage that transcended the ordinary purpose of memorialisation. It was as if the past reached forward, offering not merely remembrance but clarity—a proud beacon for descendants seeking their roots.
What made this discovery so striking was its rarity. In a world where gravestones and monuments typically mark the bare essentials—birth, death, and perhaps a short epitaph—this monument offers a genealogical roadmap. For the casual observer, it was a curiosity; for the dedicated genealogist, like me, it was a revelation.
The MacDougall War Memorial, Craobh Haven Marina, Argyll and Bute, Strathclyde.
Reflections: A Genealogist’s Wish
If only all monuments and gravestones mirrored this find. Genealogists would rejoice at such ease of access. Imagine walking through a cemetery where each stone told not just a single story but an entire family history —a lineage stretching backward through time, revealing connections, migrations, and shared heritage.
Such a practice would also honour the lives of those who came before, positioning them within the greater narrative of their family and community. It would remind us that no person exists in isolation; we are all threads in a larger tapestry.
While a monument with a full family tree may still be a rarity today, perhaps it is an idea worth considering for the future. Families could collaborate with genealogists and local historians to design memorials that capture the richness of their forebears lives. Advances in engraving technology even make it easier to include detailed charts and text that stand the test of time.
With the mass storing of family trees on computers and in shared archives, I guess our pedigrees will be easier to follow for generations of the future. AI will instantly pull out our tree. The satisfaction of achievement will be minimal. No record though will be as good as a memorial monument such as this one for the MacDougall’s, at Craobh Haven Marina, Lochgilphead in Argyll.
A sad but lovely find.
More Information
More information about the lives of the two mem remembered can be found on the Imperial War Museum: Lives of the First World War website. The site includes their pictures and further stories.
Craobh Haven Mariana, Lochgilphead, Argyll, Scotland
