“May I say how much we are indebted to our architect, Mr Ian Hamilton, and to our builder, M. Bouchez, for the skill and care with which they have carried out the work.
“You will notice that our little plot is purposely left as the fighting left it. It will remain a visible portion of the battlefield until Nature succeeds in obliterating the scars of war. Only in one respect are we modifying it. By planting whins and broom and heather taken from various parts of its native land we hope to make ‘this corner of a foreign field’ a place ‘that is for ever’ Scotland, and arrangements have already been made with our friends in South Africa to send here plants typical of that country to mingle with the indigenous plants of Scotland, and thus symbolise the undying link between these two countries forged in the glowing heat of battle.
“We have here to-day representatives both of the commissioned and of the other ranks of almost every regiment that fought in the Division. Each one of us will be thinking of this and that particular comrade, of this or that incident in the wonderful life we lived together. What a life-time it was! To old or young a time absolutely apart from any former experience, a time that we shall always look back to with pride in our race, a pride born not only of a four years’ weaving of heroic examples of selfless devotion to a common ideal, but of a background of good cheer and good fellowship—the outcome, in my belief, of men, for that period at least, not fearing to show themselves at their very best!
“Our thoughts naturally turn in a particular way to those we shall never meet on earth again—friends who maybe were not widely known outside their own units, or others again whose name and reputation, by reason of their rank and responsibilities, were revered throughout the Division. May I just mention three or four? Scrase-Dickins—a Brigadier, loved and respected by his Lowlanders; Frank Maxwell—whose lovely personality, brilliant courage, and winning leadership inspired every officer and man in his brigade; Eric Gordon—whose trust in his beloved Black Watch was only equalled by their confidence in him; Smyth—known as a special friend to the Infantry while still in command of his 90th Company of Engineers, and later, the fearless leader of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in one attack and counter-attack after another; and Dawson, who fought on with his handful of South Africans in March 1918 till literally overwhelmed from all sides. How many more gallant fellows could we all mention! May I recall yet one more name—one who still lives, and whose thoughts are, I know, with us here to-day—General Lukin. Had he been able to be with us in person, his should have been the honour of unveiling this cairn; for he was in command of the Division when it won its great success here five years ago and had the fortune of serving in the Division, first as Infantry Brigadier and then as Divisional Commander for nearly two years on end.
“Look once more at our inscription, and you will see that the cairn is erected to the memory not only of those who were killed, but of all who served in the Ninth Scottish Division. I have alluded already to the Highland, Lowland, and South African Brigades of Infantry. But, great and imperishable as their services were, they neither alone nor together constituted the Ninth Division. Without the help of the Artillery, the Engineers, the Machine-gun Corps, the Army Service Corps, the Field Ambulance, and the Divisional and Brigade Staffs, our splendid Infantry could not have done all they did, and the Division could not have won its high reputation. The longer the fighting went on, the more clear it became to all that unity of effort was essential to success, that the mere existence of a single will to Victory was not good enough, but that all arms must work towards that goal together, must learn to accommodate each other, and that real co-operation involved mutual trust and fellowship. I do not believe that there was any Division in the whole Army in which this spirit of fellowship and good comradeship burnt more brightly, or achieved greater results. First of the new Divisions raised for the War, First of these Divisions to come to France, almost First in the respect won from a hard-fighting enemy, First to cross over on to German soil when victory had been achieved, the Ninth Scottish Division will, I am convinced, remain for all time First in the affections of those who had the real honour of serving in it. Ours was indeed a royal fellowship, not only of death but of service. I know not how many can claim a share in that fellowship, but we cannot and should not forget that in battle casualties alone the Division lost not less than one hundred per cent. in each year of its War Service of its full strength. It may be surely said of the Ninth Division that Scotland, as well as those other parts of the Empire from which it was recruited, is ‘poorer in men but richer in heroes.’”
General Furse then addressed the representatives of France:—
“Monsieur le Maire, Monsieur le Général, Mesdames et Messieurs. La cérémonie de l’inauguration de ce monument serait incomplête si je manquais l’occasion de vous adresser quelques paroles, très courtes mais très sincères, au nom de mon Comité et de tous mes camarades de la IXième Division (Ecossaise).
“Nous éprouvons un vif sentiment de plaisir, que vous, Monsieur le Maire, ainsi que vos collégues, ayez voulu vous joindre à nous aujourd’hui, pour honorer nos morts et tous ceux qui ont servi leur pays dans notre glorieuse Division. Nous nous réjouissons particulièrement de la présence de nos camarades d’Armes Français—le Général Huguenot et ses vaillants soldats. En plus, je tiens à vous dire combien l’Angleterre apprécie l’esprit généreux et hospitalier de la France, en permettant la construction de ces nombreux monuments de guerre, qui nous attachent par leur souvenir de plus en plus à son sol.
“Nous avons la certitude que nous mettons notre monument sacré entre des mains qui le soigneront fidèlement et tendrement, et nous éspérons qu’il servira à renforcer les sentiments d’affection et d’estime qui ont toujours existé entre la France et l’Ecosse, et que les citoyens d’Arras, en regardant l’inscription gravée sur ces pierres, n’oublieront jamais que les hommes de la IXième Division étaient fiers et heureux de donner tout ce qu’ils avaient de meilleur en eux pour aider à chasser l’ennemi de leur ville.”
General Furse was followed by M. Leroy, Mayor of Arras; M. Dupage, Mayor of St Laurent-Blangy; and M. Delatouche, Councillor of the Prefecture, who replied in turn.