John Aitken (17) riveter's labourer...

[Douglas McMann]

Found this monument at North Queensferry, Fife commemorating the men who lost their lives during the construction of the Forth Bridge.

The young lad's name seemed to jump out...only 17 years of age....

John Aitken (17).... by Douglas McMann, on Flickr

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

A good photo Doug.

 

[Pete Askew]

A poignant memorial, Dougie and superbly captured. The blurring of the bridge in the background adds so much I think.

 

[Milan Vjestica]

I agree with Pete. Very good Douglas.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Have to agree with Pete, - again.

 

[Brian Moore]

Nice picture, Dougie. And poignant too, as Pete mentioned. I wondered after seeing the picture how many had died building the bridge and I found an article in The Scotsman from 2005 describing how researchers were "astonished" to discover that there were some 27 deaths that had gone unreported originally. The number 51 had been considered the official death count until the memorial was being planned. That's when they discovered evidence of the further 27, which the memorial committee speculated was a cover-up.

 

[Douglas McMann]

Interesting stuff Brian...standing beneath the bridge and getting a sense of it's massive size and height, I'm amazed there weren't more deaths, given the total lack of H&S "back in the day"....

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Now, why have I not seen that? Is it on the Fife side, Dougie? Ah, I see from your text it is. It's been a while since I went abroad to Fife! Great shot, no question.

 

[Douglas McMann]

Rob, I'm almost certain there is a twin monument on the "posh" side of 't river, as I experienced a sense of Deja Vu when taking this photo...I'm certain I have a doubler from South Queensferry taken a while back, and that the young lads name was what I focussed on then as well...will have to search...

...and I believe they're putting in place some form of Passport Control on the new bridge for you guys coming north...

 

[Pete Askew]

Passport Control or Pest Control @Douglas McMann ?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Oi!