A REMEMBRANCE Sunday service in Fife will see the unveiling of a full-size bronze replica of the sword used by Robert the Bruce.
The new sculpture, known as the Sword of Sacrifice, will go on display during the annual Armistice day service at the War Memorial in Limekilns tomorrow.
The artwork is a copy of the Robert the Bruce sword which is in the care of the Earl of Elgin at Broomhall in Limekilns.
Lord Elgin, who unveiled the names of the 1939-1945 casualties when the War Memorial was completed in November 1950, is to attend the service of dedication. The unveiling will be carried out by relatives of two of the fallen. Also present will be a number of local residents who were at the 1950 ceremony or related to those who were present.
The sculpture was commissioned following research by local residents which revealed that the original 1921 sandstone column of the war dead memorial had included a carving of the Bruce Sword.
However, when that column was blown down and smashed during the Great Gale of January 1968, the carving was destroyed.
When it was replaced with a new 17ft one 47 years ago, the Bruce Sword carving was not reproduced - although it is unclear why not.
Thanks to a grant from the War Memorials Trust, the sculptor and stonemason Derek Cunningham, from Pencaitland, East Lothian, was commissioned to create a replacement Sword of Sacrifice to help pay tribute to the 33 men named on the war memorial as those who lost their lives.
Mr Cunningham began work on the sculpture in May this year, guided by original architectural drawings supplied by the Earl of Elgin.
On completion of the clay model the sword was transferred to Powderhall Bronze, whose foundry is in Granton Road, Edinburgh, where it was cast during October.
The replacement Sword of Sacrifice will be put in place on the War Memorial around noon today.
It will then be swathed by a large Union flag to await the annual Remembrance ceremony the following day, when it will be unveiled at the beginning of the service.
The team who have been carrying out the research also have plans to construct an interpretation site close to the War Memorial, to create a website, and possibly produce a book.
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