The Kingswells War Memorial, standing solemnly in the churchyard of Kingswells Church of Scotland (Kingswells Parish Church), is a poignant reminder of the local lives lost in the two World Wars. Unveiled on 1 May 1920, the memorial was constructed from Kemnay granite and takes the form of a classical pillar on a stepped base. A broken column and laurel wreath adorn the top—traditional symbols of lives cut short and honour in sacrifice.
The memorial is carefully inscribed on three faces. The north face lists the officers who fell during the First World War, while the east and west faces are dedicated to the ‘men’—those of other ranks who also gave their lives. The Second World War names were later added beneath those of the First, preserving continuity of memory across generations.
Among the most distinguished individuals commemorated are Captain James Anson Otho Brooke VC and his brother Captain Henry Brian Brooke. James Brooke was awarded the Victoria Cross for extraordinary bravery during the First Battle of Ypres in October 1914, where he was killed in action at just 30 years old. His younger brother Henry served in the same regiment, the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, and died of wounds sustained on the Somme in 1916, aged 27. Both brothers are listed together on the north face, their names forever linked in memory and sacrifice.
Today, the Kingswells War Memorial remains a site of reflection, community remembrance, and quiet reverence. It stands not only as a historical marker but as a living testament to the courage and cost borne by families during times of war.