The Banff Preservation and Heritage Society was inspired to put together the historical account after a doors-open day in the area last year when the memorial was one of the popular locations.

Members have gathered the background information and photographs for the panel, which has now been placed beside the towering 70ft high octagonal structure, which was built after World War I.

Aberdeenshire Council's planning service designed and erected the panel.

The local authority's Environment Planner (Built and Cultural Heritage), Richard Leith, said: "The new panel was done to give the historical background on the Macduff Memorial. It was something promoted by the Banff Preservation and Heritage Society.

"They provided all the background information and photographs for the panel. We agreed as a planning service that we would use our graphics people to put the panel together and so we have actually shouldered the cost of basically doing the graphics and putting the panel into position.

"There was nothing to explain the history of the memorial. James McPherson (vice-chairman of the Preservation and Heritage Society) held a key for access for people who were wanting to go up the memorial. I think Mr McPherson was getting more requests for information and it came as a consequence of that.

"The preservation society have been involved with the historic kirkyards' project. We are putting up interpretive panels at the sites. I think they thought that would be a good thing to do at the War Memorial as well."

Mr McPherson said that he, along with society chairman Charles Burnett and committee member Harry Mantell, were mainly involved in the design and narrative of the panel.

The idea for it arose from the doors-open day showcasing architectural features from Macduff to Sandend last year, which was organised by the preservation society. He said: "One of those locations that attracts the largest numbers of visitors has been the War Memorial, particularly on a fine day when we get a gorgeous view of the Moray Firth.

Banff Preservation Society vice-chairman James McPherson examines the new interpretive panel at the Macduff War Memorial.

"The thing that's an interesting feature is the fact that it was built by two elderly retired master masons as their tribute to those who lost their lives in the First World War."

The eight-sided tower has one door and the other seven panels are made of Kemnay granite.

Pictured on the new board is HRH Princess Arthur of Connaught at the laying of the foundation stone on April 22, 1920. She was a daughter of the 1st Duke of Fife, and grand-daughter of King Edward VII.

A modern day photograph of the memorial is also on the board, supplied for the panel by Alistair Paterson of the Banff Camera Club.

Work on the structure, which was carried out under the supervision of John Fowlie, architect, was undertaken by Alexander Brown, and Magnus Johnstone, local master masons of long experience. They not only did the actual building, but also cut and dressed many of the stones.

The building was unveiled on November 29, 1922, by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the then Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire.

Inscribed on the memorial are the names of 150 Macduff men who fell in the First World War and 51 who gave their lives in World War II.

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