The Lamont Memorial at Dunoon

The Lamont Memorial at Dunoon was erected in 1909 by the Clan Lamont Society (Scotland), to commemorate the 1646 massacre of 200 Lamonts by Clan  Campbell.

Dunoon is a place of grim memory for the Lamonts. There the Campbells carried out one of the massacres which stain their clan's history. In the 17th century wars of Montrose, Sir John, 14th chief. who had been knighted by King Charles; after much shilly-shallying, joined Argyll's Covenanting army. He then threw in his lot with Montrose the Royalist general. Archibald, the chiefs brother, with Colkitto's fighting Irish, crossed Loch Long in boats provided by the Lamonts and landed at the Point of Strone. After defeating a Campbell force in the heights above the point the Royalist army mustered at Toward and then harried far and wide in the Campbell lands. The Lamonts had their share in this killing and plundering particularly in North Cowal, and they attacked the old tower of Kilmun and the bishop's house in Dunoon.. In 1646 the Campbells had their revenge, and made a concentrated attack on the Lamont castles of Toward and Ascog. When the garrisons surrendered under written guarantee of liberty, the Campbells ignored the terms of capitulation. The survivors of the defenders were carried in boats to Dunoon and in the church were sentenced to death. About 100, including women and children, were shot or stabbed to death and another 36 of "the special gentlemen" of the Lamonts were half-hanged from a tree in the churchyard and dead and dying were buried in pits. The Chief and his close kin were hustled away to Inveraray, where some were hanged The Chief and his brothers being kept prisoner for five years. Fortunately, a sister of our Chief, hid the Campbell's written surrender offer in her hair, and was so able to preserve it. It was 16 years before the ringleaders of the massacre were brought to justice, and Sir Colin Campbell was beheaded.. The preserved surrender document was part of the evidence against him.

The memorial was placed near the spot where so many met their deaths. It can be found near the southern limits of Dunoon, adjacent to route A-815. It is located on the left when headed south, raised above the road, in a small park. Because of it's high location, it is easy to miss, so look sharp. It's weight of over three tons, caused the lorry that was transporting it to Dunoon, to break down, and it finished the trip by ship. The unveiling was done by Chief John Henry Lamont, on September 29, and the principle address was given by Rev. John Lamond.