Graphite and gunpowder

It is strange to consider that Carrick's contribution to Scotland's National War Memorial might never have happened. He was never part of Sir Robert Lorimer's inner circle and despite being one of the nation's foremost monumental sculptors and war veteran he was initially not invited to contribute. He only first became involved through his former pupil Phyllis Bone who was working on the external niches and Carrick was asked to carve the figures of 'Justice' and 'Courage' for the niches above the entrance. There was then apparently some kind of problem with the work of one of the other artists and Carrick was called in at the eleventh hour to execute the panels for the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery panels for the East Chapel. The fact that these works were conceived and created in such a short time span was a remarkable achievement.

Above - Carrick drew on his wartime experience when executing the panels for the East Chapel and some of the inspiration for the Artillery Panel can be found in his wartime sketchbook. The above scene sketched in 1918 bears striking similarities to the Artillery Panel, showing a battery of 8 inch Howitzers in action. There are further sketches in the following pages.