Brothers in Arms

Below - An old postcard of Oban war memorial as it appeared in the 1920's with the glacial boulder providing a perfect foil for the monument.

The composition of the group itself is arguably Carrick’s finest, wonderfully tight and superbly well conceived. The wounded soldier has his arms draped over his comrades' shoulders while his knees are bent as he is lifted creating a posture reminiscent of a crucifixion ( see Home Page) creating a contemporary image with powerful religious connotations of sacrifice, salvation and deliverance . His comrades have their arms linked under his knees, to carry him, forming a ‘V’ shape which, when extended up through their shoulders and heads forms a circle.

Carrick's composition is devoid of superfluous detail, the simple lines and solid composition are reminiscent of one of a Lewis Chesspiece.

One of the soldiers wears a goatskin jerkin, an item used on several of Carrick's war memorials. (see Killin) This is not only historically accurate as an item of clothing worn by many men in the trenches but it also lended itself to Carrick's concept as it simplified the lines of the figure,eliminating the need to carve the soldier's kit, while the roughly carved texture of the fur lended itself to the elemental appeal he sought through its similarity to the texture of rock.