Scottish delegation brings historic Wallace Sword replica to Kings

By Kirk Starratt

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The Wallace Sword has been an icon of Scottish freedom and liberation throughout the ages, and residents of Kings County had a rare opportunity to view one of two exact replicas Wednesday.

Stirling Provost - the equivalent of our mayors and wardens - Fergus Wood visited Kings County with a delegation last week and brought along an exact replica of the Wallace Sword. It was on display in Annapolis Royal on Canada Day.

Wood said Wallace is a national hero and the original sword, which saw action as part of several famous battles, is a priceless relic. Because of deterioration, it’s difficult to travel around with the original. The sword he brought is one of two replicas produced in the mid-1800’s when the William Wallace monument was built.

Perhaps most people are aware of Wallace through Mel Gibson’s 1995 movie Braveheart. Wood even did an impression of Gibson with the sword, wielding it and hollering “Freedom!” outside the council chambers.

Wood described Wallace as an ordinary man who brought the people up to regain their independence from England. King Edward the First manipulated the situation by giving the nobles land in England. Following a revolution by the people, Wallace was brutally killed and was viewed as a martyr.

Greatest battle

“It was said he who controlled Stirling held Scotland in their hand,” Wood said, pointing out that the greatest battle happened in Stirling.

In 1320, the Scottish nobles signed a document that was sent to the Pope for endorsement calling for Scotland’s independence. Wood said this document served as the basis for the American Declaration of Independence.

Wood said what impresses him most about Nova Scotia, or New Scotland, is that we fly the same flag as Scotland, with the colours reversed, and the attitude of the people in Nova Scotia is very similar to the attitude of the people in Scotland. He said he’s particularly impressed with the attitude of the children here and the fact that there is so much respect among the people, something he views as very positive.

“You’re very much a people at peace with themselves,” he said. “It’s very impressive.”

He said the purpose of the visit is to “cut the mustard” or to do business, which is easy considering all the similarities between Scotland and Nova Scotia. He said we could help direct tourism in each other’s direction and pointed out that they’re holding a homecoming for people of Scottish descent in Scotland next year. Everyone is welcome to help celebrate and there will be a special Nova Scotia week in September.

Direct route

The Scottish airline Zoom brought the replica sword to Nova Scotia and Wood points out that the airline offers a direct route between our province and Scotland.

Wood said he is a farmer who has diversified his operation and he is conscious of the problems facing our agricultural community. He said our rural communities and those in Scotland are facing the same challenges and one of his missions is to take home a list of Nova Scotia communities to match-up with Scottish communities to help facilitate co-operation.

“We speak the same language,” Wood said. “We’re here to make friendships and build relationships.”

Kings County Warden Fred Whalen said the visit to our area by the Scottish delegation is a great thing. The delegation was invited here when a delegation from Kings County visited Scotland last year. Whalen said they want to create trade and new business initiatives while promoting tourism. The delegation seemed to enjoy the scenery in particular.

“They’ve all been saying the same thing,” Whalen said. “Nova Scotians are so friendly and helpful.”



The Wallace Sword

The Wallace Sword is kept on display at the National Wallace Monument in Stirling, overlooking the site of Wallace’s most famous victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.

The traditional two-handed broadsword measures approximately 5 feet, 6 inches and the blade, although reduced by fracture and re-welding over the centuries, is still a fearsome 4 feet, 4 inches long. It weighs about 6.5 pounds. It’s reasonable to assume that in order to carry, let alone wield, the sword, Wallace must have been a man of considerable physical stature. It’s estimated that Wallace must have stood more than 6 feet, 6 inches tall.

When Wallace was captured at Robroyston, near Glasgow, on Aug. 5, 1305, he was imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle. From there, he was taken to London where he was executed on Aug. 23, 1305. Wallace’s sword remained at Dumbarton Castle in the centuries after his death, forgotten.

The sword was first mentioned in the Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland in December 1505. King James IV ordered its repair so that it would be more fitting to Scotland’s national hero and serve to preserve Wallace’s memory.

On the laying of the foundation stone of the National Wallace Monument June 24, 1861 -- Bannockburn Day -- it was arranged for the surviving swords from the War of Independence to be brought to the Abbey Craig for the ceremony. A special train was put on from Dumbarton to Stirling for the occasion, with thousands of people making the journey. The sword, however, went back to Dumbarton afterwards.

The National Wallace Monument was completed in 1869 and Dr. Charles Rogers, one of the principal fundraisers for the monument, turned his attention to securing the sword for display there. It was 1888 before the War Office finally agreed to transfer the sword from Dumbarton castle to the National Wallace Monument.