NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 26 December 2009 MONUMENT FOR ANDREW MORAY A monument on par with the finest statues in Scotland should be designed and erected to commemorate Andrew Moray, one of Scotland's most important historical heroes who co-commanded the Scottish armies in the Scottish Wars of Independence with Sir William Wallace. The Royal Commission of the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland have no records of any statues or monuments attributed to Andrew Moray and the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Murdo Fraser MSP believes that his role in Scotland's history should be properly marked with a monument. Andrew Moray, also known as Andrew de Moray and Andrew Murray, led the rising in northern Scotland in the summer of 1297 against the rule of King Edward I. In the late summer of 1297, Andrew Moray merged his forces with William Wallace's forces and they jointly led the combined army to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Andrew Moray sustained fatal wounds and either died at the battle or in the later months. Murdo wants there to be a national debate on the type of monument and the location, with a possible site being at or near the original Battle of Stirling Bridge. This would mean that visitors interested in the Scottish Wars of Independence could visit the Wallace Monument, Bannockburn Heritage Centre and a site dedicated to Andrew Moray all in close proximity. Commenting, Murdo said: "Andrew Moray was an important and exceptional leader of the Scottish armies during the Scottish Wars of Independence. It was Andrew Moray who led the rising in northern Scotland against the rule of King Edward I and he co-commanded the Scottish armies with William Wallace at the victorious Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. With such feats and victories, I want to see a monument erected in his memory and for his name to be recognised in the same high regard as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. "The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a significant victory for Andrew Moray and William Wallace and a pivotal point in our history. Many historians indicate that it was Andrew Moray who decided to fight the English army at Stirling Bridge and that it was he who commanded more men than William Wallace during the battle. If Andrew Moray did not receive fatal wounds at the Battle of Stirling Bridge then he would have gone on to be a Guardian of Scotland along with William Wallace. "The deeds and victories of Andrew Moray have shaped Scotland yet it seems there are no statues or monuments to commemorate him. Without Andrew Moray's successes in northern Scotland and at Stirling Bridge then events such as the Battle of Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the English in 1314 may never have taken place as Scotland may already have been crushed. "It would be fitting to have a monument for one of Scotland's most important historical heroes and I want to see a national debate about the type of monument and its location, meaning all Scots can take part as well as raise awareness of Andrew's Moray's role in our history. A possible site could be near the original Battle of Stirling Bridge where Andrew Moray was fatally wounded, which would allow Scots and visitors to go to the monument as well as visit the Wallace Monument and the Battle of Bannockburn site." ENDS   back to top of page