Monument record MHG56956 - WWI American YMCA - Invergordon

Site of a former WWI American YMCA, now demolished.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. A large wooden YMCA was built in WWI in the northeast corner of the school playing field, opposite the church. It is labelled 'American WMCA' on wartime plans in private collection, but it is unclear if it was built originally for the Americans or taken over when they came to the area late in the war. According to one source, it was also known as the 'Red Triangle Club', a name used for other YMCAs elsewhere. In a wartime aerial photograph it appears to be a long single-story timber building, with a large entrance in the middle facing south. The building is not depicted in the 1930 aerial photograph, and was probably taken down shortly after the war. <1> <2>

At least three versions of a WWI Naval plan survive, two in private collection which probably date to wartime, and one in the National Archives (MPI 1/641/4) which dates to 1921. On all three the buildings taken over or built by the Navy are shaded, but there are a few discrepancies between the plans. One of the plans in private collection has enlarged details, but only shows the Admiralty buildings and not others in the town. Valuation Rolls also indicate some buildings not shaded on our plans were taken over by the military. It is clear from contemporary photographs that the army built additional buildings, particularly north of Cromlet Drive. <3>