The Dollar War Memorial which sits within the grounds of Dollar Academy was designed by former pupil George Henry Paulin of Muckhart.

The statue is called Youth, and he surmounts a woodburn or freestone block on elevated ground in front of the main doors to the school. He is kneeling on his left knee with his arms outstretched and his palms upwards. He is wearing a toga and represents sacrifice.

On a late June day in 1921, the memorial was unveiled to commemorate those who had studied at the school and had fought and died for their country during World War I 1914-1919. At its unveiling, it was surrounded at the base by a rockery, but this no longer exists.

On Tuesday, June 28, in front of a large crowd which included ex-servicemen, the Governors and pupils of the Academy, and various public bodies, the memorial was unveiled by General Sir Francis John Davies, General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Scottish Command. It was dedicated by the local parish minister Rev Robert McClelland with Rev Peter Gray and Rev J M Wood Smith assisting at the ceremony.

The headmaster of the school Charles S Dougall read out the names of those who had perished and introduced General Davies to the assembled company. During his speech, Davies paid tribute to the school and its sacrifice during the conflict. He said that ‘public’ schools like Dollar had played an important part not only in the war but also in the history of the Empire.

After the monument had been unveiled, three pipers played The Flowers of the Forest and afterwards the Officers Training Corps buglers sounded the Last Post.

Prayers were said for the dead and hymns sung. Also at the service was a large choir and orchestra led by the school’s music teacher Mr C E Allsopp, then, after the final prayer was said, people slowly dispersed.

The protruding block at its base has a bronze panel above it inscribed ‘In Memory of Those Who Fell 1939 1945.’ The bronze wreath surmounting the block was added shortly after its 1921 unveiling.

In 2022 four more names were added to the memorial, one for a fallen former pupil during World War I and three from World War II.

In all, it records the 165 former pupils who died during World War I, 79 from World War II, one who died in Egypt in 1951, and two who died in the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1972.