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Throughout August we have been celebrating all things Clan Grant. We have met some famous faces, visited many sites, and gained great insight into the history of this ancient clan. Finally, we called upon the valued Clan members to share their stories and we had a wonderful response; read the blog to find out more!
Read the Grant Stories
Alistair Allan
We loved hearing from Alistair who lives in Australia and kindly shared information about his Grant connection through this father. Read on to find out how his father left his mark!
"I have attached a photo of me in the UK a few years ago as well as one of the Grant crest and Urquhart Castle that we have visited several times. My wife is the daughter of a UK war bride. Her father was an RAAF pilot who flew Stirling bombers in the RAF Bomber Command during WWII. We both have UK ancestry.
It is my father who was a Scot. He came to Australia in the 1920s to assist with the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He was a stonemason recruited in Aberdeen, the ”Granite City”.
I have established my connection to the “Grant” Clan. Allan is a Sept of Grant.
My father, Andrew Morrison Allan, who was born on 5 July 1904 in Aberdeen, Scotland and came to Australia in the 1920s to work on the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This was because there were not enough hard-stone stonemasons available in Australia to do this work.
The Harbour Bridge construction started in 1924. It was opened in 1932.
Also attached is a photograph of some stonemasons working on one of the bridge’s pylons. One of the stonemasons in the photograph appears to have been my father perhaps the man standing on the left.
One of my father’s brothers was killed in Europe during World War I whilst serving in the Gordon Highlander Regiment. I have seen his name in the memorial books on display in the Gordon Highlander’s Regimental Headquarters in Edinburgh Castle and also in Stirling Castle. Another brother was killed in an industrial explosion in a glass factory in Scotland.
When the stonework on the pylons was completed for the bridge in 1931, most of the stonemasons came to Melbourne to work on the construction of the Shrine of Remembrance in St Kilda Road. My father met my mother about this time. By 1934, my father had finished working on the Shrine and was working in a stonemason’s yard in Kyneton, Victoria, where I was born.
During the 1950s, my father did a lot of work in Alice Springs and Darwin. In particular, he installed “The Mantle of Safety” Memorial inside the John Flynn Memorial Church. John Flynn founded the Flying Doctors organisation.
He was also asked to build John Flynn’s grave at the foot of Mt Gillen in the McDonald Ranges West of Alice Springs.”
Thank you so much, Alistair!
Doug Grant
We love these photos Doug has sent us for our Clan Grant celebrations!
"My name’s Douglas Alexander Grant or Doug for short! I’m fiercely proud of my Grant ancestry and my family hail from Banff and Macduff and further back from Invermoriston and Glenurquart.
My grandfather James Bruce was a piper and I remember as a small child, dancing around as he played his practice chanter and gave me sips of whisky (much to my mother’s horror!).
My third cousin is Piper Major James Robertson of the Gordons, famous for writing the tune ‘Farewell to the Creeks’ and most of my ancestors served in the Gordons and Cameron Highlanders.
I continue to honour my ancestry by playing the pipes and have ensured my children are well aware of their special heritage, Callum David James, Ewan Peter Bruce and my daughter Briagha Bann Mhairi.
Stand Fast Craigellachie!!"
Fred Grant - President Elect Clan Grant Society USA
We were delighted to hear from the new President of Clan Grant Society USA, Fred Grant, who shared photos from their recent Clan Grant International Gathering 2025 at the Abernathy Games and around Grantown-On-Spey.
Fred also shared a wee video he put together of some highlights from the Gathering on the Clan Grant Society USA Facebook page.
We also interviewed Fred and you can find out more about him and Clan Grant Society USA here.
Thank you, Fred, and we wish you all the best in your new appointment!
Unfortunately August has come to an end, that certainly doesn't mean our love for Clan Grant is over, so be sure to get in touch with us if you fancy chatting all things Grant!
Image Source:
The Shrine of Remembrance, located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia was built as a memorial to the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I and is now a memorial to all Australians who have served in war. It is a site of annual observances of ANZAC Day (25 April) and Remembrance Day (11 November) and is one of the largest war memorials in Australia by Jorge Láscar from Australia - Shrine of Rememberance, CC BY 2.0
