The parish of Fordoun lies in the southern part of Aberdeenshire, formerly Kincardineshire, in the vast rural area known as The Mearns. The largest settlement in the parish is the village of Auchenblae and the war memorial is situated on Gilbert's Hill on the south side of the village.
The memorial was constructed of Rubislaw granite and is a rectangular column topped with a small pediment and a ball finial. The column has a relief of an inverted sword over the handle of which is a wreath. Two sprays of foliage cross behind the sword. A rectangular base sits underneath on a four-stepped plinth. On the four sides of the base are an inscription and the 43 names, rank and units of the men lost in WWI.
The memorial was unveiled on September 11th 1920, and the inscription reads as follows:
'RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF FORDOUN IN HONOUR OF THEIR GLORIOUS DEAD 1914-1918
"TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE"'
Pte. Joseph Anderson - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. Charles Coull - H.L.I.
Pte. Charles Croll - Seaforth Hrs.
Pte. James Davidson - R.S.F.
Pte. Leslie E. Farquarson - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. John Hadden - Canadian E.F.
Pte. William Harper - A.&S.H.
Pte. Duncan Harper - M.G.C.
Pte. James Harper - M.G.C.
Pte. James A. Hendry - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. Alexander Hendry - New Zealand E.F.
Pte. James Leonard - Scottish Horse
Driver John Masson - A.S.C.
Driver James Masson - A.S.C.
Pte. William Milne - Seaforth Hrs.
Pte. John F. Murray - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. Frank Murray - R.S.F.
Pte. William McDonald - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. John A. McLaren - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. George A. Ross - Royal Scots
Pte. Nicol Reid - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. John Robertson - Canadian E.F.
Pte. Douglas C. Smith - Scots Guards
Pte. James Singer - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. Charles Stewart - Australian E.F.
Pte. James W. Smith - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. Charles B. Smith - Black Watch
Pte. James Thomson - Gordon Hrs.
Pte. William Walker - Gordon Hrs.
Capt. John Brown - Gordon Hrs.
Capt. Henry S. Gammell M.C. - Gordon Hrs.
Lieut. A. Gordon Henderson - Gurkhas
Sec. Lieut. Alexander J.F. Duncan - Gordon Hrs.
Sec. Lieut. Douglas A. Simpson - Gordon Hrs.
Sgt. Robert D. Chrystal - N'ld Hussars
Sgt. George Blackhall - Gordon Hrs.
Sgt. James Gerrard - Gordon Hrs.
Sgt. David M. Smith - Black Watch
Chief P.O. Edwin MacDonald - H.M.S. Invincible
Cpl. George Chalmers - Black Watch
Cpl. John Davidson - Gordon Hrs.
Cpl. Arthur B. Hendry - New Zealand E.F.
L/Cpl. Robert Walker - Gordon Hrs.
A further 14 names were added on the sides of the column from WWII.
The memorial can only be accessed by a signposted steep path that slants up the wooded hillside on the northern side. The memorial lies on the summit amidst a small grassy area with seating.