Today, on Remembrance Day, we honour those who sacrificed so much, not just on the front lines but also here at home. For our community, the Lochaber Smelter holds a special place in that story.

During WWII, the Lochaber Smelter became essential to Britain’s war effort, producing nearly half of the country’s aluminium needed to defend our skies and protect our future.

Recognising the national strategic importance of the Lochaber Smelter to war efforts, there were German aerial attacks on us in 1940, 1941 and again in 1943.

During the attack in 1940, a 500kg bomb struck the Powerhouse, with two employees Jimmie Batchen and Johnnie Wilson who were in the Powerhouse at the time. When the bomb disposal experts had defused the bomb on the pipeline they came into the Powerhouse and asked where the bomb was that failed to explode, only to find it had already been removed. Incredibly, Jimmie Batchen and Johnnie Wilson lived to tell the story —a testament to the courage of those who kept working despite the risks.

We also remember Corporal James Henry GC, a Royal Canadian Engineer who sacrificed his life while building the hydroelectric tunnel at Loch Laggan in 1941. Henry was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his bravery, as he warned others of danger before attempting to prevent an explosion. He and Sapper John M. Stewart lost their lives in the effort—heroes who are forever part of our history.

The Lochaber Smelter’s contribution to the war effort built on an earlier legacy from WWI, as shown by the Roll of Honour for employees at Blackwater Dam in Kinlochleven. This 1917 list remembers those from every company site worldwide who served, with names in red to mark those who tragically did not return. Many men from Kinlochleven joined forces on multiple fronts, their courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

As we remember those who served, let’s also remember the communities like ours that answered the call in ways big and small. The legacy of Lochaber Smelter is part of that story—a reminder of how every effort mattered.