The Woolly Warriors! Woman’s hand-knitted tribute to the men and women who served in both World Wars

Led by a saluting Scottish soldier in kilt and Glengarry, the mysterious little army marches across the hillside in their uniforms.

But the riddle of their origin has now been solved – they were knitted by their creator as a tribute to family members who served in the First and Second World Wars.

Frances Oates made the woollen dolls, which appeared on a hillside in Beith, Ayrshire, in their honour to mark Remembrance Day.

She decided to knit them last year as a challenge and to take her mind off her breast cancer treatment.

Leader: Scots soldier in kilt and Glengarry salutes

Intricate detail: Each doll features delicate touches such as the sailor’s kit bag, the pilot’s scarf and soldier’s rifle

She said: ‘I needed something to keep my mind and fingers active. I’m doing really well and can’t complain but I needed to keep busy.’

There is a sailor, complete with a tiny Royal Navy badge on his hat, a nurse dressed in the instantly ­recognisable white apron with a red cross and the

saluting Highland soldier.

Mrs Oates used 1940s Women’s ­Institute patterns to create the dolls and then painstakingly designed and made the individual uniforms.

Sudden arrival: The figures have turned up on a small hill in Beith

The figures are full of detail including rifles with ­bayonets, gas mask boxes, Women’s Land Army armbands and pilots’ life jackets.

Helen McNaughton, chair of the Beith and District Community Council, said: ‘Frances works tirelessly for the town and brings much happiness to the community, we can’t thank her enough.’

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