MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Moving Centenary Tribute to Capital's Heroes of the World War One
A commemoration of Edinburgh’s own heroes of the First World War – including a professional footballer with Hearts who was killed in action on the Somme – has taken place at Waverley Station today (Tuesday 16 December 2014). Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesNot a mention of the 1/7th Lieth Bn Royal Scots most of whom were killed through railway negligence in May 1915in a massive wreck of five trains and subsequent fire at Quintinshill near Gretna.
Dec 16th, 2014 - 11:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Of the estimated 500 troops on board only 67 answered the roll after the accident. The others were either dead, incinerated beyond recognition or badly wounded.
Perhaps it would have been fitting that those guys should have been remembered too.
@1 redpoll
Dec 16th, 2014 - 11:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Agreed.
Also it took far too for long for recognition for those that gave their lives in the mines, (providing the fuel to defeat the Facists), to be recognised. Equally for the many, many women that took the 'male' jobs to be recognised for their efforts too.
It is fitting that all those who contributed should be recognised. Including those elderly people that watched the skies, were ARP, Fire-Service Volunteers or who simply knitted some socks for the troops, or those who turned the Parks into vegetable gardens.
It was a united effort.
All 'who did their bit' should be recognised. Whether they survived or not.
Decent folk, all of them.
I hear people say Scots made up 10% of the UK population, yet made up 20% of UK war dead of that terrible war.
Dec 17th, 2014 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0@3 If you really want to make comparisons suggest you look up Beaumont Hamel. In that attack of the 790 men of the Royal Newfoundland Regt, 710 were either killed or wounded which must have been a significant proportion of the population of military age that then Dominion.
Dec 17th, 2014 - 01:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@3
Dec 17th, 2014 - 01:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I hear you loud and clear. Oft' it has been that way. In the field of battle the Scottish have more times than not, contributed more, very much more, not just in numbers of men, but in bravery and valour.
This should be recognised, and publically acclaimed.
But being as they are, the Scots would probably just tell everyone to shut up, stop being so 'soft' and not be so maudlin'.
And then slap you too hard on the back, have a wee dram, or a 'half an' half', just for 'them'..... get a bit misty eyed for a moment.... then batter the shit out of anyone for looking at them 'that way'....
* gotta love 'em*
:-)
Great Britain would be so much less without the Scottish.
They say, only the brave heroes and those that fought can praise and remember,
Dec 17th, 2014 - 07:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Only cowards and rejecters throw insults from afar..
#1 Redpoll. I'm pleased to advise that there is a permaent memorial to the troops killed at Gretna. It is in Pilrig Cemetery. My brother who served in the 'Royals' is active in the regimetal association and tells me there is a ceremony to mark the centenary of this disaster. My grandfather served with the 7/9 Royal Scots, the successor battalion to the 1/7th Battalion. Known as the 'Dandy Ninth' as they were recruited from Highlanders living in Edinburgh and wore kilts rather than the trews normally worn by Lowland Scottish Regiments. #2 Of course the eforts of all involved in defeating fascism desrevd to be remembered, Lest We Forget.
Dec 23rd, 2014 - 01:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes Steuart thanks. A great uncle was one of the survivors of that wreck but so badly burnt he was invalided out. Apart from the annual tribute at the cemetery there is a commemorative plaque on Larbert rail station where the battalion embarked on their fatal journey
Dec 23rd, 2014 - 03:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!