The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown · Last edited by Adam Brown on Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:47 pm; edited 2 times in total

This is one of several memorials in Greyfriars in Edinburgh but I don't know from which church. We have a couple more on the forum identified but there are probaby others we still don't have.

Location: Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk, Edinburgh
OS Ref: NT 256 732

Greyfriars has had a few splits and unions over the years and there should be a few memorials.

Great War

Old Greyfriars (merged with New Greyfriars in 1929 to form Greyfriars)
New Greyfriars (merged with Old Greyfriars in 1929)
New North United Free Church (merged with Greyfriars in 1941)
Lady Yester's (merged with Greyfriars in 1938)
Tolbooth Church (merged with St John's in 1940 to form Tolbooth St John's)
St John's (merged with Tolbooth in 1940 to form Tolbooth St John's)
St Oran's (merged with St Columba's in 1948 to form Highland Church)
St Columba's (merged with St Oran's in 1948 to form Highland Church)

Also Robertson Mission Church of New Greyriars

Second World War

Greyfriars Church
Tolbooth St John's Church
Highland Church

Tolbooth St John's Church and the Highland Church merged in 1956 and the merged again in 1979 to form the Greyfriars Tolbooth and Highland Church

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject:

This was originally posted as the memorial to the Highland Kirk. Since that church was only formed in 1948 it must be wrong. I have changed this thread to a query in the hope that others have visited this church and have seen more memorials than I have.

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject:

We can rule out St Oran's since its Great War memorial had 18 names. That means it could be one of the following:

New Greyfriars (merged with Old Greyfriars in 1929)
New North United Free Church (merged with Greyfriars in 1941)
Tolbooth Church (merged with St John's in 1940 to form Tolbooth St John's)
St John's (merged with Tolbooth in 1940 to form Tolbooth St John's)
St Columba's (merged with St Oran's in 1948 to form Highland Church)

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

Not that it will help find the original church but I think these may be a couple of the men listed

PEEBLES, ALEXANDER
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots Fusiliers
Unit Text: "A" Coy. 2nd Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 30/10/1914
Service No: 10592
Additional information: Son of Edward and Amelia Peebles, of 35, Carnegie St., Edinburgh.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 19 and 33.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

McLAGGAN, REGINALD HENRY
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 18
Date of Death: 15/07/1916
Service No: 3/6232
Additional information: Son of Harriet Anderson (formerly McLaggan), of 26, Springwell Place, Dalry Rd., Edinburgh, and the late Serjt. Alexander McLaggan.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. F. 3.
Cemetery: DIVE COPSE BRITISH CEMETERY, SAILLY-LE-SEC

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:12 am Post subject:

This is not St John's which is / was marble and has / had 54 names so that means there are four possibles left.

New Greyfriars (merged with Old Greyfriars in 1929)
New North United Free Church (merged with Greyfriars in 1941)
Tolbooth Church (merged with St John's in 1940 to form Tolbooth St John's)
St Columba's (merged with St Oran's in 1948 to form Highland Church)

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:48 pm Post subject:

We can also rule out New Greyfriars Church war memorial because it lists units. That means it is one of these churches

New North United Free Church
Tolbooth Church
St Columba's UF Church

Regards

Adam