The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

Two bronze plaques on the external walls of the William Younger & Co. Limited offices near Holyrood Palace. I don't know if this building is still there since the building of the parliament building.

WWI PANEL:

WWII PANEL:

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: William Younger & Co. Limited

Keptie

A very good friend of mine Capt Ronnie Leask MBE has informed me that he spotted the YOUNGER'S BREWERY war memorials for both GREAT WAR & WW 2 now located on the WEST OUTSIDE WALL of the nearby CANONGATE KIRK . The Wm Younger's building was demolished so he says to make way for the new Scottish parliament building .

He is very pleased he has located these two War Memorials of Wm Younger Co Ltd

.

patrick w anderson

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

Excellent news Pat. Coomon sense prevailed and they were retained within the Canongate area.

Kind regards

Adam

Keptie

Just received this weekend in the post photographs from Capt Ronnie Leask from Edinburgh with 3 plaques from War Memorials and an addition to show everyone why the 3 war memorial plaques are on a kirk wall as in future years people may not know the background info .

Plaque 1 : William Younger & Coy Ltd : Great War casualties listed 1914 -1918

Plaque 2: William Younger & Co Ltd : World War 1939 -1945 & casualties listed

Plaque 3 : Men from this Brewery (plaque does not name Brewery firm as being .. McEwans ) who fell in the Great War : 1914 -1919 . Casualties listed

New Plaque now alongside these other War Memorials from the Brewery firms later merged latterly to Scottish & Newcastle Breweries but since its site was demolished these memorials have been resited on the WALLS OF CANONGATE KIRK , Edinburgh .

Plaque reads " These war memorials were transferred from the Scottish & Newcastle Breweries at ABBEY AND FOUNTAINBRIDGE and mark the historic connection between the Parish of CANONGATE and the Brewery Industry .

(seems the plaques are high up on the wall of the kirk so awkward to photograph . The plaques could have been refurbished from the time they were in their original locations .

My thanks to Capt Ronnie Leask for his continued kindness in finding war memorials and historical matters !

patrick w anderson

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Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject:

Here are up to date photographs of these plaques in their new location:

Location first. The West wall of the church

Canongate Kirk

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:49 pm Post subject:

The information plaque

The Great war plaque

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:50 pm Post subject:

The Second World War plaque

Adam

Keptie · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject: Wm Younger

Thanks Adam for posting the sets of Memorials now on the Kirk wall that my good friend Capt Ronnie Leask MBE spotted recently and I updated the index through his info .

I knew someone out there would update the website with the updated pics and of course it was you so Thanks .

pat w anderson

spoons · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:23 pm Post subject:

Glad to report that when I visited these memorials yesterday I noted that the area is now covered by CCTV and a prominent notice to that effect. That should be enough to keep the metal thieves away.

\Paul

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

It seems a shame that they are not within the building. Their excellant condition can only deteriorate.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Jim · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 195

That might have been a step too far for a Kirk long opposed to the demon drink.

spoons · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject:

On the plus side, many visitors to the famous graves in the churchyard (including Adam Smith) pass these memorials and some will stop to look. Many more than would see them if they were in the church I suspect. Many bronze plaques are still in reasonable condition outside since 1921/22 so hopefully these will last as long.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:07 am Post subject:

The last name on the Second World War memorial:

YOUNGER, HENRY JOHNSTON
Rank: Major
Service No: 12994
Date of Death: 12/06/1940
Regiment/Service: Royal Armoured Corps, 1st Lothians and Border Horse
Grave Reference: D, 17.
Cemetery: ST. VALERY-EN-CAUX FRANCO-BRITISH CEMETERY

Major Younger was a member of the Younger brewing family. He was killed near St Valery when men of the Gordon Highlanders mistook a party of Lothian and Border Yeomanry officers for Germans and opened fire on them.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 1:06 pm Post subject:

From the Winchester College site
https://www.winchestercollegeatwar.com/archive/younger-henry-johnston/

Harry Younger was the elder son of Lieutenant-Colonel William Johnston Younger (C1881, of Harmeny, Balerno, Midlothian) and Katharine Younger (daughter of H.C. Richardson, ICS). His brother Lawrence Richardson Younger (1915-1920, Ayrshire Yeomanry) was killed in action in 1943 (see individual entry).
He came to Winchester from Horris Hill in September 1912, and left for RMC Sandhurst from Sixth Book in 1916, joining the Highland Light Infantry in 1917, and going to France to 15th Battalion in April 1918.
He left as a Lieutenant in 1919, and after taking his degree at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1921, he settled down in the family business in Edinburgh and became Director of Wm. Younger & Co., Wm. McEwan & Co., and Scottish Brewers Ltd.
On June 11th 1925 he married Anna Marshall, daughter of Henry Brown Marshall JP, DL, of Rachan, Peebles.

His brother Laurence Richardson Younger – age 42 – Lieutenant Colonel (26346) Commanding 152 (The Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery was killed in action on 26 April 1943 and is named on the Morton Parish War Memorial in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
_________________
Ken