The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: Royal High School WW1, Edinburgh

I have no photos, have not visited and do not know if this info is correct but I thought it important to record it for future investigation before it is lost. The following is the text of a Wikipedia entry that has now been removed (for reasons unknown).

"First World War

Schoolfellows who gave their lives for their country are commemorated by the memorial porch and brass tablets in the school hall. The upper architrave of the marble Doric portico is inscribed with a phrase from Simonides: ΟΥΔΕ ΤΕΘΝΑΣΙ ΘΑΝΟΝΤΕΣ. They died but are not dead.

A memorial field was laid out at Jock's Lodge in 1919, where a grand pavilion was presented to the school by the Education Authority and opened by HRH Prince Henry in 1925. The perimeter was planted with commemorative trees and a stand was erected by public subscription. The memorial gates, opened in 1950, bear copper shields emblematic of the fighting services. Their vine motif is the Christian symbol of life. Set above is the word Meminerimus (Let us remember), taken from the school song.

The Roll of Honour 1914-1918 contains 1024 names. The number of those who fell is 180. Former pupils received many decorations and awards, among them:

Two VCs
Two CBs
One KCSI
One KCMG
One CMG
Two CIEs
One KCVO
One CBE
16 DSOs
Six OBEs
Three OBEs (Military Division)
Two DSCs
47 MCs
One AFC
One KGStJ
One AStJ
Seven DCMs
Five CGMs
20 MMs
One DFM
Three MSMs
One LSM
Eleven TDs
91 mentions in despatches
One mention in 'B' list of despatches
One Certificate of Commendation from Admiralty
One Silver Medal from Lloyd's
One Order of Leopold (Belgium)
Four Croixes de Guerre (Belgium)
One Order of St. Vladimir with Crossed Swords (Russia)
One Order of St. George, 4th Class (Russia)
One Croix de Chevalier of the Order of the Redeemer (France)
One Croix de Guerre with Star (France)
Two Croixes de Guerre with Palm (France)
Two Croixes de Guerre (France)
One Médaille de la Victoire (France)
One Médaille Commémorative (France)
One Médaille de la Reconnaisance, 3rd Class (France)
One Medal of Military Merit (Greece)
One Order of the Crown of Italy
One King of Italy's Medal
One Order of the White Eagle (Serbia)
Two Order of St. Sava (Serbia)
Two Order of St. Sava, 5th Class (Serbia)
One Knight Comander of the North Star of Sweden

The VC recipients were Philip Bent and Harcus Strachan."

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Paul

The Jock's Lodge playing fields are now a Morrisons Supermarket car park. I can only assume (hope) the gates moved with the School when it moved to the West of the City many years ago.

Adam

lost in tilloy · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 111

Here are the Royal High School photos. My thanks to the Acting Rector, David Simpson, the Business Manager Bev and the RHS FP President Martin, for arranging access and helping to identify the locations of the memorials.

I will post photos of the WW1 memorials first, then the gates that used to be at Jock's Lodge, but are now outside the RHS FP clubhouse. I will post the WW2 items in the other thread.

Regards LIT

WW1 marble gate and plaques located in the assembly hall:

lost in tilloy · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 111

The memorial gates:

spoons · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject:

Superb photos of obviously well cared for memorials. A credit to all.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject:

The 'Scotsman' of 24th December 1917 confirms this Irish officer as the John J. Shannon listed on this memorial. He also attended Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh University.

SHANNON, JOHN JAMES Initials: J J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Secondary Regiment: Lincolnshire Yeomanry
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 1st/1st
Age: 39
Date of Death: 29/11/1917
Additional information: Son of Maria Shannon, of Cloona House, Ballina, Co. Mayo, and the late George Shannon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: F. 22.
Cemetery: RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY

Mike Morley · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:33 pm Post subject:

Name: SCOTT, WY
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Service Number: 447857
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry, 50th Bn
Date of Death: 18/11/1916
Memorial: Vimy Memorial

Also named on Peebles War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 3:49 pm Post subject:

WILLIAM H. CALVERT.

Not listed by CWGC/SNWM.

Named on the Melrose War Memorial in Roxburghshire as:

CAPTAIN W.H. CALVERT.

William Hall Calvert – age 56 – Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps.
William was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh before he became a Student of Medicine at Edinburgh University from 1878 to 1882. He gained his post-graduate MD in 1889. William was in general practice in Melrose for over 25 years until he retired in 1911 and during that time (in March 1900) he became Surgeon-Lieutenant to the 1st Roxburgh and Selkirk -The Border Rifle Volunteer Corps. At the outbreak of war he returned from an extended vacation and was granted a commission in the RAMC. He was attached as a Lieutenant to the 2/6th Seaforth Highlanders at Fort George, near Inverness, in April 1915. He was promoted to Captain but became ill and was obliged to give up his commission. William died in a nursing home in Marylebone, London..
Born 1861 in North Berwick, East Lothian. Son of the late Rev. William Calvert (died 1888) and of the late Mary (McDougall) Calvert (died 1906) of the Manse, North Berwick and of Elmbank Melrose. Husband of Jean (King) Calvert of the Laurels, Melrose who he married in 1892 in Melrose.
Died on 16 June 1917 and buried in Melrose Cemetery.
Also named on the Edinburgh University Old College memorial and on the University's Roll of the Fallen.
_________________
Ken

Mike Morley · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 6:16 pm Post subject:

Name: GARDINER, ERIC WILLIAM
Initials: EW
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Wireless Operator
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine, SS Benledi (Leith)
Date of Death: 8/11/1917
Age: 18
Additional Information: Son of David and Georgina Gardiner (nee Henderson), of 41, Spottiswoode St., Edinburgh.
Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial.

Eric Gardiner's career is summarised in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour including an account of his extraordinary bravery on the day he died, staying in post while under heavy fire.

Also named on Allan Glen's School Roll of Honour.

Mike Morley · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:13 pm Post subject:

Name: KYLE, ROBERT BRUCE
Initials: RB
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Service Number: 1781
Regiment/Service: London Regiment (London Scottish), 1st/14th Bn
Date of Death: 1/11/1914
Age: 21
Additional Information: Son of Agnes Kyle, of 100, Station Rd., Barnes, London, and the late John Kyle, of Colombo, Ceylon.
Panel Reference: Panel 54
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Also named on Kelvinside Academy War Memorial.

Mike Morley · Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:46 pm Post subject:

Name: MARSHALL, ALLAN GOW
Initials: AG
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 17th Bn.
Date of Death: 12/02/1917
Age: 36
Additional Information: Son of James and Mary Gow Marshall; husband of Janie Anderson Wood Marshall, of 34, Ancaster Drive, Anniesland, Glasgow. Born at Glasgow.
Grave Reference: A. 23.
Cemetery: Ten Tree Alley Cemetery, Puisieux.

Also named on Hillhead High School and Woodlands Parish Church War Memorials.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2021 1:52 pm Post subject:

JOHN S.G. REID.

Named on the Foulden Parish War Memorial in Berwickshire as:

Lieut. J.S.G. REID, D.S.C. R.N.R. 4-6-19.
John Stewart Gilchrist Reid, Distinguished Service Cross – age 33 – Lieutenant, H.M. Submarine L.55. Royal Naval Reserve.
John was educated at Berwick Grammar School and at the Royal High School in Edinburgh and he became a midshipman in the Naval Reserve in September 1906. He obtained his Second Mate Certificate in the Merchant Navy in 1907 and his Masters in 1913 and between these two dates he served in the South Pacific. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant in the Reserve in August 1913 and at the outbreak of war he served as boarding officer on the cruiser HMS Roxburgh. He was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1915. At some point he transferred to the submarine service and was awarded the DSC for his actions during 1918.
“L.55” was sunk in the Baltic in June 1919 by Bolshevik forces while serving as part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. She was salvaged by the Soviets in 1928 and the remains of the crew were returned to the British.
Born 1887 in Foulden. Son of the Rev. John Reid and of Martha Craig (Gilchrist) Reid of Foulden Manse. Husband of Irene Helen (White) Reid of Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne and of 50 Morpeth Mansions, London who he married in 1916 in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Killed in Action/Lost at Sea on 4 June 1919 and buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire.
Also named on Berwick Grammar School memorial.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:27 pm Post subject:

Named on the Coldstream Burgh and Parish War Memorial in Berwickshire as:

CARMICHAEL, G.G. Lieut. K.O.S.B.
George Gordon Carmichael – age 22 – Lieutenant, 1/5th (Dumfries and Galloway) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
George was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh. He enlisted in November 1915 and served as Corporal (C/12672) in the 21st Battalion (Yeoman Rifles) King's Royal Rifle Corps when they went to France in May 1916. He was selected for officer training and was commissioned in the KOSB in September 1916. He joined his battalion in Egypt and served in Palestine where he was promoted in March 1918 just before the battalion moved to France. George was buried at Ouichy but was re-interred after the war.
Born 1895 in Spittal, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland. Son of Provost Robert Carmichael and Euphemia Bell (Dickman) Carmichael of Rosybank, Coldstream.
Killed in Action on 1 August 1918 and buried in Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire, France.

Also named on the Coldstream memorial are his brother

CARMICHAEL, ARCH. 2nd Lt. R.F.A.
Archibald Carmichael – age 26 – Second Lieutenant, “D” Battery, 108th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died of Wounds on 22 May 1918.

and his cousin

CARMICHAEL, ALEX. Pte. CAMn.H.
Alexander Carmichael – age 24 – Private (S/22180) 6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders. Missing in Action on 24 August 1916.

Alex is named on the British Linen Bank memorial in Edinburgh.
_________________
Ken