The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Roxy · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:56 pm Post subject: Scottish National War Memorial

I had intended to post this in the thread relating to those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, bu came to the conclusion that a separate thread was probably more appropriate.

The Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle lists the names of those that have died in the service of Scotland. In their own words:

"A member of the Armed Forces of the Crown or of the Merchant Navy who was either a Scotsman (i.e. born in Scotland or who had a Scottish born father or Mother) or served in a Scottish Regiment and was killed or died (except as a result of suicide) as a result of a wound, injury or disease sustained (a) in a theatre of operations for which a medal has been or is awarded; or (b) whilst on duty in aid of the Civil Power."

Based on the current nature of conflict, I asked that the Trustees discuss an amendment to the Rules of Eligibility to allow for individuals living in Scotland to be commemorated. Currently a non-Scottish member of 4 SCOTS (The Highlanders) based in Fallingbostel and who may never have been to Scotland would be commemorated on SNWM whereas, despite many of them having lived in Moray for nearly 20 years, FS Steve Beattie is the only member of the crew of Nimrod XV230 to be commemorated. Neither is SAC Christopher Bridge, 51 Sqn RAF Regiment, RAF Lossiemouth commemorated. I think that that is unfair and I looked to redress the balance. I have received, today, a letter from the Trustees indicating that they thought that the purpose of the Memorial was to commemorate Scots killed in the service of the Crown and they would not be making any changes to the Rules of Eligibility.

Nevertheless, I am still investigating methods of commemorating RAF personnel killed in Afghanistan on local War Memorials. I'll keep you informed of any progress.

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

spoons · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting that. I think it a shame that those with strong ties to Scotland are not to be commemorated although I understan the problem of having to draw the line somewhere.

Speaking as an Englishman living in Scotland........in my career I served alongside KOSB, Scots Guards and Gordon Highlanders (although with a corps cap badge). My chosen home is Scotland and I have been married to a Scot since 1972 so you will understand that I feel more Scots than English. Nonetheless, I could never have qualified.

\Paul

Drew Milton · Joined: 29 Nov 2012 Posts: 8 Location: Wigan

I appreciate the SNWM ruling on Scottish Regiments does not strictly apply to The Royal Air Force but the Trustees could perhaps be persuaded that those serving in a Squadron based in Scotland could be considered to be acceptable for this purpose.

Keptie · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject: SNWM

Hi Drew ,

I tried to get my namesake uncle added to the CWGC index but they would not budge as they said my uncle died of his wounds after their cut off date for WW1 casualties of 31 Aug 1921 and he died of his serious wounds on 2 Nov 1921 . His wounding was on 27 June 1918 and he lingered on til his death from wounds and yes , he was a
British army Soldier and then a Airman in the RFC &RAF but no CWGC headstone for him even though he was sent home in Nov 1919 to die from military hospitals in England . He even had to dress his wounds right til he died in the Arbroath infirmary ...

I paid for a headstone to place at his unmarked grave in Arbroaths western cemetery D compartment ..

pat a

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:29 pm Post subject:

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/latest-news/photo-archive-aims-to-bring-great-war-to-life-1-2882706

Lieutenant Colonel Roger Binks, secretary of the Scottish National War Memorial Trustees. Picture: Greg Macvean

Published on Monday 8 April 2013 12:00

A DIGITAL photographic archive and a new book will be created by trustees of the Scottish National War Memorial to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Great War.

Officials in charge of the memorial at Crown Square at the top of Edinburgh Castle have launched unprecedented efforts to update and refurbish the Rolls of Honour containing the names of more than 200,000 Scottish casualties who died in military conflicts.

The £50,000 initiative will be timed to finish by August next year, marking a century since the outbreak of World War One.

Nearly 150,000 Scottish casualties were recorded in one of the bloodiest campaigns in human history.

A new website allowing members of the public to access the video archive will also be completed to replace the existing outdated resource.

Memorial trustees have written to every council in Scotland asking for financial contributions to complete the project.

Trustees chairman Major General Mark Strudwick said: “The trustees are conscious that the memorial website is nearly two decades old, that modern communications is putting its identity and relevance at risk and that the photographic archive is woefully inadequate.

“We have therefore decided to embark on a corporate communications project to update our archives and modernise our approach and considerably increase our outreach.”

Retired Edinburgh University Professor Emeritus Duncan Macmillan has been appointed to complete the book, which will tell the history of the memorial and the meaning behind the structure.

The document, due to be published in summer 2014, will also pay tribute to the memorial’s artists and to fallen Scots who died in campaigns including World War One, the Second World War, the Malayan Emergency, Korean War, Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and the Gulf War.

The memorial, which is open free of charge, was designed by architect Sir Robert Lorimer and completed in 1927. Two hundred Scottish artists and craftsmen helped create the hall of honour and shrine where the names of the dead are contained in books.

Trustees secretary Lieutenant Colonel Roger Binks, pictured below, said: “We’re reviewing some of the information on the database because there are a few errors, there are omissions, certainly. I am still adding people to that list. Only in the last week have I added two or three more names, which we didn’t know before. For example, one of them was notified to me because he was Scottish born, but he served in the Canadian forces.”

The names of Scots, and those of Scottish descent, from countries including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are also in the records.

Poppyscotland chief executive Ian McGregor: “We hope this will encourage a new, wider audience to learn more about the sacrifices made during the First World War.”

Edinburgh City Council will make a yet-to-be-determined contribution to the project.

Lord Provost Donald Wilson said: “This is a hugely worthwhile and timely project.”

A death toll of nine million

World War One, one of history’s bloodiest conflicts, started on July 28, 1914, and would last until November 11, 1918.

It involved all the world’s great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies, led by the United Kingdom, France and Russia, and the Central Powers, based around Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Militarism, imperialism and nationalism all played major roles in starting the conflict, but the trigger was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife by Serb Gavrilo Princip.

The Austro-Hungarians fired the first shots of the war as preparation for the invasion of Serbia. Germany then invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg on the way to France, prompting Britain’s declaration of war.

More than nine million combatants were killed. The Allies eventually won the war by driving the Germans back in a series of offensives as American forces entered the trenches.