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16th Royal Scots - Contalmaison, France

 
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:26 pm    Post subject: 16th Royal Scots - Contalmaison, France Reply with quote

In December 1914, virtually the whole of Hearts FC playing staff, followed by back-room staff etc, went to a recruitment centre in Edinburgh's West End and joined up en masse. Most of them went into McCrae's Battalion. Many fans, not yet joined up, joined soon after this. As news spread of the Hearts actions, footballers of other professional clubs such as Raith Rovers and Falkirk and even Hearts arch-rivals Hibs, joined too. Soon, McCrae's battalion was over-subscribed and could form a reserve unit. Designated 2nd Edinburgh City Battalion, it was adopted by the Army as 16th (Service) Batt, Royal Scots.

The Contalmaison Cairn was erected by the efforts of Heart of Midlothian Football Club and donations by fans. However, the cairn doesn't only remember Hearts' losses. but those of the other clubs who died with their Hearts colleagues, plus supporters and the others from many walks of life, who sacrificed themselves in McCrae's battalion.

Well done Jack Alexander for all his efforts in recording and remembering these men. Laughing




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Last edited by DerekR on Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
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DerekR
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote






See also: http://media.putfile.com/MacRaes-Battalion-Memorial1
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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
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Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Today's Edinburgh Evening News reports that Hearts are not sending a representative to this year's 1st July memorial service at Contalmaison


http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=992932007
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's becoming a "must-do" spot on Somme tours for Scots.


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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Member of GWF YvanFrance has made one of his signature 360 degrees view of this memorial. You can see it here. Certainly helps to understand the memorial in its surroundings.

http://www.todayisfree.com/360/vue_panoramique_contalmaison_1.html

\Paul
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anne park
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Joined: 25 Sep 2007
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Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:23 am    Post subject: No luck in viewing the memorial Reply with quote

I did try to look at the memorial but it just says cannot display this page.
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spoons



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PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just tried it again from a different PC and it works fine. The page does run javascript and shockwave flash so it may be your PC is not set up to run these, although I would have expected you to get an intelligent message to say so.

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DerekR
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It works for me and is quite impressive.
A panorama from the likes of Dud Corner or Thiepval would be very good.
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anne park
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:51 pm    Post subject: looking at the memorial Reply with quote

I tried again and it ran ok have bookmarked it, the list is great and tomorrow I'll have a good look. Thanks again for that. Anne
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DerekR wrote:
It works for me and is quite impressive.
A panorama from the likes of Dud Corner or Thiepval would be very good.

If you hop over to GWF and send a PM to YvanFrance you may be lucky. I had helped him out and I mentioned Contalmaison, next thing I know he had it done, so he might help out with 360 panoramas of other memorials in France. He has little English so you need to keep it simple but I think he can call on someone to translate. BTW - if you go one level up from the link there is a list of those he has done (I think Anne found it).

\Paul
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davemclaren



Joined: 21 Sep 2008
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some photographs from the 2008 ceremony on July 1st. I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of www.jamboskickback.co.uk

The photos aren't as good as Derek's I'm afraid.

http://s310.photobucket.com/albums/kk405/davmclaren57/Contalmaison%202008/?action=view&current=IMG_2841-1.jpg
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Tachum



Joined: 12 Oct 2008
Posts: 11
Location: Livingston

PostPosted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice set of pictures Dave.

I found it a very peaceful location and the sacrifice of those who were footballers contrasting with todays crop.
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David McNay
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
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Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

PostPosted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I contacted Jack Alexander, author of "McCrae's Battalion" and member of this forum, about a month or so ago, and asked if he might wish to add some background information on this cairn. I would certainly be interested to hear about the process of getting it erected, and how it is effectively fulfilling the wishes of the Mccrae's veterans, whose original plan it was.

Jack has, to date, not responded to my email.
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