Scottish National War Memorial

The Scottish National War Memorial is located in

Scottish regiments, who died in the two world wars and subsequent conflicts. Its chief architect was Robert Lorimer, commissioned in 1919, and the monument was formally opened in 1927.^[1]

It is housed in a redeveloped barrack block in Crown Square, at the heart of the castle, and incorporates numerous monuments.

The Rolls of Honour kept in the memorial include the names of those Scots servicemen and women and Scots civilians that died in all wars after 1914.

Second World War.^[2] Those not serving in the Scottish regiments must either have been born in Scotland or have at least one parent born in the country.^[2]^[1]

The memorial rolls list close to 135,000 casualties of the First World War and over 50,000 of the Second World War.[1] More casualties from later wars are also inscribed, including from the Malayan Emergency, the Korean War (1950–1953), Operation Banner (1969–2007) during The Troubles, the Falklands War (1982), and the Gulf War (1990–1991).^[1] Most recently casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan have been added to the Rolls of Honour.

royal arms with its Union Jack

shield by Phyllis Bone

Development

Proposals for a Scottish National War Memorial were put forward in 1917, during the

Second World War, 50,000 names were added to the rolls of honour. Names continue to be added from successive conflicts, though the memorial itself has been left unchanged.^[4]

The Memorial

The exterior of the building is decorated with

First World War, from the declaration of war on 4 August 1914 to the Treaty of Versailles of 28 June 1919 (confirmed military suicides and those tried and executed excepted). Upon the altar within the Shrine, placed on the highest part of the Castle Rock emerging through the floor, stands a sealed casket containing the Rolls of Honour listing over 147,000 names of those soldiers killed in the First World War together with open lists within the Hall.^[8] After the Second World War the limiting dates were modified, with another 50,000 names inscribed on the Rolls of Honour within the Hall, and with further names continuing to be added there.^[4]

The memorial is maintained by a charitable trust known as the Scottish National War Memorial.[9]

Gallery

Plan
'Courage' by Alexander Carrick
The apse
Gargoyle
Heraldic unicorn with a St Andrew's cross flag and a thistle finial
Memorial to the Royal Air Force in a laurel wreath by Pilkington Jackson
The western façade with 'Freedom' by Percy Portsmouth and niche capitals Phyllis Bone
Scottish National War Memorial from the north, showing the shrine. The niche statue is 'Truth' by Alice Meredith-Williams and niche capitals by Phyllis Bone.
Unicorn from the
royal arms, with a shield bearing a St Andrew's cross
by Phyllis Bone

Gargoyle and the lion with the
royal arms
Rib vaulting
The apse interior
"Their name liveth for evermore"
Military badge of the
royal arms
Hall with naval ensigns and military colours

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "History". Scottish National War Memorial. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "FAQ". Scottish National War Memorial. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
^ Hussey, 1931; Dictionary of National Biography, 1937
^ ^a ^b ^c Henderson, Diana M. "History of the Scottish National War Memorial". Scottish National War Memorial. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
^ "John Marshall (1888–1952)". Glasgow Sculpture. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
^ "Phyllis Bone's Sculptures". The Natural History Collections. The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
^ McWilliam et al, pp. 99–100
^ "Scottish National War Memorial". UK National Inventory of War Memorials. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
^ "Scottish National War Memorial, SC009869". Scottish Charity Register. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Retrieved 25 July 2011.