Tag: memorial

Community invited to remember baby Craig Millar

Over 23 years since the body of a baby boy was tragically discovered in Niddrie, a memorial dedicated to him will be returned to the community at an unveiling ceremony on Friday (26 April).

Despite an investigation in 2001, and follow ups over the years, attempts to identify the newborn and his parents have been unsuccessful, initiating a huge response from the local community.

He was laid to rest in Mortonhall Cemetery, with residents coming together to hold a funeral for him. Over 400 people were in attendance to remember the baby they named ‘Craig Millar.’

Fundraising also took place to erect a memorial in the place he was found, which was lovingly maintained by the community.

When construction began on the new Castlebrae Community Campus at the site of Craig’s discovery, the memorial had to be removed. It has since been renovated and stored by William Purves Funeral Directors free of charge.

The memorial will be re-installed by the funeral directors on Friday 26 April, before being unveiled to the public at 2pm in its new location.

It follows a survey, conducted by the Council, which found the majority of residents wanted the memorial to be relocated outside of school grounds.

The new location, next to the football pitches at Harewood Road, is easily accessible and just a short distance from the original site.

Plans are also in place for a memorial garden at the original location as part of the landscaping design of Castlebrae Community Campus.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Councillor Jane Meagher, said: “Over two decades on, it’s clear to see that the community still care deeply for baby Craig. This tragedy is such a large part of Craigmillar’s history that it’s fitting the residents are there to see the memorial returned.

“Residents made sure the memorial was never without fresh flowers or messages of love and it was always immaculately maintained. I’m pleased we could respect the wishes of the community and return it to a new location, where it can be easily accessed by people who want to pay their respects.”

Andrew Purves, Director at William Purves Funeral Directors, commented: “As an Edinburgh-based funeral director, we understand that this memorial stone is very dear to this community. 

“The memorial is a special tribute to the little boy who will always have a place in the hearts of the Craigmillar community.

“It has been our honour to take good care of baby Craig’s memorial and are now pleased to be able to install it in its permanent home.”

Scottish Bomber Command veteran to remember 555,573 fallen comrades

Ninety-eight-year-old Jim Marshall will join hundreds of families and friends to remember the 55,573 members of Bomber Command on Sunday at a service at the Bomber Command Memorial.

The service at the Memorial in London’s Green Park will include a virtual audience enabling many more veterans to join the proceedings. The service is held annually by the Memorial’s custodian, the RAF Benevolent Fund, to mark the unveiling of the Memorial which was first revealed by Her Majesty The Queen in 2012.

Jim, who lives in the Erskine veterans’ village at Bishopton, joined the RAF aged 18 in 1941, and trained as a navigator flying in Wellingtons with 38 Squadron, serving all over the world. He flew more than 100 operations without incident, until crash landing during a search and rescue mission a month after VE Day had been declared. Jim was the only survivor of his crew. 

Jim was so badly burned only one shoe remained and went on to become a member of the Guinea Pig Club, under the care of pioneering plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe.

He said: “The Bomber Command Memorial means everything to me. It is recognition of all my brave comrades who were forgotten after the end of the War. We did our duty and my fallen friends should always be remembered for their sacrifices.

“Although I’m not able to attend the service in person, to be able to join and take part from afar is testament to the RAF Benevolent Fund’s dedication to RAF veterans, working hard to make this happen.”

The service will be led by Reverend (Squadron Leader) Chrissie Lacey and includes wreath laying from representatives from some of the 60 nations who served in Bomber Command as well as Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston.

Fund supporter Sue Holderness, whose own father Anthony served with Bomber Command, will be narrating the livestream, for audience members at home.

RAF Benevolent Fund Controller Air Vice-Marshal Chris Elliot said: “We at the Fund are all hugely proud of the role we have in preserving the memory of all the young men who flew in Bomber Command.

“We are equally as proud of our work in supporting this generation of service personnel and their families, ensuring they can live with dignity and comfort into their twilight years.”

Jim is one of thousands of RAF veterans who are supported by the RAF Benevolent Fund every year. To date, the Fund has granted £125,000 to Erskine Care in support of its work providing care for RAF veterans and their partners in Scotland supporting people like Jim.

To join the Bomber Command Memorial virtual service sign up via the Fund’s website.

Botanic Garden remembers …

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has created a special place of reflection …

poppy meadowAt the heart of the Edinburgh Garden this month, a wild poppy meadow stands as a poignant and transitory memorial to those who fought and died in World War One. Marking the centenary of Britain’s entry into the conflict, RBGE has created the display as a place of reflection, where visitors can pause and remember those from around the world who fell then and in subsequent wars. The colourful memorial planting is a direct act of public commemoration to the Garden’s 73 men who signed-up after war was declared in August 1914, 20 of whom lost their lives.

Heroes of the Garden

Workers at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh who lost their lives in the Great War:

James Christopher Adam • Thomas Adam • Thomas Aird • William Frederick Bennett • George Blackmore • John Mathieson Brown • Andrew Ewing Calder • Duncan Coutts • William Gordon Dickson • James Maxwell Hampson • John Hatley • David Hume • Arthur Henry Jones • Henry McBeath • Alan Menzies • Walter Henry Morland • Duncan Smith • John Stewart • Samuel Stewart • George Hugh Stuart

RBGE’s own First World War story

The plaque at the RBGE Library serves as a lasting memorial to the staff who gave their lives in the Great War. While the Library holds a War Service Roll, published in 1921 to ‘preserve for all time the story of the loyalty of our Garden Staff’, we are appealing to people around Britain who believe members of their families could have been among our staff who went to war or who came here to work in their place. Any further details we can collect would be a welcome addition to our Archives and would provide us with a deeper understanding of the Garden’s own First World War story.

RBGE’s War Service Roll can be viewed online and any members of the public who believe they may have a family or friend connection can send their contributions to commemorate@rbge.org.uk

EdinburghHeaderwebaddress.160746