Anzac/ Gallipoli Day Service
The Anzac/ Gallipoli Day Service is held at the Memorial
on or about the 25th of April each year. This service commemorates the
Allied landings on the Gallipoli Peninsular in the Eastern Mediterranean
on 25th April 1915.
Fighting strong opposition from the Turkish forces
and in the face of heavy losses, the Allied force was withdrawn during
the night of the 8th/9th January 1916. Australian, New Zealand and British
forces were involved.
The British Forces included the Royal Navy, The Royal
Scots, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, The
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), The Highland Light Infantry, The Argyll
and Sutherland Highlanders, The Ayrshire Yeomanry, The Fife and Forfar
Yeomanry, The Lanarkshire Yeomanry, The Lovat Scouts Yeomanry and The Scottish
Horse.
The Service is organised by The Royal British Legion
Scotland and members of the public are welcome to attend provided that
they remain for the whole of the duration of the ceremony.
The Annual Service of Commemoration
This service is held on the Thursday following the
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (in late May or early June).
Admission is by invitation and a small number of seats may be available
to the general public. Please contact the Secretary to the Memorial for
information.
Normandy Veterans' Wreath Laying
On a day nearest to the 6th of June each year Normandy
Veterans hold a short wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial to commemorate
those who died in the Normandy Campaign.
This service marks the Allied landings on the beaches
of Normandy in France which began on the 6th of June 1944, entitled "Operation
Overlord". The landings began the battle to recapture German occupied
Europe and opened the long awaited "Second Front". The Battle
for North West Europe did not end until May 1945 when Germany finally surrendered.
The landings on the beaches which were code named, "Utah", "Omaha",
"Gold", "Juno" and "Sword", was the greatest
amphibious assault of the age.
Supported by strong air cover, airborne landings,
the French Resistance and a huge Naval presence, Allied soldiers and marines
stormed ashore in assault craft to face a determined enemy protected behind
the concrete defences of the "Atlantic Wall". Once ashore, the
battle continued in the narrow wooded lanes and the villages of Normandy,
while large man-made "Mulberry Harbours" were built on the shallow
beaches to bring ashore heavy equipment and reinforcements.
The Garrison Armistice Day Service
The Military Garrison at Edinburgh Castle holds an
Armistice Day Service each year on 11th November. Access to members of
the public is limited.
Castle Family Church Services
Sunday worship is held approximately three times
a year in the War Memorial for those people who work in the castle. The
Memorial is closed to visitors until approximately 1 PM on these occasions.
