News and Events
Each year a number of events are held at the Scottish National War Memorial. Many of these are organised in co-operation with Veterans' Associations. The Memorial is small, but there are usually some seats available to members of the public and if you would like to enquire about the availability of these seats, or if you would like to discuss or arrange a special tribute, please contact the Secretary to the Memorial. Find out more about our annual events here.
Remember that you are most welcome to visit the Memorial at any time during normal castle opening hours.
The Korean War - The Story of Cpl James Ritchie Cron by Dave Williamson
James Ritchie Cron
Born: 11th June 1922 Mochrum, Wigtownshire, Scotland
Died: 3rd October 1951 Korea
James Ritchie Cron was born on the 11th June 1922 in Mochrum, Wigtownshire, Scotland to his parents James Cron (1887 – 1955) and Marion Ritchie (1890 - 1972). He had two sisters named Mary Ann Kellet Cron (1925 – 1990) and Marion Ritchie Cron (1927 – 1998).
James was Presbyterian by religion. He was a member of the Boy Scout movement for two years and as hobbies he enjoyed model making, woodwork and motor boats.
James left school at the very young age of only thirteen with a Standard Class 3 education. He did not attend high school. He went straight to work for J.Jones whom owned a Sawmill. His duties were a “Timber Loader”.
In 1946 James Ritchie Cron married Edith Selena McCracken in Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland.
On the 15th November 1945 at the age of 23, James Ritchie Cron enlisted with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and in January 1956 he celebrated his Passing Out Parade into the Infantry Division. His army number was 14475537
James and his wife were stationed at the Married Quarters of both the Redford Barracks in Edinburgh then later on to Ravenswood in Berwick-On-Tweed.
On the 15th May 1949 James and Selena gave birth to their son, James Robert Cron.
On the 20th July 1949 James Ritchie Cron embarked to Farelf, Hong Kong where he was stationed until the 18th April 1951. During his deployment in Hong Kong, James sat and passed his Corporals exam and was duly promoted to Corporal on the 18th October 1950.
James commanding officer wrote that James was, “A conscientious and reliable N.C.O. who has carried out his duties very satisfactorily. Sober. In general he is quiet by nature but has personality and character”.
On the 19th April 1951 James Ritchie Cron disembarked in Korea with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers to join forces with other British and Australian troops of the 1st Commonwealth Division during the Korean Conflict (25th June 1950 – 27th July 1953).
During the 1st Battle of Maryang-San (3rd October 1951 – 8th October 1951) which is very close to the 38th Parallel, the 1st Kings Own Scottish Borderers attacked and dislodged a numerically superior Chinese force outnumbering the allies by almost 10 to 1 from the tactically important Kowang-San Hill 355 in an operation codenamed “Operation Commando”. On the first day of Operation Commando on the 3rd October 1951, Corporal James Cron bravely advanced and over-ran Chinese positions elevated on Hill 355. During this offensive James was mortally wounded from a missile, probably a mortar shell and was Killed in Action. James was 29 years old and left behind a wife, two year old son and grieving parents.
James Ritchie Cron is buried at the Pusan Cemetery in South Korea – Plot 24, Row 12 Grave 1829. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour and his name sits respectively on the War Memorial in Garlieston, Wigtownshire, Scotland.
Service held to mark the 1st Anniversary of the Invasion of Ukraine
On Friday 24th February 2023 the Memorial was honored to host the Ukrainian Community for a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 1st Anniversary of the Russian invasion. The three Scottish Service Chiefs were in attendance along with the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay represented the UK Government, Lord Offord of Garvel represented the Secretary of State for Scotland. Neil Gray MSP – Scottish Government Minister for Refugees also attended along with Councillor Cammy Day – City of Edinburgh Council Leader. All laid wreaths along with representatives of the Ukrainian Navy, Consulates of Ukraine, Poland, USA, Denmark and representatives of the AUGB Edinburgh.
Members of the Ukrainian Community attended along with Ukrainian service personnel. Marianna Melnyk and Darii Butenko wearing their national dress laid a wreath on behalf of the children of Ukraine
The moving service was led in English and Ukrainian by Reverend Dr Karen K Campbell of the Royal British Legion Scotland and Father Kren, Ukrainian Catholic Priest in Scotland
Lest We Forget
Щоб ми не забули
95th Annual Service of Commemoration
The 95th Annual Service of Commemoration was held at the War Memorial on Tuesday 6th June 2023. The Armed Forces were represented by Brigadier Andy Muddiman RM, Major-General Alastair Bruce and Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson (represented by Flight-Lieutanant Ross McElhinney). This year was an Army lead and the Officiating Chaplain was The Chaplain General The Rev Michael Parker. The lead-service rotates between the RN, Army and RAF each year. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Rt Rev Rev Sally Foster-Fulton preached at the service. Readings were given by the Raqual Harper-Titchner, Chair of the Army Widows Association and Cadet RSM Edward McKenna of Lothian and Borders Army Cadet Force. Deputy First Minister Shona Robison MSP represented First Ministers Office and Mr Michael Napier represented the Secretary of State for Scotland.
We were honoured that Lord Lyon, Ormond and Unicorn Pursuivant were able to join us for the occasion. Prayers were offered by Bishop John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh, and Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Wreaths were laid by the three Armed Forces representatives, Merchant Navy, Royal British Legion Scotland, Scottish National War Memorial, War Widows Association, Army Widows Association, Scottish Government and UK Government.
The Military Wives Choir sang a beautiful rendition of “Be Thou My Vision” as part of the service.
12 Days in France - The Story of of Lieutenant James Keith Trotter, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders
- by Lt Cdr RN (Rtd) Joseph Jeffrey
The short WW1 service of Lieutenant James Keith Trotter, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders
When we think of the casualties of the First World War, our minds may often settle on the image of a young boy going over the top on the Somme battlefields. We think of trenches, mud and the stalemate that was the Western Front for the majority of the war. If you were asked to name a moment from 1914 you might choose the infamous Battle of Mons or the First Battle of Ypres in Flanders. You may picture the Christmas truce (the only one of the War) that happened in some sections of the front line. You probably wouldn’t choose to think of the lesser known Battle of Le Cateau or the 8482 men of the BEF who lost their lives in this engagement. This is the short story of one of those men.
James Keith Trotter was born on 19th December 1888 in Malta to the then, Major James Keith Trotter of the Royal Artillery and his wife Alice Trotter who’s sister I am descended from. He followed his father into the Army but unlike his father who was an artillery Officer, James chose to serve in the infantry and was commissioned on 15th October 1909 as a Second Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders.
Having held his commission for just over a year, he left his Regiment in November 1910 in order to serve as Aide de Camp to the Commanding Officer of the South Coast Defences in Portsmouth, a certain Major General James Keith Trotter. The 1911 census shows James, now a Lieutenant, living with his parents and their 6 servants at Government House in Portsmouth.
Major General Trotter retired from the Army in July 1911 at which point James re-joined his battalion which was now stationed at Colchester. There is very little information about his service in the years between 1911 and 1914 however it is known that by 1913 he was in command of the battalion’s machine gun section which he would eventually lead in action.
A 1912 pattern Vickers-Maxim machine gun; the same model as would have been used by the men of Lieutenant Trotter’s section.
3 years after re-joining his battalion, Lieutenant Trotter found himself once again in Portsmoth, this time preparing for war. The 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders sailed for France on 13th August 1914 and disembarked the next day in Boulogne. The battalion were then moved by train to Aulonoye and then marched north to Goegnies-Chaussee on the France-Belgium border.
James, now having served in the Army for just under 5 years would have seen his first action on 23rd August 1914 at Mons where the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders contributed to the halt of the German army’s advance. Despite the British losses at Mons exceeding 1600, the Gordons suffered only minor casualties and was largely intact when the BEF disengaged and withdrew.
The second and arguably last action of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders in the war came 3 days after at Le Cataeu. The Batallion formed part of the 8th Infantry Brigade which under the command of X held positions in the British line beyond Audencourt between the towns of Caudry and Beumont. As at Mons, James would have commanded his machine gun platoon consisting of two Vickers-Maxims[1] placed in strategic positions. During the course of the battle, the majority of the 8th Brigade held their positions against German attacks for most of the day and crucially, did not receive the order to retreat until much later than other units. The majority of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders were cut off from the British retreat and either killed or captured. Only a handful of men escaped to re-join the BEF.
This sketch by war artist
William Barnes Wollen depicts the Gordons in action at Le Cateau. Wollen
attributes no names to the men in this scene but I like to think that the
officer whose last moments are captured in this depiction may well be James.
Initially listed as missing, James’ death was not confirmed until almost a year later by an eyewitness account which stated that he had been shot through the head whilst observing the fire of his machine guns through field glasses (binoculars). His initial burial place before his reinternment in Caudry Military Cemetery in 1924, was very close to the original positions occupied by the 8th Brigade and almost certainly very near to where he was killed aged 25.
James’ parents were now living in Yorkshire. His father briefly came out of retirement to command the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division in 1915 however now aged 66, he did not see active service and handed over command of his Division prior to their deployment on the Western Front. Coincidentally, this is the division that my Great Grandfather on the other side of the family fought with during the war.
He is commemorated on the War Memorial in Ailsby, Yorkshire as well as a private memorial to both him and his father in Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Both the Edinburgh memorial and his headstone in France carry the inscription “That They all May Be One”. It is a passage from John 17:21 which speaks of the Father and Son being of one and I can only imagine that this was the focus of Major General Trotter and his wife when they chose the words that would appear on the grave of their only son.
The grave of Lieutenant James Keith Trotter bearing the inscription chosen by his parents.
[1] At this point in 1914, the British Army did not recognise the significant part that machine gun would play in the conflict and a mere two of the weapons per battalion was deemed sufficient.
Scotland's Merchant Navy Memorial
Historically, Scotland has always had a very strong relationship with the sea. However the sacrifices made by Scotland’s merchant seamen during both World Wars have not always been as recognised as they could have been. Their names are recorded in the Rolls of Honour at the Scottish National War Memorial, but until a few years ago there was no dedicated memorial to the 6,500 Scottish seafarers lost in conflict.
That was until 2008. That year, whilst attending the Remembrance Sunday Service and parade at the Cenotaph, Professor Gordon S Milne, OBE, decided that Scotland should have its own Memorial to the Merchant Navy. In 2009 he founded “The Merchant Navy Memorial Trust Scotland”, with the sole aim to fundraise and build a memorial to those lost at sea. Its mission “to commemorate the sacrifice of Scottish Merchant Navy personnel in the two world wars, other previous and subsequent theatres of conflict, and in peacetime service along the trading routes of the world”. The initial goal was to raise the estimated building costs of £150,000 by public donation to create the memorial. HRH The Princess Royal graciously agreed to become Patron of the Trust. The fundraising target was surpassed within twelve months and successfully raised over £180,000. The work was completed by early November 2010.
On 16th November 2010 HRH The Princess Royal attended the Service of Dedication and the Memorial was unveiled. It is located at the old inner harbour of Leith, the port of Edinburgh for over 700 years. Throughout the year the Memorial is visited by many people from around the world, a testament to the bravery and sacrifices made by Scotland’s merchant seafarers.
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