SMM+S

Adam Brown · Last edited by Adam Brown on Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:27 pm; edited 1 time in total

Scots-American Memorial, Edinburgh
Location: West Princess Street Gardens.
OS Ref: NT 251 737
Sculptor: Robert Tait Mackenzie aided by Alexander Carrick

A very well known memorial. The inscription was written by Lt Ewart MacKintosh, 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders. He was killed in action in 1917.

Adam
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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:02 am Post subject:

This memorial is in the care of the City of Edinburgh Council and this is from their website:

The Scottish-American War Memorial

A bronze seated kilted soldier on a low plinth with a rifle across his knees looking across to the castle. The figure and bas-relief were sculpted between 1924 and 1927 by Robert Tait Mackenzie (1867-1938) and cast at the Roman Bronze works in Brooklyn, New York.

Architect Reginald Fairlie designed the setting in Craigleith sandstone.
High on the wall are two intertwined wreaths containing shields, one bearing the Stars and Stripes and one with the cross of St Andrew.

Below this the long bronze bas-relief symbolising 'the call to arms' shows a cross-section of Scottish working men - miners, shepherds, farmers and fishermen - being led off to war by a regimental pipe and drum band.

................

I think the last bit could have just said pipes and drums rather than a pipe and drum band! What next, a Bagpipe band!

Regards

Adam
_________________
Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project

jimmcginlay · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject:

Hi Adam,
Back in the early 90's I obtained a leaflet from the council which desrcibed the memorial as 'The Anglo-American War Memorial', so things do improve!
Alexander Carrick was the sculptor responsible for the on-site work on the memorial and after MacKenzie's death his family approached Carrick for a suitable memorial. MacKenzie had stipulated in his will that his heart be removed and buried in Scotland so Carrick suggested he use a piece of the sandstone used on the Scottish American memorial, which was still lying in Carrick's yard, to carve a small plaque with Mackenzie's monogram to mark the place were the heart was set into the east wall of St. Cuthbert's church which stands at the west end of the gardens.

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Jim

Many thanks for the update, I have updated the first post adding Carrick's name alongside Mackenzie.

I was at St Cuthbert's a couple of weeks ago and there are a lot of fascinating headstones in the churchyard so I was planning a return visit when the weather improves. I must make a point of looking for the monogram.

Regards

Adam
_________________
Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project