1. Commemoration and Remembrance

2. The guns fell silent… 11 am 11/11/18 the armistice came into effect Greeted with celebration and relief Memories of those who did not return were important and there was a call to remember the dead. News of the end of the Great war was tinged with sadness as most families had suffered some loss Glasgow rejoicing but in other places like Shetland there was quiet relief and sombreness. Scotland had changed forever 5500 people were killed every day for 1564 days. All Scottish regiments had high casualties.

3. The Royal Scots lost 217 men before arriving at the front as a result of a train crash in Gretna in May 1915 At Gallipoli they had a 40% casualty rate for no real gain. Retreat from Mons- the Royal Scots Fusiliers lost all but 70 out of 1000 men Loos - 15 th (Scottish) division lost many men when the gas they were using blew back on their own troops. Neuve Chapelle- 2 nd Cameronians lost 70% attacking German positions in open ground. The Losses

4. First day of the Somme Seaforth Highlanders lost 500 men and the Gordon Highlanders and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders lost similar numbers. During the war Royal Scots lost 11,000 men. The Gordon Highlanders lost 9000 and the Black Watch lost 10000 (most from a highland regiment) Glasgow lost 18,000 Dundee lost 4000 Lewis lost 17% of its male population (one of the highest) After 4 years of war, losses and propaganda Scotland needed to know that these losses had not been in vain.

5. Remembering… We may never know how many Scots actually died Official figure 74,000 but it is arguably nearer 100,000 some even say 150,000 given Scots from all over the world exact number does not matter- each loss was a person and this impacted on family and friends. Need for public recognition of losses 1917 decision to make a UK war memorial in London and a museum to be created (Cenotaph and IWM) Feelings that Scotland should remember as well. Edinburgh Castle was chosen as the location and Sir Robert Lorimer to design it.

6. Arguments began Concerns over cost, glorification of war, ruining the Edinburgh skyline and some people disliked the design. Revised design opened 14 th July 1927 Crowds gathered to see the rolls of honour Became a place of pilgrimage

7. Local Memorials Smaller monuments were created to commemorate community losses. These were in villages and towns regardless of size. Aim was commemoration and also hope that it would be a war to end all wars. Imperial War Grave Commission created which cares for military cemeteries abroad. 6000 cemeteries in France and Belgium