Honouring the Royal Scots

University Chaplain, Reverend Dr Fiona Douglas, has had the honour of conducting the service to unveil and dedicate a memorial to the 16th Battalion of the Royal Scots at Contalmaison on the Somme.

This pals battalion, which was raised by Sir George McCrae in Edinburgh in 1914 and had a close association with the Heart of Midlothian football club, advanced further than any other British battalion during the tragic first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. £50,000 was raised by public subscription to build the memorial and 300 people, including members of the Scottish parliament, Hearts officials and the representative of the Royal Scots, attended the service.

The occasion was especially poignant for Fiona as her grandfather, CSM John Douglas DCM, fought with the 16th Royal Scots during the First World War.