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Project Heritage: the Men behind the Medals

The names of hundreds of Veterans adorn the SVR memorial in Eastern Cemetery, near Easter Road, Edinburgh, and behind each inscription lies a powerful story. That is why, through Project Heritage, we wish to honour and remember them with a monument befitting of their valour and service.

Before they were laid to rest with military honours the men spent their final days as respected Veterans living at Whitefoord House and the adjoining Callander House building in the Canongate, the same site used by the charity to this day, where supported housing is provided to ex-Service men and women.

Back when the Residence was opened on New Year’s Day 1911, it was known as the ‘Scottish Naval and Military Veterans Residence’ - which is reflected on the central plaque displayed on the monument within a quiet corner of Eastern Cemetery. 

The first name etched on the bronze plates was W Murphy in December 1917, and the last was H McGregor in January 1948. While Eastern Cemetery continued to be used as a burial ground, SVR introduced a book of remembrance in 1948, and instead recorded the names there rather than on the Monument when Veterans passed away.

Above, the memorial book introduced in 1948, and below the separate hand-written ledger that was kept to record the passing of Veterans at Whitefoord House.

SVR is proud to have an extensive archive, and this picture below - taken in 1932 and published in newspapers such as the Evening Dispatch and Edinburgh Evening News - includes some of the Veterans on which there is information available.

1) W.H. Reid, 1st King’s Dragoon Guards

Lanarkshire man Sergeant William H Reid, died aged 75 in July 1933, when an average of 240 men per night were accommodated at Whitefoord House. He served in the Army for 12 years and was in possession of the Zulu War Medal 1879 and the Indian Frontier Medal. He had been a resident at Whitefoord House for 7 years. 

Reid came home in 1888 and made his living as a music writer. In a feature on Whitefoord’s Veterans in 1932, he told the Sunday Dispatch: “In 1892 I met Colonel Cody (Buffalo Bill) in London. I appeared with him in Glasgow that year.”

Following his death, a newspaper tribute in the Wishaw Press noted: “Well-known old cricketer, who for many years played for Wishaw and Newmains and who was also willing to the last to travel far to see a keen game. Mr Reid was present at the capture of King Cetewayo during the Zulu War and in India took part in the Black Mountain Expedition. He was given a military funeral, a gun carriage and six horses being supplied by the Brigade of Artillery at Piershill Barracks. The funeral was attended by a large party of his comrades from the Naval and Military Residence. There were also present Colonel L Addison Smith, Chairman of the Council, and Captain William Price.“

2) A Allan, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders and Mercantile Marine

Picture of HMS Penelope (1914) by Surgeon Oscar Parkes

Private Andrew Allan served with distinction first as a soldier, then at sea. He served for 7 years in the Afghan campaign 1878-80, awarded the Afghan Medal. He missed the great march on that campaign, having been wounded at Charasia by an Afghan bullet. At the outbreak of the First World War, Mr Allan was at sea as a chief engineer in the Mercantile Marine. An Edinburgh Evening News article in January 1935 - to commemorate the silver anniversary of SVR as a charity - told the dramatic story of his heroics on board Penelope - while carrying supplies and ammunition to Russia: “At 10pm one night his ship was torpedoed by an enemy submarine in the Gulf of Riga. The crew, all Russians, at once took to the boats and deserted the ship. The captain and Mr Allan, the only Britons, remained on board all night, but failed to save the ship. Both were awarded the Mercantile Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross. Mr Allan is justifiably proud that he was presented with the decoration by HM The King at Buckingham Palace. He afterwards served on two Admiralty ships.”

Reid himself recounted the incident in an interview with the Sunday Dispatch.

“It was in 1916 at the mouth of the Gulf of Riga. We were torpedoed and the crew took panic and escaped in the boats. The ship was in sinking condition and I spent four days in the chart-house with water sweeping the deck. We were rescued by a Russian torpedo destroyer.”

3) T Esmond, King’s Own Scottish Borderers

Sergeant Thomas Esmond, KOSB, died aged 81 in Feb 1938, and had been resident at Whitefoord House since 1927. He enlisted in 1874 and served for 21 years. He was awarded the Afghan War Medal 1878-80, Indian Frontier Medal 1895, Egyptian Medal and in 1888 the Khedive’s Star - a campaign medal to reward those who had participated in the military campaigns in Egypt and the Sudan between 1882 and 1891.

4) T Davitt, The Royal Scots Fusiliers

Private Thomas Davitt, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, died aged 58 in February 1933. His military career in the Army spanned more than 26 years and he was in possession of the Military Medal, Indian Frontier Medal, the 1914 Star and the General Service and Victory Medals. 

5) A Ferguson, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders

Sergeant Alexander Ferguson, died aged 74 in December 1935. Pictured on the Whitefoord House Christmas card of 1935. Enlisted in 1879. Served in the Afghan War of 1878-80 with the Koorum and Kabul Field Forces and took part in the march from Kabul to Kandahar. Received the Roberts’ Star. Served in the Egyptian War and present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir. Received Khedive’s Star. Served 14 years and re-enlisted in the Home Service in the First World War, serving another four-and-half years. 

6) E Grant, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

Private Ewan Grant, born in 1868, enlisted in his native town of Inverness and served in the Army for an impressive total of 28 years - including a second stint during the First World War. He was drafted to the 1st Batallion at Edinburgh Castle and in 1898 was part of the force under Sir Herbert Kitchener in Sudan. He proceeded to South Africa on the outbreak of the Boer War, and was awarded two medals: Queen’s and King’s South African Medals. He was Also served in the First World War. He was discharged after 22 years’ service, then re-enlisted on the outbreak of the Great War, joining the 6th Service Battalion, which earned undying fame on the battlefield of ‘Hill 60’ at Ypres on the Western Front in 1915, and on many other occasions. Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

7) T Allison, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders

Tom Allison enlisted in the 72nd Highlanders (later 1st Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders) in 1868 and served for more than 22 years in the British Army, almost 12 years of them overseas. His first campaign was the Afghanistan Campaign of 1878, and he was present at the storming of Peiwar Kotal, where - as the Edinburgh Evening News noted in an article in the 1935 - “the 72nd Highlanders, amid mountains and glens more rugged and formidable than those of their own country, climbed the heights and stormed the enemy’s position with a gallantry which won praise from their General, Lord Roberts.” He also served in the Egyptian Campaign under Lord Wolseley, “where he took part with his regiment in the thrilling night march through the desert, and in the grey drawn swept over the Egyptian entrenchments at Tel-el-Kebir in true Highland style, driving the routed enemy as far as Zag-a-Zig.” Allison’s many decorations included the Afghan Medal, Egyptian Medal, Khedive’s Bronze Star and Good Conduct Medal.

8) T Baird, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders

Private Thomas Baird also took part in the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar, and was awarded the Afghan Medal and Roberts Star. After serving his country with distinction, he moved into Whitefoord House in 1928 and passed away aged 77 in 1934. He was related to the old Covenanting family, the Bairds of Clattering Mill Farm in Blackridge, West Lothian, and also a relative of famous Scottish engineer Henry Bell, the man behind Clyde-built paddle steamer Comet: Europe’s first commercially successful steamboat service.

 

Brothers-in-Arms: A & W Marshall, The Royal Scots

Whitefoord House also had the distinction of providing a home to two brothers, Veterans of the Royal Scots, in the 1930s - Alexander (Alex) Marshall and William Marshall, pictured below.

Alex tragically died when he slipped on ice and fell in Easter Road, aged 65, in December 1938, while William lived on at Whitefoord until he passed away aged 72 in 1949.

Alex, born in South Queensferry in 1873, enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1892, and was discharged in 1904 after 12 years’ service, including a posting in Belgaum, India. On the outbreak of the First World War, he re-enlisted, joining the 3rd Battalion  at Weymouth, then transferring to the 1st in 1915, serving on the Western Front. He was later posted to the 12th Army Corps Headquarters and saw service in Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria.

Younger brother William enlisted in 1893 and soldiered with his brother in Mandalay, Poon and Kamptee, and also Bombay. He was discharged in 1907 after 13 years’ service, but re-enlisted in 1909 in the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) and served in the First World War in France, Belgium and Italy, before he was discharged in 1923.

A Royal favourite: P Lenahen, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

Peter Lenahen, Corporal with Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) was the longest-serving resident at the time of his death in 1924, having been there for more than 12 years. He served for more than 23 years in the Army and won a medal for Abyssinia (1868). The Evening Despatch noted (16/10/24). “By the death of Corporal Lenahen, the Residence has lost one of its finest inmates. He was very popular with everyone, and on the occasion of the visit of Princess Louise to the residence last October, Her Royal Highness took special notice of him.”

Selected others

• Archibald Aitken, resident since 1911, died aged 86 in 1924. Veteran of Indian Mutiny. Served in the European Bombay Regiment. 
• Private Allan Andrews, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) had been at Whitefoord House since 1921 and died June 1933. Served in the Army for 21 years.
• William Barbour, Gordon Highlanders, enlisted 1870, served for 10 years, received the Afghan medal. Buried with full military honours at ER (30/1/24)
• Private James Barrie, Royal Scots, who served in the Army for 23 years. Passed in Nov 1927. A detachment of the Royal Scots from Glencorse Barracks, including a piper and a bugler, were present at his funeral and the coffin was borne to the cemetery on a gun carriage of the 8^th Field Battery RFA.
• Thomas Beveridge, Royal Marines, died aged 74 in January 1937 and had been a resident since 1914.
• Sergeant James Black, of 16^th Landers, died aged 75 in 1932. Had been resident since 1927 and served in the Army for 22 years.
• Private Robert Burnett passed away in 1932. Served in the Army for 21 years and had been resident from 1917. Awarded Indian Frontier medal (Umballa Clasp, 1863).
• Private James Campbell, late of the Black Watch. Died aged 56. Resident at Whitefoord between 1927 until his death in 1933. General Service and Victory Medals.
• Sergeant John Connolly, Rifle Brigade. Died aged 75 (Aug 34). Army for 21 years. India General Service, Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
  An article in the Daily Express, Aug 1934, reported: 
  “Full military honours accompanied the funeral of Sergeant John Connolly, a Whitefoord House Veteran, to the Naval and Military burying ground in the Eastern Cemetery, Edinburgh. A piper playing ‘Lochaber No More’ led the procession. Aged comrades from Whitefoord House followed the gun-carriage hearse on foot. Sergeant Connolly, who was 73, was a native of Ireland. He had been at WH since 1927. He retired from the Rifle Brigade in 1904 after 21 years service. Military authorities, when the Great War broke out, rejected his volunteered service on account of his age. Connolly held the India General Service Medal, and good conduct medals. The last medal he gained was in the South African War.”
• Private James Connor, KOSB, died aged 66 in Aug 32. Resident at WH since 1926 and served in the Army for 14 years.
• Private John James Cotton, Cameron Highlanders, died aged 64 in 1934. Served in the Army for 18 years and was a resident from 1922. In possession of Queen’s and King’s South African medals.
• Private David Davidson, KOSB, at Whitefoord from 1922 until his death in November 1935, aged 68. Indian Frontier Medal and Clasp (ChitraT, 1895)
• Gunner Enoch Dean, Royal Artillery, died aged 71 in October 1936. Resident since 1933, served for 21 years.
• Private John Deeney, KOSB, died on 22/6/33, aged 79.
• Richard Deery, aged 73, served in Royal Garrison Artillery for 36 years. 
• Private Thomas Dillon, Royal Ulster Rifles, died aged 73 in April 1936. Been resident since 1930. Served in Army for 21 years. King’s and Queen’s South African Medals, 1914-15 star and General Service and Victory Medals.
• William G Dunsford, engineer-clerk with the Royal Engineers, served for 21 years , Died aged 78 in April 1937. Egyptian Medal and Star (Khedive) and Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
• Sergeant Alfred Elms, aged 82. Had been at Whitefoord for six years and was one of oldest residents when he died in October 1924. Served in Army for 21 years, 12 abroad.
• Private Isaac Fell, late of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, died at age of 52 in May 32. Resident at Whitefoord since 1925 and had been in the Army for 13 years. Queen and King’s South African Medal and General Service and Victory Medals.
• Private Archibald Fraser (23/12/32), served with the Royal Scots for 21 years, died aged 75, had been at Whitefoord since 1911 - one of the first residents.
• Gunner Alexander Gardner, Royal Marine Artillery, died in 1926 aged 75. Served more than 21 years in the Navy and won the Egyptian Medal and Star. Had been at residence for 14 years. 
• Sergeant William Gordon, Highland Light Infantry, died aged 69 in March 1933. Had served in the Army for 19 years and was in possession of the Indian Frontier Medals of 1897 and 1898.
• Sergeant Felix Grant, King’s Dragoon Guards, died aged 60 in July 1935. Served for 16 years and was in possession of the King’s and Queen’s South African Medals.
• Private William Griffen, KOSB, died aged 66 in 1935 and had been a resident since 1924. Served for 14 years and held Egyptian Medal and Queen’s South African Medal.
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• Corporal G Henderson (pictured), Highland Light Infantry, served for 10 years in the Army and was awarded Second India General Service Medal 1852-55 (North-West Frontier). Had been at Whitefoord House since 1927 and passed away at the grand old age of 91.
• Bombardier George Hudson, Royal Garrison Artillery, died aged 75 in 1932. Had been resident at Whitefoord since February 1932, served in the Army for 21 years.
• Private William Jeffrey, veteran of Seaforth Highlanders and the Black Watch. Enlisted in the 91^st Highlanders in 1876 and transferred to the 72^nd Highlanders (Seaforths) in 1877. He had the Afghan Medal and Star with clasps “Charasiah, Kabul and Kandahar and took part in the matrch from Kabul to Kandahar. With the Black Watch he served in the Egyptian War of 1882 for which he haqd the medal with clasps Tel-el-Kebir and Tamai. The veteran had resided at WH since 1919, had four sons and two sons-in-law serving in the Great War. One of his sons died from wounds and another was killed in action. At the time of his death (1930), two grandsons are serving in is old regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders. Jeffrey was 82 when he died.
• Gunner Samuel Jenkinson, Royal Artillery, died aged 75 in July 1937. Resident at Whitefoord since 1925 and had served for 22 years. Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
• David Johnstone, stoker in the Royal Navy, died aged 56 in February 1923.
• Samuel Jones, Royal Field Artillery, resident since 1930 and passed away in 1932. Egypt Medal and Star.
• John Laing, Gordon Highlanders, served in the Afghanistan Campaign (1878-80) awarded Afghan Medal and the Roberts Star. Had been at SVR for two years. Buried April 1924.
• Private Charles Lawrance, Scots Guards, died aged 70 in November 1935. Served in the Army for 23 years and had the Egyptian Medal and Star.
• Private Charles McCabe, The Royal Scots and the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), died aged 70 in Feb 1933. Served in the Army for 12 years and was in possession of the Queen’s and King’s South African Medals.
• Gunner Thomas McCormack, Royal Arillery, died aged 71, December 1934. Served for nine years. Had Indian General Service medal 1885-87, Clasp (Burma) and Indian General Service Medal 1895 (Clasp Chitral).
• Private Kenneth McDonald, Seaforth Highlanders, died December 1932.
• Sergeant Malcolm MacDonald, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, died aged 66 in March 1936. Served in Army for 26 years, 1914-15 General Service and Victory Medals and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
• Private William McDonald, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died aged 76 in June 1932. Whitefoord House resident since 1929 and had served for 19 years.
• Private William John McKinnell, Black Watch, died aged 74 in April 1937. Served in the Army for 14 years. General Service and Victory Medals.
• Lance-Corporal Charles McKay, 19^th Canadian Infantry, died aged 53 in 1937. Served for 3 years, and had General Service and Victory Medals.
• Private Andrew McLaren, Queen’s Own Highlanders. Awarded Egyptian Medal and Star. He was 63 when he died in March 1930.
• Private Thomas McLean, Seaforth Highlanders, resident since 1930, died aged 72 in January 1938. Served in Army for 13 years, Indian Frontier Medal (1888-91), 1914 Star and General Service and Victory Medals.
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• Colour Sergeant Daniel Maginn, Royal Irish Fusiliers, died aged 63 in April 1934. Served 21 years and had Queen’s South African and General Service and Victory Medals
• Colour Sergeant James Michie, Highland Light Infantry, died aged 67 in May 1934, just two months at Whitefoord House and had served in Army for 21 years. Indian Frontier Medal.
• Private Ephraim Mills, East Surrey Regiment, died at the aged of 67 in March 1935. Resident at WH since 1933 and served in the Army for 13 years
• Private Thomas Munro, Royal Scots Fusiliers, aged 68, when he died in January 1938. Had been a long-standing resident since 1920. Served in Army for nine years. Chitral Medal (1895) and the Queen’s South Africa Medal.
• Private James Murdison, died January 1935, had been a resident since 1924. Served for 3 years.
• Private Michael O’Dea, Royal Munster Fusiliers, died aged 61 in Nov 1936, served for 18 years. Queen’s South African Medal and British War and Victory Medals.
• Private Albert Perry, Hampshire Regiment, died aged 66 in 1937. Had served for 14 years.
• Sergeant-Major William Pilkington, KOSB, died aged 86 in 1924. Served in the Army for over 21 years, including 9 abroad. Won medal for service in Canada and also received the medal for long service and good conduct. 
• Gunner John Ramsay, Royal Artillery, served 21 years in the Army. Had been at Whitefoord for 12 years before he died aged 87. 
• Corporal Thomas Rennie, Royal Marines, died aged 67 in November 1937. Had been a resident since 1925 and served in Navy for more than 17 years. He was in possession of the Crete Medal, the 1914-15 Star and General Service and Victory Medals.
• Private John Richardson, Canadian Labour Corps. Died aged 73 in January 1937.
• David Rutherford, Royal Navy, served 20 years and was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and General Service Medal. He was 41 years of age and died in January 1927.
• Private James Ryan, KOSB, died aged 60 in 1932. Served in the Army for 14 years. Indian Frontier medal, 1915 Star, General Service and Victory Medals.
• Rifleman Alfred Saunders, King’s Royal Rifle Corp, died aged 74 in 1938. King’s and Queen’s Medals, 1914-15 Star, General Service and Victory Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal and long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
• Private David John Smith, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died aged 67 in January 38 and had been resident since 1923. Served in Army for 21 years. King’s and Queen’s South African Medals and General Service and Victory Medals.
• Private Joseph Smith, died Sep 1937 aged 57. Served in Army for 33 years. Was in possession of Persian Gulf Medal 1920-21 and Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
• Private John Stewart, The Royal Garrison Regiment, died January 1933 aged 68. 
• Private Charles Thomas Temperly, 1^st King’s Dragoon Guards, died aged 77 in 1934, resident since 1925. Served in the Army for 18 years. 
• Col Sergeant John Waddell, Royal Scots, died in April 1931 aged 71. Served in Army for 21 years. Had Long Service and Good Conduct medals.
• Private Richard Watson, Northumberland Fusiliers, died March 1935, aged 72,
• Private Thomas Whiteford, The Royal Scots, died in July 1935. Born in Edinburgh on 1865, he enlisted in the 1^st Batallion Royal Scots in 1884 and was discharged at Glencorse in 1902. He re-enlisted voluntarily in 1914 in his old regiment and served in Palestine.
• Bandsman John Williams, Oxford Light Infantry, died in Feb 1935 aged 66. Served in the Army for 21 years and had Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
• Private Edward Willis, The Buffs, died aged 69 in March 1938. Had been resident since 1932. Served in Army for 21 years. Indian Frontier Medal, 1895 and 1914-15 Star, and General Service and Victory Medals.
• Squadron Sergeant-Major Thomas Wisdom, The 8^th Hussars, died aged 66 in May 1935. Had been resident at WH since 1926 and served in Army for 28 years. He had the 1914-15 Star, the British War and Victory medals, Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
• Private John Young, Royal Scots, died in May 1935 aged 70.

 

If you are related to any of the Veterans mentioned, other soldiers and sailors named on the Memorial, or have additional background information, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch by emailing: colin@svronline.org