Orcadians attend national WW1 'Drumhead' service in Edinburgh

Several local people represented Orkney recently at Scotland’s national ‘Drumhead’ service commemorating the outbreak of WW1 at Edinburgh Castle on Sunday August 10.

The party took advantage of seats allocated to Orkney Islands Council earlier in the year, for offer to the local community.

Replica war graves, pictured above, were erected in Holyrood Park. Here the Orkney party laid a line of memorial crosses dedicated to Orcadians who gave their lives in WWI. The wreaths that were laid by dignitaries around the replica war memorial - a copy of the Scottish War memorial on the Royal Mile – can be seen in the background.

Gavin Lindsay, Wartime Heritage Officer with the Island of Hoy Development Trust, was one of those who attended. He said: “It was a privilege to be there as a representative of the Orkney community to honour the memory of all those who lost their lives or suffered mental or physical injury as a result of their service in the armed forces during WWI.”

Karen Greaves, Head of Leisure and Lifelong Learning at the Council said: “I’m pleased that several local people were able to attend this event.

“It marks the start of a series of important events taking place in coming years across the UK to mark WW1 – several of which will be located in and focus on Orkney and the important role it played in the conflict.”

Pictured below in the group photo are (left to right). Back row: Andrew Hollinrake, Jim Wallace, Gavin Lindsay, Phyllis Gee, Bruce Gorie, Kenny Gee & Brian Budge. Front row: Nicola Lindsay, Rosie Wallace and Baroness Veronica Linklater. Missing from the picture is Heather Rendall.

Notes:

The multi-faith ‘Drumhead’ service at the castle Esplanade replicated those held on the front line 100 years ago, often right at the battlefield, where drums would be neatly arranged and draped with national flags and military colours to create makeshift altars.

The Service was followed by a ‘March as to War’ down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Park led by the Tri-service contingents on Parade.