Drumhead Service World War I - Scotland Remembers

Welcome to Edinburgh for this special Drumhead Service

to mark the centenary and start of Scotland's World War I

The service, organised by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on behalf

of the Scottish Commemorations Panel, will begin in about half an

hour and in just a few minutes, the magnificent castle esplanade will

fill up with the sights and sounds of the bands of the Royal

Marines, the Army, the RAF, massed pipes and drums and a large choir.

There will be detachments from each of the services as well

Around the esplanade, the congregation, largely made up

of a cross-section of Scotland's population, are taking their seats.

They are all here to remember the sacrifices and losses our country

In less than half an hour, in the presence of Edinburgh's Lord Provost

and senior members of the armed forces and Scotland's political

community, senior clergy from the navy, army and the RAF will conduct

a drumhead service - an appropriate way to pay tribute

A drumhead occasion for servicemen in the

field, held for the purposes of ordinary Sunday

field, held for the purposes of going into battle, or to remember

fallen comrades. They have been in existence for centuries, and during

the First World War and beyond, existence for centuries, and during

were held at home as well as a fitting way to remember the

sacrifices of the men of the front. fitting way to remember the

This rare film footage shows one held in a London park in 1916. By

then, most of the towns and held in a London park in 1916. By

of Britain would have been affected by the losses in the trenches. The

drumhead is simply a neatly piled set of drums with the colours draped

over them to serve as set of drums with the colours draped

altar. Historically, the drum played a crucial role as a way of

communicating orders during the chaos of Apple. With such an

important part to play, drummers were elite soldiers, and that drums

were often painted with the regimental colours. Drumhead

services are still held in the field and at home, and while the drums

that gave them their name now have a purely ceremonial role in military

life, drumhead services are as meaningful as ever, and remain a

fitting way to worship and remember the fallen. At the end of this

drumhead service, the military, the bands and the congregation will be

invited to process down the Royal Mile, blood passed St Giles

Cathedral and the Stone of Remembrance at the city Chambers.

War was declared on 4th August 1914 and earlier this week was

commemorated beautifully with services from Liege to London

This is the start of commemorations of Scotland's

contribution to the war and with me in the studio is military historian

Just to be clear, this is not a celebration, it is a commemoration?

It is about thinking of people who served in the First World War. This

is normally a place of entertainment. But today, this is a

religious and military service. What I hope will happen is that people

will think about the people who served in the First World War,

especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The stands are

filling up with people. I think Hurricane Bertha is putting people

off! We are slightly on the fringes that today. But there are people

here from all over Scotland. Invitations went out to all areas?

here from all over Scotland. The thing about this drumhead

service is that it is thoroughly inclusive.

service is that it is thoroughly panel wanted it to be that way. We

wanted those who felt a need to come to Edinburgh today, from Shetland

right down to the Scottish orders, they are all being represented. Yes,

the weather is not great. There is nothing we can do about that.

Hurricane Bertha has a lot to answer for. We ought remember that this

replicates a lot of the weather that ordinary person I would have had to

face in the First World War. And that element of replication is part

of what today is about. Explaining the significance of starting here

with a drumhead service at Edinburgh Castle? Well, Edinburgh is the

capital of Scotland. The castle is its focal point. Today, it is

probably better known as a tourist attraction, but in its day, it was a

military installation. During the First World War, it was the centre

of Scottish command, which directed the Scottish war effort. There was a

resident battalion here, and people in Edinburgh would have been used to

seeing soldiers in uniform, in this case, kilted Highland soldiers in

uniform. So there is a sense of going back to August 1949 rendering

what this place must have been like. What was the mood of the nation like

100 years ago? It is difficult for us in some ways to think ourselves

into a frame of mind working and country and duty were so important

to people. It was a curious mixture of excitement, exhilaration, fear,

concerned. But above all, relief. We have to remember that this crisis

had been running throughout the summer. The crisis in the Balkans

was going to explode into war. Were the great powers going to get

involved? More importantly, was Great Britain going to get involved?

It was not until the last minute on August four, when Britain issued an

ultimatum to Germany, when people realised we were on the edge of what

would turn out to be a global conflict. The doors of the

portcullis at Edinburgh Castle have opened. Any moment, we can expect

the band of the Royal Marines to come through and bring us the first

piece of pageantry we will see today. It is unusual for there to be

three services involved. It is. And there I said, the size of our armed

forces is getting so small that it is wonderful that they have made

this effort to be here today. How wonderful to see the band of the

marines marching. The Navy take precedence in a parade of this kind.

ARCA soldiers, -- and the soldiers who are both ceremonial and they

fight. It typified the modern army. And here comes the Navy. It is

interesting that the Navy do not call their colours colours. They

call it an ensign. It is no different for being that. These are

not flags, by the way, they are colours. They also have a spiritual

meaning for the service personnel. They guard them with their lives.

The Navy are beginning the procession because they are the

senior service. We are hearing the naval march being played. In 1914,

most of Britain's defence expenditure went on the Royal Navy.

The bulk of our defence budget was committed to them. The bulk of the

Navy was committed to Scotland. There were units in Invergordon, and

the Firth Forth. It was a highly physical presence. And the famous

heart of oak. Yes. To give you an example of the size of the Navy, the

grand Fleet numbered 160 ship. It was one of the biggest navies in the

world. That and they had a big fleet in the Firth of Forth, near here?

From 1915 onwards, they had the battle cruiser fleet. These were

big, beautiful, heavily on chips. Very fast and effective. They did

lack armour, but that did not matter, because at the time, people

looked from the castle hill where we are, looking across the Firth of

Forth, and they would see these ship 's. Now they are going to do a bit

of what is called dressing. Although they are not changing their

uniforms. They are getting themselves into straight lines. This

will take a bit of time, because they have to be careful to make sure

they are properly lined up before the parade begins. Let's go over now

to Dougie Vipond, who is in the stands, talking to a couple of

people who have come to be part of this day.

Yes, the stands are filling up ahead of this drumhead ceremony. People

are coming from across the country to remember people who were involved

in the First World War. And Walker, beside me, has a poignant reason for

being here to think of your father. Where did he serve? He served first

of all in England, training horses for the much-needed cavalry and

other regiments who still rode horses. Then he was sent to Egypt

where he took part in the last battle to secure the Suez Canal for

the United forces, and then on to Larnaca, where he fought for 18

months. And finally, France. Your father was a farmer. And you

remember him on the fields when he came back. Jilly macro comedy came

back to a completely different community which was decimated

because of the menfolk who did not come back? Indeed, he came back to a

farm which had been neglected not through any fault of my

grandmother's, but because the men had all been called up and many of

the horses had been taken away for war purposes as well. But I remember

him, when I was very small, on the 11th hour of the 11th day,

remembering everybody he fought with. Thank you for coming along.

Thank you for sharing your memories of your father. I am doing also by

lieutenant colonel Peter Litho, OBE. of your father. I am doing also by

You are here partly because of your grandfather but also because of the

Territorial Army in Scotland. Tummy firstly about your grandfather. You

are wearing his medals? Yes, he was in the First World War as a young

officer and was awarded a military Cross. Ann was talking about the

fact that men came back to decimated communities. The Territorial Army

work involved in taking men from communities who perhaps were not

expecting to go to war in the first place? I am fortunate in commanding

the 51st Highland Regiment of place? I am fortunate in commanding

Scotland. We now represent all of those Territorial Army battalions

that were there 100 years ago, in one battalion. We get out to all the

communities as often as we can. You really note the impact that that

had. We were on the Isle of Skye last Monday, taking part in a lovely

ceremony. There were 45 people that were remembered. But that is the

same for many communities across the Highlands that lost many men. We are

seeing the army walking along to Scotland The Brave behind us. As far

as the Territorial Army are concerned, how important a day is

this to take time to remember those who went before them? It is hugely

important. After the initial battles of the First World War, we more and

more heavily relied on the territorial Force to support the

Army and whole line. They were paramount to the freedom we now

enjoy. Thank you for joining us. Yes, the band of The Royal Regiment

of Scotland, and the Army colours of the Royal Scots Borderers, The Royal

Regiment of Scotland, also referred to as one SCOTS. A lot of kilts here

today. Yes, The Royal Regiment of Scotland all wear the kilt. It was

formed in 2006 and the decision was taken by the Army at the kilt was so

recognisable that everybody should wear it. Today, everybody wears the

kilt. It is interesting that we have the 1st Battalion here. They

represent the Royal Scots and the royal Scotland borderers. And the

rest of the Army represented here are from across the 51st Infantry

Brigade. And they are made up from different units to represent the

range of units involved in the First World War. They were not all

infantry. Today, there are some from the Royal Logistics Corps, the Royal

Engineers, the Royal Artillery. Also including some reservists, who used

to be known as the Territorial Army. Indeed. As the colonel said

earlier, the reservists were an important part of the war effort.

The territorial Force, as it was known then, was only meant to do

home service. But when war broke out, every TA battalion was given

the option of serving abroad, and each battalion took that

opportunity, simply because they wanted to be part of the action.

They wanted to do their bit for their country. They also wanted to

see whether their training, and these were well-trained young men,

if it actually worked. This is the start of Scotland's commemorations

programme. You were on the panel, Trevor, that decided how the

commemorations should be done. What were the guiding principles? First

of all, we began with the word commemorations. But that only took

us so far. We wanted to mark the special elements of the First World

War which were particular to Scotland. It did not make it better,

it just made it to. We looked at various elements. Obviously, you

start with the battles. Next year, we will commemorate the battle of

loose, the fighting in Gallup only, into 1916, the battle of Jutland.

But we will not be neglecting what happened on the home front and what

happened to others. The First World War lasted a long time, and it

involved a lot of people. We hope that all of their work will be

commemorated in some way over the next five years. Let's not forget,

this is only the beginning of the commemoration. We still have a few

years to go. There is historical dispute about if we work

disproportionately affected by losses in the First World War. But

Scots were certainly thick in it and suffered a great deal? In the first

two years of the war, all the evidence points that in 1914, Scots

did join up in higher numbers, proportionally, than any other part

of the Arctic Kingdom in the crucial 18-41 age group. They did it for all

sorts of reasons. Part of it is stuff like this. The music, quite

honestly, it's quite exciting! The RAF March Past. This is the Central

Staff Band Of The Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force had not

into being and did not come into being until 1918, but was

represented by the Royal Flying Corps, a very important part of the

operations. The RAF colours are the Queen's colours. Which, normally,

you would not expect to see when the Queen is not here. But they are

allowed to carry them? Normally only on parade when Her Majesty is

present. Of course, the Queen is not here today. This is the Queen's Own

Colour Squadron. You can hear the crowd responding.

Just looking at these guys, they must be exhausted. They have been

playing that tattoo, not to mention the pipes and drums. On duty all the

time, practically? Indeed, but it shows the durability of the

personnel, they can go to Afghanistan, they can go on parade,

they can do lots of things and we should be very proud of them. Let's

go to do divide pond again. -- do divide pond. -- Dougie Vipond. We

have heard some incredible stories of bravery, one particular story

about the pioneering spirit of women during the First World War is

extraordinary, the story of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. Iain

Morrison is here. I hadn't heard of them, tell me about them. In 1914,

women doctors were relatively rare. They were struggling to gain

recognition in They were struggling to gain

Despite that, women really wanted to contribute to the war effort. Many

tried to enlist contribute to the war effort. Many

down. Elsie Ingalls was turned down, but she was undaunted and

determined to continue. She came up with the idea of forming an all

woman hospital unit, called the Scottish Women's Hospitals.

Everybody, from the senior surgeon, to the ambulance driver, was a

woman. She was a prominent suffragette, and she enlisted the

campaign with the funding and financing. Having been turned down,

they offered the service to the Allies, and the French and Serbians

gratefully accepted. The first unit went to France in 1914 and that

started a remarkable story. Were they welcomed by the British Army?

Did they work with British soldiers? They didn't, the interesting thing

is, on the ground, the Allied medical response works really well

together. For the first time, women worked alongside male counterparts

on an equal basis. Not on the same hospital, but there was great

cooperation and greater mutual respect. I guess this is a time when

cooperation and greater mutual women doctors would not may be given

the respect they should have got at that time? Absolutely. The

the respect they should have got at that women could take at that time

were quite limited. We are seeing a that women could take at that time

picture of Doctor Louise Marco Reus. Indeed, we have been researching her

career. They were taken with the French expeditionary Force to Serbia

and Salonika. In this picture she is probably in her 40s.

and Salonika. In this picture she is assured and confident, but the

learning curve had been really steep. Not only was she a senior

surgeon responsible for nearly all of the operations, she had to

surgeon responsible for nearly all hospital and the really difficult

conditions. Her letters are really vivid and she rides home that the

conditions here are indescribable, one point, she says. They are very

tested in Salonika, as are the troops. They are not only dealing

with wounded men, they have a huge epidemic of malaria and dysentery.

It is obvious from the archives that the women are tested to the limits

of endurance, but they keep going. They certainly do, we thank you for

keeping their story alive. The pipes and drums have been

keeping going as well. No mistaking the sound of them. Made up of

musicians from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Dragoon

Guards, Royal Scots borderers, 1st Battalion Regiment Of Scotland.

Highlanders, Royal Reg and Scotland, the first Italian comedy Regiment,

all here today. -- first Irish Regiment. The pipes have an

important part to play. Not only do they provide music and a sense of

sensibility during the working day, in time of war, especially during

the First World War, there are instances of pipers playing their

men into battle. At the Battle of Loos, one won The Victoria Cross,

well-deserved, the men had suffered a gas attack, he rallied them and

led the charge. They had an important part to play. And they are

not just there to make tourists happy, they play an essential part

in the British Army. Each of those pipers and grammars is also a

trained medic or a trained driver. They are operational soldiers as

well. The special guests are arriving. We see Alex Salmond, the

First Minister of Scotland, and Alistair Carmichael, the secretary

of state. Between them, Norman Drummond, who served in The

Parachute Regiment and Black Watch. He is chair of the Scottish

Commemorations Panel. Brought together, as we were saying, to work

out the best way and the correct ways of marking the centenary of

World War I. Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland.

We have also seen the Lord Mayor of Cardiff. The Lord Mayor of London as

well in the party. They are just taking their seats.

The three services are represented by the Air Of A Set Of Scotland, the

most senior RAF man in Scotland. -- Air Officer Of Scotland. And the

most senior Navy man and general make you all is,

-- Mick Heels, and he is standing apart ready to greet the guest of

honour. Once he has arrived, the service will be ready to begin.

The service will be conducted by these three men, the three chaplains

of the services. Nearest as is Jonathan Chaffee, and in the middle

is the Reverend Jonathan Woodhouse, and the Chaplain of the Fleet, at

the end, Reverend Scott Brown. He is the man who will lead the service

off, with the bidding, the first thing we will see. He is a Scot from

Hamilton, originally. He is now based in Portsmouth. He is

due to retire in December, after 23 years of service. In fact, Jonathan

Woodhouse, the chaplain general for Her Majesty's Land Forces, he

retires next month. They are all QHC, honorary chaplains to the

Queen. They have an important role to play,

not just in leading the service, but for transferring the colours to the

drumhead, which is something we will see during the first hymn. We are

waiting for the car that will bring the guest of honour, the Lord

Lieutenant, also Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Right Honourable

Donald Wilson. In his post, he is also representing Her Majesty. So

there is a royal presence here today, through the Lord Lieutenant.

Just a moment of expectation as this wonderful esplanade, with its

pageantry, awaits the arrival of this car. And here he comes now.

Would you please stand for the arrival of our guest of honour. The

congregation being invited to stand to welcome the arrival of the Right

Honourable Donald Wilson. And he is being greeted by General

Officer Commanding Scotland. Walking forward to take the salute. Lifting

his cap, the civilian form of salute. The correct way to salute if

you are a civilian and you happen to be wearing a hat. What do you do if

you are not wearing a hat? Just bow, nod your head, show respect.

Donald Wilson, being led to his seat. Once he is comfortably

settled, the service will begin. Beginning with The Bidding, by the

Chaplain of the Fleet. The three chaplains, stepping

forward to begin the service. You can see they have laid down their

arms, that is the correct procedure. Remember, this is not a parade, it

is a church service. We have come together to mark the

centenary of the outbreak of war in 1914, to reflect on sacrifices past,

and to look to the future in hope. This year,

and throughout the following five years, people in communities

across Scotland will gather together and remember the exceptional

sacrifice made by their forebears during the conflicts of what became

known as The Great War. for reconciliation between people,

communities and nations, that all people may live together

in freedom, justice and peace. SALLY MAGNUSSON: now, the drumhead

is being built by the Royal Marines. Trevor, this is something that would

have been done down the ages? Yes, a familiar scene to any soldier over

the last 100 years. It is the only practical way,

the last 100 years. It is the only practical because you use what is

available to you, and the drums are to hand. And they are dignified as

well by the colours being placed. Here, we can see the Naval being

placed on the drumhead. This is a very solemn moment, because as I

said earlier, these colours are very special to all three armed forces.

This is the Army's colour, being delayed now. And each service is

passing its own colour to its own chaplain. It is sometimes difficult

for those who are not in the armed services to understand the

importance of these colours? Well, the colours represent the regiments

from which these young men and women serve, but they are something more

important. Many will have seen the annual ceremony of Trooping the

Colour at horse guards in London and it looks colourful and it is, but it

has a military purpose. The point is to show the colours to the soldiers

so that they know it is a rallying point in battle. If you have just

joined us, we are live at the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle for a

drumhead service, as it is called, to mark the start of Scotland's

commemorations programme for the 100 anniversary of World War I. And

there is the drumhead, ready for the start of the service.

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,

how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?

It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?

Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised -

who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,

As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed

all the day long, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him

nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able

to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

that arrangement was by Holst of the anthem written by

It was sung by the National Youth It was sung by the National Youth

Choir of Scotland. Please stand for the hymn.

We give thanks for the dutiful service of our

Give unto her, and all the Royal Family,

wisdom and strength, and grant that together we may fulfil our service

for the welfare of all people and for your praise and glory.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who serve or have served in the Armed Forces

of the Crown, enabling us to live in peace and security.

We remember those who are currently deployed on operations

around the world, on land, at sea and in the air.

Protect them from all danger, and give unto them courage to meet

all occasions with discipline and loyalty, to the honour of your name.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who suffer today as a result of war.

We pray for all veterans and their families,

remembering with thanksgiving their faithful service and sacrifice.

We pledge ourselves to comfort, support and encourage others,

that all may live in a world where human life reflects

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray that your love, O God, may reach out to the wounded,

the disabled, the mentally distressed, and those

whose faith has been shaken by what they have seen and endured.

Comfort us, that in your love we may know wholeness and peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for those who 100 years ago were caught up in the

turmoil of war. For those who left from here

to fight on foreign fields. For those who remained,

for women and men, given new and additional responsibilities

in the service of their nation. For those unable to fight,

those who struggled with conscience, and who found other ways to serve

their nation and their comrades. For those who served as Chaplains,

bringing encouragement and hope. We pray that we in our generation

might learn from all this and so be worthy of the sacrifice of all

those who served in whatever way. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer. Almighty and eternal God, from whose

love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life, hear our

prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day, fulfil in

them the purpose of your love, and bring us all, with them,

to your eternal joy, Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass

against us. And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power,

and the glory, for ever and ever. We stand to seeing Eternal Father

Strong To Save. This is a hymn often connected to the Navy, but it has

been selected to represent all of the services. During this hymn, you

will see the drumhead being deconstructed, as the service moves

towards its conclusion. Let us commit ourselves to

responsible living Let us pledge ourselves anew to

the service of God and our fellow men and women,

that we may be peacemakers in our homes, in our communities, in our

nation and throughout the world. ALL: Lord God, we pledge ourselves

to serve you and all people in the cause of peace and for

the relief of want and suffering. Give us wisdom, give us courage,

give us hope, and keep us faithful, now and always.

Amen. Please stand for the national

anthem. God, grant to the living grace,

to the departed rest. To the Church, the Queen,

the Commonwealth and all people, And to us, and all his servants,

life everlasting, and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son

and Holy Spirit be with you all. That brings this historic drumhead

service at Edinburgh Castle to an end. In a moment, the vast audience

will be invited to walk down the Royal mile to Hollywood Park. We

will follow them and the bands as they marched down the Royal mile,

replicating the kind of March that we saw 100 years ago, from the

castle. Just reflecting on that service, very simple? Very simple,

very effective, and, dare I say it, very spiritual. Not necessarily in a

Christian sense, but in a spiritual sense. I think people will take

something with them that will give them pause to think about their own

lives, about their families and the roles which their families they have

played during the First World War. Above all, we should look back at

the First World War, not just thinking about the sacrifices of

people, but the service, the patria Chisholm and the way that people

went, willingly, to protect their country. Some of the soldiers here

went, willingly, to protect their today had great-grandparents who

served. A couple of young privates, and that is the guest of honour

leaving there, you can see Donald Wilson moving back, he will salute

the colours before he leaves. Once again, doffing his bonnet,

quite correctly. The presence of the Royal Reg And

Scotland is very important, not only does it represent all ten regiments

which fought in the First World War, representing Scotland, but there is

a sense of continuity, from father to son, grandfather, they all follow

each other. Most of the old regiments and the new regiment are

very much family affairs. Indeed, there are people in the

congregation here who have powerful family memories. We saw in the lady

that Dougie Vipond spoke to in the beginning, some of this is real to

people, still? It has suddenly become very important to their

lives. What has really encouraged me is the way that, all over the

lives. What has really encouraged me country, small groups of people,

from schools to community centres, they are now putting faces behind

the names that exist in their war memorials. Leaving, saluting the

colours. This is what we were saying earlier,

not so very usual to see, the three services coming together. The First

Minister, there. It is quite unusual, yes. The First Minister,

I'm sure he has other things on his mind at the moment. But it's good to

see him representing the Scottish Government. Alistair Carmichael,

representing the United Kingdom government. You have to remember, in

the First World War, it was the United Kingdom. In fact, it was an

affair that involved the whole of the Empire. But Scotland played a

very important role in it, and that is what we are remembering today.

It's a big occasion for some of these young men. For all of

It's a big occasion for some of young men, but I'm thinking

particularly for the young men carrying the colours, who have

actually quite a tricky physical manoeuvre to be thinking about when

they are doing that sacred task? All three of the ensigns, that is their

rank for the day, it is something I will never forget. The manoeuvres

are very difficult. When they had the colours being handed back from

the drumhead, they weren't looking down, they did it all in one

movement. It's a huge honour to carry the colours. It is one that

will mark their careers from now on. The Royal Marines band, marching

off. They are going to be leading the march down the Royal mile.

It is this point when history comes back to remind us of what was

happening 100 years ago. The Queen's Own Highlanders,

happening 100 years ago. The actually marched down the Royal

Mile, they had actually marched down the Royal

packing their cases, getting their ammunition right to cross over to

France in the British expeditionary Force. This is a replication of what

happened 100 years ago. Force. This is a replication of what

a photograph of the Cameron Highlanders. As you see, a large

crowd. And nothing wrong with that, it was almost a holiday atmosphere.

The weather was uniformly bad. It did look quite dreek. Do you think

it was hindsight that made people think the weather was like... Well,

maybe hindsight. There we go, leaving the way. The Royal Marines,

leading us off down the Royal Mile. You have to remember, 100 years

ago, it was 1000 young men marching off to war.

Amid all of the pageantry, feelings of... What? Excitement, trepidation?

Oh, yes. They didn't know what they were going to face. One of the

tragedies of the First World War was that nobody was really prepared for

it. Nobody understood the monstrous nature of the war of attrition and

the introduction of industrialised warfare, which killed a young men in

their swathes. That lay ahead of them. When they marched off from

Edinburgh, it was the tunes of glory ringing in their ears. Still a

widely held opinion at that time that it would be over by Christmas

question at Most wanted to get to the Western front as quickly as

possible, because they wanted a slice of the action. Nobody could

have foreseen that it would last such a long time. The central

feeling in August was one of excitement and anticipation. They

really believed if you didn't get across there, you would not get to

see any fighting at all. The Royal Marines, down Castle Hill now. The

Navy itself was in battle stations, ready to go into action at any

minute. It did see fighting in the North Sea in September. They are

going to marched to the Stone of Remembrance that stands under the

arches. The RAF are always liable to spring

a surprise or two. And a number of people have turned

out to see them out with some to see these magnificent men in their

flying machines. The extraordinary thing about the marines is that they

can fulfil so many roles. This and look as smart as any, and yet they

are troops who can fight anywhere in the world, and do. And behind them

are the pipes and drums from the Royal Scots Borderers. And the

Highlanders, the 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Army

behind are staying behind to process later with the veterans.

And the pipes and drums are getting a great cheer from the spectators

along the Royal Mile. For many people, this gilded Scottish

regiments represent the Scottish army. Many have in deployed in

Afghanistan since 2006, and they have suffered casualties. But when

they come home, they have started having homecoming parades similar to

this, where the population will turn out and welcome them back. This is a

return to an older age, and it is a good return, too.

The Esplanade may not be full, but there are a lot of people at the

market, and that is very encouraging. It is quite a sight.

There is nothing like the Royal Mile, when the soldiers get going.

The Stone of Remembrance that they are moving towards, not everybody

knows about it, do they? It was paid for our public subscription to

commemorate the citizens of Edinburgh who died in the First

World War. Yes. After the war, there was a great move throughout Scotland

and the whole of the UK to commemorate the dead of the First

World War. Communities wanted to remember those young men who marched

off so hopefully, many of whom did not return. In Edinburgh, the stone

was raised by public subscription. And it does reflect the very large

casualty list suffered by Edinburgh. Its local regiment was the Royal

Scots, and it had a casualty list of 11,213 killed, which makes it one of

the highest of the Scottish regiments which fought in the First

World War. Ron Avery small community, Edinburgh, and the

Lothian counties. Some the people of Edinburgh wanted to have something

which would respect and give honour to those young men. And here at the

castle, there to those young men. And here at the

memorial itself, which we will not see today. But that is also an

astonishing place with a remarkable story. It is. The most unusual event

that happened after the First World War was that a committee was put

together and the Scots decided that they wanted to have their own

together and the Scots decided that national monument at the Cenotaph in

London, but the Scots wanted something different and it was

decided to build it at Edinburgh Castle. And it was paid by public

subscription. They are patting the Stone of Remembrance now. When these

monuments were being put Stone of Remembrance now. When these

decided to keep it as simple as Stone of Remembrance now. When these

possible. Most war memorials Stone of Remembrance now. When these

this inscription on them. On gravestones, if a soldier was not

known, it would say, known unto God. gravestones, if a soldier was not

These sonorous, but simple words were given by the great poet Rudyard

Kipling Magoo in effect lost his own son, John, serving in The Irish

Guards at the Battle of Loos in 1915.

The public are beginning to form up here. Here is the RAF. Also

approaching the Stone of Remembrance, making their salute.

There are many examples of the key strategic roles Scotland played.

Britain's first operational military

airfield was set up in 1913 by the Royal Flying Corps in Montrose.

From the earliest days of aviation, Montrose air base trained pilots

for the Royal Air Corps which then became the Royal Air Force in 1918.

Dougie met the grandson of one of the earliest pilots.

I am with Simon Burke, whose grandfather major book was the

commander of Montrose Enfield. Tell me about Montrose. It was unique,

wasn't it? Yes, it was the first air station anywhere ever to try and

experiment with aircraft in support of military units. Its job was to

oversee the Royal Navy, going back and forth between Scapa Flow and

Rosyth. And Montrose was chosen because it is on the east and was

perfect for the job. And your grandfather was a real pioneer,

because he became the first commander of two Squadron? That is

correct. He had gone to convalesce in France in 1909 from a wound, got

awed and decided to learn to fly, as you do -- he got bored. And when he

came back, he was the only officer in the British Army who could fly,

so he was told us for them. -- he was gold dust for them. But he had

to try and persuade the crusty generals that aircraft were of some

use. Most of them thought it would just toys and would be a passing

fad. It was his life ambition to try to teach them but they were going to

be of immense value. And of course, it has been totally borne out. Who

would tinker for not using aircraft now? The pictures we are showing our

of your grandfather. This would have been a time when people had not

really seen aeroplanes. For your grandfather and the people he was

training, it was an incredibly dangerous profession and drop to

take on. Yes, because the equipment was all experimental. You never knew

what was going to break next. Then there was a problem with the

weather, trying to land in difficult conditions. It was extraordinarily

dangerous, and it is amazing that they achieved what they did.

Initially, what were the planes used for? I cannot imagine that they

would have had our moments on them. No, they were thought to light to

carry anything, so they were purely used to replace the cavalry who had

been used for reconnaissance. But the aeroplanes could give the

generals and edge over the enemy as they could see so much more. They

were not for carrying bombs, airships would carry those because

they could carry more weight. And these little aircraft could not. And

they had a rudimentary system of carrying shotguns to attack the

enemy. It was so basic, it was incredible. Thank you for sharing

your story. And up here in the Esplanade, the

public are just beginning to form up. They will be processing down the

Royal Mile themselves. There is a contingent of veterans here who will

also be marching down. They are veterans who have served in the

Korean War, Aden, Northern Ireland, Falklands, Bosnia, the Gulf and

Afghanistan. Lots of medals on show. Everybody has been asked to bring

their medals today. Yes, we asked people to bring any in if they had

their fathers' or great-grandfathers' medals, two wear

them with pride. Those who are wearing the medals on the left-hand

side are those who have served their country. It is right that these

veterans should take pride of place in the parade, because they

represent several decades of service to the armed forces. It is good to

see them wearing their regimental headdresses. You can pick them out

from the Scottish regiments. I have seen quite a few are should regiment

Perez. -- Parachute Regiment beret is. It is an important date, because

they are still part of the services family. And I think this parade has

managed to bring together civil society and military society. The

veterans are led by Robert Allen, national chairman of the Royal

British Legion of Scotland. Off they go, the veterans. Followed by the

first contingent of the crowd, complete with a few umbrellas. The

rain has held off, though. We have not done too badly. It has not been

too bad. This is what it is all about, really. This is the civic

society in Scotland, honouring what happened in the First World War. I

am sure many of them will have grandfathers or great-grandfather 's

who served and will want to recognise that service. It is very

moving. And important to remember that although this is happening in

Edinburgh, it is for everybody, everywhere. People have come from

all over Scotland, from Shetland down to the borders. When we were

planning this drumhead service, we wanted it to be inclusive. We did

not want people to feel, that is not for me. This is important, that the

people of Scotland are presented and play their part, as they have done

so magnificently today. One group of people in Scotland who did play

their part in the First World War. Every fisherman in Britain was

declared a naval reservist and a historian whose own family history

is intertwined with World War I Yes, as you said, all the fishermen

in World War I were requisitioned, and your grandfather was

requisitioned. What was the role of fishermen during World War I? The

skills that fishermen had were put to great use on requisitioned boats.

They could be positioned as patrol vessels, as armed escort,

minesweepers, mine layers. My great-great-grandfather worked in

the Adriatic, and he was working to trap Austrian submarines with wire

nets. Trapping submarines with, basically, fishing boats with no

armaments. Absolutely. When they were confronted by Austrian

cruisers, they were underprepared, definitely. To tell me what happened

to him in the Adriatic. They were out there for a couple of years and

they were awarded medals for their actions from the king of Serbia. In

1917, they were confronted by Austrian cruisers. The Austrians got

amongst their drifter fleet and began to destroy them all.

amongst their drifter fleet and were 47 drifter is out there.

amongst their drifter fleet and them were sunk, including my

great-great-grandfather's boat, a requisitioned boat he was asked to

skipper. After it went down, what happened to him? When it went down,

they were taken aboard an Austrian ship. They were basically, from that

moment on, prisoners of war. So, when they met the Austrians on

boat, the Austrian officers said to them, this morning's job, it was

dutiful, not beautiful. They were landed and they marched for 48 hours

to the first camp, where they stayed for 25 days. Then they went

further, to a camp in Austria, they were kept there until the end of the

war. When you're great-great-grandfather came back

from the war, presumably it was straight back out to fishing and

carrying on? The fact that fish wasn't being caught for the great

British public to eat, his role would be very important after the

war? Absolutely. He took back the role that he had before the war,

almost immediately, when he came back. He became its accessible

skipper over 20 years. -- a successful skipper. He was called

upon again to serve in 1939, in the Second World War. I imagine he came

back to a depleted fleet as well. The weather is turning almost like

the Adriatic here. Thank you very much for sharing your memories.

Thank you very much. The veterans still marching down. I

love the way they march. Well, once a soldier, always a soldier. You

never forget that. The public will be following, forming in groups of

about 500. When each group of 500 is ready, they will follow on. I don't

think they will be marching with quite that flair, somehow. It's

great to see. Yes, interesting, they are trying to get them all

involved, from areas of Scotland from which they come. It's rather

good. You are amongst friends. It makes life easier.

That also replicates the way that the Scottish regiment worked, you

would be put in your local regiment. People brought up together, they

served well together, fought well together, and, alas, in The Black

Watch's case, 8000 of them died together. The cadets from all three

services, the Sea Cadets, the Army Cadet Force and the air training

Corps cadets. Further down the Royal Mile, members

of the congregation behind the Pipes and Drums. There, the high church of

Saint Giles, which they are just about to pass. Many other colours

they are about to pass are hung up, they are never discarded, they are

hung up, laid up, usually in a sacred place like a church, a place

that is very important to the local community. The colours represent the

great continuation of service life, of our history, and a link with the

past. There is a Sunday morning service going on at Saint Giles this

morning. They have done their best to keep things as quiet as possible

at this stage. Of course, it is historical

remembrance. I'm just thinking about the fishermen, the sea element of

the First World War. We tend to forget, actually, how very important

to the Navy was, and it was thought at first it would be a naval war and

that was it? That's right, the commander of the grand Fleet was

described as the only man that could lose the war in an afternoon. Many

people thought that the war was initially going to be a naval war.

The Grand Fleet Of The Royal Navy, they would meet for a decisive

battle in the North Sea and that would end the war. It didn't work

out like that. There was one naval battle, probably best described as a

draw. At the Naval was central to the way we look at our defence

policy. We are and island province. We had to have a strong Navy. It was

thought that the army would play a minor role. And then it came to

affect just about every family in the land. At the end of the day, at

the end of the war, I should say, just about every family in the

country gave a son or daughter for service. I have got to make it

absolutely plane, not everybody that went to war, it was not a death

sentence, far more people came back than were killed on the Western

front. Even so, if we look at the figures, it was quite extraordinary.

At the end of the war, the number of Scots in the Armed Forces amounted

to 688,000. 71,000 in the Royal navy, 32,000 in the fledgling Royal

Air Force. These are big figures. It's pretty much the nation in arms.

That is why the First World War cast such a long shadow over the country

that Scotland became later in the 20th century. There were tragedies

back home as well. Earlier on this morning, Dougie Vipond metal body

whose family was very much affected by the war here at home. -- met

somebody. I am with John Bartholomew, whose

grandfather went to war with his sister and other brothers. Tell me

about your grandfather, his role and his siblings. My grandfather, John

Bartholomew, we called him Ian in the family, he enlisted in the

autumn of 1914. Very soon he found himself in northern France, in the

trenches, with the other soldiers. He served part

trenches, with the other soldiers. Flanders. His older sister, Betty,

went at the age of 22, did a train journey has a young lady, all of the

way to northern Italy and enlisted with the Red Cross, amongst a group

of British women who were there, before the Allies moved in. And then

the younger brother, his name was Hugh, he went later and he fought

again in the trenches, in active service in northern France.

Unfortunately, he was the one that service in northern France.

we lost. He was wounded and died of his wounds in 1917. When he died in

these tragic circumstances, how did your grandfather, brother and sister

react to that? Obviously, the loss your grandfather, brother and sister

of a dear one is devastating, what is fascinating was the

communications that went back and forth. There was a sort of Bush

telephoned of correspondence that went back to the other siblings.

They were aware of approximately were each other was, but they were

They were aware of approximately never able to see each other. Also,

the concern of the brother and sister was for the parents and how

they were feeling about the loss of Hugh. They cared more about the

feeling of their parents and they did of their own. Your grandfather

was not allowed to take photographs, but like many soldiers did

was not allowed to take photographs, always do what he was told? Yes, I

have an album, there is a picture I want to show you of a simple thing

like shaving on the front. Every man has had to shave, that is one. The

other one I wanted to show you was practising the charge. He wanted to

scare the enemy. They would have to keep practising, be scary. This was

taken in July 1915 of the charge by the Gordons. What happened to your

family, that was not unique at all for a lot of families and

communities around Scotland? What strikes me, after Hugh fell, it was

the correspondence that came from those sending condolences from the

front. A lot of soldiers were lost, but the trouble that they took to

write individual letters back to the parents, what strikes me, in all of

the diaries that we have as well, is that you realise how much the war is

a great equaliser. It doesn't matter if you went to a fancy public

school, if you went to a normal school, everybody was in it

together, fighting the same cause, the same muddy trenches. It's a very

poignant comedy impacts on that for later, for the family -- it is very

poignant, the impact on the family for later, they never really got

over it. Looking down the Royal Mile, the

procession, stringing out down the Royal Mile. Many waiting here at the

Esplanade, still to go. Lovely to see people waiting, in the rain,

Ming Campbell, one of the guests. Getting ready to walk down the Royal

Mile or so. Everybody is being patient. There is

a saying in the Armed Forces, hurry up and wait. Because they are being

hurried down there and then have to stand. Thinking about the letters,

as a military historian, you must have read many of these touching,

but often reticent letters coming from the front, of young men who did

not want their parents to know everything? Well, how wonderful it

was to hear John Bartholomew with such a firm grasp of his family

history. Terrific to hear that there was a sort of informal Bush

Telegraph they had to keep in touch. Letters were very important. They

were censored, of course, you had to be careful what you put in them.

More than anything, what I have discovered, talking first of all to

survivors of the First World War, two veterans back in the 90s and

80s, they didn't want to say everything that was going on because

they didn't want to upset their families. The other thing was, how

could you describe something as monstrous as the modern war of

attrition, with artillery, machine guns, very, very difficult. But some

of the letters that have survived are very humorous, very revealing of

the soldiers and fears. Some of are very humorous, very revealing of

managed to sound quite perky, although we know what they were

going through now? You wanted to keep spirits up. A lot of veterans,

in the 1980s, in their 80s and 90s by them, they would say, I didn't

want to write anything that was going to upset me mum. You don't

want people to think stuff is worse than it really is, although goodness

me, it was bad enough. The other thing is diaries. Even with all the

rules and regulations, people managed to keep diaries. There you

get the private thoughts, not for broadcast, but the soldier wanting

to talk privately to himself, often late at night, often in dreadful

conditions. You have these little notebooks, with mud on them still,

very moving. We will soon be hearing from a lady with a heartbreaking

personal story. One family directly affected by the Edinburgh Blitz was

the McLaren family. A bomb from a Zeppelin airship landed on their

roof. Dougie Vipond is with Dr Hamish McLaren, the grandson of Dr

McLaren, whose house was hit that day. Hopefully you will be able to

hear me. Your father, Hamish, he was in that house as a young man. Tell

us what happened. Well, he was only eight at the time. He was asleep and

my grandfather said, get under the bed, they are going to drop a bomb

on us. And they were absolutely correct, they did drop a bomb. It

exploded on the roof and destroyed the roof of the house. The nose fell

right through the bedrooms, but nobody was killed, very fortunately.

Your grandfather raised the alarm, were they aware of something coming

in? They were aware that a Zeppelin was over Edinburgh. Never one to

look on the bright side of things, my grandfather. Your father was just

a young man, but he clearly had memories of the explosion and the

trauma that it caused? Yes, he wrote a memoir of his life afterwards,

which is what my recollections are taken from. As I said, he was only

eight at the time. My grandmother... Sorry, my aunt is

quoted in the papers are saying, it will be some time before we get our

breakfast! Whether that was a bit of propaganda, I've no idea, because

she is dead as well. Incredible spirit shown by people fighting, and

also at home. There is a lovely photograph them by your uncle, he

drew this to represent the bomb? Sunni yes, and the Kaiser. I imagine

that would have a massive impact on anybody's life?

My grandmother was annoyed that they dropped a bomb on her nice house. So

she got a photographer afterwards. Tell me more about the events. As

you say, the bomb went right through the roof and the house, yet

remarkably, everyone was unharmed? Yes, it missed all the beds. There

were two maids at the very top. They were sheltering under the beds. But

the others did not bother to move. My aunt, the wardrobe fell over her

bed and the rafters came down, and that was what saved her. I

bed and the rafters came down, and that was what saved her. understand

a house was used as a GP's surgery. How soon was it before business

resumed as normal? I think it was about six weeks. Hamish, thank you.

Thank you for having me. SALLY MAGNUSSON: they are still

processing down the Royal Mile. These are the Royal Marines, aren't

they? No, they are not, I'm told. There are a lot today. Feels

they? No, they are not, I'm told. every band in the country is here

today. Trevor, just thinking of the Zeppelin attack that we heard about,

there were today. Trevor, just thinking of the

Scotland. Two in Edinburgh, and the Scotland. Two in Edinburgh, and the

third was in St Kilda? Well, it Scotland. Two in Edinburgh, and the

not so much a Zeppelin attack. St Kilda was shelled by a German

submarine for the un-warlike isn't that it had a station there. And in

this case, the captain of the German submarine warned the people of St

Kilda that he was going to open fire, told them all to take shelter,

shelled the radio station and then disappeared off into the Atlantic,

never to be seen again. Over the next four years, people will gather

across Scotland to remember the exceptional sacrifices made by men

and women in World War I. And later this evening, in a special

programme, some of Scotland's leading writers and broadcasters

will uncover remarkable personal On a journey to the fields of

Flanders. Author Andrew O'Hagan offers a personal tribute to

arguably Scotland's greatest war poet, Aberdeen born Charles Hamilton

Sorley, who was killed in the Battle of Loos. Fellow author Denise Mina,

a former nurse, travels to Belgium in the footsteps of the formidable

Lady Millicent, Duchess of Sutherland, who established a field

hospital there in the early days of the conflict. Rory Bremner uncovers

the story of Charles McKerrow, and Ayrshire doctor who developed

life-saving techniques in the trenches that are still used today.

And Elaine C Smith visits the site of a huge cordite factory just west

of Gretna, which employed over 10,000 women to produce artillery

shells. World War I: Scotland Remembers -

A Drumhead Commemoration, And some of the scenes that we have

already witnessed this morning from the service and the marching band,

these scenes on the Royal Mile, will be shown tonight as part of that

programme, which also includes many extremely moving stories from the

First World War. Now, we are joined in the studio by Dame Mary Corsar,

who attended today's service and whose life was touched, as were so

many, by World War I. Welcome to you, Mary. Your grandfather was

killed in World War I. In fact, people on both sides of your family

were affected? Both grandfathers and two uncles? That is right. What

effect has that had on your family? My grandmother, who lived to 90, was

a widow for a huge number of years. It became a matriarchal society as a

result of that, I think. The things I remember most chilly moved both my

mother and father greatly. Always on Armistice Day, we have a flagpole in

the garden, and at 11 o'clock, my four brothers and myself were made

to parade there and have our minute's silence, because they

wanted us to relies how much the death of my uncles and grandfather

had affected the family. I feel so much for your grand mother. As a

mother myself, the thought of sending one son off, he dies, then

she sends another of and he dies, and then she has to send her third

boy off, and that third boy is thankfully your father. There was a

photograph of my grandmother with her three sons. There it is. To me,

that was very moving, to actually have to say goodbye to her youngest

one. My first uncle was killed in the Battle of Loos. My father fought

there in 1918. What is also poignant was that my uncle George, the eldest

one, was killed on his younger brother's birthday. And the younger

brother was killed in East Africa. So it must have been absolutely

traumatic for my grandmother. She has written a book. Yes, she and her

husband wrote this book, which is called George Buchanan Smith, who is

your uncle, 1890-1915, 25 years old. She wrote it the year after he died

and before the second son had died. I find this heartbreaking. Your

brother George was born on the morning of St Luke 's Day, Saturday

to be the 18th, 1890, in 91 fountain haul road, Aberdeen. We used to say

that he slipped to ask down a rainbow, one end of which I saw

resting on the house as I came up the road a few minutes before his

appearance. I mean, there is just so much in that of the tearing loss and

desperation to try and keep hold of a person. She also wrote a book

about her younger son, and he was in the Indian Army. What I found

removing and how I came to be involved in this is that in the

National library, there is an exhibition of letters written during

the First World War, and my uncle who was in the Indian Army wrote a

will to be delivered to his father if he was killed. And in that will,

he must have been very impecunious, because he wrote, if there is enough

money left over, he would like ?100 set aside to give five rupees a

month to his Indian servant. I found that incredibly moving. Trevor,

stories like Mary's are only two, to common in a country where every

family in the land was losing sons and sometimes daughters in this

way. Yes, but Mary's story is a link with that past and it is terrific

that it is being remembered in the same way that the Bartholomew family

story is being remembered. I hope that in this centenary year, other

families all over the country will look back into their own past and

start recording what they know about it. It is a truism that it is part

of our life, but once all the people start dying, they are no longer

there to tell us the story. So my message to everyone this year, is

that if you have got grandfathers or great-grandfathers who served in the

First World War, find out about what they did. And dig up the old medals

if you can. You clearly have. Yes, I have my grandfather's medals on

today. Well, thank you for joining us today and sharing your story. And

thanks also to Trevor Royle for bringing us his expertise today, and

to all our guests and also to our valiant Dougie Vipond

to all our guests and also to our Mile. We leave the marchers heading

for Olympic Park. I am back Mile. We leave the marchers heading

at seven on BBC One Scotland with World War 1:

Drumhead Commemoration. For now, we leave you with images of Scotland's

National War leave you with images of Scotland's

sounds of the leave you with images of Scotland's

the forest, written to commemorate those who fell at the Battle of

Flodden, but now commemorating losses in all wars.

Flodden, but now commemorating commemorated with an extract from a

by Aberdeenshire poet Mary Symon, will be read by Gerda Stevenson.

Far awa' is the Flanders land Wi' fremmit France atween,

But mony a howe o' them baith the day

It's them we kent that's lyin' there,

But wi' brakin' herts, an' mem'ries sair,

That we're biggin' the Soldiers' Cairn.

More, more than death is symbolled there,

There's the Dream Divine of a starward way

In lands we'll never see, This lanely cairn on a hameland hill

Is a' that oor love can dee, An' fine an' braw we'll mak' it a',

It's a cradle's croon that'll aye blaw doon