World War One Centenary Commemorations – 2015 (Updated May 2015) – Borders Journeys - Tailor made private guided sightseeing, ancestral and Outlander tours of Scotland. Specialising in Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders.

World War One Centenary Commemorations – 2015 (Updated May 2015)

Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has revealed the schedule of World War One centenary commemorations to be held in Scotland this year:

22nd & 23rd May – Events in Gretna and Leith on to mark the Quintinshill rail disaster which claimed the lives of 216 soldiers.

4th & 6th June – Stirling will host a national commemoration to mark the 100 year anniversary of the 52nd Lowland Infantry Division arriving in Gallipoli after training in the town.

26th September – Dundee will stage an event to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Loos in which around 30,000 Scots fought.

More details can be found in articles that appeared on the BBC website on Friday 9th January 2015 and The Scotsman on Saturday 10th January 2015.

The announcement of the commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the Quintinshill rail disaster during the Great War reminds us of a visit that we made to the memorial at Rosebank Cemetery in Edinburgh. The rail disaster at Quintinshill near Gretna took place on 22nd May 1915. The train crash killed 216 soldiers of the Leith-based 7th Battalion The Royal Scots, Territorial Force who were travelling to Liverpool, prior to sailing for Gallipoli.

Further articles can be found on the BBC website and The Scotsman on Saturday 16th May 2015.

Quintinhill Rail Disaster Memorial in Edinburgh

The Quintinshill Rail Disaster Memorial at Rosebank Cemetery in Edinburgh

If you have Scottish ancestors that fought in World War One, Borders Journeys‘ researcher Ian can assist you research their war records. More details about our research services can be found on our Ancestral Services page.

We can design a tailor-made ancestral tour especially for you that will take you on a journey of discovery where you’ll connect with your Scottish ancestors by walking in their footsteps. Your ancestors will be brought to life when you learn about the people, places and traditions connected with them. By the end of the tour you’ll have gained a real insight into your ancestral heritage and where you came from, which you can share with present and future generations.