The annual week-long community outreach exhibition hosted by the Royal Scots Regimental Community Museum is this year entitled GRETNA 110 in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of Britain’s worst rail disaster at Quintinshill, near Gretna, on 22nd May 1915. The exhibition raises awareness of the 227 people killed in the crash, including the 216 Royal Scots officers and soldiers of the 1st/7th (Leith) Battalion who were on the first leg of their journey to fight at Gallipoli.
The disaster left an indelible scar on the close-knit communities of Leith and Musselburgh, with several families losing both fathers and sons. Many of the dead were taken to a temporary mortuary that had been established in the Battalion’s Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street, where the exhibition fittingly talks place, before the majority were buried in the Rosebank Cemetery in nearby Pilrig Street. A Memorial Service will take place at the cemetery on 24th May with a separate Service taking place at Gretna on the anniversary of the crash (details below).
A 2015 film from Finestripe Productions Ltd will be aired at 13.00 and 14.30 on Saturday 24th May. Admission is free; tickets can be booked at the Welcome Desk throughout the exhibition
The exhibition includes a short film about the crash, ‘Leith’s Darkest Dawn’ that will be played on a loop throughout the exhibition. There will also be displays, including artefacts recovered from the crash; a dedicated Research Room with access to The Royal Scots records with genealogy and medals experts; illustrated stories from some of the soldiers involved and their families; the role played by the people of Gretna and Carlise after the Crash; sporting connections including football, boxing and swimming as well as Leith Academy’s GRETNA 110 researched creative exhibits display.
Quintinshill and Gretna Wreathlaying on Thursday 22nd May 2025
At 11.00 a wreath will be laid at the crash site by Robin Bell, son of crash survivor Ian Bell.
At 11.30 there will be a short service at the Memorial Cairn that was erected in 1995 by The Scottish Area of The Western Front Association in Gretna Green organised by Gretna Community Council and involving the local community, Devil’s Porridge Museum and Carlisle Museum of Military Life.
Robin Bell said “My father Ian was a platoon commander, of 45 men. He survived the Crash, but at the sad roll call afterwards only four of his platoon answered their names.”
Annual Royal Scots Association Memorial Service on Saturday 24th May 2025
At 10.45 at Rosebank Cemetery, Pilrig Street in Edinburgh a service will be held at the Memorial, that was paid for by public subscription and unveiled in 1916. Official wreaths will be laid during the Service after which there will be the opportunity for individuals to lay wreaths. While there is no seating there are a couple of benches nearby for those who are unable to stand for long periods.
Venue: Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG
Times: between 1000 – 1630
Dates: Monday 19th to Saturday 24th May 2025Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 