History of Leith, Edinburgh

Leith Roll of Honour

At the outbreak of the First World War Leith was an independent burgh of some 84,000 people. Throughout the period of the hostilities some 14,200 men either volunteered or were conscripted into the Armed Forces fighting in all sectors where the war was enacted. Over 2,200 of these officers and men did not return and their names are inscribed on gravestones or memorials throughout all areas where the conflict took place.

Following the armistice memorials were erected throughout the country and beyond to commemorate the casualties of the war. In Leith however the memorial was to take a different form. During the conflict the infirmary at Leith became the Leith War Hospital (585 beds). The hospital had been in existence since the mid 19th. Century. The port of Leith was used by hospital ships from north Russia and about 4,500 officers and men passed through it. Following the war the Town Council set about raising funds for a Children’s’ Wing for Leith Hospital in order to commemorate the fallen in a more tangible way. The projected expenditure, estimated at some £50.000.00, was to be by public subscription. The people of Leith responded generously and the fund was exceeded by several thousands of pounds. However it was not until 1927 that the Wing was formally opened.

The local newspaper – ‘The Leith Observer’ – in conjunction with the Town Council, compiled a Roll
Of Honour printing this in its weekly editions in alphabetical order from 5th. April to 13th. September 1919. Later all the names of those submitted were inscribed in five leather bound volumes which were later deposited in the Children’s’ Wing of the hospital.

This memorial wing was built on Mill Lane, where the South Leith Poorhouse stood, overlooking Taylor Gardens, and was dedicated to the men of Leith who fell during the first world war. The hospital was closed in 1987 and the buildings were converted into residential apartments. This sandstone wing now provides 11 homes, comprising one and two-bedroom apartments, plus a two-storey town house. Eight of these were sold in just 10 days.

All the hospital records were transferred to the care of Lothian Health Services Archive. This included the five volumes of Roll of Honour. In May 2008 these were put on display at Leith Library for the first time and some 400 people came to view them over the period of the week during which they were exhibited.

In the months following this exhibition I set about finding the locations of the grave sites and memorials where all those in the Roll of Honour are commemorated. In addition an analysis of the information contained therein and from other sources was carried out. This document is the result of this research.
Andrew Grant …. May 2009.

The material contained within this document was researched and compiled by
Andrew Grant, 72 Easter Warriston, Edinburgh. EH7 4QY

For any errors I apologise but would be grateful if these could be communicated to me by email to: [email protected]

I would also be pleased to receive any photographs of Leith individuals who were involved in the conflict which would be included in the reference material. These can be forwarded to the above email address.
All contributions will be acknowledged in the reference document.