Scottish National War Memorial

Proposals for a Scottish National War Memorial were put forward in 1917, during the First World War, by John Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl, and Captain George Swinton of Kimmerghame. Sir Robert Lorimer, the architect of the Order of the Thistle's Thistle Chapel in St Giles' Cathedral was appointed in 1919, but opposition to a large-scale monument arose from the Cockburn Association and others concerned with the castle's heritage. A more modest scheme to remodel the North Barrack Block was finally agreed in 1923, and the memorial was formally opened on 14 July 1927 by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII). After the Second World War, 50,000 names were added to the rolls of honour. Names continue to be added from successive conflicts, though the memorial itself has been left unchanged. ==The Memorial==

The exterior of the building is decorated with gargoyles and sculpture by Pilkington Jackson, John Marshall and Phyllis Bone, whilst the interior contains elaborate wall monuments commemorating individual regiments. The stained-glass windows are by Douglas Strachan. The original aim behind the Memorial was to commemorate Scots and those serving with Scottish regiments who had died in the First World War, from the declaration of war on 4 August 1914 to the Treaty of Versailles of 28 June 1919 (confirmed military suicides and those tried and executed excepted). Upon the altar within the Shrine, placed on the highest part of the Castle Rock emerging through the floor, stands a sealed casket containing the Rolls of Honour listing over 147,000 names of those soldiers killed in the First World War together with open lists within the Hall. After the Second World War the limiting dates were modified, with another 50,000 names inscribed on the Rolls of Honour within the Hall, and with further names continuing to be added there. == Gallery ==

File:Plan of the Scottish National War Memorial.png|Plan File:Edinburgh Castle (42003194414).jpg|'Courage' by Alexander Carrick File:Edinburgh Castle (16753921186).jpg|The apse File:Edinburgh Castle (42720939901).jpg|Gargoyle File:Edinburgh Castle (42003194634).jpg|Heraldic unicorn with a St Andrew's cross flag and a thistle finial File:Edinburgh Castle (41821318355).jpg|Memorial to the Royal Air Force in a laurel wreath by Pilkington Jackson File:Edinburgh Castle (14790402902).jpg|The western façade with 'Freedom' by Percy Portsmouth and niche capitals Phyllis Bone File:EdinburghSNWM.JPG|Scottish National War Memorial from the north, showing the shrine. The niche statue is 'Truth' by Alice Meredith-Williams and niche capitals by Phyllis Bone. File:Unicorn Outside the Scottish National War Memorial (6271810448).jpg|Unicorn from the royal arms, with a shield bearing a St Andrew's cross by Phyllis Bone File:Rain Spout (4945899313).jpg|Gargoyle and the lion with the flag of England from the royal arms File:Scottish National War Memorial - Stierch.jpg|Rib vaulting File:Edinburgh Castle (28847473998).jpg|The apse interior File:Edinburgh Castle (40910775770).jpg|"Their name liveth for evermore" File:Edinburgh Castle (42720943491).jpg|Military badge of the Lovat Scouts and the crest from the royal arms File:Edinburgh Castle (28847474708).jpg|Hall with naval ensigns and military colours ==References==