Scotland’s Armed Forces Children’s Charity, the Royal Caledonian Education Trust (RCET), is among ten organisations with long standing links with London, who have contributed to a new book to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018…
The book is titled Scots in Great War London, a Community at Home and on the Frontline 1914-1919. It highlights the efforts of RCET and others during the First World War and will be published in late June.
HRH The Princess Royal is the Patron of the Scots in Great War London Group, and has written the foreword for the book.
The book details many stories of heroism and kindness, including the hospitality for 50,000 Scottish troops on their way to and from the trenches in France and Flanders. Stories of members killed in action are also featured. There were 49 children attending the Royal Caledonian Schools during the Great War whose fathers were killed in action.
Malcolm Noble, Chairman of RCET, known previously as the Royal Caledonian Schools, said: “This book reflects many untold stories of heroism and kindness linked with Scottish organisations supporting Scottish troops and their families as they passed through London on their way to and from war and we are delighted to receive the endorsement of HRH The Princess Royal.”
A series of commemorative events have been planned by the group. A play, titled This is My Life, commissioned by RCET, will be performed for local schoolchildren in London. It explores issues faced by young people with parents in the forces. The play has already been performed widely throughout Scotland.
Events will also take place at the Caledonian Club, St Columba’s Church and London Scottish FC rugby club. Rev. Angus MacLeod, Minister at St Columba’s, said: “The project enables us to honour the story of Scots in wartime London.
“It highlights themes that linked people one hundred years ago – hospitality, friendship, the meeting of need and giving of comfort, the offering of prayer. It inspires those same things today.”
To purchase a copy of the book or for further details of events and other news visit the website.
Scots in Great War London will be published by Helion on 26th June 2018.
