Drill Hall

After a sunny morning where our dog tried to imitate yesterday’s picture, we went to the Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street, off Leith Walk. It is a community and artistic centre, hence the bucket decoration. But this week it has been marking Gretna 110.

I’ve spoken before about Quintinshill, which is just to the north of Gretna. 110 years ago yesterday Britain’s worst rail disaster occurred.

A train carrying soldiers of the Royal Scots to Liverpool crashed into a standing train, rolled over onto the other track to be hit by the Glasgow express and the the gas canisters for the lighting exploded and a horrendous fire broke out. Train workers and civilians were killed. But the most affected were the soldiers. There were 498 soldiers on board. Once the dead and injured had been taken away, only 62 soldiers were left standing. Many of them would later head on to Gallipoli. In total 216 died.

The train had picked up many from Leith and the following evening the list of the dead was read to the waiting crowd from the top window of the Drill Hall. So many families were affected. My wife’s grandfather and one of his brothers was one the troop train. Each survived but with injuries.

There was a great exhibition with contributions from local schools. Royal Scot volunteers were on hand to speak to visitors and a room with one or two historians and record keepers who could try and provide more information. We had some photos from the family album and got some helpful advice.

The service in memory of those who died and were involved in the accident is tomorrow morning at Rosebank Cemetery where 103 were buried together.

It seemed fitting that the rains came tonight.