Bravery of Victoria Cross hero finally honoured with plaque

Published on Friday 6 November 2009 10:07

HIS STORY is one of incredible bravery both on the battlefield and on the streets of Edinburgh.

Charles Kennedy would earn the Victoria Cross for his heroics in the Boer War before his actions saving a mother and child from a runaway horse in Leith would claim his life.

Now, more than 100 years after his death, his memory is at last set to be honoured with a permanent memorial in the Grassmarket, yards from his birthplace.

On Sunday, residents will unveil a bench and brass plaque in his honour.

James Cormack, an ex-serviceman and member of the Grassmarket Area Group, said: "I think it's very important that people know the story of Charles Kennedy. When we read about what he did, he was a true hero – in more cases than one."

The group has campaigned for more than two years to secure a plaque for Mr Kennedy, believing the Grassmarket-born soldier's memory should live on.

They will be joined by councillors and residents on Sunday afternoon – Remembrance Day – to unveil the plaque which will be covered by a Saltire beforehand, on a bench beneath the Castle.

Mr Kennedy was born on 6 January 1873 and lived with his parents at 32 West Port. He opted for a career in the Army, joining the Highland Light Infantry in 1891, serving in India between 1894 and 1898 and then in the Boer War.

In 1901, General Kitchener recommended him for a Victoria Cross, for risking his life to bring a colleague suffering a bullet wound back to camp.

He received his award that year from King Edward VII at St James' Palace in London, but was discharged from the Army owing to a battle injury, securing 10 a year in pension payments.

It was on 24 April, 1907 that tragedy struck – Kennedy was crushed by a horse and cart in Leith and died at the age of 34.

Mr Cormack said: "There was a runaway horse and cart on East Montgomery Street which he tried to stop, pulling at its reins as there was a mother and child nearby.

"He died on the way to the Royal Infirmary. It was probably a long-drawn out affair to even get him there. It's a very sad story."

Despite thousands of people lining the city's streets for his funeral, his grave in North Merchiston was never properly marked and it was not until 2001 that a gravestone was erected, following a campaign by the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

In 2006, the city council agreed to name a street in his honour – Kennedy Street, linking East Fountainbridge and High Riggs.

The public is welcome at Sunday's service at 1:30pm.