Armed forces memorial cairn planned for Edinburgh

The cairn is to be built in the grounds of Inchdrewer House in Edinburgh which is home to the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming.

Construction work on the memorial is being carried out by soldiers from the 48 Field Squadron (Air Support) unit from the 39 Engineer Regiment based at Kinloss Barracks in Morayshire. But fund raising efforts are continuing to raise the £40,000 needed for a life sized bronze sculpture of a piper and drummer which is to be erected on top of the cairn.

Major Steve Small, the Director of Army Bagpipe Music, said: ”Many pipers and drummers have given their lives in the service of our country. Throughout history - and including the recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan - pipers and drummers have shown bravery on the battlefields around the world, serving with honour and devotion to duty, all too often paying the ultimate sacrifice.

“We wish to honour them all, with a memorial garden and a cairn within the grounds of Inchdrewer House, the home of Army Piping and Drumming. Construction has begun on the base but funds still need to be found in order to furnish a life size bronze piper and drummer as part of the memorial.”

He continued: “Once the memorial is complete, hopefully by October, it will be open and visible to all who visit Inchdrewer House and will stand to honour the memory of all pipers and drummers who have served our nation with such distinction.”

Lieutenant Mark Palmer, of 48 Field Squadron, said: “As military engineers we are more familiar with delivering larger tasks in support of the Armed Forces throughout the world. However the construction of the cairn is a worthwhile enterprise in a time when personal sacrifice in the Armed Forces is at the forefront of people’s minds; it is a privilege to be able to assist the school, ensuring that fallen pipers and drummers are remembered at their home.”