Edinburgh Castle to mark WW1 anniversary

SCOTLAND will mark the 100-year anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War with a special service at Edinburgh Castle next August.

A “drumhead” service will be held on the castle esplanade, replicating the church services conducted on the front line where neatly-piled drums were used as makeshift altars.

First Minister Alex Salmond announced details of the service and other commemorative events to mark the centenary of the Great War.

A five-year programme has been compiled by a specially-created Scottish Commemorations Panel headed by former Army Chaplain Norman Drummond.

Scotland will mark the battles at Loos and Arras, where Scottish battalions suffered a high number of casualties, and domestic incidents such as the loss of HMS Iolaire.

At the Royal British Legion Scotland conference, Mr Salmond said communities across Scotland will gather to remember the sacrifices made.