Princess champions memorial to honour Merchant Navy's dead

THE Princess Royal is leading an appeal to fund a £180,000 national memorial to the thousands of Scottish merchant seamen who lost their lives while serving their country.

• A mock-up shows how the memorial, designed by sculptor Jill Watson, would look in a piazza in the Shore area of Leith. Picture: Complimentary

The Shore area of Leith, which for hundreds of years was Scotland's main trading port, will become home to the landmark – reflecting the contribution of the Merchant Navy to the nation's maritime history.

A 4.5-metre sandstone column, featuring seafaring scenes covering 700 years, will have pride of place in a public piazza outside the Malmaison Hotel if the fundraising is successful.

The memorial will commemorate the sacrifice made by about 6,500 Scottish Merchant Navy personnel killed during the two world wars. However, its backers say it is also intended to reflect the contribution made by merchant seamen transporting cargo worldwide for 700 years.

The memorial is being designed by award-winning Edinburgh sculptor Jill Watson, whose carvings feature on landmarks such as The Hub on the Royal Mile and the Queen's Gallery at Holyrood Palace, in Edinburgh.

The fundraising is being organised by the Merchant Navy Memorial Trust, which was set up last year.

Scotland's most significant Merchant Navy memorial was created in Hoy, in the Orkney Islands, to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Arctic convoys to Russia during the Second World War.

Of the new memorial, the Princess Royal said: "It will commemorate the loss of all Scottish Merchant Navy and other Scottish seafaring and mercantile personnel who gave their lives in World Wars One and Two, other theatres of conflict and in peacetime service along the trading routes of the world. They gave the ultimate sacrifice in support of their country.

"The unique location on the Shore is most fitting as Leith was Scotland's premier port for more than 300 years and was the trading port for Edinburgh for over 700 years. I extend my best wishes for the deserved success of the trust in providing a permanent recognition … of these brave personnel."

It is hoped the princess will unveil the memorial in November. William Thomson, the trust chairman, added: "Having spent my life involved in the Merchant Navy, I am delighted that at last proper recognition is to be given to seafarers whose contribution to our nation's welfare has gone almost unnoticed."

Edinburgh's Lord Provost, George Grubb, said: "There are countless families here in Edinburgh, across Scotland and beyond whose forebears served this country at sea. I very much hope this call for support will be answered."