Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 78th Highlanders Memorial
Commemorative Monument (20th Century), War Memorial (20th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 78th Highlanders Memorial
Classification Commemorative Monument (20th Century), War Memorial (20th Century)
Canmore ID 236890
Site Number NT27SE 1.54
NGR NT 25350 73529
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/236890
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
See also, NT27SE 1.33 Castle Esplanade
Project (1997)
The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.
Field Visit (25 September 2002)
Celtic cross including three lower stages, on large stone base. The top half of the cross is carved with Celtic knots on all four sides. Below them is a stag's head in low relief, then an inscription (in incised Gaelic letters). Below that is an elephant in profile, carved in low relief. Below the shaft of the cross is a stone block carved with Celtic knotwork on its N., E. and W. sides and an inscription panel on its S. side. Below this is a larger stone block carved with lists of soldiers on its E., S and W. sides. There are also three inset panels on the S. side carved with details of the Indian Mutiny. The lowest block is plain except for the carver's and builders' names.
According to The Art-Journal of 1862, the armorial bearings of the regiment (stag and elephant) are 'sculptured, in bas-relief' by George MacCallum.
The stag and the elephant are the armorial bearings of the regiment.
Inspected By : T.S.
Inscriptions : Around circle of cross at top [Gaelic inscription]
Below circle (raised numbers): 7 8
Above stag's head on shaft of cross (incised Roman numerals): LXXVIII
Below stag's head (incised letters): CUIDICH AD RIGH
Above elephant (incised letters): ASSAYE : MAIDA : JA- / VA : PERSIA : KOOSH-AB
On S. face of 1st stage below cross shaft (incised letters):
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS / AND PRIVATE SOLDIERS OF THE LXXVIII HIGHLAND REGIMENT WHO FELL IN / THE SUPPRESSION OF THE MUTINY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF INDIA IN THE / YEARS MDCCCLVII AND MDCCCLVIII : THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED AS A / TRIBUTE OF RESPECT BY THEIR SURVIVING BROTHER OFFICERS AND / COMRADES AND BY MANY OFFICERS WHO FORMERLY BELONGED TO THE / REGIMENT. ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXI :
On S. face of 2nd stage below cross shaft, in inset panels (incised letters), from W. to E.:
West:- [G]UTTERPORE [?] / AOUNG PANDOO- / NUDDI. CAWNPORE / ONAO BUSSEERAT / GUNGA BOORB[C?]A / KECHOWKEE
Centre:- BITHOOR PASSAGE / OF THE GANGES / MUNGUR[WAR?] / ALUM-BAGH / FIRST RELIEF OF / LUCKNOW
East:- DEFENCE OF LUCK / NOW DEFENCE OF / THE POSITION OF / ALUM-BAGH / CAPTURE OF LUC / KNOW BAREILLY
Signatures : On W .side of cross at base of shaft (incised letters): R. ANDERSON / ARCHITECT
On E. side of cross at base of shaft (incised roman numerals): A.D. MDCCCLXI
On S. side of cross at base, W. end (incised letters): S BUNTER CARVER
On S. side of cross at base, E. end (incised letters): D SUNDERLAND & SONS BUILDERS
Design period : 1861-1862
Year of unveiling : 1862
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0477)
