I hope you have enjoyed the articles about the Haddington war dead over the last 11 months.

Last week’s was the last, and was published almost exactly 100 years to the day that the 8th Royal Scots marched from the Corn Exchange to Haddington Railway Station, many never to return.

All in all, 130 men are commemorated on the memorial; many were born and educated in Haddington, but some had almost no connection to the town. The oldest was 56; the youngest just 18.

All ranks were represented, from Lieutenant Colonel Brook to Private Bradford. In civilian life they had been tailors, bank clerks, seed merchants – it is interesting to note that most of the professional soldiers were killed in 1914 or 1915 before their places were filled by conscription.

The Cranston brothers are well known, but less well known are the three Ramage brothers; and the Pitcher family who lost a father as well as his son. Many had young children, and a high number of men married their sweethearts on leave, only for them to be widowed before the war was over.

As well as the Royal Scots, most Scottish Regiments are represented, as well as a good few English and Canadian ones. Only two were in the Navy and none were in the Royal Flying Corps.

They lie buried in France, Belgium, and indeed Scotland – with a few in Greece, Turkey, and Iraq. However, some of these Haddingtonians ended their days in India, Palestine and Yemen.

I have also identified at least 17 men buried, or commemorated, on gravestones in Haddington who are not mentioned on the war memorial.

I hope the readers of the Courier have enjoyed the pen portraits of these brave men, and that over the next four years you find the time to remember them and their sacrifice.

Alastair Shepherd Haddington