Category: World War 1Page 2 of 3

A Gardener at War, by Freda Child

The memorial poppy and wild flower meadow on the glasshouse lawn at RBGE has inspired many visitors to contemplate the bravery and sacrifice of men and women involved…

Wartime Rhododendron

  In the Autumn of 1914, George Forrest was travelling in China. His letters written at the time mention the difficulties he was facing in getting permission to…

In memory of Sergeant George Cruickshanks Fallow (1890-1915)

George Cruickshanks Fallow was born to Archibald (a grocer and fruit grower) and Margaret (by 1914 a postmistress) in Rosebank near Dalserf, Lanarkshire on the 5th November 1890. …

In memory of Lieutenant Isaac Bayley Balfour [Jr.] (1889-1915)

During the initial few months of the First World War 56 men out of a total male staff of around 88 at RBGE enlisted, rising to 73 by…

In memory of Private William Gordon Dickson (1871-1915)

William G. Dickson joined the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as a Labourer on the 3rd August 1914, the day before Great Britain declared War on…

In memory of Private Duncan Smith (1884-1915)

Duncan Smith began work at RBGE as a probationer or trainee gardener on the 4th January 1909 at the age of 24, receiving training and work experience in…

In memory of Private Thomas Adam (1878-1915)

In researching this series of centenary blogs in which I research each of our former staff members who enlisted during the First World War and are named on our…

In memory of Private Walter Henry Morland (1881-1915)

Walter Henry Morland joined the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) on the 5th January 1910 as a rose specialist. He came to RBGE near the age of 30…

Private Allan Menzies (1894-1915) – photo found

5th Cameron Highlanders.  Reported missing, presumed killed, on the 25th September 1915 at the Battle of Loos. We were delighted to be sent this photograph recently of Private…

Rhododendron campanulatum ‘Roland Cooper’

Currently flowering profusely but tucked away at the back of a bed near Inverleith House is the large shrub Rhododendron campanulatum ‘Roland Cooper’ This plant was collected as…

Loveliest of trees the cherry now

LOVELIEST of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough, And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide. Now, of my threescore years…

Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour (1853-1922)

Born on the 31st March 1853, the son of John Hutton Balfour who was Regius Keeper at RBGE between 1845 and 1879, Isaac Bayley Balfour grew up up in very close contact…

Commemorating the First World War – our Stories

To mark the centenary of the First World War, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has created a poppy meadow at our Edinburgh garden. The meadow, located on the…

The Botanics in WW1 – Display in Library Foyer

You may  be interested to know that there is a small display in the library foyer, just up the stairs from the garden’s memorial, covering our WW1 Roll…

In memory of Private David Hume (1888-1914)

In memory of Private David Hume, who was killed in action 100 years ago today, on the 26th August 1914, a few weeks short of his 26th birthday….

RBGE at War – Hume and Fallow’s stories

As a fan of eminent plant collector George Forrest (1873-1932), I’d long known that two of his plant introductions had been named after former RBGE gardeners killed in…

Herbarium specimens collected during World War I

4th August 1914 – collections on the day that war was declared between Britain and Germany On the 4th August 1914 the tension was building during the day…

Poppies for remembrance 4/8/2014

Today marks the 100 year anniversary since this date in August 1914 when Britain entered what was to become the First World War. As a tribute to all…

Remembering Cornflowers are blue

As the first Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) begin to flower in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s World War One commemoration field we are currently being treated to a mass…

World War 1 Poppy Field

The summer of 1914 was the beginning of World War 1. In summertime this year, it will mark 100 years since it began. In memory of those who…