McCrae's Battalion Great War Memorial, World War I memorial cairn in Contalmaison, France
McCrae's Battalion Great War Memorial is a stone cairn in the French countryside near Contalmaison, marking where the 16th Royal Scots Battalion fought during the Battle of the Somme. The structure sits quietly on the battlefield, surrounded by fields where thousands of soldiers from Edinburgh and across Scotland made their final stand.
The battalion was formed in 1914 by Sir George McCrae with volunteers from Scottish football clubs and sports organizations, then fought at the Somme. The memorial itself was not completed until 2004, following original designs proposed by surviving battalion members back in 1919.
Players from Hearts of Midlothian, Hibernian, Raith Rovers, and other Scottish football clubs volunteered for the battalion during World War I. This connection between sports and military service remains central to how people remember this place today.
The memorial can be visited year-round and sits in the open countryside of Contalmaison where walkers and history buffs regularly explore the battlefield. Comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes are recommended, as visiting involves some walking across uneven ground in an rural setting.
The memorial was built from plans designed by surviving soldiers in 1919, but not actually constructed until nearly a century later in 2004. This long wait makes it a special place where old ideals and modern construction meet on the battlefield.
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