Two angry Scottish veterans cleaned up the torched and ruined poppy wreaths in front of Edinburgh City Chambers on Monday.
Brian Ward, is the events manager Royal British Legion of Scotland, and was one of the organisers behind the Remembrance Sunday ceremony. On Monday, he was helping to clean up the wreckage less than 24 hours after they were lovingly placed around the war memorial on Sunday.
The 54-year-old Scots Guard veteran said he was absolutely disgusted by what had been done to the memorial. “What a terrible thing to do,” he said.
“People gather here and lay wreaths to remember the fallen not just from the first and second World War, but also some more recent conflicts and I can imagine that people who went to the trouble of laying wreaths here will be absolutely devastated at this terrible act that’s been carried out.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue were called to a fire outside of Edinburgh City Chambers at 5.14am on Monday morning after vandals allegedly set fire to poppy wreaths laid around the Stone of Remembrance.
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Brian said 14 wreaths had been destroyed in total, and he guessed that the Stone of Remembrance would need professional repair.
Gordon Michie, head of fundraising and learning at Poppy Scotland was another Remembrance Sunday organiser. The 52-year-old RAF veteran was visibly angered by the act of destruction.
“I really have no words. If I did have any words, they wouldn’t be able to be plain on camera unfortunately,” Gordon said.
“[As a veteran] I'm so hurt and disgusted by this action and that hurt and disgust will be shared by all our brothers and sisters who have served in his majesty's armed forces over many years.”
“[Remembrance Sunday] is the time we come together to remember those brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we’ve got and for some individual to take a light to these tokens of remembrance is just really, really disgusting.”
The majority of wreaths that were destroyed were handmade by disabled veterans at the Lady Haig Poppy factory in Edinburgh.
Gordon said the veterans at Lady Haig make the wreaths year round, and he knows they will be devastated.
“I know that when I go back to them I will be having to sit with them, comfort and console them because their work they put a lot of time and effort and loving energy into doing because they’re very proud of what they do,” Gordon said.
“[Their work] has been ruined by some reckless individual and I hope the authorities are able to find this individual."
Just a day previously, Gordon said the Royal Mile had been lined with veterans and members of the armed forces as well as the general public thanking them for their service.
“For this to happen less than 24 hours later is just a tragedy,” Gordon said. “This is a very sombre solemn place. It’s the Nation’s stone of remembrance.”
On Sunday, The Lord Provost and First Minister laid wreaths at the Remembrance service and observed one minute of silence following the city's remembrance parade from the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
“To be done on the day when the wreaths had just been laid, it’s absolutely disgusting the act that’s been done,” Brian said.
The incident was reported to Police Scotland.
Chief Inspector Murray Tait, Local Area Commander said: “Our enquiries are ongoing after poppy wreaths were set on fire at the war memorial in High Street, Edinburgh around 5am on Monday, 14 November.
“Officers are carrying out enquiries and gathering CCTV footage to find out more information on whoever is responsible. I utterly condemn this appalling act of vandalism, especially at this time of year when remembrance services have just been held across the country. “
If anyone has any information that will assist our investigation, please contact officers through 101 with reference number 601 of 14 November.”
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