News & Events | Heritage Trust Coffin in Military Museum

A coffin which formed part of the Heritage Trust`s World War 1 Day in 2014 is now on display in the Military Museum Scotland.

A coffin which formed part of the Heritage Trust`s World War 1 Day in 2014 is now on display in the Military Museum Scotland.

Out of great sadness, something positive comes

For many families around Dunfermline, World War 1 brought crushing sadness and overwhelming grief. When the Heritage Trust organised the WW1 day at East End Park in August 2014, we wanted to acknowledge that aspect of the war.

Consequently, we commissioned through Co-op Funeralcare a special coffin (shown here at East End Park) to play a central role in the service of remembrance carried out as part of that day. The coffin carried the message [i]`˜In memory of the 17,000,000 people who lost their lives as a direct result of World War 1`[/i], and carried photographs of the two Dunfermline men who won the Victoria Cross in that conflict: David Hunter (who survived) and John Erskine (who was killed at Arras.)

That coffin now forms part of the WW1 display at the Military Museum Scotland, located at the Legion Hall, Louis Braille Avenue, Linburn Centre, Wilkieston EH27 8EJ.

In addition, the Military Museum Scotland is working with Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trustee, Kenny McLachlan to produce a specialised military Memory Box for use alongside the successful national Co-op Funeralcare campaign of sporting Memory Boxes which help those living with memory loss. The Dunfermline Athletic Memory Box widely used in West Fife was the prototype for the UK-wide initiative.

Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trust wishes Kenny McLachlan, Co-op Funeralcare and the Military Museum Scotland every success in this new venture which will be of great interest to ex-service people living with memory loss.

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