Edinburgh (North Merchiston) Cemetery - War Graves Week Tours

War Graves Week is an initiative aimed at encouraging people from the local community to come together and discover the World War heritage on their doorstep – learning about the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC and the skills, dedication and expertise of those CWGC staff and volunteers who work to keep their memory alive.

MEETING POINT at the entrance to the cemetery, junction Slateford Road/Ardmillan Terrace.

During the First World War, Edinburgh was headquarters to the 4th,5th,6th and 9th Battalions of the Royal Scots, with the 7th Battalion at Leith. The 2nd Scottish General Hospital (1,000 beds) occupied Craigleith Poorhouse, the Edinburgh War Hospital (2,600 beds) was in the Asylum buildings at Bangour and the Leith War Hospital (585 beds) in the infirmary at Leith. The port of Leith was used by hospital ships from north Russia and about 4,500 officers and men passed through it.Second World War military hospitals were in Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Bangour. The city was also Scottish Command Headquarters.

Edinburgh (North Merchiston) Cemetery contains 121 First World War burials, some of which form a small plot in Section K marked by a screen wall. There are also 15 burials of the Second World War.

Limited parking available immediately inside cemetery gates; no facilities or toilets; uneven ground.

Please dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear.