Description

The monument is a memorial to the men of the 72nd Highlanders who died in Afghanistan during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80). It was designed by MacDonald, Field and Company in 1882-3. The monument takes the form of a polished pink Peterhead granite obelisk with a bronze coronet over the number 72. It stands on a pedestal on which are carved the names of the fallen.

In additions to the names of the fallen the base holds two further inscriptions which read 'IN MEMORY OF / THE OFFICERS / NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN / OF THE 72ND DUKE OF ALBANY'S OWN HIGHLANDERS / WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE / DURING THE CAMPAIGNS IN AFFGHANISTAN (sic) / IN 1878 - 79 – 80' and 'ERECTED BY / THE OFFICERS AND MEN NOW SERVING / AND WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE REGIMENT'.

Statement of Interest

This is one of a group of statues on the Esplanade including the Statue of the Duke of York, the Scottish Horse Memorial, the 78th Highlanders Memorial, and the Monument to Colonel Mackenzie.

The 72nd Highlanders were raised as a regiment in January 1778 by Kenneth Mackenzie as the Seaforth (Highland) Regiment. They were sent to India in the 1780s and while there were re-ranked as the 72nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot as part of an overall reduction of the number of Crown regiments following the end of hostilities with France as part of the American Revolutionary War.

The memorial was designed by MacDonald, Field and Company in 1882-83. This was a firm of monumental sculptors and granite quarriers, based in Aberdeen. The firm was the most important granite sculptors in Scotland and was responsible for introducing the machinery and processes that revolutionized the industry in Scotland.

Statutory address and listed building record revised in 2019. Previously listed as 'EDINBURGH CASTLE ESPLANADE, 72ND HIGHLANDERS MEMORIAL'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77776441

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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