MILITARY surgeons have been honoured with the installation of a memorial in the Scottish capital’s city centre. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh has unveiled a new memorial bench and plaque in the gardens of its Nicolson Street headquarters.
It was commissioned to commemorate the role played by the college’s members and fellows in military conflict.
The steel bench, which is decorated to recognise those who gave their lives helping others, is flanked by two bronze plaques engraved with excerpts from the Letter of Exemption of 1567, penned by Mary Queen of Scots – indicating that surgeons wouldn’t have to act as combatants in warfare. The letter marks the first time this was referred to in Scottish written vernacular, and represented a new role for surgical specialists.
Surgeon Commander Adam Stannard RN visited the College to mark the unveiling of the memorial.
He said the memorial will “mean a lot” to those whose lives have been impacted by military conflict.
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