Death of Chief Master Gunner Findlay

Monday, 18th July marks the anniversary of the death of Chief Master Gunner Findlay.

The funeral procession left Edinburgh Castle at about 2.30 pm on 23rd July 1862. The coffin carried on a gun carriage drawn by six horses was followed by detachments consisting of the 1st Midlothian Coast Artillery Volunteers, the 25th Regiment, King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Artillery.

The gunner was buried in St. Cuthbert’s burial ground at the west end of Edinburgh. In June 2006 the One o' Clock Gun Association organised a ceremony to unveil a headstone provided by Mrs Patricia Neish the gunner’s direct descendant in the burial ground.

This week’s photograph shows Mrs. Neish, District Gunner Sergeant Jamie Shannon and Bombardier Allison Jones of 105th Regt. R.A. (V.) unveiling the headstone.

Association member Bruce Vickery is presently liasing with Paul McAuley, Conservation Officer of the City of Edinburgh Council to open the City Observatory on Doors Open Day in September.

Volunteers from the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh will be on hand to explain the working of the telescopes and the story of the observatory to the public.