Pupils to attend war commemoration

GROVE Academy pupils are to attend a service commemorating the role the armed forces of New Zealand and Australia played in the First World War.

The fifth year pupils, joined by principal teacher of history John Anderson, will attend the event at Edinburgh Castle on April 25 — Anzac Day.

They are the only pupils in Scotland invited to join in the memorial.

Colette McCourt, Caitaidh Thomson and Tabitha Kobine have been researching the history of the First World War and wereinvitedspeciallybytheCommonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

The trio, along with others in their class, have studied the headstones at Commonwealth graves located in Barnhill Cemetery.

Last year, they commemorated the life of former Grove Academy pupil Alexander Finlay Campbell, who was killed in a flying accident during the conflict on September 22 1917.

He died two days after the start of the Battle of Menin Road Ridge.

Mr Campbell’s tombstone is located in Broughty Ferry graveyard, and the pupils held an event on the 100th anniversary of his death last year.

Mr Anderson said: “The pupils have been volunteering for the CWGC since August.

“In particular, they have been researching the names of more than 20 former soldiers from the First World War who are buried in Barnhill Cemetery and have been holding short commemoration ceremonies to remember these soldiers, some of whom went to Grove Academy.”

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand which commemorates all soldiers from those Commonwealth countries who have fought in conflicts since the First World War.