17th Century Scottish soldiers re buried in poignant ceremony

Resting place for the men was a mystery for 400 years until 2013 excavation

The bodies of Scottish soldiers dumped in a mass grave in Durham following one of the most brutal, bloody and short battles of the 17th Century civil wars have finally been given a proper funeral.

On September 3 1650, the English Parliamentarian army under the command of Oliver Cromwell defeated the Royalist-supporting Scottish Covenanting army at the Battle of Dunbar.

The Scots included Courier Country regiments, Lord Brechin’s Horse and Lord Lindsay’s Horse, commanded by General Sir David Leslie.

In just under one hour, Cromwell’s better-trained and more disciplined army routed the Covenanters, with modern estimates suggesting 6,000 Scots were captured and around 1,000 sick and wounded allowed to go home.

For the remaining prisoners, the battle was just the start of their ordeal.

Of the more than 4,000 battle-weary and under-nourished troops who were marched more than 100 miles south to Durham, around 1,000 are believed to have died from hunger, exhaustion and disease – although some escaped.

The survivors, mostly imprisoned in Durham cathedral, burned the pews in order to keep warm and, despite claims that the prisoners were given food and milk as well as straw to sleep on, another 1,700 succumbed to the conditions they were kept in.

Where they were buried remained a mystery for 400 years until an excavation in 2013 finally revealed that the bodies had been carelessly tossed into two pits and the location forgotten.

Yesterday, a simple graveside ceremony was held at Elvet Hill Road Cemetery in Durham, less than a mile from where they were found and people attending the service were offered the opportunity to scatter a handful of Scottish soil into the grave.

The reburial service was organised by Durham Cathedral. Representatives from the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church attended.

Canon Rosalind Brown, of Durham Cathedral, said: “The simple graveside ceremony not only reflects the traditions of the 17th Century but is also respectful of the circumstances that led to these men dying in Durham.”

Brechin and Edzell Conservative Councillor Gavin Nicol represented Angus at the poignant ceremony.

Mr Nicol said: “This was a brutal day and the fact so many of these men died during the march and subsequent imprisonment is testament to that.”

The remains of the 17th Century soldiers are laid to rest at Elvet Hill Road Cemetery, Durham.