War Memorial for Portobello?

[wangi]

[Porty]

I think it is time we had one. Somewhere prominent, perhaps in the area outside Bank of Scotland.

[SoupDragon]

I have a vague recollection of there being a plaque somewhere
Maybe the Town Hall or was it one of the churches? St Marks? the church in Bellfield St?

[rathbone]

On 12 February 1917 the very first war memorial in the East of Scotland was erected in Joppa, on the wall of St. Andrew’s House of Mercy. It consisted of a decorative panel, flanked by folding leaves, bearing lists of the 160 men of Portobello and Joppa who had so far died in the war. The centre panel was filled with a representation of a soldier who, in the act of dying, reaches out a hand to the feet of Christ. There was a considerable gathering for the ceremony, including several soldiers in uniform. A procession of clergy were led by a boy scout carrying a cross. The memorial was dedicated by Rev. Hugh McKean of St. George’s Episcopal Church and a wreath of flowers was placed by the Mother Superior of the House of Mercy.

St. Andrew's Home began in 1858 with a small house for "fallen women", known as the "House of Mercy". In 1884 a larger house was purchased at Joppa. There were various crises, such as a fire which destroyed the house in 1906. In 1919 the Community of St. Andrew became contemplative and transferred the care of fallen women to the Community of St. Peter. By this time "rescue" had given way to "prevention".

I wonder what happened to the House of Mercy, and the war memorial.

Editing this to add a bit more information:
The House of Mercy is now the Kings Manor Hotel on Milton Road East.
Useful info. in "The Community of St. Andrew in Scotland" by David Gavine (reviewed on page 3 of the Portobello Reporter Spring 2003)

[Chas]

In return for taking care of any objectors, why don't we ask the developers of the old Legion site to put up a memorial there, if that's what we want?

[Bob Jefferson]

I have written to the MD and current owner of the King's Manor to see if he has any information on this.

[Bob Jefferson]

[Bob Jefferson]

Still working on this. Awaiting response from the Scottish Episcopal Church.

[SoupDragon]

According to their website St Marks church does have a plaque commemorating the members of the congregation who fell in the wars
Could the St Andrews church they mention be the same as the St Andrews "House of Mercy" Rathbone posted about?

http://stmarksportobello.wordpress.com/history/

quote
"St Marks was one of the first Episcopal churches to be built in the Edinburgh Diocese"

"In 1919 a Lady Chapel was erected to the west of the chancel in memory of the 48 members of the congregation who fell in the Great War. "

"The side altar (1903) is from St Andrews Church, Niddrie. On it is placed the Book of Remembrance. On the west wall is a plaque dedicated to the 65 members of the congregation who gave their lives in the two World Wars."

[Bob Jefferson]