Second World War Edinburgh
Although Edinburgh was fortunate not to experience large-scale air raids during the Second World War, it still has a fascinating and diverse wartime history. It was an important site for a range of military forces including British troops and foreign contingents and had close proximity to significant airfields and naval bases.
At the height of the invasion threat in 1940, 33, 000 British troops were located in the Edinburgh area of Scottish Command. This tour also highlights more neglected histories, such as the anti-Italian riots of 1940 and those who rejected conscription, including conscientious objectors and some Scottish nationalists.
Tour contributors: Dr Wendy Ugolini, Professor Tobias Kelly, and Emma Forth. All photos © Emma Forth unless otherwise credited.
 | Edinburgh Castle During the war a military hospital was established at Edinburgh Castle which was mainly used for prisoners of war who required treatment. More… |
 | Caledonian Distillery On 27 September 1940 a 500lb bomb dropped on the Caledonian Distillery (“the Cally”), the largest distillery in Scotland. More… |
 | High Court of the Justiciary Throughout the war, the Justiciary Building housed the tribunal that decided whether people should be exempt from military service. More… |
 | Wojtek the Soldier Bear This 2015 statue alludes to the significant Polish military presence in Scotland during the war. More… |
 | Princes Street Gardens During the war, the gardens provided a focal point for the Edinburgh ‘Holidays at Home’ movement. More… |
 | National Gallery The collections of the National Gallery and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to six country houses across Scotland during the war. More… |
 | Picardy Place 20 Picardy Place was the site of the Italian Fascist Club, set up in 1923. More… |
 | Leith Walk On the night of 10 June 1940, when Italy declared war on Britain, anti-Italian riots broke out in Edinburgh. More… |
 | Morton Hall Recent archaeological excavations reveal that Mortonhall caravan park acted as an army camp during the war. More… |
 | Rosyth The naval base at Rosyth was a refitting and reparing yard for the Royal Navy. More… |
 | Firth of Forth On 16 October 1939 twelve German Junkers Ju- 88 bombers attacked the naval base at Rosyth. More… |
 | First WWII Air Raid Victim in Britain Joseph McLuskie became the first civilian air raid casualty on mainland Britain after being hit by a stray machine gun bullet. More… |