Gretna 100
A special project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Gretna train disaster, which left over 200 men from the 1/7th Royal Scots dead.
About
On the 22nd May 1915, at Quintinshill near Gretna, the worst train disaster in British railway history left over 200 men from the 1/7th Royal Scots dead. This ‘Leith Battalion’ trained at the Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street which later became the focus point for families looking for information after the disaster.
Working with Out of the Blue in this same building 100 years later, a group of community actors from Active Inquiry and Strange Town Young Company researched and devised a piece of promenade theatre, Persevere, which guided the audience around the Drill Hall enabling them to catch glimpses of stories of Leithers 100 years ago saying goodbye to sons and brothers, hearing the news of the crash and coping with the aftermath.
In addition, a group of community researchers worked with Citizen Curator and artist Jan-Bee Brown to research and curate an exhibition, Seven of the 7th, exploring the disaster through the story of seven soldiers who were involved. This exhibition also included The Tree of Life, produced in partnership with Pilmeny Youth Centre and artist Heather Scott, in which pupils from Leith Academy researched and helped to make a glass dog-tag for each of the 216 soldiers who died.
Out of the Blue Drill Hall based film maker Ray Bird’s brilliant documentary film of the Gretna 100 project powerfully illustrates how a participatory arts project can have a long lasting impact for participants and audience alike.
‘Persevere’ performance
Playwright Duncan Kidd worked with Active Inquiry and Strange Town theatre groups using archival research from the Gretna 100 research group as the basis for his script.
Performances of Persevere took place at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in May 2015 with sold-out dates during Leith Festival and Forest Fringe in 2015.
“difficult not to be moved and shaken by the profound sense of place, time and continuity conjured up by this fine 24-strong community company” – Joyce McMillan- The Scotsman – ‘Persevere’ review 5th June 2015
“It was a great experience to be part of a project which engaged with the history of our local area, whilst simultaneously engaging with the community that lives here now” – Gretna 100 participant
‘Seven of the 7th’ exhibition
The Seven of the 7th exhibition, curated by artist Jan Bee Brown and Citizen Curator in collaboration with the Gretna 100 research group, ran from 22nd May until 13th August 2015. Excerpts from filmmaker Ray Bird’s Gretna 100 documentary were also shown as part of the exhibition.
Matchbox board
The following PDF documents are transcribed from the exhibition boards which featured in the exhibition.
Pte. John Williamson Ballantyne
Pte. Peter Cumming & Pte. John Cumming
Officers of 1st/7th The Royal Scots
Seven of the 7th feature by Phyllis Stephen of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Documentary
Two short films created by film maker Ray Bird premiered at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall on 21st November 2015; one about the disaster and one tracing the Gretna 100 project. The short film documenting the Gretna 100 project was also included in a visual display at the Museum of Edinburgh from January – April 2015. View the documentary in full here.
Research and facts
The Gretna 100 research group played a vital part in the project, collecting images, memories, stories and objects related to the disaster which then became the starting point for the theatre production and exhibition.
Gretna 100 Quintinshill Rail Crash
Gretna 100 research group member and descendant of one of the crash survivors Heather Thomson investigates how the sacrifice of the 1/7th Battalion of the Royal Scots is being remembered. Listen to her research here.
Further reading
Account of the lead up to the disaster
Account of the return to the Dalmeny Street Drill Hall
Remembering the Leith Battalion
Due to the high volume of documents sourced by our research group, not all are uploaded to the website. If you wish to view this research, please contact us.
Who was involved in this project
This project was generously funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust own the Drill Hall and co-ordinated the Gretna 100 Project.
Active Inquiry worked alongside Strange Town Young Company to produce the ‘Persevere’ performance.
Pilmeny Youth Centre designed and produced the ‘Tree of Life’ permanent exhibition installation alongside young people from schools in the area.
Leith Festival hosted a performance of ‘Persevere’ in June 2015.
Forest Fringe hosted a performance of ‘Persevere’ in August 2015.
David Bomford Design produced the branding and posters for the Gretna 100 Project.
Enquiries
If you'd like to find out more about the Gretna 100 project please email marketing@outoftheblue.org.uk
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