Anyone going near Liberton War Memorial before Remembrance Sunday?

[TressiliansStone]

Over the last few years, I've been trying to get a poppy cross onto each war memorial where family members are commemorated.

This year I'm doing someone from Liberton.

Would any one be willing to place a cross on the War Memorial in the Cemetery if I posted it to you?

When I told my children about it, and explained the background, they found it moving and it really brought home that the 'history' learnt at school is the real stories of real people. My daughter and I had a quiet moment as we placed the cross,and reflected on all the names and families affected. Thank you for trusting a stranger to do this for you.

ApplePenPineapplePen I have welled up a bit, thank you for sharing that.

Oh ApplePen that's lovely!

Ah yes, I'd forgotten the crosses were so lightweight and vulnerable to the wind. At least you got the photos, so however transient the life of the cross, the moment is forever.

Thank you.

I've found a little more about Seaton. He was a student at George Watson's College, and is on their war memorial too.

They have more detail about what happened, although their date and mine previously are wrong (I misread the format): the "Floridian" was actually sunk 4 February 1917. I suspect GWC's dates should read "Feb 2–3".

And they have a really lovely photo of him.

The son of Mr. W. R. Luca, Edin., was born in 1900, and attended G.W.C. 1908-15. He studied wireless telegraphy, and was appointed assistant operator on board H.M.T. Floridan. On Feb. 23, 1917, a German submarine was sighted, and, opening fire at long range, brought the ship to a standstill. The operators stuck to their post and got in touch with neighbouring warships. The order to abandon ship was given. The boat to which he was told off taking the water badly, he was thrown into the sea and drowned.

www.gwc.org.uk/about-us/heritage/watsons-war-records/?surname=luca&conflict=Any&regiment=Any&cemetery=Any&Submit=Submit#form

The men of the "Floridian" are also commemorated at Tower Hill, London, on the memorial to the men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who have no known grave.

For Seaton and all his comrades: we will remember them.

FRANK VALENTINE
FIREMAN AND TRIMMER
Regiment & Unit/Ship: Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Floridian" (Liverpool)
Date of Death: Died 04 February 1917. Age 35 years old
Buried or commemorated at: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
Country of Service: United Kingdom.
Additional Info: Born at Trinidad.

CHARLIE WILLIAMS
FIREMAN AND TRIMMER
Regiment & Unit/Ship: Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Floridian" (Liverpool)
Date of Death: Died 04 February 1917. Age 36 years old
Buried or commemorated at: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
Country of Service: United Kingdom
Additional Info: Born in Canada.

DANIEL CLARK
FIREMAN AND TRIMMER
Regiment & Unit/Ship: Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Floridian" (Liverpool)
Date of Death: Died 04 February 1917. Age 26 years old
Buried or commemorated at: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
Country of Service: United Kingdom
Additional Info: Son of the late David and Bally Clark. Born in Sierra Leone.

EPPO DIK
BOATSWAIN
Regiment & Unit/Ship: Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Floridian" (Liverpool)
Date of Death: Died 04 February 1917. Age 41 years old
Buried or commemorated at: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
Country of Service: United Kingdom
Additional Info: Son of the late Eppo and Elizabeth Dik. Born at Liverpool.

WILLIAM SEATON LUCA
WIRELESS OPERATOR
Regiment & Unit/Ship: Mercantile Marine, S.S. "Floridian" (Liverpool)
Date of Death: Died 04 February 1917. Age 17 years old
Buried or commemorated at: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, United Kingdom
Country of Service: United Kingdom
Additional Info: Son of W. R. Luca, of Constanceville, Liberton, Edinburgh. Born at Edinburgh.

We will remember them.

Here's a payment slip of the North British Wireliss Schools

@PieterG Oh my goodness! That's absolutely incredible!

May I please ask how you came by it? If you'd rather talk in private you can click on the 3 dots and PM me.

Also, your name looks like you might possibly be from the Netherlands – which is where Seaton's adoptive father Mr Luca was born. I have much of the story of that family, if you're interested!

Well, that's a turn-up for the books! Hello distant cousin!