Introduction

[Alastair]

This forum is for discussing history in all its guises. While Electric Scotland is the largest Scottish history site on the web we're more than happy to have any history discussions in here from anywhere in the world.

Because we have a very large section of our site devoted to the Scots Diaspora we do in fact have quite a lot of history on other countries. Part of doing history is also to discover what conditions were like for Scots emigrants in other countries of the world. We have a general history of America and also of the Southern States. We posted up a history of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Canada's history is bound up with the Scots as is New Zealand. A lot of Scots also emigrated to Australia and Africa as well as Asia.

And so feel free to discuss anything historical wherever it is in the world.

Alastair

[pleslie23]

Hello Alastair;
You are doing great work to provide a source for researching Scottish History and recording new history. The Leslies are adding to Scottish History with their Battle of Harlaw Monument, Leslie's Cross.
The Leslies were one of the families who stopped the invading highlanders from burning the City of Aberdeen on July 24th 1411. On the 600th anniversary, July 24th 2011, the Leslies will unveil a new monument, Leslie's Cross, at the Chapel of the Garioch in Aberdeenshire, near Inverurie. This Chapel has also recently been named the Leslie Chapel of North East Scotland. I am proud to have been one of the main organizers with David Leslie from Aberdeenshire of all the events that are planned for that Harlaw Week. Leslies and friends all over the world have contributed to the cost of the Cross, made in ruby red granite. There will also be a Time Capsule containing items provided by Leslies.
The Leslies and friends who contributed to the monument and who will participate in the Dedication Ceremony and several days of touring historical Leslie sites in Aberdeenshire will be honouring the six sons of Sir Andrew Leslie and other Leslies who fought and fell in that historical battle between the highlanders and the lowlanders in 1411. These people realize that these were heroic soldiers who died to save their homes, the City of Aberdeen and were following the orders of the King (or his Regent). Unlike today's soldiers who are praised and remembered with monuments and annual remembrances, these soldiers are usually forgotten. We do not even know all their names.
In that day, soldiers managed their farms and protected their families and were quite busy looking after their civil matters, however, at the call of the King, they became soldiers who picked up their arms and rode to war on their own horses. After the battle, they buried their dead and went back to being farmers. If called away to a foreign war they could be away for years but they were not full time soldiers. They were soldiers, nevertheless and should be remembered as such. I will be participating in the 2011 Harlaw ceremonies and helping to create and remember Scottish history.
William Leslie, Commissioner, Clan Leslie, North America.

[Alastair]

Well we'd love to get a wee selection of pictures from this historical event William which we'd be happy to place on the Clan Leslie page on our site. Hope all goes well with the event.

Alastai