An Arctic grave

Only two bodies were ever brought back from Franklin’s last expedition – the others are buried over there, or not exactly buried over there, or just gone.

One, found in the south of King William Island, is now buried in the Franklin memorial in the Royal Naval College in Greenwich. The other, found near the camp made when the ships were just abandoned, but probably one of a party which returned to the ships later for supplies, was for some reason brought back to Edinburgh and buried in the Dean Cemetery – the only family burial.

I went hunting for it one autumn morning, getting mixed up first in rows of 20th century graves in a section nearer the road, and finally getting myself into the right place. This is the third expansion of Edinburgh, the extension over the Water of Leith after the Dean Bridge was built, and it’s really quite solidly Victorian, although early enough to catch the tail end of the Georgian greats.

Irving memorial

The grave I was looking for was quite an imposing one, and not difficult to find – a bit out of the set lines of stones, towards the back.

The upper section is in the form of a Celtic cross, intricately carved.

Celtic cross

This is understood to be the body of John Irving, third lieutenant of Terror – the body was identified by Schwatka’s expedition because of a prize medal left at the original shallow grave, and although there’s no particular reason, as far as I know, to believe that they were wrong, there were other cases of bodies being found with possessions which (for example) had originally belong to a friend.

The carving of the inscription is clear enough, but it was hard to read under the strong shadows.

Memorial inscription

Memorial inscription

In memory of Lt John Irving RN
HM Ship Terror
Born 1815
Died in King William’s Land 1848-9

Her Majesty’s Ships Erebus and Terror left England in May 1845 under command of Sir John Franklin KCB to explore a North West passage to the Pacific.
After wintering 1845-6 at Beechey Island they sailed south down Franklin’s Strait and entered the NW passage.
Having been there beset with ice for two years, Sir J Franklin, 8 other officers and 15 seamen having died, the survivors, 105 in number, Lieut. Irving being one, landed on King William’s Land and attempted to march to Canada but all died from cold and want of food.
In 1879 Lieut. Schwatka of the American Searching Expedition discovered Lieut. Irving’s grave. Through his kindness the remains of this brave and good officer were brought away and were deposited here on 7th January 1881.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress — or famine”

Below the inscription is an image of the burial – the ships behind, and the gravediggers with their spades, and the rows of mourners bringing the body. The reality was probably not so imposing – this was a shallow burial even by the standards of that frozen land, more or less uncovered when it was found, and with no attempt at a coffin, the body simply wrapped in cloth which might have been a coat.

The burial

James Hogg in Ettrick

Once again I only have Scottish history to offer – I’ve been down in the Ettrick valley, home of the writer James Hogg, known as the Ettrick Shepherd.

The building which was once the tiny local school is now run as a James Hogg exhibition, but it’s only open on various afternoons, and by the afternoon I had to be well on my way to Moffat.

James Hogg exhibition

The cottage where Hogg was born in 1770 is gone, but a monument has been erected on the site.

Hogg birthplace monument

Monument inscription

Hogg portrait

The monument as a whole is fairly awful – ugly late Victorian turning green – but I do like the sheep, which seem to have been carved by someone who has actually met some sheep before.

Sheep

At the other end of the village, Hogg is buried in the graveyard by the church, a nice little building with the pulpit on the long wall, and a gallery accessed by a separate door from outside.

His gravestone must have looked very modern at the time, in among the curved older stones.

James Hogg gravestone

Here lie the mortal remains of JAMES HOGG, the Ettrick Shepherd, who was born at Ettrick Hall in the year 1770 and died at Altrive Lake on the 21st day of November 1835.
Margaret Phillips his widow and yougest daughter of the late Peter Phillips of Longbridgemoor, Annandale died at Linlithgow 15th November 1870 in the 81st year of her age. Her mortal remains are interred in Warriston Cemetery Edinburgh

This stone is erected as a tribute of affection by his widow Margaret Hogg

Nearby is the grave of his grandfather, known as Will o’ Phaup (Phawhope, now a bothy on the Southern Upland Way) – famous as an athlete and as a drinker, but also for having several times met and spoken with fairies on the hills. My favourite thing about this is that he was the last man to speak to the fairies in the area, not because people stopped expecting to, but because when he met them last they told him that they were flitting.

Will o’ Phaup gravestone

Here lyeth William Laidlaw the far-famed WILL O’PHAUP, who for feats of frolic, agility and strength had no equal in his day. He was born at Craik A.D. 1691 and died in the 84th year of his age.
Also Margaret his oldest daughter, spouse to Robert Hogg and mother of the Ettrick Shepherd. Born at Old Over Phaup 1730 and died in the 83rd year of her age. Also Robert Hogg her husband late tenant of Ettrick Hall born at Bowhill 1729 and died in the 93rd year of his age and three of their sons