Edinburgh castle face calls to have 'upsetting' swastika removed
World War Woke: Edinburgh castle face calls to have ‘upsetting’ swastika removed… from war museum where it is part of a display
- Bosses at Edinburgh Castle are facing extraordinary calls to remove the exhibit
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It should come as little surprise that an exhibition dedicated to exploring the history of warfare features part of the wreck of a German aircraft bearing Nazi insignia.
But bosses at Edinburgh Castle are facing extraordinary calls to remove the exhibit from the National War Museum on its grounds – amid claims that the sight of a swastika may upset some tourists.
Chris McEleny, general secretary of Alex Salmond’s Alba Party, has written to Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, claiming that the use of the Nazi symbol is a ‘national embarrassment’.
He also objects to the ‘crudely named’ Redcoat Café, which is also on the castle grounds and is named after the red- uniformed British troops who fought against the Jacobites.
Last night, Stuart Crawford, a former Army officer and defence commentator, condemned ‘virtue-signalling, gesture politics nonsense from Mr McEleny’.
The exhibition at Edinburgh Castle dedicated to exploring the history of warfare features part of the wreck of a German aircraft bearing Nazi insignia
Chris McEleny (pictured), general secretary of Alex Salmond’s Alba Party, has written to Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, claiming that the use of the Nazi symbol is a ‘national embarrassment
He said: ‘The swastika is a museum display item and not any celebration of Nazism or the Nazi regime – plus his comments on the Redcoat Café are just crass and cringeworthy.’
Mr McEleny, a former SNP councillor, wrote to the minister saying: ‘I was disturbed when touring the war museum to see Nazi memorabilia emblazoned as part of the exhibition.There is no association what-soever to Edinburgh Castle and it is a national embarrassment to tourists from across the world to confront them with such artefacts.’
He urged the minister to order the emblem’s removal.
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Explaining his concerns further last night, Mr McEleny said: ‘People who travel from across the world to Edinburgh, particularly people profoundly impacted by atrocities committed by the Nazis, or perhaps people whose families fought in the war and lost loved ones in the war, may well be very upset at the sight of swastikas, which they wouldn’t expect to see when they’re in a castle.
The swastika is included in a display of ‘souvenirs’ alongside items from Gurkhas, a pipe given by a German to a British soldier during the Christmas truce of 1914, and a gold watch returned to the British after its officer owner was killed in the Crimean war.
The swastika is on part of an aircraft that was shot down by Elgin-born Wing Commander Harbourne Mackay Stephen. An accompanying description states: ‘The Nazi ‘swastika’ symbol painted on the fin was cut out and kept as an obvious symbol of the enemy.’
A spokesman for National Museums Scotland, which runs the War Museum said: ‘The displays reflect the Scottish experiences of war and military service from the 17th century to the present day.
‘In particular, the In Defence and Active Service galleries convey a sense of the experience of war as seen through the eyes of Scottish servicemen and women, and it is in this context that material bearing Nazi insignia is displayed, reflecting Scottish military participation in the Second World War.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘This is a matter for National Museums Scotland who are responsible for the War Museum.’
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