A busy weekend of events marked the battle’s 281st anniversary, over 19-20th September 2026.
Re-enactors from the Alan Breck’s Regiment laid wreaths in our customary live-streamed ceremony on the battlefield, joined by Rena Gertz who kindly sang a Gaelic lament for the fallen. Touchingly, this year’s wreaths were lain by the youngest members of “the Brecks”, Archer Johnston and William Smith.
At the museum down on the High Street, we had children’s craft activities and display tables manned by the re-enactors introducing visitors to the clothing, equipment, and diet of the soldiers if 1745. On Saturday evening, despite the cold wind blowing across the battlefield, Arran Johnston led a group of intrepid enthusiasts on a tour across part of the battlefield.
The main focus of our weekend however was the museum’s main stage, where we commemorated 280 years since the Board of Inquiry investigation into the conduct of Sir John Cope during the Prestonpans campaign. As well as displaying our copy of the original Inquiry report, we brought the investigation vividly to life by holding eight evidence sessions over two days, interrogating Sir John and Colonel Peregrine Lascelles. Our curator Arran played Marshal Wade, chair of the inquiry, and General Cope was played – as always at our re-enactments – by BRett Fletcher. Douglas Eckhart portrayed Lascelles. Through a mix of unscripted question-and-answer and original testimony, the events of the campaign were examined and the general’s role appraised. Performed live in the museum, the event was also filmed and will soon be appearing on our YouTube channel.
The commemorations came to an end on 21st September, as we quietly remembered those who fell at the battle on that dramatic morning in 1745. The final act was to officially announce that next year will see the return of our spectacular re-enactment weekend, bringing history to life on 18-19 September 2027. Look out for details!
Thank you so much to everyone who came along, whether to take part directly, as visitors to the museum or battlefield events, or as online viewers to the livestreamed elements.
