Marker Gallery

Ancient Groat Family Tombstone at Canisbay

Canisbay lies on the Pentland Firth, 2 miles west of John o Groats. The medieval St Drostan's Church has in its porch a tombstone commemorating members of the Dutch Grot, Groot or Groat family which settled in Caithness in the late 15th Century and whose descendants operated a ferry to Orkney. Jan de Groot, who held a pennyland in nearby Duncansby from the Earl of Caithness, gave his name to John o Groats. Date: 1908

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Prowse Point St Yvon Christmas Memorial Area with footballs

Prompted by the 100th Anniversaries of the battles of WW1, much interest in the Truces that took place beteen the enemies at Christmas 1914, particulary in this area, has led to the development beside CWGC Prowse Point Cemetery of a Memorial Area. The flat stone marker was inaugurated on 11 December 2014 by UFA President Michel Platini. There are re-created trench lines, a bunker and barbed wire. The footballs commemorate the famous match here near St Yvon. Date: 2003

© Holts Battlefield Collection / Mary Evans

The Grave of Napoleon I, St Helena

The grave of Napoleon I (Bonaparte), Emperor of France on St Helena, where he was initially buried after his death in May 1821. In 1840, King Louis-Philippe, obtained permission from the British to return Napoleon's remains to France. The remains were transported aboard the frigate Belle-Poule, which had been painted black for the occasion and on 29th November she arrived in Cherbourg. The remains were transferred to the steamship Normandie, which transported them to Le Havre, up the Seine to Rouen and on to Paris. On 15th December, a state funeral was held. The hearse proceeded from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysees, across the Place de la Concorde to the Esplanade des Invalides and then to the cupola in St Jerome's Chapel, where it stayed until the tomb designed by Louis Visconti was completed. In 1861, Napoleon's remains were entombed in a porphyry sarcophagus in the crypt under the dome at Les Invalides. Date: circa 1930s