Serbian Refugee Boys at George Heriots School

ThefollowingextractisfromGeorgeHeriotsSchoolRollofHonour19141919,
publishedin1921.

THESERBIANS
ItispeculiarlyappropriatethatsomementionshouldbemadeintheHeriotWar
MemorialVolumeoftheappearanceofSerbianboysatGeorgeHeriot'sSchool.

ShortlyafterthecommencementofSession191617,twentyfiveyoungSerbs,their
agesrangingfrom12to17years,wereadmittedbytheGovernorstoallthe
educationalprivilegesoftheancientFoundation,andthelastofthemdidnotquit
theSchooltillthecloseofSession191819.

ItwastheattemptoftheCentralPowerstocrushlittleSerbiathatoriginatedthe
GreatWorldWar,andtheboyswhocametoHeriotstobeeducatedwerepartof
the300refugeeswhoarrivedinBritainaftertheyhadtraversedthewildsofAlbania
andbeenrescuedbythefriendlyhandsofFrenchandBritish.

DuringtheirstayatSchooltheyacquittedthemselvesverycreditablyintheirstudies.
SevenoftheirnumberpassedtheUniversityPreliminaryExaminationsandfourare
nowEngineeringstudentsofEdinburghUniversity.Theothershavereturnedto
SerbiatocontinuetheirstudiesatBelgradeUniversity.Besidesthesetherewerefour
boyswhopassedpartofthePreliminaryExaminationbeforereturninghome.

TheSerbstookanactivepartintheAthleticsoftheSchool,chieflyFootball,anda
numberweremembersoftheHeriotTroopofBoyScoutsandoftheO.T.C.Asthe
Headmasterononeoccasionpointedout,theadventoftheSerbianboyswasnot
1
altogetheraonesidedarrangement,forithadconferredmanyadvantagesonthe
Schoolinrespectofthefeelingofcamaraderietheyhadinspiredamongsttheother
boys.

LordProvostSirJ.LorneMacLeodexpressedthemindoftheGovernorswhenhe
saidthatwhathadbeendonefortheSerbianboysatGeorgeHeriot'sSchoolmight
beregardedasanindicationoftheirgratitudetoSerbiaandappreciationofthehigh
servicesrenderedbytheSerbianpeopleinthecauseofhumanity.

OnseveraloccasionstheSerbianboyswerevisitedatSchoolbydistinguished
representativesoftheirnation.AmongthesewerePrinceGeorgeofSerbia,the
SerbianMinisterinLondon,thePresidentsoftheIndustrialChamberandChamber
ofCommerceofBelgrade,theEducationMinisterandProfessorsoftheUniversityof
Belgrade.TheboyshadalsothepleasureofbeingintroducedtotheRussianMinister
inLondonandtoLordRosebery.

Beforetheirdeparture,theSerbianboysdeputedSirEdwardParrotttobegthe
Governorstopermitthemtoerectabrasstabletwithintheprecinctsofthebuilding
asaperpetualmemorialandtokenofgratitude.TheMemorial,erectedintheDining
Hall,bearsthisinscription

"ThisTabletrecordstheeverlastinggratitudeoftheTwentysixSerbian
RefugeeBoys,who,duringtheGreatWar,werefreelyandgenerously
admittedtoalltheeducationalprivilegesofthisancientandhonourable
Foundation."

ThenfollowsaSerbianquotationfromtheBible(Matt.xxv.40)

"ZaistavamKazhem;sveshtouchinistejednomeodovemojenajmanje
brache,meniuchiniste."

THEGREATRETREATINSERBIAIN1915,byM.I.Tatham
MissM.I.Tathamserved(1915)withStobartFieldHospital(SerbianReliefUnit),
Kraguyevatz,Serbia.19161917,Corsica,S.R.F.Unit.1918,ScottishWomen's
Hospital,RoyaunontandVillersCoterets,France,untiltheArmistice.Hereshe
describesherexperiencesintheretreatfromSerbia.ThearticlewaspublishedbyC.
B.Purdom,1930,asEverymanatWar.

Thefieldhospitalhadbeenbusyforeightmonthstryingtostemtheawfultideof
deathwhichwassweepingoverthecountry,and,togetherwithothervolunteer
units,hadprettywellsucceeded.Thetyphus,sinisterlegacyoftheAustrianswhen
theyevacuatedBelgradeatChristmas1914,hadbeencarriedtothefarthestcorner
ofSerbiabysoldiersgoinghomeonleavetothelittlefarmsandcottageswhere,
underTurkishdominationforhundredsofyearstheideasofhygieneandsanitation
2
werepracticallyundeveloped.Withtheresultthatnearlyathirdofthetotal
populationsuccumbed.

ByOctober1915thetyphushadbeenfoughtandbeatenandthenthehuman
enemyoverwhelmedthecountry.TheBulgariansdeclaredwarearlyinOctober.
SimultaneouslytheAustriansattackedonthenorth,andthefieldhospitalhadto
retreatwiththeArmy.WewereinthetownofKraguyevatz,arsenalofSerbia,which
hadsufferedthebombardmentofAustrianaeroplanesforweeksbeforethe
evacuation,andwasleftanopencity.Havingsentoffeverymanwhohadsound
feet,andleftthosewhowereunnabletomoveinchargeofAmericandoctors(who
werethenneutrals)thetreksouthwardsbegan.Itwassouthwardsatfirst,forwe
hadbeentoldthat,ifwecouldreachMonastir,therewasthepossibilityoftransport
toSalonika.ThesinglerailwaylinefromBelgradetoSalonikahadbeencutthefirst
dayafterthedeclarationofwarbytheBulgarians;andtherewasthelifeline,asit
were,severed,foronthatrailwaylineallthestores,men,andammunitionwere
transported.

Westartedoffwithbullockwagonswithasmuchofthehospitalequipmentaswe
couldcarry,andforthreeweekswetrekkedsouthalong,slowprocessionof
springlesscartseachdrawnbyoxen,movingdeliberatelyattherateoftwomilesan
hourdayornightwasallone.Severaltimestheunithalted,hopingthattheretreat
wasstayed,forallthetelephonewiresweredown,andnooneknewexactlywhat
washappening.Therewewouldrigupadressingstation,anddressthewoundsof
themenastheymarchedby,andtherewewereinvariablysenttojointheretreating
massagain,asthesoundofthegunsdrewnearerandthetownsbehindwere
occupiedbytheenemy.Thestreamoftherefugeesgrewdailygreatermothers,
children,bedding,potsandpans,foodandfodder,allpackedintothejolting
wagons;woundedsoldiers,exhausted,starving,hopelessmen,and(afterthefirst
fewdays)leadenskiesandpitilessrain,andtheawful,clinging,squelchingmud.

Theroadswereobliteratedbythepassageofbiggunsthosegunsservedbythat
wonderful"LastHope"oftheSerbians,theoldmen,theCheechas,the"uncles",who
heldtheenemyforthepricelessfewdaysorevenhours,andsosavedtheyouthof
thecountry.ForeverySerbianboyeverymanchildovertwelvehadtoretreat.

TheSerbianshadatlastrealizedthattheenemywasouttofinishherasanation,
andtheonlywaytosaveherselfwastorunaway.Andatfirstallthosebattalionsof
boys,gaywiththecolouredblanketstheycarriedcoiledacrosstheirbacks,camping
roundthegreatcampfiresatnight,werehappyuntilthedaysgrewintoweeks,
andtherainfellandfellandtherewasnobreadanywhere.Buttherain,which
churnedupthemudandsoakedtheillcladpeople,wascalledbytheSerbians"the
littlefriendofSerbia",forithelduptheAustrianadvance,andconsequentlysaved
practicallythewholeofSerbia'sremainingArmy.

Wecampedonenightinanoldmonastery,deepintheheartofthemountains,the
residenceoftheMetropolitan,datingbacktothethirteenthcentury.Hereitwas
decidedwemightstopforatime,andthemonksgaveustheirnewschoolhousefor
3
adressingstation.Wehadhighhopesofbeingabletoremainthewinter,soentirely
ignorantwerewealloftherealconditions,andweactuallydidremainfora
fortnight,amongstthemostbeautifulhills,clothedintheirgorgeousautumn
colours,forthecountrythereaboutswasoneglowingwonderofbeechwoods.Until
againcametheordertoevacuate,andinhaste,forwewerenotonthebeatentrack,
andwereindangerofbeingcutoff.

WehadorderstogotoatowncalledRashka,andwetrudgedthereinajamofox
wagonsandsoldiers,biggunsandrefugees,inthemostappallingmudandpelting
rainandquiteunquenchablegoodspirits.Untilwewerenearlythere,whenoneof
ournumberwasshotthroughthelungsanaccidentalshot,firedbyaniratefarmer
aftersomeflyingrefugeeswhowerestealinghishorses.Theinjuredgirlwastakento
aSerbiandressingstationabouteightmilesbackalongtheroad,withtwodoctors
andanurse;afterwhichtherestofustrampedunhappilyon,knowingthatthey
wouldinevitablybetakenprisoners,whichtheyweretwodayslater.

Theywerewelltreated,however,bytheAustrians,andwhenthegirlwhohadbeen
shotwassufficientlyrecoveredtoundertakethejourney,theywereallpassed
throughViennaandSwitzerland,andsohometoEngland.Butthatisanotherstory.

Meanwhile,therestofusarrived,soakedtotheskin,atRashka,andwerecheered
byhotsoupandcocoa,intheawfullittlehovelinwhichtheearlierarrivalswere
housed.Wesleptthatnightunderaroof,butinfinitelypreferredourpreviousnights
underthestars,forabouttwentyofuswerecrammedintoanindescribablyfilthy
room,overastablefullofArmyhorses,andnexttoalargerroominwhichtheywere
makingshells!Inthosedaystherewasnotimeforfactories.Thingsweremade
anywhere.MostoftheArmyhadnouniforms.Thecountryhadnotrecoveredfrom
theBalkanWarsof1912and1913,andtherewasnohelpoutsidethecountrywhen
allEuropewasengagedinherownbitterstruggle.

Then,twodaysbeforewewouldhavereachedMonastir,theBulgarianstookit.We
hadnochoicenowbuttocrossthemountainsthemountainsofAlbaniaand
Montenegro,whichwehadbeentoldwereimpassableforwomeninthewinter.The
threeweeks'treksouthhadmadeusthreeweekslaterinthebeginningofthe
attempt,andtheveryfirstnightwegottothenarrowways,thesnowcame.The
roadswerenowtoonarrowforwagons,eventhoughatthebeginningtheyhadbeen
sawnlaboriouslyinhalf,sothattwowheelsmightpasswherefourwouldnot,and
theonlymeansoftransportwerepackmulesordonkeys.Thesecarriedwhatfood
wehad,andtheblanketswithoutwhichwewouldhaveperished.Formanydiedon
thosepitilessmountains,andthesnowfellandcovereduptheirmiseryforever.

Yet,withallhopegone,theircountryleftbehind,theirwomenleftbehind(forwhen
wereachedthemountainstheonlywomenweretheRedCrossunits),starving,
beaten,miserable,howwonderfulwerethosesoldiers!Peasants,drivenfromthe
soilwhichbredthemthesemenhadnohigheducationtotellthemhowtohold
themselvesinthisdisaster.ButeverySerbianisapoet:howelsehadtheykepttheir
soulsfreeunder500yearsoftheTurkishyoke?Andeverdownthoseyears,entirely
4
throughtheirsongsandstories,andthroughtheirreligion(for,togivetheTurks
theirdue,theydidnotinterferewiththat),theyhadkeptaliveandburningbright
theflameofthebeliefthatonedaytheircountrywouldbefree.Andintheyear
1912itcametrue,forthesmallBalkanstatesbandedtogetherandpushedtheTurks
outoftheircountrybacktoConstantinople.Butforapitifulshorttime,forin1914
cameArmageddon.

Theseretreatingmen,eveniftheywonthroughwoundsandstarvationand
exposureandhardshipunspeakable,hadonlyhopeofexile.Foruswhowerewith
them,theendofourjourneywashome.Soitwaseasiertobearthingscheerily,
thoughheartscouldholdnomoreofpity.Simpleaschildren,withtheunquestioning
gratitudeofsuch,nooneeversawthemotherthanforbearingwitheachotherwhen
menfelldeadofstarvationwhilewaitingfortherationofbreadandwerelaidbythe
roadsideandleftforthesnowtoshroud;nooneeversawthemotherthan
courteoustowomen.Andwhenoneremembershowtheconditionsofretreatcan
turnmenintoanimals,whenthingsaredowntothebedrockofprimitivepassions
anddesireforlife,thenitisaproudthingtorememberalsothehighcouragewith
whichthispeopleboretheirdisaster.

Toaddtothehorrorsoftheretreat,therefelluponthemountainsinthatDecember
oneoftheworstsnowstormsfordecades,andthenwasthepathwayindeed
borderedbydeath.Wewerecrossingthehigherpasses,andonlya2foottrack
woundupwards.Ontherightweresnowcoveredcliffs,ontheleftasheerdropto
theriver1,000feetbelow.Twomulescouldnotpasseachotheronthatpath,deep
insnoworslipperywithice,andwhenapackmulefellanddied(bravelittlefaithful
beastsofburden)theretheyfrozeandthetrailpassedoverthem.Theworstnightof
thestormweshelteredinanAlbanianhut.Thefiresmoulderedinthemiddleofthe
mudfloor,thesmokeescapingthroughaholeintheroofandroundthefire
squattedthefamilyuntothethirdandfourthgeneration!Aroundthemagain,the
refugees,soldiers,andnurses,andthelivestockofthelittlefarm.(Myneighbouron
onesidewasawarmandcomfortablecalf!)Everythingthatcouldbeshelteredwas
sheltered;thosethathadnoshelterremainedoutonthemountainanddied.Inthe
morning,thepackmules,whichwereundertheleeofthehut,werefrozenstiff;and
againtheblanketsandgearwerereduced.Atthelast,whenthemountainswere
crossed,andtheweary,muddymilestothesealaybeforeus,nothingremainedto
mostofusbutwhatwecarriedourselves.Butwehadourlives,andmanyhadleft
theirsonthosecruelheights.Butforthoseexiles,literallybereftofeverythingthat
madelifeworthlivingfamily,home,countrywhatuse,afterall,seemedeven
that?

Thoselastdays,towardstheseaandtheultimatehopeofrest,wereevenmore
dreadfulthantherest.Fornowitwasnotthesnowwhichcovereddeathand
corruption,butmud.Itseemedasthoughthereneverhadbeenandneveragain
couldbeanythingelsethanrain,rain,rain.Andinalltheworldthereissurely
nothingmoredepressingthanrainwhichfallssoddenlyonmud,andmudwhich
receivesallsullenlytherain.

5
Then,astheuttermostdepthsseemedreached,theskiesofthenearlylastnight
cleared.Itwaslate,nearlymidnight,butthelittlefishingvillageontheAdriatic
coasthadsomehowtobereachedbymorningforashipwastobetheretotakeus
off.(Itwastorpedoed,andwesatontheshore,asithappened,forthreemore
days.)Andsuddenly,outofthewelterofmisery,theroadburstoutontothesea
lyingdarkandshiningunderstars;andperhapsthemostvividmemoryofallthose
weeksofadventureisthesightofhersudden,beautiful,clean."Whohathdesired
theseatheimmenseandcontemptuoussurges";afterall,whatwasstarvationand
death?

TheItalianshipwhichwastomeetusatSanGiovannidiMeduawas,asIsaid,
torpedoed,alongwitheveryfoodshipwhichwasbeingsentbytheItalian
Governmenttomeettherefugees.Thelittleharbourwasfullofthesproutingmasts
andfunnelsofunhappyshipswhichhadbeensunk,apitifulsightattheebbofthe
tide.Andthesurroundinghillswerequiveringatnightwiththelittlefiresof
innumerablesoldiers,whohadsurvivedstarvationonthemountainsonlytomeetit
againontheshore.WhileoverheadtheAustrianaeroplanescircled,anddropped
theirbombs.

Then,afterthreedays,ashipgotthrough.Littleasshewas,shewasabletotakeoff
alltheRedCrossunits.Thesoldiershadtosetoffagainonthateverlastingtrek,
downtoAlassioandthefurtherports.Nomanofmilitaryagewasallowedonboard,
butmanyrefugeeswhowerequitehopelesslysmashed,andwomenofthecoastas
well,filledthelittleshipliterallytooverflowing.Therewasnotroomforalltolie
down.Twiceshewasattacked,andtacking,swerving,zigzaggingacrosstheAdriatic,
wecameatlastatdawntoBrindisi.Andasthelightgrew,toportandstarboardof
thelittleship,loomedinthemistfirstoneandthenanotherprotectingform.And
heartsatlastbelievedinsafety,fortheywereBritishgunboats.Welandedat
Brindisi,andhadourfirstrealmealforovertwomonths.

6
TheScotsmanreportedthedecisiontoeducatetheSerbianboysandthevisits
madebySerbianpoliticiansandacademicstoEdinburghduringtheWar.

TheScotsman13June,1916

GEORGEHERIOT'STRUST
CouncillorChesserpresidedatameetingoftheGovernorsofGeorgeHeriotsTrust
heldyesterdayintheCouncilRoomoftheHospital,Edinburgh.

ItwasreportedthattheauditoroftheScotchEducationDepartmenthaddisallowed
theexpenditureof21,11s.6d.upontheannualdinneroftheGovernorsonthe
groundthattherewasnoexpressauthorisationforthesameinthescheme.Itwas
agreedtoappealtotheDepartment

SERBIANBOYSTOBEEDUCATED.
AletterwasreadfromSirEdwardParrott,conveneroftheCommitteefortherelief
ofSerbians,askingthattheGovernorsshouldprovidefreeeducationfortenSerbian
boys.

ProfessorDarrochmentionedthatoutof18,000boyswhofollowedtheSerbian
armyatthetimeofitsflight,9000hadbeentranshippedtothisandothercountries.
SirEdwardParrottproposedtotaketenoftheseboys,andtohouseandfeedthem
inEdinburgh;andhehadaskedtheHeriotGovernorstoprovidefreeeducationfor
them.AfterconsultationwithMrClark,headmaster,theEducationCommittee
recommendedtheGovernorstoagreetotherequest.

Therequestwasagreedto.

TheScotsman14November,1916

GEORGEHERIOTSTRUST

VISITOFASERBIANPROFESSOR.
AmeetingoftheGovernorsofGeorgeHeriotsTrustwasheldyesterdayafternoon
attheschoolSirRobertK.Inchespresiding.

ItwasstatedbytheChairmanthatCouncillorLyon,amemberoftheTrust,wasvery
seriouslyill.

AletterwasreadfromtheClerkofEdinburghSchoolBoardrequestingthe
GovernorstoappointarepresentativetositontheAdvisoryCommitteein
connectionwithjuvenileemployment.ProfessorDarrochsaidithadbeenproposed
toappointMrMarr,oneoftheteachersintheschool,whoknewthesubjectwell,
andwhoforalongtimehadinterestedhimselfingettingsituationsfortheboys.This
wasagreedto

7
THESERBIANBOYSANDTHESCHOOL.
Atthecloseofthemeeting,MrJ.B.Clark,theheadmasteroftheschool,introduced
theRevFather
NicholasVelimirovic,ProfessorofTheologyinBelgradeUniversity,andtheRev.Dr
WallaceWilliamson.

Inaddressingthestranger,SirRobertIncheswelcomedhimmostheartilytothat
ancienteducationalestablishment,oneofthemostexcellent,hesaid,inthewhole
country.TheyhadanumberofboysfromSerbiawiththemthere,andtheyintended
todothebesttheycouldfortheminthewayofeducation.Theyintendedtolaya
foundationforthem,which,ifcarefullytakenadvantageof,wouldleadthemright
throughlife.Theyrecognisedtheunfortunatepositiontheseboyswerein,and,as
theirinstitutionwasspeciallydesignedforfaitherlessbairns",itwasmost
appropriatethattheseboysshouldhavebeenadmittedthere.

TheRev.FatherNicholasVelimirovicthankedSirRobertforhiskindwords,andin
thenameoftheboysthankedtheGovernorsforthehospitalityextendednotonlyto
savethebodiesoftheboys,butalsotheirsouls.Inthesetimesofuniversal
catastrophe,Serbiahadsufferedmorethananyothercountry.Amongthemany
famousthingsinScotlandhethoughttheirScottisheducationwasthemostfamous,
andthoseboysweregivenagreatopportunityinbeingeducatedjustinScotland,
whichcountry,likeSerbia,hadsufferedsomuchinthepast.ThepeopleofScotland
wouldonthataccountbebetterabletounderstandthepainandthesufferingsof
theSerbiansatthepresenttime.TheyknewwhatScotlandhaddoneforthem
duringthewar;theyknewwhatthebraveScottishsoldiersweredoing;andthey
knewspeciallywhattheScottishwomendidinSerbia,andwhatsacrificetheymade
forthesakeofSerbia.(Applause.)Gratitudewasonegreatqualitypossessedbythe
Serbianpeople,andtheywouldnotforgetthehospitalitythathadbeenextendedto
Serbiainhertimeofdistress,andtohersons,whowerenowbeingeducatedalong
withthesonsoftheScottishpeople.(Applause.)

Dr.WallaceWilliamsonreturnedthankstotheGovernorsforthereceptiongivento
theRev.FatherNicholasVelimirovic.Itwasagreatdelighttohim,hesaid,tohave
theirvisitorfromSerbiastayingwithhim,andtoenjoyconversewithhim.Neverhad
hemetwithamanofmorewinsomepersonalityorricherhumanity.Ifanything
couldbringhometothemthedesolationofthesetimes,itwassurelythesightof
thesetwentyfourbrightIads,andonecouldnotbutfeeldeeplythankfulforthe
opportunityaffordedbysuchaninstitutiontoextendtothemhospitality,andto
makeuptotheminsomemeasureforwhattheyhadlostinbeingseparatedfrom
theircountryandtheirfriends.

TheRev.FatherNicholasVelimirovicandDrWallaceWilliamsonenteredtheirnames
inthevisitorsbookbeforeleaving,andanopportunitywasgiventhemofseeingthe
Serbianboysattheschool.

8
TheScotsman1December,1916

SERBIANMINISTERINEDINBURGH.

ADVICETOYOUTHFULCOMPATRIOTS.
AninformalvisittoGeorgeHeriot'sSchool,inwhichtwentyfiveSerbianboysareat
presentreceivingtheireducation,madeaninterestingcommencementoftheseries
ofengagementsundertakenbytheSerbianpartywhoyesterdayarrivedin
Edinburgh.TheboyswereassembledintheBoardroom,andthevisitofthe
distinguishedrepresentativesoftheirhomelandnaturallyaffordedtheminterest
andstimulus.ThevisitorsincludedMonsieurJ.Jovanovic,theSerbianMinister
Plenipotentiarytothiscountry,andMonsieurGeordjevicandMonsieurPaule
Popovic,ProfessorsoftheUniversityofBelgrade,andMonsieurAntonijevic.With
thepartytherewerealsoProfessorSarolea,atwhoseresidencethevisitorsare
stayingwhileinEdinburgh,SirEdwardParrott,andMrs.A.CarringtonWilde,
London,chairmanoftheEducationCommitteeoftheSerbianReliefFund.Theywere
receivedbySirRobertK.Inches,MrPeterMacnaughton,ClerktotheHeriotTrust,
andMrClark,headmasteroftheschool.Thevisitorsconversedindividuallywiththe
boys,whosebrightandalertappearancewasfavourablycommentedupon.At
presentthelittleSerbiancompanyatHeriot'sSchool,includinganumberofladswho
haveservedwiththeSerbianArmy,arebeingeducatedtogetherinasingleclass
untilthelanguagedifficultyhasbeenovercome,whentheywillbedividedamongst
theotherclassesaccordingtotheirindividualeducationalattainmentsandages.The
SerbianPlenipotentiary,addressingtheboysintheirnativelanguage,expressed
satisfactionattheirappearance,andattheindividualassurancesofcontentment
withtheirpresentconditionswhichhehadheard.Heurgedonthemthedutyof
profitingtotheutmostfromtheeducationalfacilitieswhichhadbeenplacedattheir
disposal;andpointedoutthatbysodoingtheywouldbeproperlyfulfillingtheirpart
inthestruggleinwhichtheircountrywasengaged.Theirfathersandbrotherswho
werefightingSerbia'sbattleinthefiringlinewouldplaytheirpartwithallthebetter
heartiftheyknewthattheiryoungexpatriatedrelativesweredoingwellamongst
theirnewfriendsinScotland.Byprofitingfromtheeducationtheywerereceiving,
theywouldalsobepreparingthemselvestotaketheirproperplaceinthe
reconstructionoftheircountryafterthewar.Healsoobservedthattheywould
recogniseittobetheirdutytodotheirbestasaproofoftheirgratitudeforallthe
kindnesseswhichhadbeenshowntothembytheirScottishfriends;andcommented
ontheprivilegewhichtheyhadinbeingassociatedwithsuchanoldandinteresting
schoolandacitywithsuchtraditions.

Afterwards,SirRobertInchescarriedthroughthequaintandinterestingceremonyin
oneoftheotherroomsofpassingroundthelovingcupmadebythefounderof
theschool,overthreehundredyearsago.

FromGeorgeHeriot'sSchoolthevisitorsproceededtotheCityChambers,where
theywerereceivedbyLordProvostLorneMacleod.

9
VISITTOTHEUNIVERSITYUNION.
SERBIASPARTINTHEWAR.
ThedistinguishedSerbianvisitorsweretheguestsintheafternoonoftheEdinburgh
UniversityFrenchSocietyattheStudents'Union,whereFatherNicholasVelimirovic
deliveredanaddresson"SerbiaandtheWar".Therewasalargeattendanceof
ladiesandgentlemenandatthegathering,thoughthenumberofstudents,
reflectingtheparttheUniversityisplayinginthewar,wasnecessarilysmall.

DrCharlesSarolea,whooccupiedthechair,pointedoutinwelcomingthedelegates
inthenameofthestudentsthattherehadbeeninthepastanimportantand
historicalconnectionbetweenEdinburghUniversityandtheMetropolitanUniversity
ofBelgrade.Heshouldalwaysconsideritagreathonourthathewasableafew
yearsagotosendfromtheFrenchdepartmentthefirstlecturerofEnglishliterature,
whoweretaughtourlanguageandliteratureinSerbia.(Applause)TheBalkanswere
themaingoalofpanGermanambitions,anditwouldbetotheeternalhonourof
theSerbianpeoplethatSerbiahadbeenthemainbulwarkagainstthoseambitions.
(Applause.)

MonsieurJovanovic,whowasreceivedwithcordiality,addressedthemeetingbriefly
inFrench,andreferredtothegreataffectionandadmirationoftheSerbianpeople
forGreatBritain,andespeciallyScotland.Scotlandwasthemostpopularcountry
withthem,andtheSerbianpeoplewouldbeeternallygratefulforwhattheScottish
womenhaddoneforthem.ForthegreatservicesoftheScottishWomen'sHospitals
andtheirworkershetenderedthesincerethanksoftheSerbianGovernmentand
people.(Applause.)

THEGERMANTORCHOFSCIENCE.
FatherVelimirovic,whowaswarmlyreceived,saidthatpoliticallyandspirituallythe
ancestorsofthoseinScotlandatthepresenttimewereforgenerationsvictorious,
andthepeopletodayweregoinginthesamewaytobevictoriousovertheir
commonenemy.(Applause.)HebrieflyreviewedSerbia'sstrugglesforfreedom,and
saidtheSerbswereproudoftheirScottishAllies,andweregladtocalltheScottish
peopletheirfriends.Heappealedtothestudentstousescienceforthedominionof
nature.InthenameofscienceGermanyhaddeclaredwarontheworld.Asawell
knownScottishProfessorhadsaid,thetaskofscientificmanwastohaveatorchin
hishandandmercyinhisheart.Germansciencewasonlythetorchinthehand.
WithitGermanycamenottomakelightfortheworld,buttoburndowntheworld.
(Applause.) Sciencewasamagnificentthing,butusedforthedominionofman
overman,itwasadiabolicalthing.GivingamessagetotheleadingmenofScotland
inthenameofEasternChristianityandasufferingpeople,heurgedthemnottobe
afraidofsacrificesandsuffering.TheyinSerbiaknewwhatsufferingmeant.Itled
alwaystobrightness,tolight,andtoGod.Thiswasnotawarfortherectificationof
frontiers.Itwassomethingmuchgreater.PeoplehadsaidthatSerbiawasfighting
foranoutlettothesea.Theywerefightingforprinciplesoffreedomandunity.
(Applause.)Itwasmuchbiggerthananybodyscommerceortrade.Itwasawarfor
thereorganisationoftheworld,anditwouldcreateanewbasisforapanhuman
brotherhood.Serbiasresurrectionwasbeginningnow,andSerbiawouldbe
10
reconstructedasBelgiumwouldbereconstructed,andinthenewSerbiaandthe
newBelgiumwouldbemanystonesthatwouldbecalledScotland.(Applause.)He
paidatributetotheworkofTheScottishWomensHospitals.

DrSarolea,inconclusion,conveyedthethanksoftheSocietytothedistinguished
visitors.

TheScotsman14September,1918

SERBIANMINISTERINEDINBURGH

CONSERVATIONOFSERBIA'SMANHOOD.
Thewealthofanation,AdamSmithmadeclear,consistsinitspeoplethosewhodo
itsworkandcarryonitsaffairs.Probablyfewinthiscountryrealise,inthisaspectof
it,onwhataslightfoundationthefutureofSerbiaisbased.Practicallythewholeof
theSerbianmanhoodconsistsoftheremnantsoftheSerbianarmy,theprisonersin
Austrianandothercamps,andsome5300boysandotherrefugeeswhoarebeing
maintainedinfriendlyAlliedcountries.OnthesethereconstructionofSerbiamainly
depends.Effortsarebeingquietlymadetomakethebestofthismaterial,especially
theyoung,inthewayofeducatingandtrainingthemforthefuture. The
importanceofthisworkinwhichBritainistakingaleadingpart,andinwhich
EdinburghandScotlandaredirectlyinterestedwasemphasisedbyMrsCarrington
Wilde,oftheSerbianReliefFund,inconversationwitharepresentativeofThe
Scotsman.MrsCarringtonWildeaccompaniedM.Trifunovic,theSerbianMinisterof
Education,andhisparty,whowereinEdinburghonThursdayprincipallyforthe
purposeofvisitingthetwentysixSerbianboyswhoarebeingmaintainedinthecity.
TheothermembersofthepartywereM.BogdanBpovic,ProfessorofComparative
Literature,UniversityofBelgrade;M.PavlePopovic,ProfessorofNationalLiterature,
Belgrade;M.MichelPopovicandProfessorM.Ilbrovac,SerbianBoardofEducation.

SCHOOLCOMRADESHIP.
ThehostelinBright'sCrescentinwhichtheSerbianboysinEdinburghare
accommodatedwasvisitedonThursdaymorning.Onarrivalthepartyweregreeted
bytheboys,severalofwhomworethekilteduniformofGeorgeHeriot'sO.T.C.,
whiletheyoungerladsweredressedinthefamiliarblouseandbreechesoftheBoy
Scouts.SirEdwardParrott,M.P.,introducedtoM.Trifunovicadeputationfromthe
GeorgeHeriotTrust.ProfessorDarroch,

ProfessorofEducationintheUniversityofEdinburgh,speakingonbehalfofHeriot
Trust,welcomedM.Trifunovicandhiscolleagues.

GoodprogresswasreportedbyMrClark,headmasterofGeorgeHeriot'sCollege.
Notonlyinscholarship,butinfootball,athletics,andtheO.T.C.,theytookanactive
part,andaremarkablefeelingofcamaraderieprevailedthroughouttheschool.The
11
adventoftheSerbianswasnotaltogetheraonesidedarrangement,asithad
conferredmanyadvantagesontheschoolinrespectof
thefeelingtheyhadinspiredamongsttheotherboys.

M.Trifunovic,whoseremarkswereinterpretedbyProfessorPavlePopovic,returned
thankstotheScottishpeopleforthecaretheyweretakingoftheSerbianboys.He
spokeinthenameoftheSerbianGovernment,thepeople,andtheparentsofthese
boys,whowerefightingatthefront.Thoughtheenergiesofeveryonewere
concentratedonthewinningofthewar,Scotlandhadfoundtheopportunitytodo
thisnoblework.Hewasespeciallyproudtoseehiscountrymeninthenational
Scottishuniform,andwassuretheywouldcarrysomethingoftheScotscharacter
backintotheirowncountry.

ATTHECITYCHAMBERS.
TheSerbianvisitorswerereceivedattheCityChambersbytheLordProvost,SirJ.
LorneMacLeod.M.Trifunovicexpressedgratitudeforwhathadbeendoneby
Edinburghonbehalfofhissufferingcountry.

TheLordProvostsaidanythingwehaddonefortheeducationoftheSerbianboys
mightberegardedasanindicationofourgratitudeandappreciationofthehigh
servicesrenderedbytheSerbianpeopleinthecauseofhumanity.Welooked
forwardwithassuredconfidencetothetimewhentherightsoftheSerbianpeople
wouldbecompletelyvindicatedandrestored.

BeforelunchtheSerbianpartyvisitedtheheadquartersinStAndrewSquareofthe
ScottishWomen'sHospitalsforForeignService.Theywerereceivedbythemembers
oftheCommittee.Beforeleaving,M.TrifunovicpaidatributetoDrElsieInglisand
theworkwhichsheandtheScottishWomen'sHospitalshadaccomplishedinSerbia.

THESENSEOFNATIONALITY.
IntheafternoontheSerbianMinisterandhissuite,accompaniedbySirEdward
ParrottandMrsCarringtonWilde,chairmanoftheEducationCommitteeofthe
SerbianReliefFund,visitedtheUniversity,wheretheywerereceivedbyProfessorSir
RichardLodge,ProfessorDarroch,ProfessorWhittaker,andProfessorSeth.MrClark,
headmasterofGeorgeHeriot'sSchool,andMrJamesWoodwerealsooftheparty.

SirRichardLodgeextendedawelcometothevisitorsonbehalfofthePrincipalofthe
University,whohadexpressedhisregretatbeingunabletoreceivethemhimself,
andhiscolleagues.ThehistoryofScotland,hesaid,wasonewhichhadmany
importantlessonsforthepresenttime.Theprincipleofnationalitywasintimately
associatedwiththehistoryofScotland.Scotlandmightbesaidtobethefirstcountry
inEuropewhichsuccessfullyvindicatedtheessentialprincipleofnationalitythe
principlethatthepeoplewhohavethesenseofnationalityhavearightto
independence.Scotland,therefore,hadaninstinctiveandinheritedsympathywith
allpeoplesstrugglingforfreedomandindependence.Inthehistoryofthe
nineteenthcenturyhardlyanythingwasmoreremarkablethantheliterary,artistic,
12
andeducationalrevivalintheKingdomofSerbiaarevivalassociatedwiththe
UniversityofBelgrade.TheylookedforwardtothetimewhenSerbianindependence
wouldberestored;whenperhapsagreaterSerbiamightresumethetaskof
guardingthegreatgatewaybetweenEuropeandAsia,andtheyhopedthattheties
betweenthiscountryandSerbiamightbeevercloserandmoreintimate.(Applause.)

Last Updated: October 2010

13