Buildings - Royal Scots Grays Statue - in Princes Street Gardens, opposite Frederick Street

Comments
1	Claire Connelly	The Model - Anthony James Hinnigan
2	Liam Harkin Jedburgh, Borders, Scotland	The Model - Anthony James Hinnigan
3	Richard Minto Solihull, West Midlands, England	The Model - Anthony James Hinnigan DoB
4	Paul Vile London	The Model - George Stephen 'Doddy' Vile
5	Nick Alexander Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	The Model - Robert McIntosh Alexander
6	Kevin Dodd London	The Model - Frank Dodd
7	Fiona Sleightholm Hest Bank, Lancashire, England	The Model - Anthony Hinnigan
8	Fiona Sleightholm Hest Bank, Lancashire, England	Relatives
9	Nick Alexander Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	The Model - Robert M Alexander Evidence
10	Christina Fielder Canada	The Model - Frank Dodd Photo ©
11	Andrew Robertson	The Model - Robert McIntosh Alexander
12	Nick Alexander Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	The Model - Robert M Alexander Photo ©
13	Kevin Dodd London	The Model - Frank Dodd
14	Kevin Dodd London	The Model - Photos - Edinburgh castle - Frank Snr and Frank Jnr
15	Elaine Farley Koumoutseas Toronto, Ontario, Canada	The Model - George Farley
16	Scott Wilson Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland	The Model - Press Comments

Comment 2.

Models for the Statue

Thank you to Liam Harkin, Jedburgh, Scotland for an email in January 2005 giving the following additional information about the models for the statue:

Anthony James Hinnigan and Polly

"I can confirm that Sergeant-Major Anthony James Hinnigan and his horse Polly were the models for the Scots Greys Memorial, sculpted by Mr Birnie Rhind in 1906.

Anthony James Hinnigan was born in Jedburgh in 1866 and in 1882, at the age of 16, he joined the Royal Scots Greys. For the next 17 years he served with the Greys on home duty but in September 1899, by now with the rank of Sergeant-Major, he went with the Greys to South Africa when they were mobilized for service in the Second Boer War.

On his return from South Africa in 1904 Sergeant-Major Hinnigan and his horse Polly were selected as the models for Rhind's Memorial.

Sergeant-Major Hinnigan was discharged from the army in 1911 and became mine host at the Railway Inn at Irvine in Ayrshire."

Liam Harkin, Jedburgh, Borders, Scotland: January 10, 2005

Comment 3.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Richard Minto, Solihull, for contacting me concerning the dates above.

If I discover anything further, I'll update this page again. Meanwhile, here is Richard's message to me.

Richard wrote:

Anthony James Hinnigan

"My wife is a great niece of Anthony Hinnigan. She tells him that the date of birth of Anthony Hinnigan and other dates mentioned above are not correct. Anthony Hinnigan was actually born on May 24, 1872."

Richard Minto, Solihull, West Midlands, England: October 3, 2006.

Comment 4.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Paul Vile, London who wrote:

George Stephen 'Doddy' Vile

"I believe there may have been more than one model for this statue. I was brought up in the belief that my Great-grandfather, George Stephen 'Doddy' Vile, was also a model for this statue.

He was a drum major and retired from the Regiment just before the first world war, only to rejoin when the war broke out."

Paul Vile, London: May 14, 2008

Comment 5.

Model for the Statue

There appears to be more controversy than I had expected over who was the model for this statue:

I've now received two emails from Nick Alexander, Melbourne, Australia.

Nick wrote:

Robert McIntosh Alexander

"It was my Grandfather, Robert McIntosh Alexander, Royal Scots Greys Regiment, who was the model for this statue. This has been well proven.

You can find out the correct history of the model of the statue by checking with Edinburgh Castle records. I thought this was resolved over 20 years ago.

I have the original coloured in black and white photographs used by the sculptor, which is not my grandfather's Army Horse, but a special horse for standing for long periods very still.

I have the paperwork and correspondence from the sculptor to my grandfather discussing his saddler blanket and other chattels which my grandfather had left at Bernie Rhind's rooms.

My auntie (the model's daughter, now deceased) took this paperwork to the Castle many years ago to stop the people who claim (without offering proof) their heritage."

Nick Alexander, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: June 3, 2008

The Sculptor

Matt Jarrett sent me an email today, telling me that he was interested to read Nicholas Alexander's comments above.

Matt Jarrett is the great, great grandson of the sculptor, Bernie Rhind

Peter Stubbs: July 11, 2008

Comment 6.

Model for the Statue

The story becomes more complicated! Despite Nicolas Alexander's claim to have the original paperwork and correspondence from the sculptor to back up his claim that his grandfather was the model for the statue ( 5 above), I'm still receiving more emails on this topic.

Kevin Dodd, London, wrote:

Frank Dodd

"I was very interested to read the comments from Nicolas Alexander, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (5 above). I was very surprised to see that there were several 'claimants' to the story of who was the model for this statue.

I have my own claim which comes to me from my Grandmother who was married to Frank Dodd jnr. who was RSM of the unit then went on to become Major of the home regiment for the Scots Greys. Frank's father, also Frank Dodd was my great grandfather. (His name can be found on the memorial as well.)

The story that I have is that it was in fact my great grandfather who modelled the statue, BUT in body only, he was a young well built man. They did however use the head of an older, more mature looking soldier. That's the story I have grown up with, my whole life. Is this incorrect?

I'm told that my great grandfather was also used to model cigarettes by the army, so I had no reason to believe otherwise.

If this is true, being that 90% of the statue is made up of my great grandfathers body and only 10% made up of someone else's head then my great grandfather should get the credit for being the model."

Kevin Dodd, London: September 5, 2008, with
comments on Frank jnr's rank updated May 25, 2012

Conflicting Stories

I'll not complicate matters by suggesting who might be right or wrong on this topic.

I'll just quote the comments that I've received in emails about the statue and leave others to draw their own conclusions.

Peter Stubbs: September 5, 2008

Comment 7.

Model for the Statue

Fiona Sleightholm wrote:

Anthony Hinnigan

"I'm looking for some information on the Royal Scots Grey statue. Do you know who the soldier who posed for the sculpture?

As a child my Gran would tell me it was her Uncle Anthony Hinnigan, her Father's brother. I found some info in a small booklet 'Further Recollections, Life in the village of Newstead at the turn of the Century' by Willie Alchin.

He mentions in the book that the rider on the statue is a Jedburgh-born man named Anthony Hinnigan."

Fiona Sleightholm, Hest Bank, Lancashire, England: March 19+20, 2009

I don't have a definite answer to Fiona's question, but will leave her to read the comments on this page and reach her own conclusions.

Peter Stubbs: March 19, 2009

Comment 8.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Fiona Sleightholm who wrote again telling me about the progress she had made in trying to discover more about who the soldier was who posed for the Royal Scots Greys statue.

Fiona wrote:

Relatives

"I emailed you a while ago about the Royal Greys statue on Princess Street, asking you if you knew who the soldier was who posed for the sculptor. My Gran said it was her Uncle Anthony James Hinnigan.

You gave me some e-mail addresses of people that said it was their relative too. I contacted them.

It's been great finding third cousins etc. From trying to find out who the soldier was, I've found relatives I didn't know. That has been wonderful, especially as I was brought up as an only child and so was my Mum"

Fiona Sleightholm, Hest Bank, Lancashire, England: October 17, 2009

Comment 9.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Nick Alexander who wrote again, following up his comments in 5 above.

Nick believes there is no doubt that the model for this statue was his grandfather, Robert McIntosh Alexander.

Nicolas wrote:

Robert McIntosh Alexander

Evidence

"I forwarded documentary proof of the origin of this statue to Matt Jarrett, great-great-grandson of the sculptor, Bernie Rhind, over a year ago. Anybody can check with Bernie.

Or they can check with Edinburgh Castle where I have now lodged correspondence and paperwork about the origins of this statue.

My grandfather was chosen as the model because he was the youngest man alive to return."

Nick Alexander, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: April 21, 2010

Comment 10.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Christina Fielder, living in Canada, for responding to the comment (6 above) from Kevin Dodd of London

Christina says that Kevin must be a distant relation, but her family has not been in touch with him.

Christina wrote

Frank Dodd

"My great grandmother was named Agnes Dodd. She was born in Edinburgh & her brother, Francis (Frank) Dodd, was a member of the Royal Scots Greys. Sadly, he was killed in World War I & is buried in Orleans, France.

My grandmother used to tell the same story as Kevin tells, which she heard from her mother Agnes, that the statue in Princes Street Gardens was modelled on Frank Dodd's body, though not his face.

Here is a photo of Frank Dodd which was in my grandmother's possession"

Christina Fielder, Canada: January 24, 2011

Comment 11.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Andrew Robertson who wrote:

Robert McIntosh Alexander

"I am a rather late entrant into the debate as to who was the model for the Royal Scots Memorial in Princess Street Edinburgh. However my knowledge and understanding certainly supports Nicolas Alexander’s submissions. (See Comments 5 + 9 above).

When I was a small boy living in Dunfermline circa 1950 a Mrs Alexander who was a widow and an older lady, and her daughter Rena moved into a flat above my parents' home in Forth Street, Dunfermline. I clearly recall my mother saying that Mrs Alexander had explained to her that her late husband, Colonel Alexander, was the model for the memorial statue in Princess Street, Edinburgh. Surely there would be no motive for a widow to make such a claim if it were not true.

I have to assume that Nicolas’ aunt was Mrs Alexander’s daughter Rena. I recall very little else save that Rena was a mature woman working as restaurant manager/supervisor in one of the busy Princess Street restaurants of the day. In the 1950s this was regarded as a responsible position to hold. It could have been Binns, Jenners or Forsyths I do not know.

I suppose that as a small boy my lasting impression was that I knew the name of the man on that horse!"

Andrew Robertson: February 2, 2011

Comment 12.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Nick Alexander for sending a photograph in support of his claim that the model for the statue was his grandfather, Robert McIntosh Alexander.

Nick wrote:

Robert McIntosh Alexander

Photo

"Here is the original coloured black+white photo used by the sculptor of the statue, Bernie Rhind.

This photo hangs on my study wall."

Nick Alexander, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: February 10, 2011

Reply to Nick?

If you'd like to contact Nick, or Mary Wilson (a grand-daughter of Robert McIntosh Alexander) whom Nick knows, please email me, then I'll pass on contact details to you.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 10, 2011

Update
April 2014

Message for Nick Alexander

Hi Nick:

I received a message for you from Scott Wilson, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, earlier this week. He told me:

- He is the son of Mary Wilson.

- He confirms that the boy on the horse in the Royal Scots Greys monument is his Mum's grandad.

- He last saw you when he was in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after a serious road accident in 1980.

- He would like to get in touch with you again.

I passed the latest email address that I have for you to Scott, but when he tried to contact you this week, his message kept coming back to him marked 'Postmaster failed'.

So I hope that you will find this message from me.

Can you please email me? Then I'll pass your email address on to Scott, and he can try again to contact you. Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: April 6, 2014

Update 2
May 2015

Message from Nick Alexander

Nick Alexander replied, saying:

"I've only just saw your note above about the message from Scott Wilson.

He is mostly correct. I saw him last at his mother’s home when he was a teenager, long after his accident with a bus.

Nick Alexander, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: May 14, 2015

I've now passed on the email address that Scott Wilson was using in 2014 to Nick Alexander. I hope Scott is still using the same email address now and that Nick will be able to make contact with him.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:: May 14, 2015

Comment 13.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Kevin Dodd who wrote again after reading Christina Fender's Comments 10 above.

Kevin wrote:

Frank Dodd

"I stumbled across this page again while doing some research on Frank Dodd. I was very interested to read the comments by Christina Fielder in Canada.

When i saw the picture first before reading the comments i thought to myself that it looked like the photos we have of Frank Dodd.

What a surprise i got to read Christina's comments, and the same story as I had been told (which of course might not be true).

There is, however, the possibility that both accounts might be true. Anthony James Hinnigan could be the mature head on the body of Frank Dodd! Who knows? It would be very interesting to find out.

Interestingly enough, just as Nick Alexander has a photo, we also have one with Frank Dodd on the horse."

Kevin Dodd, London: May 23, 2012

Comment 14.

Model for the Statue

Kevin Dodd added:

Photos

"We do have several pictures including one with Frank on the horse, supposedly posing for the statue. All the original photos are in the Edinburgh Castle Museum, though we have prints from them."

Edinburgh Castle

"My Mother and Gran donated all the photos and Frank Jnr's sword to the unit a few years back, and my mother was given a guided tour through the museum just a by Colonel Binks. I don't know whether he is still at the castle or not.

I tried to get Frank's sword back a few years ago, but they were reluctant to let it go because it formed part of the unit history and now also forms part of the unit's tradition; the officer on duty carries it."

Frank Snr and Frank Jnr

"Frank Snr died a few days before Frank Jnr was born but not before he modelled for the statue (so we have been told). When this story was relayed to the Colonel at the Castle, they told my mother that the story was true, and that the reason that his face was not used was because the soldier was to represent the unit and not any one man in particular. In this sense, the statue is universal - how true this is."

Kevin Dodd, London: May 25, 2012 (2 emails)

Comment 15.

Model for the Statue

Elaine Farley Koumoutseas writes:

George Farley

"My grandfather, George Farley, was the model that was used for the Royal Scots Grey statue in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.

George Farley was in the Scotch Grey Regiment and he fought in the Boer War. He lived in Edinburgh following the war in the early part of the 19th century."

Other Candidates

"I read over the posts on your website regarding people that have claimed that there ancestor was the model.

I guess it's impossible to prove who actually was the model, but we felt it was important to bring forward information that has been passed down through our family for over 100 years."

Elaine Farley Koumoutseas, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (mother of Stath Koumoutseas)
Message received by email from Stath Koumoutseas: July 19, 2012

Comment 16.

Model for the Statue

Thank you to Scott Wilson for sending me the two press extracts below, concerning Robert Alexander, model for the Royal Scots Greys statue. See Comment 12 above.

Newspaper Articles

SOLDIER

Museum Staff at Edinburgh Castle say that over the years many people have claimed it was their grandfather who modelled for the Royal Scots Greys statue in Princes Street Gardens.

Now many myths have been exploded. Two "News" readers, Elizabeth Dickie and her sister, Robertina Brown have shown me documentary evidence to prove it was THEIR father, Robert Alexander, who modelled for Bernie Rhind's sculpture.

The sisters, who both now live in Fife, still have a letter sent to their father by Rhind. The sculptor had written to Mr Alexander, then a trooper in the regiment, reminding him of equipment he had left behind in the studio - one pair of bots, gauntlets, riding pants, one bearskin and fittings.

Roberta says: "So many people have claimed it was their relation who modelled for the sculptor that I just wanted to put the record straight."

Edinburgh Evening News

(Date not known)

THE LATE MR R ALEXANDER

MODEL FOR FAMOUS EDINBURGH STATUE

The death has taken place at 25 Rothesay Terrace, Edinburgh, of Mr Robert Alexander, a veteran of the Royal Scots Greys, who had the distinction of being selected by the late Mr W Birinie Rhind, the well known sculptor, as the model for the Scots Greys equestrian monument in Princes Street, Edinburgh.

A son of the late Mr John G Alexander, who came from Edinburgh to take charge of one of the departments of the rubber works of the late Mr R W Stewart in Elgin Street, Mr Alexander spent the greater part of his life-time in Dunfermline, but had resided in Edinburgh for the last three years.

Before leaving Dunfermline, he was chauffeur to the late Mr Harry Stewart of Keavil, and had continued in the service of Mrs Stewart after her husband's death.

With the Royal Scots Greys, Mr Alexander served in the South African War. Thereafter he spent some time in the United States, from which he returned in 1914 to join the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry which was attached to thhe Royal Scots Greys, and he served during the whole of the 1914-1918 war.

Mr Alexander , who had many friends in Dunfermline, and was held in high respect, is survived by his widow, two daughters, and a son.

Obituary
(But what newspaper and what date?)

Scott Wilson, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland: 17 August 2016 (2 emails)