Comely Bank school project in Edinburgh: Keeping Their Stories Alive

 “Telling stories helps put me in their shoes.”

Broughton High School in Edinburgh partnered with Commonwealth War Graves and poet Jim Mackintosh for a creative learning project, placing pupils directly in contact with their local heritage.

The school is within walking distance of Comely Bank Cemetery, which holds over 300 war graves of British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Finnish casualties of the World Wars.

The project used creative approaches—particularly poetry, storytelling and art—to deepen understanding of remembrance and the enduring relevance of war commemoration.

Our CWGC Public Engagement Coordinator in Scotland, Elaine Edwards, undertook a project of remembrance and the enduring relevance of war commemoration.

"Hearing from experts and visiting local graves engaged our pupils in a way that cannot always be achieved inside the classroom." - Teacher Maria Balsamo

Over three months, around 100 pupils participated in classroom sessions and cemetery visits, supported by Elaine, poet Jim Mackintosh and CWGC guide Trish Keppie. Students explored how poetry, history and personal stories intersect in war remembrance and created their own responses through writing, music, art and even dance.

This project enabled pupils to gain a deeper understanding of the CWGC’s work and the international scale of Commonwealth war graves. A multi-disciplinary approach (creative writing, poetry, visual and performing arts) helped pupils reflect on conflict and remembrance in a personal and memorable way. 

“The students connected with the universal and human aspects of conflict, and explored how poetry can preserve stories across generations.” Poet Jim Mackintosh

Feedback from students and teachers highlighted how meaningful and immersive the project was. Many pupils expressed that using creative forms helped them connect emotionally with the stories of those commemorated at Comely Bank.