72nd Highlanders Memorial, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

The monument is a memorial to the men of the 72nd Highlanders who died in Afghanistan during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80). It was designed by MacDonald, Field and Company in 1882-3. The monument takes the form of a polished pink Peterhead granite obelisk with a bronze coronet over the number 72. It stands on a pedestal on which are carved the names of the fallen.

In additions to the names of the fallen the base holds two further inscriptions which read 'IN MEMORY OF / THE OFFICERS / NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN / OF THE 72ND DUKE OF ALBANY'S OWN HIGHLANDERS / WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE / DURING THE CAMPAIGNS IN AFFGHANISTAN (sic) / IN 1878 - 79 – 80' and 'ERECTED BY / THE OFFICERS AND MEN NOW SERVING / AND WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE REGIMENT'.