Organised by the Old Musselburgh Club, the commemoration took place last Wednesday.

The conflict – the last pitched battle between Scotland and England – was led by the Earl of Arran, Regent of Scotland, and the Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector of England, whose aim was to secure the betrothal of the nine-year-old King Edward VI of England to five-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots.

The battle, a crushing defeat for the Scots, is significant in military history due to the pioneering combination of horse, foot and artillery, with supporting fire from naval vessels.

Ian Wood, club president, said: “It’s thought by historians that anything between 40,000-50,000 people could have taken part, making it the biggest battle ever on Scottish soil and the last ever pitched battle between England and Scotland.

“Despite having the bigger army, the Scots were defeated and around 10,000 of their army are thought to have been slain during and after the battle, with the English dead numbering a few hundred.”

The ceremony was preceded by a guided walk from the Roman Bridge in Musselburgh which was led by Andrew Coulson and Roger Knox. The battlefield route took people via St Michael’s Church in Inveresk and along Crookston Road, both locations having description boards.

The group was met at the bridge over the railway by piper Colin Pryde, who accompanied the walkers to the battle information board and stone monument in the layby just off Salters Road in Wallyford.

The commemoration was held beside the monument, where some 40 people had gathered to hear Mr Wood give an account of the battle.

Libby Bain and Grace Ryan from Musselburgh Grammar School read out the names of 10 of those who died on the day. Rosehill High School at Wallyford was represented by Shayna Samuel, Samera Umar and Kasper Stibbles. 

Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, laid a wreath on behalf of the Scottish Government and Ann Wood, the wife of the president, laid one on behalf of the Old Musselburgh Club.

The piper then closed the ceremony by playing ‘The Flowers of the Forest’.