ThePillar Box War refers to a number of politically motivated acts of vandalism againstpost boxes inScotland during the early 1950s in a dispute over the correct title in Scotland of the newBritish monarch,Elizabeth II or Elizabeth I.[1]
Ascending to the throne in February 1952, Elizabeth adopted theroyal style of Elizabeth the Second. This was reflected in herroyal cypher, which took theLatin form 'EIIR'. Some objected to this usage as the new queen was the first Elizabeth to reign over theUnited Kingdom or indeedGreat Britain,Elizabeth I having been the queen of the former kingdoms ofEngland andIreland but notScotland.[2]
In 1953,John MacCormick took legal action against theLord Advocate in the case ofMacCormick v Lord Advocate, challenging the Queen's right to call herself Elizabeth the Second. The case failed on the grounds that the matter was within theroyal prerogative, and thus the Queen was free to adopt any title she saw fit.[2]
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Some occasions of vandalism and even explosions ofpost boxes which carried the Queen's 'EIIR' insignia were recorded.[3][4] One particular pillar box inEdinburgh's Inch district was repeatedly vandalised with tar, paint and a hammer before being blown to pieces less than three months after its unveiling.[5]
The folk songsSky High Joe[6] andThe Ballad of the Inch[7] commemorate these events.[8]
After 1953, new post boxes were placed in Scotland carrying only theCrown of Scotland image rather than the 'EIIR' cypher,[9][10] which continued to be used in the rest of the United Kingdom, and indeed in some of the Queen's other realms and territories. A post box with the 'EIIR' cypher was installed inDunoon in 2018 and immediately scheduled for replacement on discovery of the error.[11]
Charles III cypher will also not be included on Scottish post boxes, despite the fact thatCharles II also reigned over Scotland.[12]
Q = Queen Elizabeth. When the first of Queen Elizabeth's boxes were erected in Scotland, in 1952, some objected to the EIIR cipher, arguing that Scotland had never had an Elizabeth I. Several boxes in Scotland were vandalised. The problem went as far as the prime minister; eventually it was decided that Scottish boxes would bear a Scottish Crown in place of the EIIR cipher.
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