Legion Scotland Today Spring/Summer 2021

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LEGION SCOTLAND New Haig House, Logie Green Road, Edinburgh EH7 4HQ Patron Her Majesty The Queen President Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB CBE MA National Chairman Martyn Hawthorn

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National Vice Chairman David Paton National Treasurer John Whitelaw (interim) Chief Executive Officer Claire Armstrong

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EDITOR FOR LEGION SCOTLAND Claire Armstrong MANAGING EDITOR Fiona McKinlay DESIGNER Juanita Adu

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SUB-EDITORS Sian Campbell, Andrew Littlefield ACCOUNT DIRECTOR John Innes john.innes@thinkpublishing.co.uk STORIES TO SHARE? Please contact magazine@legionscotland.org.uk or call 0131 322 1076.

Submissions received by 9 August 2021 will be considered for inclusion in the next issue, but we appreciate your stories at any time and may be able to share them through other avenues such as social media. Articles are likely to be edited and inclusion is not guaranteed.

Sending high-resolution images as email attachments will increase the chances of us being able to use your story.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Published on behalf of Legion Scotland by Think Publishing Ltd Red Tree Business Suites, 33 Dalmarnock Road, Glasgow G40 4LA 0141 375 0504 ADVERTISING Alison Fraser alison.fraser@thinkpublishing.co.uk 0141 946 8708

Take a walk down memory lane

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S THE COVID-19 vaccination programme rolls out across the country, there’s light at the end of the tunnel at last. In the We look back coming weeks and months, we’ll soon on our history be able to spend precious time again as we mark our with friends and family.

The pandemic affected so many of our centenary planned events last year but fortunately we still managed to get together online and mark occasions virtually.

As we go to press, it’s not certain what events will go ahead in 2021 but one thing we do know, we will find ways to celebrate 100 years of Royal British Legion Scotland with all of our members and branches.

Find out more about our plans on page 6.

In this issue we look back on our history as we mark our centenary.

On page 14 you can take a walk through the archives with us as we share old photographs, stories and memories from branches and the organisation. We will carry more reminiscences in the autumn issue of Legion Scotland Today, so please get in touch if you have stories to tell.

National Chairman Martyn Hawthorn looks back on his naval career in the Voices of Veterans feature on page 26, with tales of worldwide travel and even James Bond.

It’s a great pleasure to tell you about the work of Karen Elliot from Livingston in our Local Hero feature on page 13.

Karen has been awarded a BEM for her years of voluntary service to Royal Navy veterans, devoting so much of her time to their support and welfare.

Remember, if you are feeling isolated during these difficult times, our Veterans Community Support Service can lend a hand. Go to legionscotland.org.uk/ befriending for a referral form, or call 0131 550 1560.

Take care and stay safe.

Copyright © Legion Scotland 2021.

All rights reserved.

Legion Scotland is a trading name of the Royal British Legion Scotland SCIO, Scottish Charity No.SC003323

Dr Claire Armstrong CEO Legion Scotland SPRING 2021 www.legionscotland.org.uk 3

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Welcome

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ON THE COVER Legion Scotland member Ronnie Wilson, illustrated

by Colin Elgie.

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LEGION NEWS The latest from Legion Scotland, including news of our centenary year celebrations BRANCH NEWS Stories from Legion Scotland branches across the country LOCAL HERO Karen Elliot received a BEM for her years of voluntary service supporting Royal Navy veterans 100 YEARS OF RBLS A walk down memory lane as we share items from our archive, from early copies of the Claymore to recollections of Remembrance IN THE FRAME A round-up of some of the best films about the Armed Forces from recent years VOICES OF VETERANS National Chairman Martyn Hawthorn reflects on his years in the Royal Navy POPPYSCOTLAND NEWS Resilience and support in 2021 LAST POST Appreciation of recently departed members of Legion Scotland RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY Project to repair Earl Haig statue

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Legion Scotland prepares for a very special birthday

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TO CELEBRATE the centenary of Royal British Legion Scotland’s creation, an exciting programme of events has been lined up to mark 100 years since Earl Haig founded the organisation to support ex-servicemen returning home from World War One. While we hope the following events will go ahead as planned, all in-person meetings and activities are still dependent on COVID-19 restrictions at this time.

Keep an eye on the Legion Scotland website and social media for updates.

From 19 to 27 June there will be an online auction raising funds for Legion Scotland; Founder’s Day celebrations on 27 June; a National Centenary Ride Out from 27 June to 3 September; and a Beating of the Retreat on 3 September.

11 September will see the unveiling of a restored statue of Earl Haig in Montreuilsur-Mer, which was originally destroyed by occupying Germans in 1940 (see page 34).

Centenary celebrations will round up on 6 November with a Legion Scotland concert in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, featuring performances from the Military Wives Choir and Legion Scotland Sweetheart Amy Hawthorn.

“A lot has happened since Legion Scotland was founded 100 years ago.

There have been conflicts all over the

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Amy Hawthorn, centenary Sweetheart

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Keeping you up to date with Legion Scotland’s latest

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S world and it is very important that all veterans be remembered,” said National Chairman Martyn Hawthorn. “Comradeship is still a key factor for Legion Scotland and that is why this anniversary is so very important, especially in these difficult and trying times.”

Despite the pandemic, this is a momentous year for Legion Scotland and the proposed events will offer opportunities to mark achievements and engage with a wide network of supporters and members.

Amy Hawthorn, Legion Scotland Sweetheart

The Military Wives Choir

EVERY LITTLE HELPS

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There are now more ways to make a donation DONATIONS MAKE up an essential part of Legion Scotland’s income and help to ensure that the vital work of our branches can continue. Now, after a difficult year, this support is more important than ever. There are more ways than ever that you can support the charity, some at no cost to you.

Legion members can make an extra donation by using the Gift Aid option.

All new and existing members need to do is complete the Gift Aid declaration that you receive with your membership letter and send it on to Head Office.

So far, 6,595 members have signed up for Gift Aid. With many more of us shopping online due to the pandemic, you can select Legion Scotland as your charity of choice on Amazon as a simple way of regularly donating. This is easy to do by visiting smile.amazon.co.uk and choosing Legion Scotland from a drop-down list, or typing Royal British Legion Scotland SCIO into the search bar.

All money raised counts, and for each purchase you make through the website, no matter how small, Legion Scotland will receive a percentage of the total cost.

So far, we have received almost £2,000 from your Amazon purchases.

Another easy way to make a quick donation is by text, where you can

E-BULLETIN

KEEP UP TO DATE

News straight to your inbox

Make us Smile with a donation

donate £5 by texting ‘LEGION’ to 70755.

Donations can also be made through the Legion Scotland website by clicking on the red Donate button on the homepage.

More than £6,000 has been raised from these one-off donations since the last Remembrance period.

It’s also possible to leave a legacy donation to Legion Scotland in your will. To find out more about legacy giving call 0131 550 1548, and also speak with your solicitor, who will be able to give you further guidance.

LEGION SCOTLAND launched a new e-bulletin newsletter in January.

The first editions have received positive feedback, and the information circulated in them is updated regularly.

This monthly correspondence keeps members connected to what’s going on at Legion Scotland without having to wait for Legion Scotland Today magazine, which will now be published twice in 2021.

The e-bulletin is sent to every member who has supplied an email address. You can check and update your email by calling 0132 322 1076 or by contacting info@legionscotland.org.uk Read news, events and veteran issues

COVID-19

SOLDIERS ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES Armed Forces personnel pay a key part in the COVID-19 vaccination programme

SINCE JANUARY, British Army soldiers have been helping to establish 80 new COVID-19 vaccine centres across Scotland.

With 98 soldiers working across 11 Vaccination Centre Setup Teams covering the length and breadth of Scotland, personnel from the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have been using their logistical expertise to establish the centres, before handing them over to NHS

Scotland to deliver the vaccination programme.

Their work has included organising car parking and traffic flow systems, establishing patient recording practices, facilitating vaccine delivery to the sites and preparing storage for medicines and equipment.

Meanwhile, a further 81 medical staff have been deployed to help administer jabs across health boards, forming a Vaccine Quick Reaction Force. It is all part

of the largest peacetime resilience operation ever undertaken by the UK Armed Forces.

Military support to the Scottish authorities during the pandemic has included RAF medical

aero-evacuations from Shetland, Orkney and Arran in support of the Scottish Ambulance Service; planning advice in the setting up of the NHS Louisa Jordan facility in Glasgow and staffing all mobile COVID-19 testing units across Scotland for much of summer 2020.

Around the UK a record 5,300 personnel are now committed to winter and COVID-19 operations, supporting 56 different tasks in the UK and abroad.

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Legion News

FUNDRAISING

Legion News

LEGION SCOTLAND NEWS

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The latest lockdown has set communities fresh challenges

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experiencing hardship through THOSE ON on the front line who are dealing with the harsh reality isolation, we are continuing to of lockdown are our network of offer face-to-face support under Veterans Community Support very controlled circumstances.

Coordinators (VCSC), who work And that has really made a closely with veterans and vulnerable difference to people.” clients across the country.

Emily and teams across the country Emily Clark, VCSC for Scotland still need volunteers and are keen to North, tells us that the latest speak to anyone who can help. lockdown has proved to be “We are still recruiting and particularly difficult. training. Our local support was “A lot of it has to do with the fact always critically important but now that we [were] it’s equally in the middle important Veterans Community of winter, it to the wider Support Coordinator [was] so cold community,” Emily Clark and dark,” she she says. says. “We can’t “It’s not ask someone just about who’s 95 years connecting old to stand on people with their doorstep local veteran in minus breakfast temperatures. clubs and their And a lot of Armed Forces people can’t community, it’s chat on the offering about offering phone because people a lifeline they might have and the hope hearing issues.” that we will Emily and all come out her team have of this.” therefore had to No matter be more creative how tough in supporting some moments It’s about offering people while have been over people a lifeline working within the past year, and the hope that we government Emily believes guidance. They it is the spirit will all come out of this scrutinised the and stoicism of Scottish Government’s advice on veterans and clients that has helped permissible contact, which states that to keep her going. the First Minister considers mental “My partner has been stuck in a welfare to be a high priority. different country for months and “There are exceptions for faceI was on my own for Christmas to-face contact to continue if it’s to and my birthday. I spent Christmas support the mental welfare of people morning delivering hampers to who are very isolated and will suffer some of our isolated veterans due to continued and prolonged and that was a real treat for me,” isolation,” says Emily. she says.

“So we have taken an approach whereby the default position is to fall To volunteer, contact Tommy back to remote support as much as Douglas on t.douglas@ possible, but in cases where someone legionscotland.org.uk or is particularly vulnerable or really call 0131 550 1560

Ways to make managing your membership easier

LEGION SCOTLAND’S membership has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, making membership renewal this year a priority for the organisation. Maintaining your Legion Scotland membership lets you continue to help the charity to support veterans through comradeship, befriending and much more.

When you renew, make sure to keep your membership details up to date with the correct address and branch if you’ve moved to a new house. This can be done by using the tear-off slip at the bottom of your membership letter to update any changes. You can also contact Head Office to supply a valid email address and to receive Legion Scotland’s new e-bulletin newsletter.

Your membership letters also include a Vote Registration Form which allows members to have a say on the motions submitted for 2021. Once you’ve renewed your membership, you can choose to have either a postal or electronic vote. An electronic vote is recommended if you have an email address, as the process is simple and cost-effective. Please note that the deadline for registration has been extended to mid-April.

To help your branch and ensure that your membership is renewed annually, you can set up a direct debit to be processed on the 1st or 15th of each month. This can be done by asking your branch for a form, or by getting in touch with Head Office to send you one.

Please see www.legionscotland.org. uk/join, talk to your local branch, or call our membership team on 0131 550 1586 for more information.

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Branch News

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A 25-MILE WANDER More than £2,000 raised for Armed Forces charities

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AFTER EASDALE branch had to cancel their usual fundraising events, including the annual sale and dance in Seil Island Hall, due to coronavirus restrictions, Willy Munro came up with an interesting challenge to compensate.

The branch member decided to do a sponsored walk from Ellenabeich to Degnish, stretching over 25 miles.

With a goal of £1,000 reached in 10 days, more than £2,200 was raised by the time Willy completed his ‘wander’ in October, climbing to £2,600 in the following weeks. The money raised will be shared between veterans charities including Erskine, Combat Stress, Poppyscotland and the SSAFA. Local filmmakers GH Productions followed Willy on his wander and you can watch their short film about it at youtu.be/8tx1KADExVs

Willy’s boots were made for walking

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Reaching the finish line

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DUMFRIES AND MAXWELLTOWN

WORKING TOGETHER

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How one branch has engaged with the local community

Dumfries and DURING THE pandemic, organisers of the members of Dumfries and Maxwelltown Dumfries Tattoo. The branch joined forces completed film was with Veterans Garden released by Veterans Dumfries to work Garden Dumfries on on the upkeep of the 1 November.

The Lord Lieutenant green space. A lot of A Plan B had been of Dumfriesshire the produce from the put in place for a gardens went to the restricted Armistice elderly in the local area who were in Service on 8 November, but at the last lockdown at the time. minute the branch learned it couldn’t As was the case across the country, go ahead at all. Those wishing to lay other events that had been planned a wreath were instructed that they by the branch had to be cancelled. could do this at certain set times on One event that did go ahead was the day, and again on 11 November. a virtual Remembrance Festival recorded in Crichton Church and Read the full story online at organised in conjunction with the legionscotland.org.uk/news/ King’s Own Scottish Borderers joining-forces-to-find-newAssociation, Veterans Garden solutions

LINBURN

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT Two members celebrate 50 years of marriage ON 9 September Then ...

2020, 69-year-old Andrew Gilmour, chairman of the Linburn branch, celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with wife Sue. They married in 1971 in South Queensferry after meeting at the Edinburgh Tattoo, having only known each other for three weeks.

The pair were performing at the Tattoo with the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots Pipes/Drums – Andrew as a piper and Sue as a dancer. Sue was only chosen to take part as an extra dancer at the last minute, but it proved to be love at first sight.

“We had a room where the Tattoo performers could rest until it was time to go on, and we were talking, but then Andy had ... and now to leave,” said Sue. “I turned to my friends and said, ‘That’s the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.’

I’d only been speaking to him for about 40 minutes!’”

GET IN TOUCH Send us your news stories and suggestions for Local Hero features to magazine@ legionscotland.org.uk to share on the website, social media, our e-newsletter and the magazine.

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Branch News

BRANCH NEWS VERSION

EYES ON, HANDS ON

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War grave volunteers needed

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THE COMMONWEALTH War Graves Commission is looking for volunteers in Scotland for its Eyes On, Hands On project to ensure that war graves are kept clean and well-tended.

Launched last year, the project is now operating under government restrictions and volunteers are still needed in Inverness-shire, Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Caithness, Ross-shire, Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

If you can help, please register your interest by visiting cwgc.org/our-work/volunteer

PICTURE PERFECT Great-granddaughter gets creative for Remembrance

LAST NOVEMBER 11-year-old Ella Louise Moore, greatgranddaughter of a Melrose branch member, made her own touching Remembrance tribute.

The artistic schoolgirl drew a beautiful picture of the Melrose War Memorial and placed it in the window of the front room of her house.

Lest we forget, as Ella’s colourful picture reminds us

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NEW WAYS TO REMEMBER

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Online Remembrance services and events in the face of the pandemic A CLOSED national service of Remembrance was held at the Scottish National War Memorial within Edinburgh Castle on Remembrance Sunday – and broadcast online.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen and the people of Scotland by the Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Frank Ross, and the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, respectively.

Senior representatives of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force were also among the wreath-laying party, which totalled only 22 people due to social distancing requirements.

Poppyscotland’s Fields of Remembrance were less accessible due to travel restrictions and other

The national service of Remembrance in Edinburgh

precautions, so a Virtual Field of Remembrance was erected online. Visitors to the site could plant a cross on the virtual field along with a personal tribute.

A virtual service of Remembrance was also Pipe Major held on Legion Scotland’s Brian Robin son Facebook page on 11 November, and we urged everyone to take to their A virtual service of doorstep at 11am Remembrance was to observe the twominute silence. held on our Facebook page

If you missed these broadcasts or would like to see them again, you can watch online at facebook. com/legionscotland Around the country, Legion Scotland branches found new, socially distanced ways to mark Remembrance Day. Strathspey branch, along with their local community, arranged for ‘Grantown Rocks’ to be painted with poppy designs, while a colour party visited a number of war memorials on Remembrance Sunday.

In Stirling, a small service was held in the Church of the Holy Rude, with a bugler and lone piper performing outside. And Pipe Major Brian Robinson, of Paisley and District Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe Band, also played the lament at Paisley Cenotaph.

Read the full story online at legionscotland. org.uk/news/ how-we-remembered

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House ads VERSION

100 YEARS OF THE LEGION

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To celebrate the centenary of the Royal British Legion Scotland, a new range of merchandise is available to order online. This is a great way to show your support for members of the Armed Forces community and their families in Scotland.

Legion 100 Fleece £40

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Legion 100 MultiFunctional Face Covering £14

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Order now at www.poppyscotland.org.uk/shop or call 0141 648 9500

Legion 100 Beanie £12 Legion 100 Face Mask £8

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Advertise your business to

62,000

dedicated readers of Legion Scotland Today Next issue is our special autumn centenary Remembrance publication, out in October Alison Fraser on 0141 946 8708 alison.fraser@thinkpublishing.co.uk

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Local Hero VERSION

Looking at the excellent work carried out by our branches and members

LOCAL HERO

Send your inspirational stories to magazine@legionscotland.org.uk

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IT’S A REAL HONOUR

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Karen Elliot of Livingston has been awarded a BEM for her years of outstanding voluntary service to Royal Navy veterans

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AREN ELLIOT truly is a superwoman; that’s the only explanation for what she does.

From organising meetings of veteran groups and arranging commemorative events, to helping to run online quiz nights and keeping veterans in touch throughout lockdown, her diary is jam-packed. Add into the mix a busy job and family life and it’s hard to believe she has time to sleep.

“My voluntary work is what keeps me sane,” she smiles. “In my day job I look after contracts and compliance, which is very focused. So yes, doing all the other stuff in my spare time is what keeps me going.”

The 54-year-old from Livingston recently received a BEM in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for voluntary service to Royal Navy veterans. It has been well earned.

As well as being social secretary of the Livingston branch of Royal British Legion Scotland, Karen is Scottish area secretary of the Royal Naval Association (RNA); chairman of the Association of Wrens and Women of the Royal Naval Services (AOW) Edinburgh and district branch; Trustee of the national AOW; social secretary of the RNA City of Edinburgh branch; and founder, secretary, treasurer and event coordinator for the West Lothian Armed Forces Day. And she still finds time to be treasurer of her local church, West Kirk of Calder.

Karen served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service for five years as a Wren radar, before starting a family. She says she gained so much from her years of service that she wanted to volunteer when her daughters were older and she had free time.

“I felt I was missing something,” she remembers. “I knew about the AOW and the RNA, but didn’t really know where the local branches were.

I found the Wrens in Edinburgh, went

Sponsored walk wi AOW Edinburgh th & District

Karen Elliot with her husband Stephen

WRNS class photo 1984

Everything that we do is to bring veterans together and give them something along and it was just like going home.

You realised what you had missed.

I didn’t know any of the ladies but it didn’t matter because the banter is the same.”

She adds: “I’ve got so much out of the Wrens. In West Calder there was nothing for me when I grew up.

I didn’t want to do anything else, I just wanted to join the Navy. So now it’s about giving back. It’s about

Meeting the Princess Royal

supporting veterans, it doesn’t matter what service they’re from. We’ve set up breakfast clubs in Livingston, we run our own Armed Forces Day in West Lothian. Everything that we do is to bring veterans together and give them something.”

Karen summarises her voluntary work as communicating with members of the organisations that she works with, and rallying local branches.

Of course, these tasks have had to be done in a very different way since the start of the pandemic. D Day and VJ Day services have been carried out online, along with bingo nights and tot nights, where members can come together and make a toast to better days ahead.

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100 YEARS OF LEGION SCOTLAND

To celebrate our centenary year, we take a walk down memory lane PRODUCTION

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ROM DOCUMENTS detailing the help available to veterans of the First World War and their families, to photographs of royal visits and profound words from momentous speeches, our archive is a treasure trove. In our 100th year, we take time to look back on

special moments from over the years and share with you the memories of branches, members and staff.

If you have stories from the history of Legion Scotland, we’d love to hear from you and use them in our autumn issue. Send them to magazine@legionscotland.org.uk

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Did you know the first Legion Scotland national headquarters was at 28 Rutland Street in Edinburgh?

Since then the offices have moved over the years to various Edinburgh addresses, including 41 Albany Street in 1926, 7 Drummond Place from 1940, 30 St Andrews Square from 1948 and 23 Drumsheugh Gardens (Haig House) from 1977.

Haig House wasn’t designed as offices, but New Haig House, the Legion’s present headquarters, was purpose-built to adjoin the Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory.

New Haig House was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 3 July 1978, her first visit to Legion HQ. She met and spoke to almost all the staff of the Legion and Earl Haig Fund before touring the Poppy Factory.

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100 Years feature, 1

Highland show-stopper Our members are no strangers to mixing with royalty. When Anne, Princess Royal, visited the Beautiful Scotland in Bloom event at the Royal Highland Show she met Eric Hobson of the Central Band.

Also there on the day were Royal British Legion Scotland Standard Bearers Fraser Ross of Dunkeld & Birnam branch and Eileen McKane of Glenrothes branch.

Our photographs aren’t dated so can anyone remember which year this was?

Thurso branch turns 60 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, made a visit to Thurso branch on 25 July 1986.

He unveiled a plaque to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the branch, which was formed in 1926. He had flown to Dounreay and was entertained at a lunch with more than 100 guests in the branch clubrooms. Robbie Allan was branch chairman at the time.

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The cover story Look how we’ve changed over the years! In the past your magazine was called Claymore and looked very different, as you can see from these front covers dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1980s

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it had changed again to Scottish Legion News and in more recent years transformed into Legion Scotland Today. Now we also send out monthly e-bulletins to keep members up to date. See page 31 for details.

100 Years feature, 2

This excerpt from In Praise of Men comes from Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin’s speech at Founder’s Day on 17 June 2007 “Lord Haig devoted a quite remarkable amount of time and energy to furthering the interests of the ex-service community, no more so than in the context of the two Legions north and south of the Border. His annual gathering, and the large and impressive turnout of colour-bearers and members of the Legion, is a fitting way for our organisation to send our thanks to him through the ether for all that he did for us in the gentler but demanding early years of peace.”

NIGEL R BARKLIE/SHUTTERSTOCK, SHUTTERSTOCK

Lucky break In 1973, snooker champions Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Ray Reardon visited the Newton Mearns branch.

The two legends of the green baize played a number of exhibition matches to mark the opening of a new snooker table in the branch games room.

The cutting above is from the March 1973 issue of Claymore magazine and shows Higgins (left) and Reardon (right) with Hugh McCabe, who was Sports Convener of the branch at the time.

Haig statue Created by George Edward Wade (1853–1933), the bronze statue of Field Marshal Haig in Edinburgh was unveiled on 28 September 1923.

One and a half times life size, the statue was originally sited on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade but was moved to Hospital Square inside the castle in 2011 to make way for improvements to the stand arrangements for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

It was presented to the City of Edinburgh by Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji (1862–1937), an Indian shipping magnate from Bombay who later lived in Britain.

The gesture was in recognition of the Field Marshal’s achievements during WWI, his concern for the welfare of ex-servicemen and “in admiration of the services rendered to the British Empire”.

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National Drill Instructor Ian Grant is now in his 40th year of standard-bearing, after starting at Keith & District branch.

He won his first national competition in 1988 at the national conference in Kelso, and went on to take part in the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In all, Ian won his area competition 13 times and the national competition 10 times, retiring from competition in 2001.

“I will always remember my final parade,” Ian tells us. “It was in London in March 2002, when I was invited to carry the national standard and lead the Royal British Legion contingent along with the national Standard Bearer at the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother”.

As National Ceremonial Drill Instructor, Ian now carries out events with the national Standard Bearers. He is still branch Standard Bearer for Keith & District branch.

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Davie Peters Davie Peters sent in this photograph from Remembrance Day outside Portobello Legion around 1994 or 1995.

Davie is standing at the front right. He had the privilege to train and work alongside Ian Cameron, Adam Carruthers and then Graham Walter over his illustrious 30 years as a Standard Bearer with Legion Scotland.

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100 Years feature, 3

Pension acclaim Among the documents in our archive is this fascinating journal dating back to 1937. It includes a detailed section on pensions.

From 1921 to 1937 about one and a half million cases were dealt with by the Legion.

The document states: “It would be impossible to exaggerate the value of the work which has been accomplished by the pensions department of the Legion. Cold figures only faintly convey the real significance of the benefits which have been gained for ex-servicemen and their dependents, benefits which, in the majority of instances, would never have been obtained without the efforts of the pensions department.”

The department is still very active and, although it does not have the same volume of claims coming through, it still exceeds £1m in benefits for veterans annually.

Keep smiling through In the 1970s, military-themed cartoons popped up across the pages of Claymore magazine to help put a smile on readers’ faces.

Did you know that Lorna Kane, Head of Accounts, is our longest serving member of staff and has been with Legion and Poppyscotland for 23 years?

“I started working at New Haig House in 1997 as a 17-year-old in my first office job,” she remembers. “I have seen many changes over the years and attended many Remembrance events, which I have been extremely proud to be a part of. Annual Conference is one of the events I look forward to year on year, getting the chance to meet and catch up with familiar faces within our organisation.”

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Garden Notes A popular regular column in issues of Claymore from the 1970s was Garden Notes, which offered tips and advice on how to cultivate green spaces. Month by month, the seasonal information contained in Garden Notes guided readers on the most important horticultural jobs to carry out, what to plant, where to prune and when particular plants should be at their best, all accompanied by detailed drawings and diagrams.

Stamp of approval To mark the centenary of Legion Scotland, we have worked with the British Forces Philatelic Service (BFPS) to produce a commemorative centenary cover (pictured).

This will be available before the summer and will be a must-have for any philatelic enthusiasts in our membership to add to their collection. There will be 100 signed covers (with our President, Sir Alistair Irwin, putting his pen to these), which will cost £16 each, with unsigned ones £8. Profits will go to Legion Scotland to help us support the veterans community.

See www.bfps.org.uk/shop

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100 Years feature

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Did you know we ran a competition back in the April 1961 issue of the members’ magazine for the Legion to have its very own Pipe March?

Now, 50 years on, we’re doing the same again in the centenary year and will be launching a competition to find a suitable tune which can be played at the Beating Retreat in September.

Look out for details in our e-bulletin or on social media.

Crossword A regular feature in issues of Claymore in the 1970s was a crossword. This crossword first ran in the April 1974 issue.

The prize was a £2 book token, won by H Webster of Gallowview, Dufftown, Keith. Can you crack the clues?

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WAR FILMS VERSION REPRO OP

IN THE FRAME

Military tales take the lead in a number of top-rated films

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1917 Set during the First World War, the Sam Mendes-directed 1917 follows a pair of young soldiers trying to deliver a message to stop 1,600 men from walking into a deadly trap. Time is of the essence and the journey is fraught with danger. Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay play the men racing against time, prepared to sacrifice their own safety for the greater good.

Capturing trench warfare with raw and startling immediacy, Mendes

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wanted to create an immersive experience, with audiences feeling they are in the shoes of the young soldiers.

This edge-of-your-seat drama won an Oscar for Best Cinematography.

It was edited to appear as if it is one uninterrupted shot, but in fact it’s a series of shots that were then cleverly connected to give the feeling of a single long take. To pull this off the crew had to chase after MacKay by jeep, motorcycle and even on foot as the actor raced across northern France, through bombed towns, countryside and woodland. ’71 The story of a British soldier caught behind enemy lines, ’71 is an actionconspiracy thriller starring Jack O’Connell as Gary, an English lad from Derbyshire who has joined the Parachute Regiment and been shipped to Belfast. The action takes place a year before Bloody Sunday.

When a house search goes horribly wrong, the resulting confrontation triggers a riot situation and Gary is left behind by his retreating unit.

Gary’s commanding officer, Lt Armitage (played by Sam Reid), finds himself at odds with plainclothes intelligence operative Captain Browning (Sean Harris). Meanwhile, the Provisionals’ fiercely committed Haggerty (Martin McCann) and Sean (Barry Keoghan) are plotting against their own chiefs.

It’s a former army doctor on the republican side – Eamon, played by Richard Dormer – who might be Gary’s only chance.

Eye in the Sky Helen Mirren takes the lead in Eye in the Sky playing the no-nonsense Colonel Powell, who tracks a group of terrorists and pins them down to a house in Kenya. She orders a drone strike but when a little girl is spotted in the kill zone the decision to attack becomes complicated.

This is a war movie without face-toface combat. It’s about modern warfare, where life or death decisions aren’t made on the battlefield but miles away, using algorithms and armed drones.

The story moves at breakneck speed

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ROM THE Great Escape to The Bridge on the River Kwai, there’s a long history of movie classics focusing on the British Armed Forces. A string of releases in recent years tell stories old and new from a fresh perspective.

Movie feature

MY FAVOURITES Members and Trustees share their must-watch films featuring the Armed Forces

From left to right: George MacKay in 1917; Jack O’Connell in ’71; Helen Mirren in Eye in the Sky; and Fionn Whitehead in Dunkirk

and it’s very much an ethical thriller, rather than an action film. It superbly conveys the difficult decisions that Powell, as a professional soldier, is prepared to make, and ties the viewer up in moral knots.

MOVIESTILLS

Dunkirk A stunningly rendered and thunderously intense set piece, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk takes place in May 1940, eight months into World War Two, when 400,000 British troops are stranded on the shores of northern France.

With the Nazis closing in and bombs falling, their route home across the English Channel is obstructed by German U-boats.

Three timelines move at different speeds. We follow young soldier Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) on the land for a week; Ramsgate yachter Dawson (Mark Rylance) on the sea for a day; and stoic RAF pilot Farrier (Tom Hardy) in the sky for an hour.

As the crisis hurtles towards its climax, it’s mesmerising. Rather than focusing on heroics, Nolan looks at what men can endure.

These are people under intense pressure and we see who cracks and who holds firm, showing the true Dunkirk spirit.

Nolan eschewed computer effects and filmed real Spitfires on sorties above the English Channel.

The results are simply incredible.

All films listed are available to rent or buy from the usual places.

At the time of going to press, 1917 and ‘71 were also available to Amazon Prime subscribers for online streaming

Before lockdown last year, Falkirk FC welcomed the Wee County Veterans to the stadium to enjoy a movie night and a fish supper.

In partnership with Legion Scotland’s Veterans Community Support Service, the club gave the veterans a stadium tour, time in the gym, dinner and a chance to watch a film in a bid to combat loneliness and bring veterans together.

Brian Ward, Events Manager at Legion Scotland, said: “Movie night was a wonderful example of first-class hospitality. Our sincerest thanks to the club and staff for everything they are doing to help local veterans.”

“My favourite movie choice is Zulu, starring Stanley Baker, Michael Caine and Jack Hawkins.

“One of the first war movies to show both sides of the story and the loss of life, it is respectful in its portrayal of the Zulus as honourable and dignified warriors.

“The actors carried off their performances well, their body language and dialogue as soldiers was excellent and believable. The main soundtrack by John Barry was inspiring and made the hair on one’s neck raise up.

“In real life, Lt John Chard RE and Lt Gonville Bromhead, who both won VCs, were treated with disdain by senior army officers.

Being a Sapper and not an Infanteer, Chard was considered dull and lacking in the style and elan of a ‘proper officer’. Chard’s last military appointment was as Colonel, Commander Royal Engineers in Perth, Scotland.

He died from cancer.”

John Bell, Trustee, Angus, Perthshire & Fife “There are almost too many war movies to pick from, but the two best ones for me are Iron Fury and Fury. “ Iron Fury is about the Russians and Fury, starring Brad Pitt, is about the Americans. Both films are about tank warfare and because tanks were the best job I have ever had these two resonate with me.”

Alistair Black, Trustee, Aberdeen, Banff & Kincardine

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EVERY DAY IS A SCHOOL DAY

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National Chairman Martyn Hawthorn takes time to reflect on his educational years of service with the Royal Navy

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E SWAPPED a career in teaching to join the Royal Navy and had a posting in Australia, sailed to the Arabian Gulf during hostilities between Iran and Iraq and worked with the Ministry of Defence in the Falklands War. When Martyn Hawthorn looks back on his service history, he says it’s the people who made it memorable, rather than the places.

“It’s all about the comradeship.

At home I have pictures on the wall.

There’s one from HMS Hermes – if you take it down and look at the back, the photograph has been written on by various members of the ship’s company,” he says. “I have so many good memories of working with such professional people.”

Martyn is the first National Chairman of Royal British Legion Scotland to come from the Royal Navy.

He reveals he’d actually always wanted to fly and applied to the Royal Air Force first but hit a stumbling block in the interview process when parachute training was mentioned.

“Believe it or not, I have no head for heights so I had to put that idea on hold,” he smiles. “Though I did learn to fly later, when I was in the Navy.”

Martyn joined the instructor branch of the Royal Navy in 1977, working as a teacher and referred

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to as “Schoolie” throughout his years of service.

After his initial training, he flew to Kristiansand in Norway to join HMS Fearless for sea training.

“You wouldn’t believe this – Roger Moore walked off the ship as I walked on.

He’d been there to film The Spy Who Loved Me,” laughs Martyn.

At HMS Raleigh in Cornwall, Martyn helped recruits earn qualifications in maths and English.

“All of my reports would say I had a knack with maths. You know your skills and I had skills with maths and getting it across to people who hadn’t picked it up before,” he explains.

All schoolies had a second role and Martyn’s was interrogation and intelligence. When the Falklands War started, he helped load the ships before they set sail for the South Atlantic, then he moved to the Ministry of Defence to take up his other role.

“Sadly some people I knew died, it was a very moving time,” he remembers.

“Because I was in intelligence, I heard things like HMS Coventry and HMS Sheffield had been hit and gone down and was one of the first people to know about it.”

Voices of veterans

Sadly people have lost their lives, but some good will come out of the pandemic.

We’ve learned to change and adapt Society since 1979, was referee at Oxford University v All Black Universities in 1985 and worked for the SRU for 18 years.

Moving up through the ranks in Royal British Legion Scotland, Martyn became NEC Representative for Dumfries and Galloway, then Area Secretary and National Chairman.

Martyn says President Lt Gen Sir Alistair Irwin KCB CBE has been a great support to him in his current role. And he smiles when he refers to staff at headquarters as “a fabulous ship’s company”.

Now living in Edinburgh, Martyn has been amazed at the support provided by branches across the country during the pandemic.

“There’s so much going on in the Legion but we can be bad at telling people about it. There’s such good work being done. We can’t have our monthly meetings but have Zoom meetings to keep in touch. Meanwhile branches are going out delivering meals to veterans and people in the community. They just get on with it and do it.

“Sadly people have lost their lives, but some good will come out of the pandemic. We’ve learned to change and adapt and we have to get on with modern ways of living.”

Martyn later went to the Gulf with squadron D3 and spent time on HMS Glasgow.

“That was when there were mines in the Red Sea, it was strenuous. When we were going through the Straits of Hormuz on patrol and you had the Iran–Iraq war going on, it was a little bit hairy. But it’s good the way you all pull together,” he says.

A two-year posting in Australia came next, followed by a move to Scotland as a staff and training officer for the Polaris school as it changed over to Trident.

“I was due to be promoted again but Options for Change came in, which meant that in 1993 I had to retire.

That’s what brought me to Scotland and that’s where I stayed.”

Martyn retired to Moffat and after a few years got involved in the local branch of Royal British Legion Scotland. As secretary for 18 years, he helped it grow its membership as well as the number of regular meetings and events.

He has also been a member of the Royal Navy Rugby Referees

SHARE YOUR STORY Voices of Veterans is a Legion Scotland campaign that pays tribute to veterans of all ages by sharing their stories. If you have a tale to tell, whether you left service yesterday or 50 years ago, or know someone with a story and would like to nominate them, let us know.

Please call 0131 322 1076 or email magazine@legionscotland.org.uk

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THROUGH IT ALL, WE HAVE BEEN HERE TO OFFER HELP

Poppyscotland Welfare team has been providing support to those in need SUBS

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You have enabled us to not only survive but to begin a life worth living in a beautiful place. The work you do is impossible to quantify and if it were possible we would thank each of you individually.

Without you all I have no idea where we would be right now.

The hardest part was initially asking for help.”

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John and Marcia Bircham, Poppyscotland beneficiaries

THE PAST year has been exceptionally busy for the Poppyscotland Welfare team as they have adapted to support the changing needs of the Armed Forces community during the pandemic. Despite a pause in face-to-face contact, thousands have still benefited from Poppyscotland’s welfare support over the past 12 months.

More than 800 Immediate Needs Grants helped veterans and their families with vital support such as home adaptations and household expenses.

Eligibility criteria is very deliberately broad to enable as many members of the Armed Forces community as possible to access the support they need. A personcentred approach is always adopted, with a package of support being tailored to fit the needs of each individual client.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Poppyscotland also supported more than 200 beneficiaries through its Employment Services, helping veterans to obtain new qualifications and enabling them to secure suitable and sustainable careers after their time in the military.

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Paul Kerr, Poppyscotland beneficiary

I wanted to say a massive thank you for approving my grant. The fact I have some glimmer of hope has kept me feeling that it might work out for me.”

I want to thank Poppyscotland so much for all the help and support I have received for myself and my children.”

For vulnerable veterans who were detached from the workplace, Poppyscotland’s Employ-Able Service offered one-to-one support. This resulted in 47 job outcomes, 60 training/ education outcomes, 113 interviews, six volunteering placements and five work placements for individuals during the year.

The Welfare Centres in Inverness and Ayrshire also supported more than 3,400 individuals in a variety of ways, even though the centres were

closed for much of the year due to the national lockdown.

The Welfare Support Service, which provides direct support to veterans and their families who have multiple and complex needs, conducted more than 1,500 engagements and received 219 referrals from partner organisations.

In total, the Poppyscotland Welfare team has made proactive contact with beneficiaries on 6,500 occasions since the start of the pandemic.

For further information on Poppyscotland’s Welfare Services please call 0131 550 1557 or email gethelp@poppyscotland.org.uk

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RESILIENCE IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising & Learning at Poppyscotland, looks back on an incredibly challenging year for the Scottish Poppy Appeal

Left: Poppyscotland’s Gordon Michie

OUR MOTTO as Legionnaires, “Service not self”, has certainly been at the fore over the past year during the global pandemic. As we pass the first anniversary of lockdown, another word I believe epitomises our Legion family now more than ever is resilience.

Resilience of members and friends who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Resilience of those who stood up to ensure that we supported each other locally. Resilience as we stood together on our doorsteps to remember the generation who sacrificed so much. And resilience in delivering the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal during the most challenging of times outwith the war years.

While the Appeal could not be conducted in the traditional way, it was inspiring to see everyone come together by finding creative ways to work in line with the everchanging restrictions, embracing new technology and generally going the extra mile in our local communities.

Although we do not yet have the final total, I must say a huge thank you to all involved as the result looks set to be a lot better than I feared it might be.

POPPY PLEDGE As we move forward into this centenary year, resilience and Service Not Self will again be at the heart of our fundraising efforts. Branches and individuals will be supporting the new Poppy Pledge campaign, pledging to leave a legacy to support our longterm work, while we’ll all be getting behind the 100th year of the Scottish Poppy Appeal in 2021.

Whatever the world looks like by November, we will take with us the lessons from 2020, continue to develop and grow, and ensure that the centenary Appeal is something

Below: The Falkirk Wheel illuminated as part of the 2021 Scottish Poppy Appeal

we can all feel an immense pride in being part of.

Finally, from myself and everyone else at Poppyscotland, please keep safe and stay positive. Over the course of this year we can look forward

to a gradual return to normality, supporting each other and the Scottish Poppy Appeal and ensuring that, together, our Armed Forces community receive all the help they need and deserve.

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POPPYSCOTLAND NEWS

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Tributes to recently departed Legion Scotland members from across the country BLAIRGOWRIE & RATTRAY

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SIR WILLIAM ALAN MACPHERSON Branch President Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, the 27th Chief of the Clan Macpherson, has died aged 94. He was a highly respected High Court Judge between 1983 and 1996 and enjoyed a distinguished military career.

For many years Sir William led the branch’s annual parade on Remembrance Sunday and latterly, despite failing health, was determined to attend using a Zimmer frame or wheelchair. Branch members remember him for his support and guidance, and as a charming, witty and engaging man.

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BATHGATE

DUMFRIES & MAXWELLTOWN

IAN SWAN Ian Swan was a member of Bathgate branch and club and worked tirelessly collecting for Poppyscotland.

Due to ill health, he was unable to assist this year. Ian will be sadly missed by all.

DR LOCKHART EDWARD ROBERT BATCHELOR FRAIN-BELL Born in Dundee in 1921, Lockhart was posted to Burma with the Royal Army Medical Corps and served with the 82nd Royal West African Frontier Force. He returned to the UK to gain medical and surgical experience before being appointed consultant radiologist to south-west Scotland at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

He gave much time and thought to the local branch of Royal British Legion Scotland, becoming its President for some years.

Lockhart died on 2 September 2020 and is survived by his wife Anne, son William and two grandchildren.

CARNOUSTIE (HONORARY)

MME YVETTE CORCORAL Carnoustie is twinned with the French town of Maule.

It is with sadness that the branch learned of the death of Mme Yvette Corcoral, who was President of Souvenir Francais (the French equivalent of RBLS). Mme Corcoran was a heroine of the French Resistance during World War II. There are strong links between Carnoustie Royal British Legion Scotland branch and the people of Maule, and Mme Corcoral was a regular visitor to the local club, where members were proud to elect her as an honorary member.

Mme Corcoral died on 1 March 2021 at the grand age of 103. Her indomitable spirit will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

KIRKWALL

DAVID [DAVY] BEWS Davy was called to do his National Service with the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1957. He was then a long-serving member of Kirkwall branch and a committee member. He

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served as vice-chairman and was a member of the branch Colour party. Davy passed away on 12 September 2020, aged 85. He is survived by his wife Mary and sons Kevin and Alan.

KNIGHTSWOOD

ROBERT TOTTEN ALEXANDER Born in September 1945, Robert served with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from 1963 to 1969.

He passed away in May 2020 and will be missed by all.

KNIGHTSWOOD

ROBERT HARRISON Robert Harrison was born in 1934 and served with the Royal Engineers between 1954 and 1956. He passed away in March 2020.

KNIGHTSWOOD

FRANK TAYLOR Frank was born in 1936. He joined the Royal Navy and was a chief petty officer.

He also served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves on HMS Graham. Frank passed away in August 2020.

MELROSE

DONALD MACDONALD Donald lived in the village of Darnick, Scottish Borders. He died peacefully at home at the age of 92. Originally from Larbert, he started his career in the Merchant Navy in 1944, before signing up for the Mounted Police in Palestine where he remained until 1948.

Upon his return to Scotland, Donald trained as a mental health nurse during which time he met his future wife, Grace. In 1969

he became Director of Social Work for the local council, and was awarded an OBE in 1981 for services to social work. He was predeceased by his wife, and is survived by his son and two daughters.

NAIRN

JAMES MILNE James was a member of the Royal British Legion Scotland for over 50 years. Born in 1933, he passed away in May 2020. During National Service he served in Aden and Korea with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

Sincere condolences go to his wife Sheila.

NEW DEER & DISTRICT

GEORGE CATTO George sadly passed away on 6 February 2021 after a short illness. He was a loyal member of Legion Scotland, fully embodying the Legion motto of “Service Not Self”, having been involved in the New Deer & District branch and club for over 35 years.

During this time he served as secretary, membership secretary, chairman and president.

George was also active in the day-to-day running of the club, assisting anyone he could. He also organised many Armistice Parades and Drumhead Services and was unstinting in his support for Poppyscotland. Our thoughts are with his wife Rhona, and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

PETERHEAD

JOSEPH REID Joseph retired from the family firm at the age of 92, in March 2020.

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After a short illness he passed away peacefully on 7 September 2020.

Joseph was a member of Peterhead branch until it closed, then paid his dues to Edinburgh headquarters.

When they could, he and his wife enjoyed dancing in the Peterhead Legion.

On reaching National Service age Joseph trained at the Bridge of Don Barracks and served his time in the Highland Light Infantry from 1945–1948, in Jerusalem and Thessaloniki.

Joseph had an interest in army vehicles and restored a K9 lorry. He felt privileged to drive it at victory parades.

TAIN

SARAH (SADIE) MCGOUGAN Sadie passed away suddenly on 11 January 2021. A staunch member

Get all the latest news

of Royal British Legion Scotland, she served on the Tain branch committee for a number of years.

She will be sadly missed in the community for all her activities. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family at this very sad time.

Sign up now to receive our monthly e-bulletin

TURRIFF

RODNEY WINDSOR CBE DL Rodney was born in Surrey in 1925. He joined the Army in 1943 and served in the Royal Armoured Corp and the Queen’s Bays. In 1971 he received the CBE. Rodney was an active member of the Royal British Legion Scotland in Aberdeenshire and took the Remembrance Day salute in Turriff for many years. He passed away peacefully on 21 October 2020 and will be well remembered by all.

This year you will receive two copies of Legion Scotland Today magazine, rather than four.

To keep you up to date with all the latest news and information on events and veterans’ issues, every month we’ll send an e-bulletin to your email address.

With branch news, Last Post and much more, it will keep you up to date with all that’s happening at Royal British Legion Scotland.

If you have provided us with your email address, you should already be receiving the e-bulletin.

To update your details and make sure you receive the e-bulletin in future months, contact us on 0131 322 1076 or email info@legionscotland.org.uk

Please submit dedications to recently departed Legion Scotland members to magazine@ legionscotland.org.uk. We will endeavour to include these in the next issue, based on the following deadline: 9 August 2021. Submissions will be edited to give as fitting a tribute as we can to every person. We recommend around 100 words. If you are able to attach a photo, we will make every effort to include this.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Submitting a Last Post

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COME AND SEE US FIND YOUR NEAREST LEGION SCOTLAND BRANCH

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ABERDEEN, BANFF & KINCARDINE 01224 707768 Aberdeen Aboyne Alford Ballater & District Banchory 01330 822347 Buckie & District 01542 832636 Bucksburn Dufftown 01340 820711 Ellon & District 01358 720512 Fraserburgh 01346 518964 Fyvie 01651 891292 Inverurie 01467 620567 Keith & District 01542 882320 Kincardine O’Neil Longside Lumphanan Methlick New Deer 01771 643933 New Pitsligo 01771 653766 Oldmachar 01224 704717 Oldmeldrum 01651 872527 Peterhead Stonehaven 01569 763655 Strichen 01771 637792 Tarves & District Turriff & District 01888 563231 Upper Donside ANGUS, PERTHSHIRE & FIFE 07530 380545 Alyth Arbroath 01241 873964

Blairgowrie & Rattray (sub-branch Perth)

01250 873882 Brechin 01356 622562 Callander Carnoustie 01241 854940 Ceres & District City of Dundee Crail Crieff 01764 652937 Crossgates 01383 511478 Cupar Dunblane Dunfermline 01383 723921 Dunkeld & Birnam 01350 727773 Forfar 01307 463204 Glenrothes Kennoway 01333 350332 Kirkcaldy Leven 01333 426058 Montrose 01674 672406 Newburgh Pitlochry & Blair Atholl St Andrews Stirling Tayport EDINBURGH, LOTHIANS & BORDERS 0131 550 1590 Bathgate 01506 631989 Cockenzie & Port Seton 01875 810103 Coldstream 01890 882109 Dalkeith 0131 663 3235 Dunbar 01368 863275 Duns

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C C

ABERDEEN, BANFF & KINCARDINE

HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS

ANGUS, PERTHSHIRE & FIFE

GLASGOW, AYRSHIRE, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

Edinburgh Central 0131 557 8164 Edinburgh HQ 0131 322 1076 Eyemouth Galashiels 01896 752457 Hawick Jedburgh 01835 863201 Kelso 01573 224506 Liddesdale

Linburn Livingston Longniddry 01875 853241 Melrose Newbattle & Gorebridge Penicuik 01968 672095 Portobello 0131 669 5418 Prestonpans 01875 811446

EDINBURGH, LOTHIANS & BORDERS

Roslin 0131 440 2174 Selkirk & Ettrick Forest GLASGOW, AYRSHIRE, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY 07825 633187 Annan Biggar & District Bridge of Weir 01505 613530

Directory

LEGION SCOTLAND has more than 140 branches across Scotland, from Kirkwall to Dumfries, and the Isle of Bute to Edinburgh.

Every branch is run by volunteers and every one is different. What they all have in common is their desire to work towards improving the circumstances of ex-service people across Scotland. When you join your local branch

Cambuslang Campbeltown Castle Douglas & District 01556 504499 Clackmannanshire & District Cumbernauld 01236 735263 Dalbeattie Dumfries & Maxwelltown Easdale East Kilbride 01355 233545 Forth 01555 811317 Glasgow HQ Grangemouth 01324 483040 Hamilton Inveraray Irvine 01294 313164 Isle of Bute Kilmarnock Kilwinning Knightswood 0141 959 2721 Largs Maybole Millport 01475 530052 Moffat Monkton & Prestwick including Ayr Newton Mearns Newton Stewart Paisley Comrades 0141 889 9281 Saltcoats, Ardrossan & Stevenston

of Legion Scotland your membership also entitles you to use any other branch across Scotland. A separate fee may apply for using a branch with a club.

Branches are listed under five areas, in alphabetical order. Those marked also have a Legion Scotland social club affiliated to them. Clubs that offer accommodation are marked with a .

Sanquhar Stranraer Troon HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS 0756 807 3190 Assynt Aviemore & Rothiemurchus 01479 810892 Beauly Black Isle Creich & Kincardine Dingwall (sub-branch Strathpeffer)

01349 863278 Forres 01309 672131 Fort Augustus 01320 366247 Fort William & District Glenurquhart Golspie Helmsdale Invergordon Inverness 01463 234378 Kirkwall 01856 873297 Lerwick 01595 692325 Isle of Lewis Lochalsh Lochbroom Lossiemouth Nairn 01667 453201 North Skye Sanday Scalloway 01595 880355

Strathspey 01479 873690 Stromness 01856 850731 Tain Thurso 01847 893417 Uist Wick, Canisbay and Latheron RIDERS BRANCH 0750 774 0800 Across the country HEADQUARTERS BRANCH 0131 322 1076 Ideal for those abroad, or with no branch nearby WOMEN’S SECTION 07826 104879 Arbroath Ayr & Prestwick Coldstream Crail Dingwall Earlston Ellon Forfar Galashiels Inverness Inverurie Larkhall Loanhead Lossiemouth Methilhill Montrose Oldmachar Oldmeldrum Stonehaven Turriff

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Archive image

HISTORY VERSION REPRO OP

RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY

SUBS

New Anglo-French project to repair historic statue of Earl Haig

ART

The Haig statue in the main square at Montreuil-sur-Mer

PRODUCTION ALLAN CASH PICTURE LIBRARY / ALAMY

CLIENT

THE ORIGINAL statue of Earl Haig at Montreuil-sur-Mer, France, was unveiled in 1931. Created with money raised by public subscription in France, it occupies a commanding position in the main square, in front of the First World War communications centre, which played a pivotal role in the conflict.

The statue was designed by sculptor Paul Landowski, who also created the Christ

Sculptor Paul Landowski also created the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Destroyed by occupying German forces in 1940, the statue was replaced with a faithful copy in 1950, seen here surrounded by the rubble of bombed buildings.

The copy was made out of three tonnes of bronze retrieved from Germany after the Second World War. Today, sadly, the statue is corroded and has a damaged plinth, a missing scabbard and a broken rein.

This unique monument is of national and world importance and now a £33,000 restoration project involving Lord Astor, the grandson of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, will bring it back to its former glory, with an unveiling in September.

The restoration project connects with the centenary of Royal British Legion, Royal British Legion Scotland and the Earl Haig Fund.

34 www.legionscotland.org.uk SPRING 2021

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