Family link to war game
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A major military exercise is set to take place in Tain and East Sutherland from Monday, June 10.
Around 100 soldiers aged between 18 and 37 from reconnaissance regiment the Royal Lancers will be descending on the area for a fortnight.
The first week will be spent training at Tain bombing range before the soldiers move to a base in Golspie.
Captain Harry Marriott, son of Littleferry resident, Major General Patrick Marriot, former commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, is one of those organising the exercise.
He said plans were in hand to hold community events on Saturday, June 15, prior to the second week’s training. Soldiers will lay a wreath and give a marching display with lances at Golspie War Memorial in a ceremony starting at 9.15am that day.
A friendly football match between a squadron team and Golspie players will take place later at the King George V park, Golspie. Local Army cadets and Scouts are expected to be in attendance.
“We would love as many local people as possible to come down and join in the fun,” said Captain Marriott.
Also planned at the playing field is a show of the squadron’s equipment and sighting systems.
The following week’s training will largely take place in the Backies, Kilbraur and Gordonbush area. Soldiers will be sent out on patrols with the aim of avoiding local people who for the purpose of the exercise, will be regarded as “hostile".
Captain Marriott said: “We have military training bases across the UK but they are sterile with no civilians on them. The whole premise of coming up here is to train in a real life environment.”
