Father and sons pay piping tribute to mark St Valery anniversary
RENOWNED pipers in a north community paid poignant tribute to Highlanders killed or captured at St Valery in France 80 years ago.
Commemorations to mark the landmark anniversary last Friday were held across the country, amongst them one at Logie War Memorial, near Tain, at which Duncan Macgillivray and sons, Iain and Gregory, from Calrossie played the pipes.
Iain played the famous Donald Paterson pipes which were retrieved from the battlefield at Festubert in 1915.
Gregory played pipes given to his grandfather, Donald Paterson MacGillivray by Douglas Scott of Nigg Mains, which were with Mr Scott when he was captured at St Valery and subsequently in various prisoner of war camps from 1940 to 1945.
The event was a poignant tribute to the many local men who lost their lives and the large number of soldiers of the 51st Highland Division who ended up spending five years in prisoner of war camps.
Ross-shire Lord Lieutenant Joanie Whiteford said she was honoured to attend the memorial adding: "St Valery represents a hugely significant moment in our nation’s history and is especially poignant within the Highlands. Eighty years ago, on June 12, 1940, the 51st Highland Division were part of a number of regiments who, following a brave battle to defend their position were forced to surrender to forces of greater numbers and firepower, whilst waiting to be rescued by the Navy."
Thousands of Scots were killed or captured at St Valery, sometimes dubbed “The Forgotten Dunkirk”, bringing devastation to so many families across the north.
She said: "We remember all who served and sacrificed so much."
The trio played various tunes associated with the event, including Heroes of St Valery and The Drunken Piper.
