Wreath laying ceremony at Brora honours World War I soldier
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Brora paid tribute to its war dead at the village's annual New Year's Day wreath laying ceremony.
Around 150 people attended the poignant ceremony which is organised by the Friends of Clyne War Memorial Association and takes place at the war memorial – the 100th anniversary of which is this year.
Sutherland's Lord Lieutenant Dr Monica Main was also in attendance.
Sixty men and one woman from the parish gave their lives in World War I.
This year's ceremony specifically honoured Private Alick George Sutherland, who was killed in action on July 26, 1916, aged just 24. He was shot by a sniper, but did not die where he fell, succumbing to his wounds later.
His death was witnessed by his brother, George Melville Sutherland, a Military Medal recipient who represented the army at the Christmas Day 1922 unveiling of Clyne War Memorial.
Family members of the two brothers were present at last Saturday's ceremony, including Alasdair Sutherland (93), of Stafford Terrace, Brora, who is George's son - and Alick George's nephew.
Alasdair Sutherland's son, Charlie Sutherland, laid the wreath on behalf of the family.
In an address to those present, Friends' representative Morag Sutherland asked the gathering to pause for a moment to reflect on all 14 casualties of 1916 as well as John Hunter, the son of the proprietor of Hunters of Brora Woollen Mill, who was the last casualty on the memorial from 1921.
She said: "They fought with the British, Canadian and South African armies, facing truly awful conditions on various fronts, at home, on land and on sea. The year 1916 also saw our first death in the air.
"These men were killed in action or in accidents. They died of wounds or illness. We should take a moment to recognise them all."
