Lovely service honours WW1 Victoria Cross hero
The granddaughter of a war hero made an emotional return to Ayr 100 years after her ancestor was awarded one of Britain’s highest military honours.
Janet Shankland- Huggins flew from Greater Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, to watch as a plaque was unveiled commemorating the bravery of Robert Shankland.
He received the Victoria Cross on October 26, 1917 during the First World War for acts of valour at Passchendaele in Belgium as he braved enemy lines to take back vital information that helped win the battle.
And last Thursday, 100 years after his brave act, the memorial in Rozelle Park was unveiled to the man born and raised in Ayr.
Janet said: “We’re all very much honoured and touched that my grandfather’s hometown still rem remembers him for his courage and brav bravery and for being awarded the Vict Victoria Cross.
“W When we received the notice of th this commemoration, all of the gran grandchildren of Robert were very exci excited about the ceremony.
“U Unfortunately, with time rest restraints for travel documents and oth other commitments, my brother Mar Mark Cameron Shankland and siste sister, Barbara Anne Flower, could not attend.”
R Robert was born in Ayr’s Gordon Ter Terrace in 1887 and emigrated to C Canada aged 24 in 1911 - but retu returned to Europe just three years late later as part of the 43rd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Cam Cameron Highlanders of Canada.
H He went on to return to the town man many times during his lifetime, befo before drying aged 80 on January 20, 1968 1 in Vancouver.
H His name appears alongside that of his h Prestwick- born wife, Anna Sto Stobo Haining, on the Haining fam family gravestone in Monkton and Pres Prestwick Cemetery.
H Helen Moonie, provost of South Ayrs Ayrshire, initially appealed to find Rob Robert’s relatives - and said the poignant service last week was a timely reminder of what people went through during the First World War.
She said: “We didn’t think that we’d be able to track down any of the Shankland family but we were overwhelmed by the response and deeply moved that his granddaughter, Janet, flew from Canada to take part.
“South Ayrshire Council’s motto is ‘ ne’er forget the people’ and the Rozelle Remembrance Woodland has been designed to keep our service personnel, their families, their memories and their legacies alive every day for generations to come. The commemorative stone has been set as a permanent reminder of the contribution that Robert Shankland made during the war. With relatively few people awarded a Victoria Cross during the First World War, he will be forever remembered in his native Ayr.”