Fiona travels from Devon for remembrance

A woman travelled over 400 miles to commemorate her two uncles who were killed in The Great War.

Fiona Anderson’s journey from Totnes in Devon to Prestwick was to remember her fathers’ two brothers, Robert Cunningham Anderson, known as Bertie and James Richard Haig Anderson, known as Dick.

Dick was a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of the Cameron Highlands when he was killed in action in Sanctuary Wood at Hooge, in the Second Battle of Ypres on May 11, 1915, just 22- years- old. His body was never recovered and is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Bertie joined the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch and was wounded on September 25, 1915 at Hullach while leading his Company in an attack in the Battle of Loos.

At the age of just 24 - he was taken to a field hospital and died two days later. He is buried in the cemetery at Noeux- les- Mines.

Fiona ( 65) came to Prestwick to remember her uncles with her relative Ceilia Campbell who is Dick and Berties’ great niece.

Remembering Dick and Bertie, Fiona said: “I wanted to do something special for them.

“Prestwick was their childhood home and they grew up there which is why they are on the war memorial.

“They were always part of my life - they were my fathers’ brothers.

“My father was just a little boy of 10 when they had died and he always talked about them.

“I think it is unusual for someone of my age to have that close relationship to someone who died at that time.

“The ceremony was very moving and very sad. I would have loved to have had uncles as I’ve never had uncles.

“It was very sad to think about what had happened to them and the trauma of loosing them both within a few months - Bertie died in September 1915 and Dick died in May 1915.

“The trauma that was caused to the family was really sad to think about.”