Family links add emotion to Armistice centenary day
DESCENDANTS of four brothers killed in the First World War have helped launch the national commemoration to mark 100 years since the First Armistice.
More than 1,000 people, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the Princess Royal, will attend a service at Glasgow Cathedral on November 11.
A limited number of tickets for the event, organised by WW100 Scotland in conjunction with Glasgow City Council, are available to the public.
Robin Scott-Elliot, whose great-grandfather was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), will be attending the commemoration with wife Karen and daughters Iona, 11, and Torrin, nine.
His great-grandfather Lieutenant Colonel William Herbert Anderson was killed a week after his youngest brother Teddie, while his brothers Charlie and Ronnie also died.
Mr Scott-Elliot, 48, who lives in Helensburgh, said: “It is unthinkable what the parents of Bertie, Charlie, Ronnie and Teddie must have gone through, losing all four sons in less than four years.
“When I reflect on their stories and think about when they died in relation to my age now, I’m struck by how truly short their lives were.
“The impact of their deaths was felt in the family for years – their parents never recovered, and my grandfather, who was a toddler at the time of Bertie’s death, had to go through life without a father – an experience which was shared by many.
“I am very proud of the brave actions of my great-grandfather and great-uncles and will be remembering their sacrifices – and millions of others – with my family at Glasgow Cathedral on November 11.
“It’s so important to pass these stories on to the next generation so that the devastation caused by the war is never forgotten.”
Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was commanding the 12th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, as it moved through France in March 1918. He was awarded the VC for courageously leading his command in a double-counter attack, successfully driving the enemy away despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered.
However his bravery cost him his life and he died behind enemy lines on March 25, 1918, at the age of 36.
The service will have a multi-generational focus, with the National Youth Choir of Scotland singing alongside the Glasgow Cathedral Choir.