Paisley veterans can help to make history
Highlanders regiment on the hunt for memorabilia
An appeal has gone out to ex-soldiers in the Paisley area to share memories and memora b i l i a linked to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
A ground- breaking living history archive is being created at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Museum at Stirling Castle.
It will allow veterans who served in the regiment and their families to see the reality of life with the Argylls through oral and video history.
The celebrated museum is making the appeal as it prepares for a major transformation, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Former soldiers, members of the Regimental Association and their families are invited to tell their stories and share their letters, memories and artefacts.
The revamped museum, which will open in 2019, will aim to commemorate the history and sacrifice of the great Scottish regiment, whose battle honours include Balaklava, the Indian Mutiny, the Boer War, two World Wars and the Korean War in the context of their local communities in central Scotland, including Paisley.
Rob Layden, chief executive of the museum, said: “One of the purposes of the object is to understand what is out there and what heritage exists within the community that can be used to tell the Argylls’ story.
“We want to record, give advice and use them to tell the regiment’s story, both at Stirling Castle and in Paisley itself.
“It’s about getting heritage back into the community.
“With the help of the Regimental Association, which is embedded in the museum, we are looking for people to volunteer and to come in and help us make a record of all things Argyll-related.
“Because of the geographic spread of the Argylls’ community, it is up to us to be pro- active and to take the museum out to where the regimental connections are.”
It was the end of an era for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in summer 2013 as they paraded through Paisley town centre.
For many decades, the Argylls had been at the forefront of the British Army’s operations around the world, serving in the likes of Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, it was all change for the battalion as an Army shakeup saw them being reclassified as a company.
Traditionally an infantry regiment, they became the 100-strong Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland and the focus switched to ceremonial Primary school children in Paisley are invited to take part in a competition and play their part in the future of science and technology.
Run by Amazon, in partnership with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the competition aims to help raise awareness of the CAA’s drone code, which is a set of guidelines that outline how to fly drones within the law in the UK. duties, such as guarding Edinburgh Castle, rather than serving on the frontline.
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Paisley in June of that year to show their appreciation and support for the troops.
Jim Tilly, secretary of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Association, added: “We want the whole story to be told. For example, we don’t yet fully cover episodes like the peacekeeping operation in Northern Ireland, the regiment’s longest
Pupils are being asked to design their interpretation of a delivery drone to serve a humanitarian purpose, such as first-response medical aid, sending flowers to a loved one who is unwell, or delivering toys to children in need.
The Design a Drone competition is open to children in primary two to primary five.
The national winner will have the engagement, which lasted from the 1960s to the 2000s.
“There’s a lot of information and stories out there, not just with former soldiers, but with their friends and families.
“We’d love them to share it with us so we can put it all out there.”
If you have memories, stories, photographs, artefacts or other militaria to share, email museum@argylls.co.uk or write to: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum, The Castle, Stirling, FK8 1EH.
It is up to us to be pro-active and take the museum to where the regimental connections are
opportunity to tour Amazon Prime Air’s development centre in Cambridge, where their design will be exhibited for a year.
Winners will also be awarded Amazon Fire tablets and cash prizes for teaching resources.
Teachers can download competition materials at http://designadrone.uk/
The competition runs until June 2.