Old soldiers who fought in 1960s campaigns march on

More than 140 veterans of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and their families gathered in Stirling at the weekend to commemorate the Borneo and Aden campaigns of 50 years ago.

The weekend gathering of old soldiers, now aged in their 70s-90s, is likely to be the last of its kind recalling the Argylls’ leading part in two of the British Army’s most significant deployments in the post-World War II era.

The highlight of the reunion was the Muster by companies in Stirling Castle’s courtyard on Saturday followed by a commemoration at the Church of the Holy Rude then the final march through the streets of Stirling to a celebratory lunch at the Golden Lion Hotel.

The Borneo campaign ran from 1964-66. Deployed to Singapore in 1964, The Argylls were drawn into the “confrontation” between Indonesia and Malaysia on the shared island of Borneo. The battalion undertook three tours in Borneo, losing one man. Jungle warfare proved draining but was seen as significant in raising the fighting capability of the British Army.

The Aden Emergency in 1967 was a rebellion against British rule in the Crown Colony of Aden in Yemen by militants inspired by the pan-Arabism of Egyptian leader Gamel Abdel Nasser. Taking over from 1st Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, the Argylls along with other army units were subject to attacks that left 22 British Army and one UK civilian dead and 41 wounded, the highest day casualty list since the Korean War.

Under the forceful leadership of Lt Col Colin Mitchell – known as “Mad Mitch” – the Argylls retook the town of Crater and imposed “Argyll law” on the colony until eventual withdrawal later that year.

This year marks the 70th Anniversary of HM The Queen’s appointment as Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment and Patron of the Regimental Association.

Reunion co-ordinator, Major Jim Bain MBE of the Grangemouth branch of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Association, a veteran of the Aden conflict, said: “The youngest person there was 70. But this is a historic year and the Argylls are a real family. Once an Argyll, always an Argyll. People came from as far afield as Australia, Canada, Portugal, California and Florida. The weekend gave everyone a chance for comradeship and to reacquaint themselves with friends. A good time was had by all.

“The church was packed out for the commemoration and the streets were full as we marched downhill to the Golden Lion. Everyone enjoyed the