The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bench tribute to fallen soldier
Friends and family of a Perth soldier killed by the IRA more than 30 years ago came together to unveil a bench in his memory.
Lance Sergeant Graham Stewart was a member of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards when he was shot in the head by a sniper while on foot patrol in South Armagh in May 1990.
At Wellshill Cemetery in Perth on Saturday, a memorial service was held in L/Sgt Stewart’s memory, where the new “Right Flank” bench was officially unveiled.
The tribute was organised by L/Sgt Stewart’s friends and colleagues in the Scots Guards, who have met up every five years since his death to remember him.
The weekend’s ceremony was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, but the pandemic delayed the event.
Ahead of the ceremony, veteran Neil Smith, a friend of L/Sgt Stewart’s, said: “Graham was a top soldier. He was destined for the top.
“He was already being groomed to become the regimental sergeant major – the top honour for an enlisted soldier.
“He was a young lad full of life, always immaculately turned out whether it be in uniform or civilian clothes, and was respected by all who knew him.”
Five years ago, just before one of the reunions for Graham in Carlisle, the veterans and Graham’s family learned that Graham had a daughter, Rebecca.
Unfortunately he never knew about her, and they never met.
Rebecca and Lorna, Graham’s sister, and Lorna’s sons are building up a relationship and getting to know each other.
Graham’s nephew Lloyd has followed in Graham’s footsteps and is now a lance sergeant in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards.
While the bench is dedicated to Graham, it has been called the Right Flank bench of remembrance to honour other soldiers in the platoon who died.