Scotland remembers the fallen of Passchendaele one century on
● Thousands at parade and service in Crieff to mark start of epic battle
The Black Watch in Crieff, Perthshire, as they lead a parade yesterday to mark 100 years since the Battle of Passchendaele. Thousands of people across Scotland commemorated the centenary of the battle in the First World War, which claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Scottish soldiers who fought at the Battle of Passchendaele have been remembered as commemorations begin to mark 100 years since the conflict.
Thousands of people attended a parade and service in Crieff yesterday to mark the start of the First World War battle.
Veterans and serving soldiers from The Royal Regiment of Scotland marched through the Perthshire town during the event, which begins the wider “Crieff Remembers” fortnight.
Passchendaele was one of the harshest battles of the war, with heavy rain contributing to the Allies gaining only five miles of ground in three months.
There was a large Scottish presence, with more than 50 battalions joined by expat comrades in Scottish battalions from Canada, England and South Africa.
Crieff is particularly linked to Passchendaele because of the high number of Black Watch soldiers who fought a century ago.
A group of current Black Watch soldiers took part in the commemorations after returning from Ypres, which they had reached in a 600-mile cycle.
The service was led by the Legion Scotland national padre with a wreath-laying ceremony featuring Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB CBE, the president of Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland.
After the service, entertainment was provided by pipe bands, charity stalls and music from Legion Scotland singing sensation Amy Hawthorn ensuring a day of remembrance was also one of happiness.
Festivals Crieff chairman Alastair Mcclymont said: “There’s a real buzz about the town at the moment and we are delighted to have Legion Scotland’s significant input to the launch of our Crieff Remembers programme.
“As well as today’s wonderful parade, we also have the official opening of a truly unique exhibition of First World War material loaned from local families.
“It is open to the public from today until Saturday, 12 August, and is supported by a programme of evening events. It is a moving experience and one not to be missed.”
Neil Combe, manager of the Crieff Succeeds BID Ltd, said: “Festivals Crieff has worked tirelessly to deliver a remarkable programme of events.
“We work on behalf of the local business community and are delighted to play a part in the staging of a commemoration that means so much to Crieff.”
Also attending was James Mccabe, from Crieff, whose great-uncle, David Watson Mcdonald Mccabe, was wounded during the Second Battle of Ypres, which took place two years before Passchendaele.
He returned to the battlefield but was seriously wounded and died as the Battle of Passchendaele loomed. David Mccabe’s great-great-great nephew David Mcinally was on parade as a member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland band.