Mourners attend funeral after plea

● Daughter and son arrive for ceremony in wake of appeal

A war veteran thought to have died without family a year ago was yesterday given a military funeral after a plea was made to give him a fitting send off.

William Mclelland of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards fought the Germans in North Africa during the Second World War before spending more than two years as a prisoner of war in Italy.

He was 97 when he died at his home in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, and initial investigations failed to find any living relatives.

But around 90 people filled Holytown Crematorium following an emotional appeal launched by the funeral arranger after she discovered his military history.

Alongside retired and serving Scots Guards, members of the British Legion, police officers, friends, former neighbours and strangers including even children in school uniform were Mr Mclelland’s estranged son and daughter who travelled from Belfast after they were traced at the last moment.

Serving Scots Guards acted as pall-bearers, while the regiment also provided a Union flag to be draped over Mr Mclelland’s coffin, on which was placed a regimental forage cap and ceremonial belt.

The funeral was led by the Reverend Angus Smith, former chaplain to the Scots

0 William Mclelland’s coffin is carried into Holytown Crematorium yesterday Guards, who gave the regimental prayer, and eulogy was given by Captain John Ford, describing Mr Mclelland’s service during the war.

A lone regimental piper played the lament, Flowers of the Forest.

Neil Crockett, secretary of the Fife branch of the Scots Guards Association, who was closely involved in arrangements for the funeral service, said: “After the sad circumstances came to light, some members of his family were located and they were able to travel from Belfast to be here at short notice.”

Speaking after the funeral, Mr Mclelland’s son William and daughter Frances Spratt, said: “We were glad to have been able to attend our father’s funeral today at short notice.

“It was a fitting tribute to his military career and we would like to extend our grateful thanks to friends and neighbours and to Anderson Maguire Funeral Directors and all the members of the Scots Guards, the British Legion and other ex-servicemen who were in attendance.”

William Mclelland was born in Larkhall, Lanarkshire, on 30 May 1919, and was a miner before enlisting with the Scots Guards in 1939.

He was captured during the Battle of Gazala in June 1942, when the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards defending an exposed ridge were overrun by German tanks.