Veteran makes a pilgrimage
Ron, 94, visits Commando memorial
A war hero’s dream has come true after making a long- awaited pilgrimage.
Ron Wilson, 94, is a Burma veteran from Ayr.
And this month he paid a visit to honour fallen colleagues at the Commando ( Cdo) Memorial near Spean Bridge in Lochaber.
Captain Karen Tait MBE RAMC, had helped orchestrate the visit during the last year.
It followed two of Ron’s comrades previously visiting and placing a plaque, bearing their and Ron’s names in the Garden of Remembrance near the memorial.
The Commando Memorial is a Category A listed monument in Lochaber, Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II.
The memorial overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle.
Marian Lamberton, who attends St Andrews Church in Ayr alongside Ron, said: “Karen had arranged to meet Mr Paul Wilson, Chairman of the Royal Marine Association, Highland Branch based in Inverness, and Sergeant Major ( SM) Buckley ( Buckers) 43 Cdo who had driven up from Faslane, complete with wreath.
“On being introduced to them Ron was in awe.
“In the garden of remembrance Ron found the plaque that he had help fund and had even taken materials to clean it.
“After looking around the memorial Ron laid the wreath that had been brought for him, and said the words of the Kohima Epitaph and the Exhortation.”
Ron was then taken on a tour of his old training ground and what were his barracks at Achnacarry in 1942.
Following this, he visited the Cdo Museum at the Spean Bridge Hotel and also had lunch with him, Karen and her accomplices.
Lunch concluded, the Commanding Officer of 43 Cdo had asked for a 43 Cdo silk tie to be presented to Ron – something reserved for distinguished guests and visitors.