100th anniversary marked at memorial
Centenary of monument’s dedication commemorated
A service with an Act of Remembrance was held at the Wellmeadow on Saturday to mark the centenary of the dedication of Blairgowrie war memorial.
Arrangements were by the Blairgowrie, Rattray and District branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, and the service was conducted by Rev Benjamin Abeledo, of Blairgowrie Parish Church and a former Army chaplain.
In his introduction Mr Abeledo said they were gathered in God’s presence to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Blairgowrie war memorial being dedicated to the memory of those of this community whose lives were given and taken in the service of this country.
The parade adjutant was RSM Billy Whytock, Black Watch. The Queen’s Colours were carried by Willie Donaldson, and the Legion Standard by Mike Smeaton.
A feature of the service was the presence inside the Wellmeadow of 24 motorbikes from all over the country led by William Howie, vicepresident of the Bikers’ Branch of the Royal British Legion.
There was considerable interest in the bike shown by Steve Thomson from the Lothians, who had a verse of ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ painted on the side of his machine. He said it was a tribute to the Royal British Legion and also the late singer Dame Vera Lynn.
During the Act of Remembrance, a two-minute silence was followed by Col Jim Gibb reciting Binyon’s lines: “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old ...”
He also delivered the Kohima Epitaph, which states: “When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.”
‘Last Post’ was sounded by Clair Annan, and the ‘Lament’ and ‘The Flo’ers o’ the Forest’, was played by Pipe Major Calum Paterson. ‘Reveille’ was sounded by Mrs Annan.
Col Gibb laid a wreath in memory of the men and women of Blairgowrie and district who fell in all wars.
A wreath was also laid by Mr Howie.
Mark Duffy, who compiled a book giving details of those whose names are on the Blairgowrie war memorial, also laid a wreath on behalf of his family to mark the sacrifice of John Duffy at the Somme in 1916.