DUNKIRK SPIRIT
Geoff defied docs to pay final tribute to comrades
A war hero who had just days to live, bravely won a final battle to attend his last ever veterans’ parade.
Geoff Bryden, one of the last Scottish WWII veterans, was told by hospital medics he was too ill to be part of the annual Dunkirk Remembrance Parade, where he had been a guest of honour for years.
But the determined 97-year-old Cambuslang man, who sadly passed away on Monday night, displayed genuine Dunkirk spirit and told relatives: “I’ll make the parade – even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees.”
A Cambuslang war hero, who was given just days to live by doctors, won a final battle to attend his last-ever veterans’ remembrance parade.
Geoff Bryden — who was one of the last few Scottish WWII veterans — was told by hospital medics that he was too ill to be part of the annual Dunkirk Remembrance Parade where he had been a guest of honour for many years.
But the determined 97-year-old displayed genuine Dunkirk spirit as he told relatives: “I’ll make the parade — even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees.”
On Geoff ’s insistence and on the grounds that it would almost certainly be the last opportunity, the pensioner would get to honour his fallen comrades, staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital allowed him to leave the facility for a few hours.
Earlier this month, Geoff took his place in the parade in Balloch, while proudly wearing his war medals.
He was pushed along the procession in a wheelchair and lay a wreath in memory of those who had served their country in the Second World War.
Geoff’s family beamed with pride as he received the military salute from current servicemen and women, politicians and dignitaries.
He then joined a poignant church service and stepped aboard a cruise to throw poppies into Loch Lomond before finally returning to his hospital bed after his duties were complete.
Geoff’s health further deteriorated this week and he sadly passed away in hospital on Monday night — just days after attending his final, poignant remembrance parade.
His proud son-in-law Bob Davison, also of Cambuslang, told the Reformer: “He insisted it was very important he was at the parade. It was a final act of bravery given his health condition.”
Geoff had been admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital around three weeks ago, but his condition quickly deteriorated after he contracted the blood disease, sepsis.
The Dunkirk remembrance parade was due to take place just a few days later, but relatives did not think Geoff would survive to see it.
Bob explained: “He somehow overcame it that night and, although his condition was still very poorly, he was talking to us the next day.
“When we told him it was unlikely he would be able to attend the parade, that’s when he said he would make it — even if he had to crawl on his hands and knees.”
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital staff made special arrangements for nurse Rachel McLean to accompany Geoff in case of an emergency, while nurse Louise McQuade came in to do an additional shift so that Rachel was available to go.
Joining Geoff at the special occasion were his daughter Shirley, son-in-law Bob, and his grandson Richard and his wife Amy.