Ambassador in Arisaig for tribute to soldiers
The Slovak ambassador to the UK visited Arisaig last week as part of the centenary commemorations of the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
Lubomír Rehák was welcomed to Arisaig on Wednesday August 8 by councillors Allan Henderson and Denis Rixson. They joined local people at the memorial to Czech and Slovak soldiers on Arisaig’s sea front, where the ambassador laid a wreath in honour of Czech and Slovak personnel who were trained in Arisaig.
He gave a moving tribute to the Czechoslovak Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents deployed in enemy occupied territory in the Second World War, one in three of whom lost their lives. He spoke particularly of Josef Gabcik and Jan Kubis, who died following Operation Anthropoid, which resulted in the assassination of SS Obergruppenführer Heydrich in Prague. Gabcik and Kubis both underwent their paramilitary training in Arisaig.
During his time in the area, Ambassador Rehák visited local sites associated with SOE wartime activities, including Arisaig House, SOE headquarters, Traigh House and Garramore.
The ambassador rounded off his visit to Arisaig at the Land, Sea and Islands Centre with an informative and fascinating talk about the history of central Europe.
In concluding his remarks, he expressed his sadness and disappointment in the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the divisions created which he said would compromise the strength and unity of the European Union to the detriment of the EU and the UK.
Ambassador Rehák praised the Land, Sea and Islands Centre and thanked the people of Arisaig past and present for honouring the memory of the Czechoslovakian soldiers who were based in the village.
Anyone wanting to know more about the SOE and its work in the area during the Second World War can visit the Land, Sea and Islands Centre, which has a fascinating exhibition and additional resources. It is open throughout the year.