Communities gather to remember their war dead
Hundreds turned out in freezing sunshine on Sunday to remember lives lost in war.
Oban High School Pipe Band led the proud parade from the Corran Halls to the war memorial on the Esplanade, lined by the poppy-wearing crowd of all ages.
From uniformed Rainbows to Scouts, armed forces cadets to the fire service, police, the masons and local councillors, the long procession formed an impressive line.
Offshore, the crew of Oban lifeboat stood on the deck of the Mora Edith MacDonald with heads bowed during the two-minute silence.
The first wreath was laid by Neil Matheson, the new Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Oban and surrounding area.
Sunday’s service was led by Oban Sea Cadets chaplain, the Reverend Peter Park, who praised the community for supporting this year’s Remembrance parade.
The parade and poppy day was saved thanks to the Sea Cadets and Oban councillor Jim Lynch, who formed an Armistice Day committee after the event was at risk of not going ahead due to the Oban Royal British Legion closing in February this year.
Councillor Lynch said: ‘I’m delighted it’s gone ahead. There must have been about 400 people. The parade and appeal is a vital part of remembering. The support of the community, organisations and businesses is a guarantee that we will keep it happening.’
St John’s Cathedral in Oban hosted a Remembrance Eucharist. On display was a drum head carried through the South African Boer War by Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st battallion. The drum head was discovered 23 years ago in the cathedral’s cellar. The cathedral also has a plaque remembering the men of HMS Jason, a minesweeper sunk by a mine off the Coll coast on April 3, 1917.
The night before, many of the men had attended an evening service at St John’s and 25 were lost in the sinking.
Respects were paid at war memorials across the area, wide and far, including Appin, Taynuilt and Killin.
A Remembrance service was also organised by the Royal British Legion (RBL) Scotland Easdale Branch at Balvicar War Memorial on Seil. The Reverend Alastair MacLachlan led the service, the piper was DJ MacDougall and RBL standard-bearer was Donny Reynolds. As well as a wreath being laid on behalf of the RBL, wreaths were laid by the community and school children with a good number of islanders attending. Before the start of the service, crosses were also laid on the four recognised Commonwealth War Graves in old Kilbrandon cemetery. A service was also held in Kilbrandon Church by the Rev MacLachlan.
Over on Luing, at its Kilchattan War Memorial, a service was led by Easdale RBL chairman John Alexander and branch secretary Jean Alexander. Mr Alexander is also a Church of Scotland reader. The service was well attended by the community.
Mrs Alexander said: ‘We are grateful to David Payn from Easdale Island who played the Last Post and Reveille. Michael Fothergill from Luing fire service was standard-bearer and wreaths were laid by Sandy Shairp on behalf of the legion. Ian Cruickshanks laid a wreath on behalf of the fire service and Michael Barlow, chairman of Luing Community Council, also laid a wreath. A good number of the community attended and a service also took place in Kilchattan Church.’