Two Aberdeenshire born reserve soldiers from The Royal Regiment of Scotland have just returned home after completing an intensive weekend training exercise in the wild terrain and harsh weather conditions of the Pentlands.
Private David Gray (25), whose civilian job is a butcher, and Private Cameron Gillies (26), who works in Public Affairs in Edinburgh, spent their weekend undertaking the highly challenging patrol exercise designed to test the physical fitness and robustness, mental resilience, navigation, and military knowledge.
The soldiers took part in the exercise alongside other troops and had to navigate between a series of checkpoints and conduct a military task at each stand. One stand included a test of how quickly they could treat a casualty and extract them to a safe area 1km away from the incident point.
Troops will progress onto more arduous training in the months ahead and are currently working towards being selected for the Cambrian Patrol in Wales in October this year – widely considered to be NATO’s toughest patrolling test.
Private David Gillies, a reservist in the Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “My civilian role is a different type of pressure, dealing with legislation and briefing politicians.
“The army reserve gives me the chance to do something completely different, to challenge myself and be surrounded with like-minded people who are committed to serving their country.
“Training weekends after a full working week is tough, but I love it – and it keeps me fit when I’m away from my desk”.
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has welcomed the announcement that veterans and the families of those in the armed forces are to receive more tailored healthcare under a new scheme for GPs.
The General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans Recognition Scheme is now open to GP surgeries across Scotland, including Edinburgh, following a successful pilot. It includes easy access to training materials setting out the specific issues these individuals face in clinical case to aid understanding of specific needs and the range of healthcare support that can be provided.
This will better enable healthcare providers to focus on the specific health challenges they may face following military service.
Commenting, SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald said: “The launch of this scheme will see more tailored, local support delivered across the wider city but is particularly important in the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency given the high numbers of forces families and veterans living there.
“The SNP Scottish Government is taking meaningful action to support those who have served our country and continue to do so, along with their families, and this scheme will go a long way to addressing the specific challenges that these individuals face.
“It is also important to recognise the huge sacrifice that so many have made to keep us safe, particularly as we approach Remembrance Sunday.
“I encourage GPs both in the south west and the wider city who have not already done so to sign up so that more individuals and their families can benefit from this scheme.”
TODAY (Friday 30 June) 60 members of the proud Royal Scots Regimental Family will meet for an informal gathering at The Royal Scots Memorial Club in Abercromby Place to mark 40 years on from the regiment’s 350th anniversary celebration events in both London and Edinburgh in 1983, that marked the First of Foot’s 350 years of unbroken service to Sovereign and country.
All those taking part in this special Regimental event felt that this double anniversary should be recognised.
They all have a unique common bond of shared experiences. They were all members of the Royal Scots Regimental Family in 1983 for the events that marked a very significant milestone both in Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard’s long and distinguished history, and the very significant service and sacrifice of those serving at the time. The Royal Scots heritage is all about people, traditionally recruited from Edinburgh, the Lothians and Peebles, their stories, and their experiences.
Both the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Ashmore, and the Regimental Sergeant Major, RSM Ian Johnstone, will be attending the gathering. The charity, Fares 4 Free, has enabled two Regimental widows, from Kilmarnock and Livingston, to attend.
Overview of 350th Anniversary events in 1983:
· Royal Scots Train with serving Royal Scots and veterans from the two World Wars and more recent campaigns travelled to London for a Reception in the National Armoury on the 28th of March; 350 years to the day since the founding of The Royal Scots by Sir john Hepburn at Athelstaneford.
· The 1st Battalion of The Royal Scots paraded in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, for the Royal Review by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and to Troop the Colour, on 30th June.
· On 1st July The 1st Battalion of The Royal Scots, Royal Scots veterans, and contingents from their affiliated Gurkha and Canadian regiments, and Army cadets marched along Princes Street, where the salute was taken by HRH Princess Anne, who was appointed the Regimental Colonel in Chief at Holyrood Park the previous day.
· Rededication of The Royal Scots Monument in Princes Street Gardens.
Colonel Mike Ashmore CBE (commanding officer, and parade commander, of the 1st Battalion on the Royal Review): “It was my privilege to command the 1st Battalion in 1983 and to be the Parade Commander on 30th June 1983 when her late Majesty the Queen took the salute at the Royal Review in Holyrood Park.
“In her address to those present Her Majesty said that she was pleased to announce the appointment of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, who was also at the parade, to be The Royal Scots Colonel in Chief.
“At the 300th anniversary in 1933 in Aldershot my father was the Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, so I felt doubly privileged to be able to take part in the 350th anniversary celebrations. Incidentally my father was present at the 350th Royal Review and was in the audience for the March along Princes Street the next day.
“There were many other important events in and around Edinburgh marking the 350th, not least the the Marches through the towns where the Freedom had been granted, Peebles, Haddington, Musselburgh and Linlithgow.”
Major Ian Johnstone (RSM of Ist Battalion on the Royal Review in 1983): “My family have served in The Royal Scots for many generations.
“To have such an important role for the 350th celebrations was a wonderful experience that will never forget; I was so proud of all those Royal Scots on parade.”
Colonel Martin Gibson OBE DL (serving major at the time of the Review in 1983, and lead of the team who have organised the Gathering in 2023): “This is a very special gathering that will have everyone reflecting on their experiences and, in particular, of 40 years ago when every one of the 963 Royal Scots serving across the world was issued with a 1633- 1983 medallion.
“We are very proud that when The Royal Scots left the Army’s order of battle in 2006 after 373 years our Royal title and the privilege of being Right of The Line was carried forward by The Royal Regiment of Scotland, today’s Scottish infantry.
“We are very grateful to the veterans’ charity FARES4FREE for making it possible for three of those attending coming to the gathering to get here and enjoy renewing friendships.
“From our origins way back in 1633 to 2006 our unique story is told in our Regimental Museum within Edinburgh Castle.”
When it was disbanded in 2006 The Royal Scots, The Royal Regiment, was the oldest Infantry Regiment in the British Army, having been in the UK Order of Battle for 373 unbroken years.
Having been involved in almost every campaign the British Army had taken part in since it formed in 1633, it had more than earned its title, First of Foot and Right of the Line (Most senior infantry regiment of the line in the British Army).
In 2006, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) was formed from its antecedent regiments, including The Royal Scots – from whom they inherited the Royal title and the privilege of being Right of The Line – and take forward the traditions and heritage as Scotland’s Infantry.
New report outlines steps required to enhance support for veterans adapting to civilian life in Scotland
An informal mentor system, recognition of qualifications from non-UK nationals and further support for the families of serving personnel are among several recommendations made by a new report looking at the transition of veterans and their families to civilian life in Scotland.
Funded by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), led by Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement and supported by the Edinburgh Futures Institute at the University of Edinburgh, the report is the first of its kind to look at the journey from military to civilian life specifically in Scotland.
The report includes input from nearly 100 service personnel, 200 veterans and more than 60 employers with its findings to be unveiled today (15 June) at a special event at Edinburgh Napier’s Craiglockhart campus with Veterans Minister Graeme Dey MSP, project partners and members of the wider armed forces community.
Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies – including three online surveys and 138 in-depth interviews, participant observation and validation workshops – the report outlines findings across five key components of transition:
Time and timing – The study found that time to prepare is the resource most valued by those undergoing any type of transition and that this can vary from individual to individual;
Values and behaviours – Many veterans inclined towards employment that most reflects the values and behaviours instilled in them during service;
Comfort zones – A need to support veterans and their families as they move out of their comfort zone, with a focus on the emotional aspect of transition.
Engagements – A continued focus on effective partnership working helps transition to be as smooth and effective as possible;
Expectations and decision-making – A need to manage expectations and help with decision-making. Many veterans reported that they could not have understood what civilian life was like until they experienced it, so it was difficult to prepare adequately.
With these findings in mind, the report has made a host of recommendations across four key areas: policy, practice, education, and research.
These include the adoption of mentorship and buddy schemes to help veterans ‘speak civilian’, the development of Welfare Centres to become central points for education and entrepreneurial activity for armed forces partners, the further development of an educational transition pathway for those wishing to continue to higher education as well as recognition of prior learning qualifications for Commonwealth partners.
The report also highlights the demand for support services to be expanded to support the wider armed forces community, with particular emphasis on partners and children.
Alongside the recommendations, the study recognises strong partnership working alongside the important contribution of programmes such as the Armed Forces Covenant and the UK and Scotland strategies for veterans in developing a clear focus in relation to transition.
The veterans population in Scotland is estimated to be around 240,000 with an additional 1,800 ex-service personnel and families planning to settle in Scotland every year.
It is hoped that the findings of this report can now be used to influence and shape both policy and service delivery to enable veterans and their families to lead successful civilian lives.
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Graeme Dey, Minister for Veterans, said: “It is really important that we understand the challenges faced by our Service people as they transition to civilian life in Scotland.
“Despite most Service leavers transitioning successfully, getting a suitable job, a safe, warm home, and access to appropriate healthcare, we are all too aware that some veterans can face greater difficulties when they leave the military.
“This report gives us a better understanding of their experiences, which will help inform policy decisions and work towards improving the services and support available to them when they transition to civilian life.”
Tom McBarnet, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “This report provides us with an in-depth understanding of the experiences of personnel and their families who transition from the Armed Forces and settle in Scotland, and highlights both the significant progress made as well as the challenges and disadvantages they can face, particularly when moving from other parts of the UK to Scotland.
“This research provides policy makers, service providers and others with the evidence they need to be able to make informed decisions and implement effective interventions to support the Armed Forces Community both now and in the future.”
Dr Gerri Matthews-Smith, Associate Research Professor and Director of the Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement within Edinburgh Napier University’s Business School, said: “I was delighted to lead this valuable and timely study to contribute to the growing evidence base influencing and underpinning policy making and service delivery to enable veterans and their families to lead successful civilian lives in Scotland and across the UK.
“The Armed Forces pride themselves on being composed of highly competent, professional, confident individuals who are resourceful, adaptable, problem solvers. The question is therefore immediately created as to why transition should be regarded as such a significant issue of concern for this group in comparison to their civilian counterparts.
“The complexity of the transition journey is addressed in this study through a deeper comparison of life in the Armed Forces with that in the wider community when viewed through the lens of the service leaver, their partner, and other key stakeholders.
“The report provides a detailed account of the Armed Forces milieu in Scotland set against developments and future plans for the expansion of several bases across the country. It acknowledges good practice and provides a number of recommendations on how some areas may be developed.”
Lt Col Doug Mackay,who was the Project Director while at Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh, said: “Service personnel genuinely serve the country, whether defending our national interests overseas or supporting resilience within communities at home in time of crisis.
“It is fitting that we should take some time to focus on how we can help them transition from military life, and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work with both the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University on this important project.
“It offers some fresh perspectives on the challenges facing service personnel and families who settle in Scotland, assesses the existing support available to them, and provides some thought-provoking suggestions about how to improve the experience of transition for future service leavers.
“We are most grateful to the Forces in Mind Trust for their generous support of this project.”
The full report – ‘You’re In Your Own Time Now’: Understanding Current Experiences of Transition to Civilian Life in Scotland – can be downloaded here.
Seventeen projects across Scotland have been awarded funds totalling £500,000 to help ex-service personnel access support for physical and mental health, financial, employment and cost of living challenges.
The grant awards for 2023-24 are from the Scottish Veterans Fund, which has now provided more than £2.8 million to nearly 220 projects since 2008.
Veterans Minister Graeme Dey announced the funding awards while visiting Community Veterans Support in Glasgow. The organisation has been awarded £18,536 for its Warmer, Healthier, Safer Veterans project which is providing food, peer support and financial advice to veterans facing challenges as a result of the cost of living crisis.
Mr Dey said: “Scotland has a long and proud military tradition and we must ensure our veterans and their families continue to be supported during this cost of living crisis.
“I am grateful for the close-knit charity sector here in Scotland, and I’m continually impressed by the level, and quality, of support charities are providing. The excellent work of Community Veterans Support is a great example of what can be achieved.
“Each of the seventeen projects awarded funding from the Scottish Veterans Fund this year will make a real difference and will mean our veterans can get the help they need, when they need it.”
The Scottish Veterans Fund (SVF) was set up in 2008-2009 as the Scottish Government’s main means of directly supporting veterans in Scotland.
From 2022-2023 the fund has been increased to £500,000 annually, with organisations able to bid for up to £50,000 per project.
Below is a full list of projects which will receive SVF funding this year:
Organisation
Project Title
Amount
Project Overview
Community Veterans Support
Warmer, Healthier, Safer Veterans
£18,536
Extend “Warmer Spaces” provision for veterans into evenings and weekends, including food, peer support and financial advice.
Erskine
One-Stop-Shop
£13,450
Extend provision of tailored financial advocacy, guidance and support to veterans through Erskine’s One Stop Shop.
Fighting with Pride
The Journey Home Project in Scotland
£49,042
Fund the introduction and development of the Veterans Standard Manager role in Scotland to build the community of LGBT veterans in Scotland and support developing capacity in services that can support that community.
FirstLightTrust
Supporting the support
£25,000
Introduce a new support worker for the Hawick Hub to help develop support pathways for veterans impaired by physical or psychological trauma.
Forces Children Scotland
Future Transitions | Financial Education for Civilian Life
£38,624
Develop a bespoke financial education service to support children, young people and parents in making the transition from military to civilian life.
Forces Employment Charity
Early Service Leavers – Scotland Co-Ordinator
£50,000
Continue pilot scheme from 2022-23, which introduced an Early Service Leavers co-ordinator for Scotland to provide dedicated employment support for this vulnerable cadre.
Lothian Veterans Centre
Warm Welcome for veterans and their families
£22,572
Provide support in current cost of living crisis by opening warm hub for veterans and their families to provide food, heating and social interaction in a location that can provide onward access to other support.
Military Wives Choir
Supporting our Hidden Community
£40,000
Enhance level of support given to members in Scotland and to reach and recruit more members amongst women whose lives are currently impacted by their connection to the military.
On Course Foundation
Golf skills and employment programme
£16,344
Deliver a sustainable golf skills and employment programme with confidence building events, peer networking and employment experience and opportunities.
RAF Association
The Battle Ahead
£23,695
Provide programme of support to ensure that no member of the RAF veterans community is left cold, hungry or lonely as a result of the cost of living crisis.
RAF Benevolent Fund
Scottish Welfare Support Executive
£17,032
Provide welfare support to RAF veterans and their dependants with complex needs living in Scotland. Assess individual’s circumstances and create tailored support plans.
Salute my Job
Career Jumpstart Programme
£41,700
The Career Jumpstart Project aims to reskill jobseekers from the Armed Forces community for employment in roles in greatest demand in public, private and third sector.
Scotland Bravest Manufacturing Company
Enhanced Manufacturing Traineeship
£50,000
Provide opportunities for early service leavers and other veterans to obtain qualifications and sustainable employment with the support of a qualified trainer.
Scottish Veterans Residences
Occupational Therapy to Improve Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing
£43,150
Employ a full time occupational therapist to support Veterans’ physical and mental health recovery and rehabilitation through the use of a holistic and biophysical approach.
SSAFA
Professional Support to Relieve the Cost of Living Crisis
£10,000
Partly fund the employment of a Regional Casework manager to better manage workload of case workers in Scotland to provide a more agile and individualised response to veterans.
Thistle Health and Wellbeing
Meaningful Connections
£20,124
Support 150 veterans and their families across Scotland who have been severely impacted by long term conditions, particularly early service leavers, medically discharged veterans and those with mental health needs.
Veterans Housing Scotland
Tenancy Sustainment Service
£20,000
Expand pilot project to identify and support tenants at risk of tenancy failure.
Edinburgh family attraction hosts weekend-long event dedicated to members of the armed forces and emergency services
Activities include an inflatable assault course, emergency service displays and tours of emergency vehicles
The £2.50 entry fee will be donated to charity
An Edinburgh adventure park is celebrating the country’s armed forces and emergency services with a Heroes Weekend on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May.
Conifox Adventure Park in Kirkliston is inviting families along to the weekend event where they’ll meet members of the Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and the RNLI, and have the chance to take part in interactive displays and various activities provided by the services.
Tickets to the event are only £2.50 and are available online at www.conifox.co.uk. All proceeds will go to charities that support service people and their families and, with plenty of family-friendly fun on offer, the attraction is hoping to raise more than £1,000 in donations over the weekend.
Some of the displays and activities available for kids and adults alike over the weekend include an inflatable Scots Guard assault course, decommissioned Royal Airforce weapons and various uniforms and protective gear that can be tried on.
Visitors will also get the chance to take a look inside ambulances, fire engines, police cars and other protection vehicles where the service personnel will be happy to answer any questions they might have.
For adults, there will also be recruitment information available for many of the services. There will also be food and drink available to purchase on the day.
James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park said: “We appreciate the work and dedication of our armed and emergency services and want to celebrate their bravery with this charity event. We also know how exciting their jobs can be, and we wanted to bring that to our customers alongside some fun displays and activities.
“It’s a chance for us as a community to give back, and a chance for families to create memories that will last a lifetime. Who knows – it might even inspire some heroes of the future!”
Conifox Adventure Park is open to visitors Wednesday through to Sunday and tickets for both the Heroes Weekend, Adventure Park and indoor Activity Centre are available to purchase online at www.conifox.co.uk.
Serving personnel across the UK will be entitled to free wraparound childcare from September as part of new measures announced today by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years to benefit from wraparound childcare2
More than 20,000 service children will be eligible for 20 hours free childcare per week
Defence Secretary outlines further family support for UK Armed Forces personnel
The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme will provide up to 20 hours per week of free childcare before and after school during term time for eligible military parents with children aged 4 to 11 years.
Its roll-out follows successful trials at pilot sites around the country over the last two years and from the Autumn school term will be open to more than 20,000 children across the UK.
While childcare costs vary across the UK, serving personnel are expected to save around £3,000 per child per year based on typical costs.
The wraparound childcare scheme provides practical support to some of the unique challenges faced by service families, such as frequent relocations that require military families to move home, find new schools and childcare provision, and adjust their lives. This is part of the Armed Forces’ commitment to being an inclusive, modern and flexible employer.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Our Armed Forces personnel sacrifice a great deal in the service of their country and whether it is providing flexible working or accommodation options, I am determined they feel supported in their family life.
“Providing free wraparound childcare is another clear way of supporting the unique challenges they face as parents and will go a long way to helping them to enjoy a thriving family life as well as a thriving career.”
Corporal Vicki Taylor, Royal Air Force said: “Everyone I have spoken to who also benefits from wraparound childcare agrees that it’s a fantastic scheme. For my family it saved us financially, reduced our stress levels, and has given us more quality time with our children.
The wraparound childcare pilot scheme began in September 2020 and an expansion in September 2021 meant six sites – Woolwich Barracks, RAF High Wycombe and RAF Halton, Catterick Garrison, and in Lincolnshire and the Plymouth area – took part. Over 1,900 children benefited from support at these sites during the pilot.
This scheme is part of the wider package of support to service personnel and their families, as laid out in the Armed Forces Families Strategy, and has already had a positive impact on service families involved. Recent feedback shows an improvement in family wellbeing, increased contentment with service life for non-serving partners as well as the huge financial savings.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting service families and has also introduced flexible working arrangements, expanded offerings to co-habiting couples and extended Help to Buy, giving our armed forces the chance to get a foot on the housing ladder.
Poppyscotland has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for its outstanding help with employment for members of the Armed Forces community.
The Edinburgh-based charity was awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest badge of honour given by the MoD.
The charity is one of 16 businesses and organisations in Scotland to receive the Gold award, with the scheme now in its ninth year. Poppyscotland, and its subsidiary, Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, which employs a number of veterans with disabilities, both achieved the Silver award last year.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support the Armed Forces community and inspire others to do the same. It runs bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that demonstrate their support.
To win the gold award, they must provide 10 extra paid days leave for reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, reserves, Cadet Force adult volunteers, and spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.
They must also advocate the benefits by encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and engage with the Employer Recognition Scheme. The Covenant is a promise to treat current and former service personnel and their families fairly, in areas from healthcare to housing.
Poppyscotland is Scotland’s leading Armed Forces charity, providing a wide range of services, including advice, financial support, and help with physical and mental health issues.
Austin Hardie, Director of Poppyscotland, said: “As an employer working directly at the heart of the Armed Forces community, we felt it was important that we show leadership and highlight the many benefits this scheme brings to both employer and employee.
“Being awarded the Gold recognition is testimony to the values of Poppyscotland and our commitment to those who have served and are serving currently. By espousing these values publicly, we also hope that it will encourage others to be involved in our life-changing welfare work that we provide to those in need in the Armed Forces community in Scotland.”
Leo Docherty MP, Minister for Defence People, said: “Regardless of size, location or sector, employing members of the Armed Forces community is good for businesses.
“These awards recognise the outstanding support for our armed forces from employers across the UK and I would like to thank and congratulate each and every one.”
Scottish winners will be honoured at a ceremony at Stirling Castle on November 3rd.
Falklands veterans and their families gathered in Edinburgh yesterday (Saturday 18 June) to pay tribute on the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict. They were joined by the Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge and Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown MSP for the parade and remembrance service.
Hundreds lined the streets as the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums marched along George Street before the service in St Andrew Square. Many Falklands veterans were among those taking part, including former Scots Guards drummer, Graham Hopewell, from Ayrshire.
At 11am, the bands were joined by more than 120 pipers across Scotland and as far away as Peru, New Zealand and the Falklands, to play “The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain” in unison. This tune was composed by Scottish Pipe Major James Riddell in the midst of the decisive battle on 13th June 1982, which led to the Argentine surrender and the end of the war the following day.
The commemorations were organised by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, in partnership with the Armed Forces and the Scottish Government.
The Rev Dr Karen Campbell, National Chaplain of the Royal British Legion Scotland, and The Rev Angus Smith, former Padre to the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards who served in the Falklands, jointly led the service.
They remembered the 255 British servicemen who fell in the Falklands, as well as 649 Argentinian military personnel, three civilians, and thousands more who were wounded.
The conflict began on April 2nd, 1982, when Argentina invaded the British territory in the South Atlantic, and ended on June 14th, as British troops approached the capital, Stanley. It was the first military action since the Second World War which involved all elements of the British Armed Forces.
Following the service, wreaths were laid by the Lord Provost, Mr Brown MSP, Rear Admiral Mark Beverstock, a Falklands veteran and President of Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, the Heads of all three Armed Services in Scotland, and the War Widows Association.
Participants then enjoyed musical entertainment from the two military bands, Legion Scotland Sweetheart Amy Hawthorn, Stuart McLean, Juniper 3 and Ellyn Oliver. The public were also able to enjoy exhibits from Legion Scotland, Poppyscotland, and many other organisations and associations.
Dr Claire Armstrong, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “It was heartening to see so many people come together today to pay tribute to all those who served in the Falklands. For veterans and their families, today was a very poignant day, as we remembered those who laid down their lives 40 years ago. Even now, many of those who served are still living with the physical and mental scars of the conflict.
“This was also an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary resilience of our Armed Forces community and the vital role they continue to play today. We’re delighted that people of all ages have engaged with our learning programme over recent months, taking the chance to find out more about the Falklands and other conflicts, and their impact on our recent history.
“It was particularly moving to hear the iconic pipe tune “The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain” being played at 11am, both here at St Andrews Square and by our global pipe band in all corners of the world.
“We would like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council and everyone else who has made today’s events possible, as well as the public for their support.”
Keith Brown MSP said: “I am delighted that we have been able to partner with Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland to deliver a commemoration which will provide the people of Scotland with an opportunity to recognise the sacrifices made 40 years ago in the Falklands War.”
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Sharing his memories of the long journey to the Falklands onboard the QE2, Rev Smith said: “We suddenly remembered what war entailed. The question that was at the back of our mind was “would we or would we not return”.
“But I had to go beyond that. I had about 500 lads who were in the same position. These were the ones who were fighting, so it was up to me to help these people as much as possible.”
Reflecting on the 40th anniversary commemorations today, Rev Smith continued: “It has been one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve had in years. The thought that has gone into this, it’s beautiful really.
“The first person I met today was the wife of a great friend of mine, who was amongst the first men killed in the war. We just looked at one another today, and we couldn’t speak.”
The daughter of a Scottish Pipe Major, whose famous tune pays tribute to those who fell in the Falklands, has spoken of the war’s lasting impact on her family.
On Saturday, (JUNE 18th), hundreds of pipers in Edinburgh and around the world will join in unison by playing “The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain” to mark the 40th anniversary of the ceasefire.
The tune was composed on the back of a ration pack by Pipe Major James Riddell while under fire during the decisive battle, in which eight fellow Scots Guards were killed. Shortly afterwards, he climbed to the top of the mountain to play it for the first time.
Musicians from across the UK, and as far away as Peru, New Zealand, and the Falklands, will play in unison at 11am on Saturday. This is part of a day of remembrance events, organised by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government and Armed Forces.
Veterans will also join a parade through the centre of Edinburgh, attended by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown MSP, and heads of all three Armed Forces, before a service of remembrance followed by entertainment in St Andrew’s Square.
Forty years on, Pipe Major Riddell’s daughter Teri Newell said the tune still brings a tear to her eye, and brings back bittersweet memories of her father, who died in 1997.
She said that he had returned “a different man” after the Falklands, and there had been a lack of support for many veterans who had struggled with their experiences.
She said: “He seemed like a stranger, not my dad. He became more insular and never spoke about his experiences. I’m almost certain he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it wasn’t recognised at the time.
“There was a lot of support for service families, but very little for the men. There was that attitude that you kept a stiff upper lip and just got on with it.”
Born in Stonehaven, Pipe Major Riddell joined the Scots Guards aged 17, following in his father’s footsteps. He married his high school sweetheart, Pauline, and served in Malaya, Borneo, and Northern Ireland.
Teri, their only child, was 14 when he was sent to the Falklands, and living at Chelsea Barracks with other military families.
She said: “I was used to him being away, but this time it felt different. It was really quite scary. He was going off to war and I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again. Every day I would come home from school hoping there was something from Dad. But you just had to get on with life.
“When we heard about the ceasefire it was the most fabulous news. But then the next day came the announcement of the fatalities. My mum remembers that, almost in a heartbeat, they went from elation to immense sadness. It was surreal – we wanted to celebrate but then we had friends and neighbours who had lost their husbands and fathers.”
Pipe Major Riddell was part of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards who attacked Argentinian forces on Tumbledown Mountain on June 13th, which guarded the approach to the Falklands capital, Stanley.
They engaged in fierce, hand-to-hand combat for almost nine hours in dark, freezing conditions, before finally taking the stronghold. This led to the Argentinian surrender the following day.
A few weeks later, the families travelled to RAF Brize Norton to be reunited with the returning soldiers.
She said: “It was wonderful seeing my dad in the flesh again,” she said. “But he hardly ever spoke about what he’d been through.
“Later on, he told me he’d scribbled the tune on the back of a ration pack. He told me it just came to him. Things were obviously going through his head at the time, then it all came together.”
Pipe Major Riddell served for 28 years, leaving in 1991 with an exemplary conduct assessment. His comrades remember him as well-respected and protective of the pipers under his command, although he could be a tough task master.
But he found himself struggling to adapt to civilian life, and the family became estranged when Teri was in her 20s. He died of a brain tumour in 1997.
She said: “When he left the military, he found it a very hard transition. He had been a soldier for all his adult life and was used to that structure and following orders. I think being on his own and having to find a job was a very scary prospect.
“I only spoke to him a handful of times after that, but he kept my number. Then one day, I got a phone call saying he had passed away. I didn’t even know he had been ill. That was the worst day of my life.”
She now lives in Slough with her husband Eric and is proud that her father’s memory lives on through his music.
“It’s amazing that so many pipers will be playing it on Saturday, it really warms my heart. Whenever I hear it, it brings a tear to my eye and reminds me of him. He was never interested in recognition, he didn’t want to be in the spotlight. But his tune means a lot to people around the world.”
Hundreds of current and former servicemen and their families are expected to take part in Saturday’s parade (JUNE 18th), starting at 10:15am from Charlotte Square. It will be led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums, with the pipers’ tribute taking place at 11am.
There will be a service in St Andrew Square, jointly led by the National Chaplain of the Royal British Legion Scotland The Rev Karen Campbell and The Rev Angus Smith, former Padre to the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards who served in the Falklands.
This will be followed by performances by both military bands, Legion Scotland Sweetheart Amy Hawthorn, Stuart McLean, Juniper 3 and Ellyn Oliver.
