Huntly remembers the heroes of D-Day
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The sacrifices made to defeat Adolf Hitler and the Nazis were remembered in Huntly on the anniversary of D-Day last week.
Wreaths were laid as the Gordon Highlanders Association marked the launch of the counter-invasion 80 years ago, which would eventually culminate in the liberation of Western Europe from tyranny.
The regiment’s 1st battalion along with a combined 5th/7th battalion were amongst the vanguard who landed upon the French coast on June 6, 1944, to be joined a week later by the 2nd battalion.
By the time the fighting to secure the beaches in Normandy ended in late August no fewer than 440 had been killed.
Gordon McKen, the vice-chairman of the Gordon Highlanders Association, said: “War is such a terrible thing but sometimes freedom has to be fought for.
“We also wanted to pay tribute to all the families across the North East who went through so much at that time.
“Because D-Day was top secret they didn’t even know if their loved ones were stationed at home or abroad.”
The ceremony took place at the Bydand Badge monument which is set within the grounds of Gordon School.
Amongst the other ceremonies organised by the association was one in Keith, the original headquarters of its 6th battalion which, on June 6, 1944, entered Rome having fought their up through the Italian peninsula, sustaining 400 casualties in the process.
