Lord Lieutenant visits all old Banffshire's war graves within 11 days to support Poppy Appeal
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BANFFSHIRE'S Lord Lieutenant has helped raise funds for veterans through a tour of the historic county's war graves.
Andrew Simpson, Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, and his wife, Louise, took on the Royal British Legion's 11/11 Challenge in the run-up to Armistice Day, November 11, to support the Poppy Appeal.
From Tomintoul to Gardenstown, the couple visited all of the old county's cemeteries which have graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. There are 38 such graves in the area.
Mr Simpson said the tour, during the first 11 days of November, was arranged to pay respect to the memory of the Banffshire fallen and to raise funds for Legion Scotland's work, adding that the journey for him created many memories that added much to the meaning of Remembrance Day.
He said: "The quest took Louise, my wife, and I from the Moray coast cemeteries of St John's at Gardenstown and Hillhead at Portknockie to the southern reaches of historic Banffshire.
"St Michael’s Churchyard in Tomintoul must have the highest Commonwealth War Graves in the country.
"We explored cemeteries such as those at Forglen or Boharm that we must have driven past countless times.
"Each graveyard is a reminder that men and women from all parts of the county died in the service of their country.
"Each grave represents not only those who died within the UK, but also the countless numbers who died and were buried where they fell or who have no grave – many who were lost at sea. The cost to their families and communities can never be underestimated."
Commonwealth War Grave inscriptions are brief, listing name, serial number and service – although some families paid for a few personal words to be added.
Mr Simpson added: "Privates and deckhands lie in the same cemetery as senior officers. Naval reservists lie near RAF crew. Medics and tank crew are all included. Banffshire provided men and women for all the services.
"The skills and talents that would have helped to build our communities were sacrificed in the fight to defeat evil and bring peace to a troubled world."
The Queen's Banffshire representative said the grave inscriptions sometimes posed many questions, one being Karam Dad, buried in a corner of Grange Cemetery, with its Arabic inscription.
Through delving further, Mr Simpson found the man was a mule driver brought to Scotland to support animal transport for Arctic warfare in Norway. A railway accident at Knock led to him being buried thousands of miles from his family and home in modern-day Pakistan.
Mr Simpson added: "Private R Clark, of the Labour Corp, died on May 23, 1918, age 18, and lies in Rothiemay. His gravestone was a reminder of the 18-year-olds from his village and the surrounding area that 90 years later I had taught at Keith Grammar School.
"Perhaps most poignant was a grave in Buckie New Cemetery with the words 'An airman of the 1939-1945 war – found August 12, 1943 – Known Unto God'. Unidentified in death, with a family unable to see his name on a memorial, he represented the many who perished in similar circumstances."
Mr Simpson paid credit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He said: "Each one was a reminder of the sacrifice and the personal cost to families and communities. Each one a challenge to follow their example of service, duty and working together for a better world. We will remember them."
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