War veteran left unconscious in Carnoustie attack

Police are investigating the attack. Picture: John Devlin

The ex-serviceman was left shocked and bruised after the assault - which yielded his attackers a haul of just £2.

The pensioner was waiting for a bus to take him to the British Legion in Carnoustie on Friday night when he was set upon by the two youths.

But despite his ordeal the former Royal Artillery soldier proudly took his place at Sunday’s Remembrance commemoration in the Angus town.

Community leaders branded the attack “cowardly” and “barbaric” as police launched an investigation.

Still bearing the scars of the attack the OAP, who asked not to be named, said his assailants had “come out of nowhere”.

He said: “I was waiting on my bus and the next thing I knew I was on the ground — they came out of nowhere.

“They were going through my pockets, they took two £1 coins but left 50p.”

As the OAP came round from being knocked out, a passing motorist scared off the young attackers, who fled into a housing scheme near the scene of the attack in Carnoustie’s Barry Road.

The pensioner suffered bruising to his cheek and chin but did not require hospital treatment.

He added: “I was out for the count and it’s still pretty painful.

“I was surprised more than anything else — I spent 44 years in London and was never once involved in anything like this so it’s not something you would expect to happen in Carnoustie.

“I always get the bus about nine and was standing in the shelter.

“I looked out to see if it was coming and the next thing I knew I was on the ground.

“There were two of them and they were going through my pockets.

“I heard one of them say ‘He hasn’t got one’ and I took that to mean a mobile phone.”

A passing van scared the pair off and the driver stopped to pick up the pensioner.

He added: “I was trying to get myself up and when they saw the van they ran off.

“He took me to the Legion and they called the police when I got there and told them what had happened.”

“I was surprised more than anything else. They came out of nowhere and I never heard a thing.

“I was on my hands and knees and saw them running off towards the houses when the van came.”

Carnoustie Legion branch chairman Lindsay Martin was in the High Street club room making final preparations for Sunday’s Armistice event when the battered pensioner was brought in by the Good Samaritan driver.

He said: “When we found out what had happened we dialled 999 straight away and the police response was very quick.

“I was very impressed with the way they handled the whole thing.

“But I dread to think what would have happened if the van driver had not come upon the scene, and although we don’t know who he is we are very grateful to him.

“As Legion members we are absolutely shocked that one of our senior members has been attacked in such a barbaric way by a couple of cowardly young people.

“We’ve never heard of something like that happening to someone that age in Carnoustie before, it’s just awful at any time, let alone on this particular weekend.”

Angus Provost Helen Oswald said the shocking assault was in complete contrast to Sunday’s well-attended Armistice event.

She said “This is an absolutely horrific incident and whoever is responsible must be the lowest form of coward.”

And Carnoustie councillor and Bill Bowles, himself an ex-serviceman, added: “People in the town are very angry about this and we need to find out who these people are.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that officers are investigating a report of a robbery of an 82-year-old man that happened in Barry Road, Carnoustie at about 9pm on Friday.

“The man was standing at the bus stop when he was assaulted by two men in their 20s, wearing dark clothing. He suffered a grazed cheek as a result if the incident.

“Police are very keen to trace a man who was driving a small, possibly white, ‘works’ van who came to the victims assistance shortly afterwards in Barry Road.

“Officers are making enquiries into the full circumstances and anyone who has information that could assist police with their enquiries, in particular the driver of the white van, should contact Police Scotland on 101.

“Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”