Scots Guards on march as tributes paid to forces

By Gareth Rose and David Maddox
Published on 01/07/2012 00:00

DRESSED in scarlet tunics and bearskins, with rifles and bayonets fixed, Scots Guards paraded in Dundee yesterday as across the country tributes were paid to servicemen and women on Armed Forces Day.

In Dundee, military personnel, cadets and veterans marched alongside the 1st Battalion Scots Guards.

The Guards were allowed to enter Dundee “with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed” – an honour only usually granted to regiments and battalions which have been given the freedom of the city.

The force’s flag was flown outside St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh, while Princes Street Gardens hosted events including a Royal Air Force Typhoon flypast, music from the Scots Mil Afghan rock band and an assault course.

In Glasgow, a parade of serving personnel, veterans and cadets from all three branches of the armed forces marched through the city centre.

And in Aberdeen, a parade of 1,000 serving, veteran and cadet force personnel was accompanied by massed pipes and drums and vintage military vehicles.

Lord Provost George Adam said: “This parade is a great way for the people of Aberdeen to show their support for the armed forces and veterans, as it lets them see how much they are respected and admired, and it shows our gratitude for the self-sacrifice of these men and women and in particular the veterans.”

First Minister Alex Salmond added: “Armed Forces Day is an important opportunity to show how much we value the contribution made by serving soldiers, veterans and military families, as well as honouring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

And Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: “Armed Forces Day gives us the important opportunity to remember those serving men and women who have sacrificed so much on behalf of our country – those who have given their lives or been injured in conflicts around the world, but those too who endure hardships every day.”

It followed a week of events celebrating the role of members of the army, navy and RAF, and the sacrifices made by them and their families.

Meanwhile, Scotland on Sunday has learned that the UK government is set to hold talks with Labour to come up with new laws aimed at ending discrimination against the armed forces.

The talks will centre around a proposal to create a law making hate crimes against military personnel an “aggravated offence” in the same way that homophobic attacks can lead to greater sentences.

The proposal, which has been put forward by Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty, comes after threats against people in uniform.