'Long time no see': The surprise greeting for King Charles III from a Scottish D-Day veteran

King Charles III was shown a family heirloom in the form of a kilt and met a D-Day veteran during his Aberdeen visit

The King has praised a 99-year-old D-Day veteran as a “great example to us all” as he toured a regimental museum in Aberdeen.

During the visit, Charles was shown a family heirloom from the First World War, a kilt worn by a soldier who was wounded so grievously he was declared dead – only for his status to be amended to “wounded in action” the next day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
A kilt worn by Captain Alexander Manson of the Gordon Highlanders on show at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen, during a visit by King Charles III to view recent renovations. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA WireA kilt worn by Captain Alexander Manson of the Gordon Highlanders on show at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen, during a visit by King Charles III to view recent renovations. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
A kilt worn by Captain Alexander Manson of the Gordon Highlanders on show at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen, during a visit by King Charles III to view recent renovations. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire | PA

He viewed the kilt, which is still encrusted with mud from the Somme, as he visited The Gordon Highlanders Museum, which celebrates the story of the British regiment originally raised by the 5th Duke of Gordon in 1784.

As the Duke of Rothesay, Charles was appointed colonel in chief of the regiment in 1978 and remained so until its amalgamation with the Queen’s Own Highlanders in 1994.

After meeting volunteers and seeing new renovations to the museum, the King spoke to former soldiers in the regiment including 99-year-old Jim Glennie.

King Charles III meets 99-year-old D-Day veteran Jim Glennie, during a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA WireKing Charles III meets 99-year-old D-Day veteran Jim Glennie, during a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
King Charles III meets 99-year-old D-Day veteran Jim Glennie, during a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire | PA

As an 18-year-old private, he was part of the invasion force that landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He was later wounded in action and taken prisoner, spending the remainder of the war in Stalag IV-B.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He and other soldiers made their own way back to Allied lines when their German guards deserted them as the Russians approached from the east.

Upon seeing the King at the museum, Mr Glennie greeted him cheerfully and said “long time no see”. The King told him about a portrait of Mr Glennie he had been shown at the museum, saying “it looked terrific” and promising to send him a message when he turns 100 in August.

The King said: “You’re a great example to us all, if I may say so, you really are.”

King Charles III during a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen, to view recent renovations. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA WireKing Charles III during a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen, to view recent renovations. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
King Charles III during a visit to the Gordon Highlanders Museum, in Aberdeen, to view recent renovations. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire | PA

Mr Glennie’s son James Glennie Jr said his father had once served Charles’ sister Anne during a dinner at the museum, recalling her laughter when a potato rolled off the table and his father tried to hide it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Gordon Highlanders veteran was unable to join last summer’s D-Day commemorations in Normandy.

Earlier, Charles was shown a kilt that was worn by Captain Alexander Manson during the Battle of the Ancre in November 1916, part of the wider Battle of the Somme.

His grandson Sandy Manson explained to the King that Captain Manson had been sent “over the top” on November 13, 1916, and was severely injured by an artillery shell.

His wounds were deemed to be fatal and a notice of his death was even sent home to his family in Scotland on November 18, though to their relief his status was corrected to wounded at 5pm the next day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The kilt, which is still partially covered in mud, was kept untouched in an attic at the family home for decades. But the item has now been presented to the museum, along with letters written by Captain Manson and the erroneous death notice.

Mr Manson said: “At home we’ve got such a wonderful history of family artefacts, that’s one of the most grisliest, but it tells a story. It reminds me how lucky I am to be here.”

He added: “His Majesty is so remarkably interested and informed about the history of the regiment.”

The museum’s chairman Colonel Charlie Sloan said the museum was now the “physical embodiment of the regiment” and the King had “thoroughly enjoyed” his visit. He said: “While this place still exists, the regiment still exists.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As the King arrived he was played bagpipe music titled “the Tache” after the nickname of the regiment’s last colonel Sir Peter Graham, who died recently.

The engagement on Monday marks the King’s first visit to the museum since 2011, when he went there after unveiling the Gordon Highlanders statue in the city’s Castlegate.

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice