The Scottish delegation of 47 standard bearers and wreath layers from 23 legion branches across the country attended the Great Pilgrimage 90 (GP90). Representing Moffat were Jimmy Wynd and George Allan, while David Paterson and John Rogerson represented Annan.
The event retraced the steps of the 11,000 World War One veterans and war widows involved in the initial Royal British Legion pilgrimage in 1928. Edward Cole, branch manager at Moffat, said: “The Moffat branch proudly represented the people of Moffat at a unique occasion.” And David, from the Annan branch, added: “We carried our standards and wreaths with our comrades from around the world to commemorate the last 100 days of World War One.”
Just as it did 90 years ago, the pilgrimage culminated in a parade through Ypres to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Menin Gate Memorial for a ceremony to commemorate the launch of the Hundred Days Offensive. The occasion was the biggest membership event in the Legion’s history, as more than 2200 representatives and dignitaries from the UK, Commonwealth and Northern Europe took part. The pilgrimage is part of a series of Royal British Legion Scotland events taking place over 100 days in the run up to the 100-year anniversary of the Armistice of the First World War. The trip was realised thanks to significant fundraising efforts from all 23 legion branches.
Royal British Legion Scotland chief executive officer, Kevin Gray MM, who was part of the event, said: “It was an emotional journey as the entire legion community came together to pay respects to the brave men and women who gave their lives defending their countries. The event highlighted what being a legion member is all about, as thousands of members paraded shoulder to shoulder through the arches of the Menin Gate and came together in the Great Square afterwards in a display of comradeship and remembrance. I’m honoured to have been part of it and it is a fitting start to the final 100 days to Armistice 100.”
